Part 17 (1/2)

Full monny a time it's made me groan, To see thee stretched, despised, alone; While turned-up noses pa.s.sed have gone, O' purse-proud men!

No friends, alas! save some poor one Fra t'paddin can.

Whoe'er despise thee, let them know The time may come when they may go To some fish wife, and beg to know If they can buy The friends.h.i.+p o' their vanquished foe, Wi' weeping eye.

To me naught could be better fun, Than see a duke or n.o.ble don, Or lord, or peer, or gentleman, In search o' thee: And they were bidden to move on, Or go to t'sea.

Yet we'll sing thy praise, wee fish; To me thou art a dainty dish; For thee, 'tis true, I often wish.

My little bloater; Either salted, cured, or s.h.i.+ning fresh Fra yon great water.

If through thy pedigree we peep, Philosophy from thee can keep, An' I need not study deep, There's nothing foreign; For I, like thee, am sold too cheap, My little herring.

[Picture: Decorative pattern]

The World's Wheels.

How steady an' easy t'owd world's wheels wod go, If t'folk wod be honest an' try to keep so; An' at steead o' bein' hasty at ivvery whim, Let us inquire before we condemn.

A man may do wrong an' scarce be to blame, Or a woman be bad i' nowt bud her name; Bud which on us owt ta say owt unto them, Unless we inquire before we condemn.

If a Rose she sud flourish her sisters among, It isn't to say her poor sister is wrong; That blighted one there may be nipp'd in the stem, So let us inquire before we condemn.

Yond vessel that tussels the ocean to plough, While waves they are das.h.i.+ng and winds they do blow, May be shatter'd asunder from stern unto stem, So let us inquire before we condemn.

We are certain o' one thing an' that isn't two, If we do nothing wrong we've nothing to rue; Yet many a bright eye may be full to the brim, So let us inquire before we condemn.

Then speak not so harshly-withdraw that rash word, 'Tis wrong to condemn till the story is heard; If it worrant for summat sho might be a gem, So let us inquire before we condemn.

English Church History.

Most respectfully dedicated to the Rev. F. D. CREMER, St. ANDREW'S, Keighley, Oct. 25th, 1889.

Dear reverend sir, excuse your humble servant, Whose heart you've made this very night to glow; I thank you kindly, and my prayers most fervent Will ever be, dear reverend sir, for you.

My ideas lacked for want of information, And glad am I to glean a little more, About the Churches of our mighty nation, Whose chimes are heard on many a far-off sh.o.r.e.

My heart was moved, for I was much astounded, To view the many Churches of our land; The life-like pictures of the saints who founded These ruins old, so wonderful and grand.

For oft I've wished, and often have I pondered, And longed to learn the history of our kirk; How it was handed down to us I've wondered, And who were they that did this mighty work.

The veil's removed, and now my sight is clearer, Upon the sacred history of our isle; For while I view these scenes it brings me nearer Unto the Church on which the angels smile.

Who would not shuffle off his worldly pleasures, For one short hour to bring before his sight, The pictures of the great and mighty treasures- Our English Church, which brought the world to light.

Great Men dive deep down into wisdom's river- The poet, philosopher, and sage- For wisdom's pearls, which showeth forth for ever, Nor waste their sweetness or grow dull with age.