The Genealogist's Psalm

Genealogy is my pastime, I shall not stray;

It maketh me to lie down and examine half-buried tombstones.

It leadeth me into still Court Houses,

it restoreth my ancestral knowledge.

It leadeth me in paths of census records and ships' passenger lists

for my surname's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the shadows of research libraries and microfilm readers,

I shall fear no discouragement;

for a strong urge is within me;

the curiosity and motivation

they comfort me.

It demandeth preparation of storage space for the

acquisition of countless documents;

it anointest my head with burning midnight oil,

my family group sheets runneth over.

Surely birth, marriage, and death dates shall follow me

all the days of my life;

and I shall dwell in the house of a family-history seeker for ever.

Wildamae Brestal