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 sv. G. F. RAMSBOTTOM. B.A.
 
 
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 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 

 
 

 
 HYMNS AND POEMS 
 
 *S5
 
 e5S 
 
 PRINTED BY 
 
 SPOTTLSWOODF. AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE 
 
 LONDON'
 
 « 
 
 HYMNS AND POEMS 
 
 6 ; 
 
 £• 
 
 BY THE 
 
 REV. G. F. RAMSBOTTOM, B.A. 
 
 STAKEHILL 
 
 [ALL RIGHTS RESERVED] 

 
 q-1 , — . _£:i 
 
 R 
 
 PEEFACE 
 
 FEEL that a word of apology is due from 
 me in submitting the following hymns and 
 poems to you. With one or two exceptions it will 
 be ten years ago, at the least, since the latest 
 of them was written ; and this fact, I think, is 
 evidence that I am not now publishing them 
 because I claim for them any special merit. 
 
 Our Bazaar must be my excuse for their 
 publication. The whole proceeds of their sale 
 will be given to the Endowment Fund ; so I 
 venture to hope that this small volume may 
 
 &. — — -4 
 
 861878 
 
 y>
 
 it 1 
 
 D 
 
 vi PREFACE 
 
 serve as some memento of the Bazaar itself, 
 and also as a source of income, however slight, 
 to its funds. 
 
 I need only say one word in respect to the 
 poems themselves. They were written when I 
 lived in one of the most lovely dales in Derby- 
 shire ; and it will be seen that most of those 
 which are not purely Scriptural in character are 
 founded upon incidents occurring among a people 
 to whom I had become devotedly attached, and 
 for whom I shall always entertain the highest 
 regard. 
 
 Sincerely yours, 
 
 GEORGE F. EAMSBOTTOM. 
 
 Thornham : September 1894. 
 
 &■ 
 
 □
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 A MORNING HYMN 3 
 
 WHOSE FORM IS THIS I SEE 5 
 
 WHEN TEMPTED TO DISTRUST THY CARE . . 7 
 
 BEHOLD HER STANDING BY THE CROSS . . . 11 
 
 MARY MAGDALENE . . . . . • .15 
 
 THE PROMISED PEACE 18 
 
 DIDST THOU E'ER LOOK INTO SOME YOUTHFUL 
 
 EYES 24 
 
 THORNHAM OLD SCHOOL 29 
 
 LINES TO A FAVOURITE DOG . . . ... 35 
 
 IN MEMORIAM 38 
 
 m-
 
 -# 
 
 viii CONTENTS 
 
 PAGE 
 
 LINES TO FREDDIE 43 
 
 MARY 48 
 
 OLD MATTHEW 55 
 
 LINES TO JESSIE 59 
 
 OUR MARRIAGE WISHES 64 
 
 AN ELOPEMENT CASE . . . . . . 67 
 
 THE ADOPTED CHILD 73 
 
 THE TWO ORPHANS . . . . . . . 78 
 
 ILLUSTEATIONS 
 
 author ....... Frontispiece 
 
 THORNHAM OLD SCHOOL . . . . to face p. 29 
 
 MARY „ 48 
 
 BRIDGE END, DERWENT .... ,,55 
 
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 HYMNS 
 
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 A MOBNING HYMN 
 
 (written for children) 
 
 n HE night is past, the hours of darkness fled ; 
 
 Once more I may my daily course pursue ; 
 
 Thanks be to Thee, Who watched around my bed. 
 
 And didst with gentle sleep my strength renew. 
 
 Whatever truths Thou dost this day impart, 
 May they by grace my disposition mould, 
 
 And, sinking deep within my inmost heart, 
 Bring forth most glorious fruit; an hundredfold, 
 
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 4 HYMNS 
 
 And though, Lord, Thy form I may not see, 
 Throughout this day may I Thy presence feel ; 
 
 And may no grievous sin recorded be, 
 
 Which that great day more fully shall reveal. 
 
 Grant, Lord, as each successive morn appears, 
 In Thy sweet life I may my pattern see ; 
 
 May I increase in wisdom as in years, 
 And be less like to earth, more like to Thee. 
 
 When in the sleep of death my body lies, 
 May faithful angels keep their watch around ; 
 
 And on that Easter morn when all arise, 
 
 May I, Lord, on Thy right hand be found. 
 
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 HYMNS 
 
 And He bearing His cross went forth into a place 
 called the place of a skull. — St. John, xix. 17 
 
 TT THOSE form is this I see 
 
 Bending beneath its load ; 
 Treading the way to Calvary ? 
 Jesus, the Son of God. 
 
 And who this gathering throng, 
 
 Some weeping as they go, 
 While others, mocking, rush along, 
 
 Till Calvary's plains do show ? 
 
 ■*- 
 
 .*»
 
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 HYMNS 
 
 Those are the faithful few, 
 Weeping their dying Lord ; 
 
 These, of the hateful stubborn Jew, 
 Eevilers at His Word. 
 
