This page includes five of Harris' poems, a newsclipping announcing her departure from Boston, and an article describing her funeral.

Love Thoughts on a Rainy Day
In These Days
Announcement of her departure from Boston
Love in the Garden at Dawning
Mother
Wait Not Until They Die
Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson Harris Laid to Rest at Augusta, Ga.

Love Thoughts on a Rainy Day
By E.J. Harris

A lover alone to one's own self,
  On a quiet rainy day,
Their thoughts come and go to one they love,
  So dear yet fay away
The thoughts the wish, that they were near
  All to themselves alone
They would talk and plan for future years.
  When two ars made as one.

The dull soft drops on the window pane.
  Are watched with anxious thoughts
The sun is hid while drops of rain
  Are falling fast in lots,
Oftimes tear drops fall with the rain
  From a calm and loving heart
Wandering will they meet again.
  In joy to never part

Then one says to themselves alone
  If I only could behold
This day the one I love so dear
  The half could ne'er be told
Ah, when the grey clouds pass away
  The rain drops cease to fall
My love will come at sunset eve
To pay that welcome call."

In These Days
By Elizabeth J. Harris

"The world is just the same you know
  But oh how things have changed
Where e'er you stay, where e'er you go
  It seems to be the range,
Folks whom you've known so long ago
  have changed in many ways,
It may be sad, yet true you know
  How things go, In These Days.
The world will never be rebuilt
  Yet man improves the Towns,
With buildings near and far we know
  Uptight and square or round
And just as these are changed in style
  Just so the times and ways,
Of folks we meet both near and far
  How they go on these days."

CHORUS

In these days, In these day
How things have changed in various ways
In the times, or in our ways
How things have changed yes, In these days.

As we go on from time to time
  Midst strangers here and there,
We hear the news, we read the news
  Of happenings everywhere,
Both young and old, have reckless grown
  In their worlds and ways,
The style of dress and other things
  Are surprising in these days.

Announcement [title added]

Mrs. Elizabeth J. Harris of Augusta Ga., mother of Messrs. Charles, Peter and Edwin Harris, who has been visiting this City for about three months, sightseeing, left the City Sunday evening via New York, for home.  While in the City she was the guest of Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Harris, 39 Cunard street, suite 3.  Mrs. Harris was also entertained by her brother and sister-in-law, Mr and Mrs. T.D. Johnson of Woburn.  She is to be congratulated on being a natural poetess.

Love in the Garden at Dawning
By Elizabeth J. Harris

On a pleasant clear spring morning
As I worked in my garden of corn
What should I see at the dawning
Just accross the field from my home.
I spied a lovely maiden
With hair and eyes so black,
A hoe and rake within her hand
And she dared not use them slack.

Her beauty, ways, and actions
My attention did attract,
But she seemed not to notice me
Or that I was on her track
I stopped to gaze and wonder
Can this be fair and true,
A lovely maiden there at work
In the fields of grass and dew?

Those clear smooth hands which moved with ease
Regardless of beauty or care,
I felt like falling on my knees
To propose in the open air.
So at last I wandered to the fence
between the two green fields,
I raised my hat and with a smile
To her my love revealed

Astonished though she gazed at me
Accross the green grass bed,
But soon she leaned against the tree
And slowly bowed her head,
Few words were passed, some questions asked,
At these she silent stood,
Yet still I kept my point in view
waiting for her word.

Alas the desired reply was given
Between the fields of corn
And now we rise and work together
On a pleasant and clear spring morn.

Mother

"It is a wonderful thing,
A Mother;
Other folks can love you,
But only your mother
Understands.
She works for you,
Looks after you,
Loves you, forgives you
Anything you may do,
And then the only thing
Bad she ever does to you,
Is to die and leave you.

Wait Not Until They Die
By E.J. Harris

"Throw them flowers while they live"
Give them what you have to give
After death, the flowers spoil
After seasons in worthless soil
The flowers encourage family and friends
So give to the living before life ends,
See them smile on this side of the shore
Before flowers and all are plucked no more."

Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson Harris Laid to Rest at Augusta, Ga.

Augusta, Ga. - Mrs. Elizabeth Johnson Harris, mother of Professor Charles J. Harris, head of the department of music at South Carolina State college, Orangeburg, S.C. died here September 14, 1942.  

Mrs. Harris was born in Augusta, Ga., December 16, 1868.  She was a member of Trinity CME church for 67 years.

As a young woman she served as pianist for the colored Sunday school in the Church of The Good Shepherd.  She was married to Jacob Walker Harris in 1883, being the first couple of either race to be joined in holy Wedlock there.  Negroes were regular communicants in this church during its early history.  The late Rt. Rev. Edwin Weed was the rector at this time, later becoming Bishop of Florida.

Mrs. Harris possessed marked music ability.  For a while she was organist and choir directress of Elina Baptist church. She was the first teacher of her son Charles, now director of music at State A. and M. college in Orangeburg, S.C.

Mrs. Harris was of the lovable patient type of individual.  She numbered among her friends the high and low of both races. Six children survive her: Peter, James, Charles Jacob, Mattie Louise, Emma Lucile.  Also numerous grandchildren, nephews and nieces.

A woman of hallowed memory has gone to that eternal peace and rest.

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