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Lelia (Burlingham) Mobley was born on 21 July 1881 in Otsego, Michigan, the daughter of Charity Mabel Burlingham. She married John Bryce Mobley on 6 March 1899, and died on 2 February 1965 in Ashland, Oregon, at age 83. She and John lived Iowa, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington.
We only have two short poems by her, although there may be others. These were found in a collection of material associated with the Burlingham/Phelps Reunion, that was held annually in southwest Michigan for many years in the mid to late 1900s.
Self PraiseSeek not oh Man
For honors thou hast not won,
Nor praise for
Deeds thou hast not done.
If thou art worthy
Praise will come
From others lips
For what thou hast done.
Self praise is
No praise at all,
And by self praise
Many do fall.
Just FolksDoes it ever amuse you
To watch the folks go by,
And wonder if they too
Watch you and wonder why.
Some are all so very short,
Some are so exceedingly tall,
And there are the fat ones,
Some are not fat at all.
Some wear a smiling face,
Others a surly frown.
Some seem happiness to share,
Others to be cast down.
Don't you often wonder
What makes them differ so.
Why can't they all be happy
As through the world they go.