 Oh ! wondrous depth of love, 
 
 Suffering intensest woe, 
 Man's soul to raise to God above, 
 
 And free from earth below. 
 
 Lord, may that love be strong 
 Bound this weak soul of mine, 
 
 And may I serve Thee my life long, 
 And evermore be Thine. 
 
 — &
 
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 HYMNS 
 
 But was in all points tempted like as we are, yet 
 ivithout sin. — Hebrews, iv. 15 
 
 WHEN tempted to distrust Thy care, 
 And fleshly wants lie heavily, 
 May we, to shun the tempter's snare, 
 
 Eemember Thee. 
 
 Should vain ambition's subtle power 
 
 Tempt us to deeds that evil be, 
 May we, in that our trial hour, 
 
 Eemember Thee. 
 
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 HYMNS 
 
 When duty points not out the way, 
 
 And death is braved for vain glory, 
 May we, in that our evil day, 
 
 Eemember Thee. 
 
 And when, Lord, our strength is spent, 
 
 And flesh and spirit fainting be, 
 Grant that such aid to us be sent 
 
 As strengthened Thee. 
 
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 ffi*- ■ — ~ — •« 
 
 POEMS 
 
 BASED ON SCRIPTURE 
 
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 POEMS ii 
 
 Yea, a sword shall "pierce through thy oiun soul 
 also. — St. Luke, ii. 35 
 
 B 
 
 EHOLD her standing by the cross, 
 A loving mother* mild ; 
 
 The sword has pierced thy stricken heart, 
 Blest Mary, undefiled. 
 
 That Child of whom the angels sang, 
 Whom wise men came to see, 
 
 Is hanging on the tree of shame 
 
 To set the sinner free. 
 
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 12 POEMS 
 
 Forsaken by His followers all, 
 
 Save the beloved John, 
 She needs must follow to the end, 
 
 She cannot leave her Son. 
 
 She sees the bleeding hands and feet, 
 
 She hears the bitter cry 
 Of Him, the Son of God, Who dies 
 
 As worst of mortals die. 
 
 She hears the Jews speak in contempt 
 Of Him Who sins forgave ; 
 
 And mocking cry, ' He saved others, 
 Himself He cannot save.' 

 
 TOEMS i 
 
 Nor yet unheeded that fond soul 
 
 By the beloved One ; 
 Who cried, as He her anguish saw, 
 
 ' Woman, behold thy Son.' 
 
 ' The Scriptures are in Me fulfilled, 
 
 My Father's will is done ; 
 Henceforth the heavens must Me receive — 
 
 Woman, behold thy Son.' 
 
 ' To shield thee in the storms of life 
 
 When I from thee am gone, 
 To hold thee in thy failing years, 
 
 Woman, behold thy Son.' 
 
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 14 POEMS 
 
 The struggle o'er, the victory won, 
 Sorrowing, they depart ; 
 
 Truly the sword of keenest woe 
 Had pierced through her heart. 
 
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 POEMS 15 
 
 MARY MAGDALENE 
 
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 HO is this that draweth nigh, 
 
 Nigh unto the tomb ? 
 
 Canst thou hear the bitter cry 
 As she stoopeth down ? 
 
 See ! she kneels beside the tomb 
 
 With a downcast head ; 
 Piteously doth she mourn 
 
 For the missing dead.
 
 16 POEMS 
 
 Can that be the gardener, 
 
 Standing by her side ? 
 ' If thou knowest, tell me where, 
 
 Where He now is laid.' 
 
 What is that which now she hears ? 
 
 Down to earth she falls ; 
 Christ it is Who now appears, 
 
 He it is Who calls. 
 
 ' Mary,' said the well-known voice — 
 
 Her Master doth her greet. 
 ' Eabboni,' she answers mild, 
 
 Kneeling at His feet. 
 
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 POEMS 17 
 
 Oh, how the enraptured soul 
 
 Kindles at the scene : 
 Blest above the chosen ones, 
 
 Mary Magdalene. 
 
 How that noble, fervent love 
 
 Met with its reward : 
 Last to leave the sepulchre, 
 
 First to see the Lord. 
 
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 18 POEMS 
 
 THE PROMISED PEACE 
 
 (WRITTEN CHRISTMAS 1880) 
 
 f[~^ HE powers of hell had well nigh done 
 their worst ; 
 The ancient world had seen its darkest hour ; 
 When suddenly from Heaven a light outburst ; 
 It shone from east to west— God's quickening 
 power. 
 
 The sophistries of Greece, the pride of Eome, 
 Were doomed to perish by Divine decree ; 
 
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 POEMS 19 
 
 And He Who should unseat them from their 
 throne 
 To outward view had sprung from Galilee. 
 
 Thus, from a place despised, even in a land 
 By all the world beside held in disdain, 
 
 He chose to spring, Who, with a mighty Hand, 
 O'erthrew the ancient faiths, burst Satan's 
 chain. 
 
