Here's another extract from Jacob Barr's (Louis Bromfield's Great Grandfather) composition book. I'm not sure of the date, but pre-Civl War and by this poem and other clues, he was in school and in District 5.
[Composition Day]
Is composition day
And I appear as usual here
With something too to say
In olden time the god of rhyme
Was wont to aid the poet
But I don’t claim a poets fame
I’m crazy and I know it
I’ve touched the lyre to please desire
But could not raise a --------
The old concern I mean to burn
And go it all alone
So one and all both great and small
I say prepare for rhyme
Im bound to write although my might
May not give aught sublime
Old Sheakspere once was but a dunce
And learned his abc
And others too but little knew
When they were brats like me
The cabbage plant though small and scant
When young if planted out
Will often grow enough you know
To make a tub of crout
Old number five is just alive
With cabbage plants like me
We’ll thrive I spose but no one know
How large we’ll get to be.
There’s Prude and Cele & Poll & Cal
Armand Liz and Dave
And John and Garn who cannot learn
They’ve tried alas in vain
But mark you I am aiming high
My name a stir creates
I’ll be tis meant next president
Of these united states.
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