A sepia toned, black and white postcard of a sailor sleeping on a ship. The writing on the card is a poem which shares that he is homesick and wants to be on dry land. However, by the end of the poem he wants to remain on the ship and in the navy. The front poem reads: “A Sailor’s Prayer-Now I lay me down to sleep-I pray the Lord my soul to keep-grant no other sailor take my shoes and socks before I wake-Lord guard me in by slumber and keep my hammock on its number my no clews nor lashings break-and let me down before I wake-Keep me safely in they sight-and grant no fire drill tonight-and in the morning let me wake-breathing scents of sirloin steak- God protect em in my dreams-and make this better that it seems-when myself shall rest on high-in a snowy feather bed-were I lo0ng to rest my head-far away from all these scenes-front the smell of half done beans- take me back into the land-where they don’t scrub down with sand-where no demon typhoon blows-where the women wash the clothes-God thou knowst all my woes-feed me in my dying throes-take me back, Ill promise then- never to leave home again—Three Years Later--- Our Father who are in Washington – peas dear Father let me stay-do not drive me now away-wipe away my scalding tears-and let me stay me thirty years-please forgive me all my past-and things that happened at the mast-do not my request refuse -let me stay another cruse.” The postcard was postmarked Bremerton, Wash Aug 30, 1922 11 AM and was sent by Uncle Hugh to Miss Eva Beezely Bisbee Arizona box 2021. The message on the back in ink reads: “Bremerton, Wash Aug 29, 1922 Rec'd your letter today leave here to-morrow will answer your letter write to Chase, San Diego, hope you are all well love to all Uncle Hugh”. The postcard was published by P. Wischmeyer Seattle, Washington and was sent with a green one-cent George Washington stamp. Calvin Cain Collection.

2002.08.80