 And who, that gazed upon that helpless babe, 
 As He at Bethlehem in the stable lay, 
 
 Could guess the wondrous part in life he played, 
 The loving Teacher of the latter day ? 
 
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 20 POEMS 
 
 How eagerly the shepherds crowd around, 
 And to the blessed maid their tale relate : 
 
 Still in their ears rings the joyous sound 
 Proclaiming peace to men from Heaven's gate. 
 
 But where the promised peace? the scoffers say ; 
 
 The world as yet is full of war and pain, 
 And peace as distant seems as on that day 
 
 When first your shepherds heard the Heavenly 
 strain. 
 
 True, Lord, the nations still in warfare rage, 
 Even those that call upon Thy Holy Name ; 
 
 And nought but human blood can foes assuage, 
 Whose false religion is to them their shame. 
 
 & .&
 
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 POEMS 21 
 
 Look not for peace while might doth rule mankind ; 
 
 The nations still have yet to learn My law : 
 They to My Gospel's light as yet are blind, 
 
 Though honouring Me, indeed, in outward 
 show. 
 
 He who of old the courts of Heaven denied, 
 Some power possesses o'er the nations still ; 
 
 What power the tempter had when in the wild 
 He yet may give to whomsoe'er he will. 
 
 Look where that soul in lonely anguish lies, 
 Parted from one the earth no more can see i 
 
 I know his sorrow, hear his bitter cries, 
 
 I soothe the achingheart — peace comes from Me.
 
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 22 POEMS 
 
 See where that soul, by deadening doubt oppressed, 
 Pours out itself to Me in fervent prayer : 
 
 My grace I give to calm that troubled breast, 
 The wavering faith is strengthened — peace is 
 there. 
 
 See that poor sinner seeking newer life, 
 While his past sins before his mind arise : 
 
 I meet him at the outset of his strife, 
 
 To Calvary's cross I lift his weeping eyes. 
 
 Who looked to Me for help, and looked in vain ? 
 
 The wounds of fallen man by Me are healed ; 
 By faith My children see beyond life's pain 
 
 The promised glory that shall be revealed. 
 
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 POEMS 23 
 
 And universal peace I yet will send ; 
 
 My kingdom draweth nearer day by day ; 
 And let all those who strive to gain that end 
 
 Place their whole trust in Me, and watch and 
 pray. 
 
 Lord, give us grace. May we Thy word obey, 
 And may Thy precious blood for sin atone, 
 
 And may we yet behold that glorious day 
 When nations, now divided, shall be one. 
 
 &■
 
 24 POEMS 
 
 ' Blessed are the pure in heart : for they shall 
 see God:— St. Matthew, v. 8 
 
 I IDST thou e'er look into some youthful 
 
 eyes 
 
 That glanced at thee from out a soul unsoiled, 
 
 And as thou gaz'st, did e'er the thought arise : 
 
 Such once wert thou, till tainted with the world? 
 
 As mists and cloud in dull December's days 
 
 Press on the earth and weigh the spirits down, 
 
 And mother earth her gracious bounty stays 
 
 And joyless sleeps, bereft of warmth and sun ; 
 
 &. ^
 
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 POEMS 25 
 
 So doth the human soul no growth display ; 
 
 When wedded to the earth, her brief abode, 
 Its cares oppress, its pleasures bar the way 
 
 That leads her to the presence of her God. 
 Could we but keep that purity of thought 
 
 Which once was ours in childhood's stainless 
 
 days, 
 While heart and intellect true knowledge sought, 
 
 True progress made in wisdom's pleasant ways ; 
 Then might we hope to pierce the secret veil 
 
 That hides the Maker from our mortal sense, 
 And in His book of Nature never fail 
 
 To see revealed Divine Omnipotence. 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 29 
 
 THORNHAM OLD SCHOOL 
 
 firjHOU sacred pile, though modest be thy 
 guise, 
 
 With no pretensions to artistic skill ; 
 Yet is thy plainness beauty in the eyes 
 
 Of one who loves the place thou dost fulfil. 
 
 Far from the crowd's rude noise thou modest 
 stands, 
 O'ershadowed by the spreading beech and 
 thorn, 
 
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 30 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 Under whose shade the children join their hands, 
 While joyously their songs are upward borne. 
 
 From nigh thy seat the lark his matin sings, 
 And heavenward soars — true type of Christian 
 hope ; 
 While that sweet peace the Christian faith e'er 
 brings 
 Is shadowed in the thrush's mellow note. 
 
 How sweet the sight, when on some summer's 
 morn 
 
 Through field and lane the children wend then- 
 
 way : 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 31 
 
 The youth, who dreams not yet of hate or 
 scorn, 
 The child, who scarce can yet his letters say. 
 
 Now joining hand in hand they lightly pass, 
 With merry shout and faces full of glee ; 
 
 Now chase the butterfly along the grass, 
 As if this life might one long playtime be. 
 
 What tender memories about thee cling, 
 Of those once dear to thee in earlier life ; 
 
 Who taught within thy walls the truths that bring 
 Strength to the soul in this world's ceaseless 
 strife. 
 
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 32 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 Some for their last long home have left this earth, 
 Their work by fiery trial counted dear ; 
 
 Though him, who in life's vigour gave thee birth, 
 God hath preserved to old age, ripe and sere. 
 
 Thy joys are homely joys thy people love ; 
 
 No cold or formal service hast thou known ; 
 No worshippers, whose pride themselves approve, 
 
 And, parted wide on earth, call Heaven their 
 home. 
 
 Though on thy walls no arts of man commend 
 The suppliant soul to where all beauty lies ; 
 
 Yet from thee, too, both prayer and praise ascend, 
 And comfort comes to man from Heavenly skies. 
 
 &. •$
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 35 
 
 For Heaven's gate open stands to all who pray 
 With fervent soul, believing God is near ; 
 
 Whether in gorgeous temple they assay, 
 Or on the deep, or in the desert drear. 
 
 Well hast thou borne thy part, thy work fulfilled, 
 And in thy humble way thy duty done ; 
 
 May ne'er in thee the voice of prayer be stilled, 
 Or children cease to learn Heaven's race to run. 
 
 As years roll on, forgive the silent tear, 
 
 Shed by the one who loves thy simple state, 
 
 If chance, revisiting these scenes once dear, 
 The heavenward-pointing spire shall indicate 
 
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 34 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 That for thee, too, the life has passed away, 
 The strength is spent, the noblest work is done ; 
 
 Though may he, too, as closes life's brief day, 
 In its sad setting see a rising Sun. 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 35 
 
 LINES TO A FAVOURITE DOG 
 (written in early life) 
 
 \ HOU little pet, thou little pet, 
 How playful are thy ways ; 
 Thou art ne'er possessed with gloomy hours 
 Or melancholy days. 
 
 Whene'er I call thee by thy name, 
 
 Thou look'st me in the face 
 And say'st, as plain as words could say, 
 
 ' My service to your grace.' 
 
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 36 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 And when I sit me down to dine, 
 Thou look'st to have thy part, 
 
 Or else thou mak'st the house to ring 
 With most impatient bark. 
 
 And must thou die, thou pretty one ? 
 
 Will death, too, come to thee ? 
 Thou thinkest not that life will end — 
 
 How happy must thou be. 
 
 If thou didst know the fate of man 
 ' 'Twould bring tears to thine eyes : ' 
 
 How the strong man, who to-day is, 
 In dust to-morrow lies. 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 37 
 
 But of these things thou thinkest not ; 
 
 Sufficient 'tis for thee, 
 That thou dost know I love thee well — ■ 
 
 And thou, too, lovest me. 
 
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 3 S MISCELLANEOUS TOEMS 
 
 IN MEMOBIAM 
 
 (WRITTEN IN 1878. MY BROTHER DIED IN MAY 1876) 
 
 O ITTING and thinking- 
 Sad and alone — 
 With the mind dwelling 
 On days that are gone. 
 
 Happy and pleasant days, 
 
 Days that are past, 
 Before life's bitter winds 
 
 Had blown a chill blast. 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 39 
 
 Seeing beside me, 
 
 Like as of old, 
 One who could guide me, 
 
 Now lying cold. 
 
 One who was ever near 
 
 Eeady to save, 
 Gone from me evermore, 
 
 Gone to the grave. 
 
 Vain seems this world to me ; 
 
 Ambition fled ; 
 He, for whose sake I strove, 
 
 Cold is, and dead. 
 
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 40 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 Jesus of Nazareth, 
 
 Thou, too, hast wept, 
 When in the silent tomb 
 
 Lazarus slept. 
 
 "Wept with the sufferers 
 
 At their sad cry, 
 Though Thou hadst come to change 
 
 Sorrow to joy. 
 
 Drive all my doubts away ; 
 
 Thy Spirit give ; 
 Tell me, though far removed, 
 
 Yet he doth live. 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 41 
 
 Tell me those blessed words, 
 
 Given to Mary : 
 He that believes in Me 
 
 Never shall die. 
 
 Grant me a faith that can 
 
 Never be shaken ; 
 Firm as the solid rock, 
 
 Looking to Heaven. 
 
 Seeing, though out of sight, 
 
 In the long home, 
 Him, of whose earthly life 
 
 Part was my own. 
 
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 42 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 So shall my soul have rest, 
 Left her to stay, 
 
 Until Thy gentle voice 
 Call her away. 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 43 
 
 LINES TO FREDDIE 
 
 np| HOU know'st we love thee well, 
 
 Thou fair-haired boy ; 
 We love thy prattling tongue, 
 Thy bright blue eye. 
 
 When thou wast but a babe 
 
 Thy mother died, 
 And thy best earthly friend 
 
 Went from thy side. 
 
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 44 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 Then thou wast brought to us, 
 Cared for and fed ; 
 
 Loved for thy winning ways, 
 Loved for the dead. 
 
 And as I gaze on thee — 
 Sit on my knee — 
 
 Who is there that can tell 
 What thou wilt be ? 
 
 Wilt thou thy temper guard, 
 
 So strong within ? 
 
 Or will it goad thee on, 
 Leading to sin ? 
 
 &
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 45 
 
 Will this world's temptations 
 
 Please to thine eye ? 
 Wilt thou be poisoned with 
 
 Earth's vanity ? 
 
 Or will thy soul aspire, 
 
 Eager for fame ; 
 Striving to make thyself 
 
 A lasting name ? 
 
 And when thou art gaining 
 
 Some longed-for goal, 
 Shalt thou be sneered at 
 
 By a meaner soul ? 
 
 &— — . —4
 
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 46 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 May true ambition's aim 
 
 To thee be given, 
 Mayst thou be for saintly deeds 
 
 Mentioned in Heaven. 
 
 Mayst thou by grace maintain 
 
 A noble strife, 
 With thy name written down 
 
 In the Book of Life. 
 
 May He Who died for us, 
 
 The Saviour mild, 
 Throughout life's chequer 'd path 
 
 Guard thee, my child. 
 
 M* — _ — . Jk 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 47 
 
 And when thy day is past, 
 
 Life's trials o'er, 
 May thy soul reach at last 
 
 The Heavenly shore. 
 
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 48 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 MABY 
 
 ~ T is the saddest tale that e'er I knew, 
 
 And yet a simple village tale ; the sufferer's 
 name 
 Scarce known beyond her village home. 
 She was a farmer's daughter, as a child 
 Thoughtful beyond her years ; and as she grew 
 To full estate, her thoughtfulness of mind 
 Showed itself forth in an expressive face ; 
 Her gaze had such control upon the mind of man, 
 That he who looked on her could speak 
 No foolish thing. 
 
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 MARY.
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 49 
 
 Her father sickened ; 
 He loved his daughter dearly, and he would have 
 her 
 
 Always by his side. She nursed him night and 
 
 day, 
 And ne'er complained of weariness or pain ; 
 And when his body in the earth was laid, 
 She at dusk would come and dress the flowers 
 Upon her father's grave. 
 
 But Mary's face 
 Grew paler, and her form began to stoop. 
 ' Can it be,' the neighbours whispered, ' that Mary 
 Mourns so much her father's loss that she herself 
 Is hastening to the tomb ? ' 
 
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 50 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 Said one : 
 ' That may not be ; her father lived 
 The allotted span of life, and Nature 
 Doth not grieve so much for them as when 
 The young are taken ; that cannot be, 
 For Mary's faith is strong.' 
 
 Full two years 
 Passed away, yet Mary grew no stronger, 
 But her mind was cheerful, and her troth 
 Was plighted to a young man of the village, 
 Noble and good. They loved each other dearly, 
 And their lives seemed linked together. 
 
 The busiest time of all the year came round, 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 51 
 
 And Mary went away to see her friends, 
 That, with strength renewed, she might return 
 And do, as was her wont, among the hay. 
 But ere a week had passed from her return 
 A fever laid her low. The body, spent before, 
 Could by no means resist the dread disease. 
 Her mother tended her, and as she gazed 
 Upon her daughter's face, so pale, so worn, 
 Forebodings of a bitter hour would come 
 Into her mind. She drew apart and wept, 
 And then, with strength renewed by silent prayer, 
 With cheerful look and voice of sympathy, 
 Returned and ministered again her daughter's 
 wants. 
 
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 52 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 But Mary felt the end was near ; 
 
 She thought not of herself, her hopes or fears, 
 
 But saw the grief of those she left behind, 
 
 And to strengthen them at times she spoke : 
 
 ' Mother, you must not grieve too much for 
 
 me, 
 I leave myself entirely in God's hands ; 
 If He wills, He yet can raise me up, 
 If not, I am content, His will be done. 
 This life is short and full of care and trouble ; 
 I go some time before ; you, too, must follow. 
 But speak to "Will, and tell him not to fret 
 Too greatly ; I loved him dearly, he will not 
 
 forget me. 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 53 
 
 He still will come to see you, and you'll speak of 
 
 me. 
 And ask him, too, to hold him fast by God, 
 And let his life be one of duty done for Him ; 
 And in Heaven we yet shall meet, 
 Where partings cannot enter.' 
 
 Thus Mary spoke, 
 
 And those about her wept ; and as the end 
 Drew nigh, she breathed the hymns she loved so 
 
 well, 
 Which spoke of Heaven, and the love of Him 
 
 Who died for all. 
 
 And her soul passed away, 
 
 And all the village wept. And he who loved her 
 
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 54 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 As his life — bowed down with grief— his life's 
 
 hopes blasted, 
 In a few short weeks had shrunk — the shadow 
 Of his former self. 
 
 And she was laid beside her father, 
 And they who had been nearest to her in her life 
 Were led away, heart-broken, from the grave. 
 
 &. £|

 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 55 
 
 OLD MATTHEW 
 
 (WRITTEN MAY 1ST, 1880. THE 81ST ANNIVERSARY OF 
 HIS BIRTHDAY) 
 
 FULL fourscore winters have I seen, 
 With surly blast ; 
 These eyes are dim that once were keen, 
 This form is bent that straight hath been ; 
 My strength is past. 
 
 Of friends I had in former time 
 Scarce one is left ; 
 
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 56 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 Some passed have to a foreign clime, 
 Some were, even in their manhood's prime, 
 Of life bereft. 
 
 Ye that are young, on years to come 
 
 Your hopes are cast ; 
 Future in this world have I none, 
 For they whose race is almost run 
 
 Live in the past. 
 
 Things that to you seem long gone by, 
 
 To me are new ; 
 It seems but yet as yesterday 
 Since news came o'er of victory 
 
 At Waterloo. 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 57 
 
 But be not in your youthful years 
 
 On pleasures bent ; 
 'Twill bring an old age full of tears, 
 For all such folly then appears 
 
 As time misspent. 
 
 And think not that life's eventide 
 
 To me is pain ; 
 My hope is placed in Him Who died, 
 Out of Whose hands and pierced side 
 
 Our pardon came. 
 
 Though to this world's uncertain light 
 These eyes are dim, 
 
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 58 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 They yet can pierce death's dismal night, 
 And, swift as angels in their flight, 
 They rest on Heaven. 
 
 And now I wait the Master's call 
 
 To take me home ; 
 At times I hear the anthems roll, 
 Which fill the Heavens from pole to pole- 
 Lord Jesus, come.
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 59 
 
 LINES TO JESSIE 
 
 (OX THE SUDDEN DEATH OF HER MOTHER. WRITTEN IN l^Sl) 
 
 e 
 
 |WEET little tender one, 
 Flaxen-curled ; 
 Left to fight, motherless, 
 A hard, rough world. 
 
 Death, with a ruthless hand, 
 
 Thy parent took, 
 Ere she could cast on thee 
 
 One loving look. 
 
 &• •%&
 
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 6o MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 Was there no profligate 
 
 Wasting his life 
 Who could death satisfy, 
 
 Ending his strife ? 
 
 Were there no aged ones 
 
 Her life could save ; 
 With footsteps tottering 
 
 Over the grave ? 
 
 But must he needs have one 
 In life's full prime ; 
 
 Thrust in the silent tomb 
 Before her time ? 
 
 &. r 4
 
 If 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 61 
 
 Truly God seems to work 
 
 In ways unkind ; 
 In this world many things 
 
 Puzzle the mind. 
 
 Reasons for many things 
 
 Seem to us dim ; 
 Known in entirety 
 
 Only to Him. 
 
 What is thy comfort now ? 
 
 Sorrow thou must ; 
 All that is best beloved 
 
 Slumb'ring in dust. 
 
 &. : — 4l
 
 ^ 
 
 62 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 Trust that her spirit lives, 
 
 Hovers around ; 
 Moving, by thee unseen, 
 
 Over the ground. 
 
 Loving thee evermore, 
 Watching thee now ; 
 
 Bent o'er thee when asleep, 
 Smoothing thy brow. 
 
 Sharing in all thy joys 
 Long as life lasts ; 
 
 Waiting to welcome thee, 
 Death being past. 
 
 •&
 
 — if 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 63 
 
 Sweet little tender one, 
 
 Flaxen-curled ; 
 Left to fight, motherless, 
 
 A hard, rough world. 
 
 m~
 
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 6 1 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 OUR MARRIAGE WISHES 
 
 V OW Hymen's bands are closely joined, 
 And ye are one for aye ; 
 This is the wish of every heart : 
 Many happy returns of the day. 
 
 May health and strength long be your lot, 
 
 And may you both obey 
 The rule of ' Not too much,' which brings 
 
 Many happy returns of the day. 
 
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 -3j 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 65 
 
 May both your lives in peace be spent, 
 
 And anger ne'er have sway ; 
 For ' Bear and forbear ' is sure to bring 
 
 Many happy returns of the day. 
 
 As years advance will come dull Care, 
 
 That saddens hearts once gay ; 
 But ne'er may he from you prevent 
 
 One happy return of the day. 
 
 And when old age comes creeping on, 
 
 May children be your stay ; 
 And may they ever strive to make 
 
 A happy return of the day. 
 
 F 
 
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 £• if 
 
 66 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 And when your life's brief day is past, 
 
 And earth's joys flee away, 
 May your life be in realms above 
 
 One happy return of the day. 
 
 ••"'-- - ' ■ - - ■ - ^^ 

 
 cp _____ _ ^ 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 67 
 
 'AN ELOPEMENT CASE 
 
 (a ballad) 
 
 f\ H ! in this world of woe and care, 
 
 When will our follies cease ? 
 For all our leading papers show 
 Elopements do increase. 
 
 But this, the most romantic case 
 
 That ever I did know ; 
 Two belles, for beauty unexcelled, 
 
 Eloped without their beaux. 
 
 F 2 
 
 M —4
 
 -if 
 
 68 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 There is a place, remote from town, 
 By tourists seldom seen, 
 
 Though, for delightful scenery, 
 In Derbyshire 'tis queen. 
 
 There, winter generally begins 
 Some bleak October day ; 
 
 And the villagers express surprise 
 Should there be warmth in May. 
 
 'Twas in a neat and snug farmhouse, 
 
 Upon a steep hill-side, 
 Two mothers were in concert sat, 
 
 Whose daughters were their pride. 
 
 &■
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 69 
 
 And as they in their daughters' praise 
 
 Together did unite, 
 These maidens, in a room above, 
 
 Were planning for a flight. 
 
 They ope the window high enough 
 
 To let the body pass ; 
 Then, noiselessly, but quite unhurt, 
 
 They drop upon the grass. 
 
 Ne'er sped the hare across the plain, 
 
 Or hounds pursue the roe, 
 As swiftly as these maidens fair 
 
 Across the fields did go. 
 
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 ■n 
 
 70 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 They stopped not once to look behind, 
 For full three miles they flee ; 
 
 And, breathless both, but still untired, 
 They get to Birchen-lea. 
 
 Without the ceremonious knock 
 They ope the farmhouse door, 
 
 And skip, like girls let loose from school, 
 Across the kitchen floor. 
 
 The servant-girl was quite amazed, 
 For, since she there had been, 
 
 A stranger in that house to come 
 She never yet had seen. 
 
 ■^B
 
 $— ■ — f 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 71 
 
 Now strains of music fill the house ; 
 
 The servants whisper low : 
 When, suddenly, right up the stairs 
 
 Both apparitions go. 
 
 The ' master of the house had just 
 
 Ketired for the night ; 
 A knock he hears. ' My uncle, sure — 
 
 Come in ! ' he cries. ' All right.' 
 
 Imagine his surprise and fear ; 
 
 His eyes are open wide ; 
 And, lo ! he sees a lady fair 
 
 Standing at his bedside. 
 
 1 The ' master of the house ' and the ' lady fair ' were 
 brother and sister. 
 
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 72 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 Her form is straight, her stature just ; 
 
 Her teeth are white as pearls ; 
 And on her brow, like threads of gold, 
 
 Do sit the playful curls. 
 
 He rubs his hand across his eyes, 
 
 To see if wake or no ; 
 But ere he looked a second time 
 
 Adown the stairs they go. 
 
 They rush out of the house apace, 
 
 Along the glen they flew ; 
 And reached home by the comet's light 
 
 As fresh as morning dew. 
 
 k- 
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 73 
 
 THE ADOPTED CHILD 
 
 (The following poem was found in the scrap-book of the 
 late Thomas Mellodow, Esq., of Oldham. I have not 
 been able to ascertain the name of the autlior) 
 
 ^HY would'st thou leave me, oh gentle 
 child ? 
 Thy home on the mountains is bleak and wild, 
 A straw-roofed cabin with lowly wall ; 
 Mine is a fair and pillared hall, 
 Where many an image of marble gleams' 
 And the sunshine of pictures for ever streams.' 
 
 k* •$
 
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 74 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 ' Oh, green is the turf where my brothers play 
 Through the long bright hours of the summer day ; 
 They find the red-cup moss where they climb, 
 And they chase the bee over the scented thyme ; 
 And the rocks where the heath-flower blooms 
 
 they know. 
 Lady, dear lady, oh, let me go ! ' 
 
 ' Content thee, boy, in my bower to dwell ; 
 Here are sweet sounds which thou lovest well : 
 Flutes on the river in the stilly moon, 
 Harps which the wandering breezes tune, 
 And the soft wood note of many a bird 
 Whose voice was ne'er in thy mountains heard.'
 
 e5£ 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 75 
 
 ' My mother sings at the twilight fall 
 A song of the hills, far more sweet than all. 
 She sings it under our own green tree 
 To the babe half slumbering on her knee : 
 I dreamt last night of that music low. 
 Lady, dear lady, oh, let me go ! ' 
 
 ' Thy mother is gone from her cares to rest ; 
 She hath taken the babe on her quiet breast. 
 Thou would'st meet her footsteps, boy, no more, 
 Nor hear her song at the cabin door. 
 Come thou with me to the vineyards nigh, 
 And we'll pluck the grapes of the richest dye.' 
 
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 76 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 ' Is my mother gone from her home away ? 
 But I know that my brothers are there at play. 
 I know they are gathering the fox-glove's bell 
 And the long fern leaves in the sparkling well ; 
 Or they launch their boats where the sweet 
 
 streams flow. 
 Lady, dear lady, oh, let me go ! ' 
 
 ' Fair child, thy brothers are wanderers now ; 
 They sport no more on the mountain's brow. 
 They have left the fern by the spring's green side 
 And the stream where the fairy barks were tried. 
 Be thou at peace in thy brighter lot, 
 For thy cabin home is a lonely spot ! ' 
 
 &• -4
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 77 
 
 ' Are they gone, all gone, from the sunny hill ? 
 But the bird and the blue-fly rove o'er it still, 
 And the red deer bound in their gladness free, 
 And the heath is bent by the singing bee, 
 And the waters leap, and the fresh winds blow. 
 Lady, sweet lady, oh, let me go ! ' 
 
 •41
 
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 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 THE TWO ORPHANS 
 
 Y chaise the village inn did gain 
 Just as the setting sun's last ray 
 Tipt, with refulgent gild, the vane 
 Of the old church across the way. 
 
 Across the road I silent sped, 
 The time till supper to beguile 
 
 In moralising o'er the dead 
 
 That moulder'd round the ancient pile. 
 
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 « ^ 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 79 
 
 There many an humble gravestone showed 
 Where want, and pain, and toil did rest ; 
 
 And many a flattering stone I viewed, 
 Of those who once of wealth possessed. 
 
 A faded beech its shadow brown 
 
 Threw o'er a grave where sorrow slept : 
 
 On which, though scarce with grass o'ergrown, 
 Two ragged children sat and wept. 
 
 A piece of bread between them lay, 
 
 Which neither seemed inclined to take ; 
 
 And yet they seemed so much a prey 
 To want, it made my heart to ache. 
 
 k, — Jgfe
 
 •# 
 
 So MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 ' My little children, let me know 
 Why you in such distress appear ; 
 
 And why you, wasteful, from you throw 
 The bread that many a heart would cheer. 
 
 The little boy in accents sweet 
 
 Eeplied, and tears each other chased : 
 
 ' Lady, we have not food to eat, 
 
 And, if we had, we would not waste. 
 
 ' But sister Mary's naughty grown, 
 And will not heed whate'er I say ; 
 
 Though sure I am the bread's her own, 
 For she has tasted none to-day.'
 
 J* 
 
 1 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS Si 
 
 ' Indeed,' the wan, starved Mary said, 
 ' Till Henry eats, I'll eat no more ; 
 
 For yesterday I had some bread- 
 He's had none since the day before.' 
 
 My heart did swell, my bosom heaved, 
 I felt as though deprived of speech ; 
 
 And silent sat upon the grave 
 
 And took the clay-cold hand of each. 
 
 With looks that told a tale of woe, 
 
 With looks that showed a grateful heart, 
 
 The shivering boy then nearer drew 
 And did their tale of woe impart : 
 
 G 
 
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 Sz MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 ' Before my father went away, 
 Enticed by bad men o'er the sea ; 
 
 Sister and I did nought but play ; 
 We lived beside yon green ash tree. 
 
 ' And then poor mother did so cry, 
 And looked so changed, I cannot tell ; 
 
 And told us that she soon must die, 
 And bid us love each other well. 
 
 ' She said that, when the war was o'er, 
 Perhaps we might our father see ; 
 
 But, if we never saw him more, 
 That God our father then would be. 
 
 m
 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 83 
 
 ' She kissed us both, and soon she died ; 
 
 And we no more a mother have. 
 For many a day we sat and cried 
 
 Together, on poor mother's grave. 
 
 ' But when my father came not here, 
 We thought, if we could find the sea, 
 
 W.e should be sure to meet him there, 
 And, once again, might happy be. 
 
 • We, hand in hand, went many a mile, 
 
 And asked our way of all we met ; 
 While some did sigh, and some did smile, 
 
 And we of some did victuals get. 
 
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 fr $ 
 
 84 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 
 
 ' But when we reached the sea, and found 
 Twas one great water round us spread ; 
 
 We thought that father must be drowned, 
 And cried, and wished we both were dead. 
 
 ' So we returned to mother's grave 
 
 And only long with her to be ; 
 For Godie, when this bread she gave, 
 
 Said father died beyond the sea. 
 
 ' Then, since w 7 e have no parents here, 
 We'll go and seek for God around ; 
 
 Pray, Lady, can you tell us where 
 That God, our father, may be found ? 
 
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 &• if 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS POEMS 85 
 
 ' He lives in Heaven, our mother said ; 
 
 And Godie says our mother's there ; 
 So, if she thinks we want His aid, 
 
 I think, perhaps, she'll send Him here. 1 
 
 I clasped the prattlers to my breast, 
 
 And cried : ' Come both and live with me : 
 
 I'll clothe and feed you ; give you rest ; 
 And will a second mother be. 
 
 ' And God will be your father still ; 
 
 'Twas He, in mercy, sent me here 
 To teach you to obey His will, 
 
 Your steps to guide, your hearts to cheer." 
 
 i? : ^
 
 w? ■« 
 
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