tamo-jo 5 ^ JNVSOl^ ^/SMAIM-J^ LOSANCElfj> kkj YS01 rr ■F-CALIFOfifc, ■so "^/HHAINIHWV **10SA» o :>. ^E-UBRARY-Oc ^Of-CAI i_i_ i y And, looking round, you praise the scene, Of hills, and meads, and stream between. These meads have such a russet hue, And muddy river wand'ring through. — The birds which make this harmony, Must be the rooks at Delapre'; Or else the little nursling crew, That learning's rugged path pursue : Who having learnt their A, B, C, Attain at length their liberty ; M 90 HARVEST HYMN. And from yon Lancasterian shop, Their rude, uncover'd, noddles pop ; Their voices through the air resounded, Displays old Babel worse confounded. — I do not envy them their lot, Who dwell in this ungrateful spot; But once, for all, 1 bid adieu, To this bespatter' d — Moiitarloo, HARVEST HYMN. GREAT God ! whose providential care, Has all our wants supplied : Our lips thy praises shall declare ; Our guardian, and our guide. Thou fountain of eternal good ! Whence every blessing flows ; Constant supplies of health and food, Thy gracious hand bestows. Rich harvests crown our fertile fields, And press our loaded wains ; The earth a full abundance yields, To recompense our pains. HARVEST HYMN. 91 Yet not to our corporeal wants, Thy goodness is confin'd ; But, boundless love ! thy mercy grants Food for th' immortal mind. Thy word yields such a rich repast, And has such joys in store ; That those who once its sweetness taste, Hunger and thirst no more. Inspire our hearts with fervid zeal, Thy holy name to bless ; And let the gratitude we feel, Our future lives express. M 2 92 LINES ■WRITTEN AFTER HEARING The Rev. Legh Richmond preach Tivo Sermons IN AID OF THE CHUKCII MISSIONARY SOCIETY, On Feb. 19th, 1815. HARK ! hark ! what dulcet sounds salute the ear ! What heav'nly music, floating through the air, Conveys a joy to every thrilling nerve, And warms and animates the Christian's heart ! O ! 'tis the Gospel trumpet's sound, That calls the various nations of the earth To arm themselves, and rally round the cross: And thou, my Country ! fam'd for arts and arms ; Whose prowess late in suffering Europe's cause, Has broke the bonds of tyranny, and hush'd The jarring passions of mankind to peace Arise ! arise ! for now a glorious cause Thy zeal demands; and Afric's injur'd sons Cry for redress, and gratitude impels. The bleeding plains of India too invite Thy aid, where Juggernaut his victims claims, To celebrate his sanguinary rites. Still further press to China's fertile land, A'FTER HEARING TWO SERMONS. 9-3 Where darkness visible her empire holds, And superstition binds the mental powers. O ! bid the islands of the sea rejoice ; And hi the desart plant sweet Sharon's rose. But, Churchmen ! 'tis on you I chiefly call ; My Brethren, Fathers, Ministers of Him Who went about incessant doing- good, And thus by his example animates, And by his Spirit strengthens you to act. Rise, then ! nor longer slumber at your posts : Let others' labour stimulate your zeal, And hear your venerable Mother plead Her tender care in watching over you, And cherishing your faith ; — think too of Him, Whose last command was, " Teach a ruin'd world " The knowledge of a Saviour ;" and who promis'd To aid, support, and still be present with you : Exert your energies, nor ever cease, 'Till through the jrladden'd earth Messiah reigns. 94 ON HEARING A LADY PLAY ON A PIANO-FORTE. Tune-—" The Lark at Heaven's gate sings. HARK, hark ! 'tis Orme at Heaven's gate sings, And calls us far away, From earth-born cares, and meaner things, With Tier enchanting lay : For as along the trembling strings, • Her matchless skill she tries ; She seems t' address us as she sings — " Come mortals, come, arise, arise, arise." Hark, hark ! 'tis Orme at Heaven's gate sings, And calls us all to join ; Then each his willing offering brings, To praise the Love divine : The sacred strains our souls inspire, And angels seem to say, " To join the bright celestial choir, " Ye mortals haste away, away, away." 95 THE PENITENT'S PRAYER. GREAT God of mercy ! hear my prayer, To my request attend ; Bow down, O Lord, a gracious ear, And quick deliverance send. My sins aloud for vengeance call, (Let mercy intervene ;) Lo ! at thy feet I prostrate fall, Unholy, and unclean. In deep abasement here I lie, The vilest of the vile ; My heart, O ! do thou purify, From all deceit and guile. Thy mercy is a boundless ficod, And this is all my plea ; Let not a Saviour's precious blood, Be shed in vain for me. wash me in that sacred tide, (O, ever healing stream !) Which, flowing from his wounded side, Did sinful man redeem. 96 the penitent's prayer. " Believe in nie," (the Saviour cries,) " 'Twill heal your ev'ry grief;" " Lord, I believe," (my heart replies,) " O help my unbelief." Send thy good Spirit from on high, Convince me of my sin ; And then the precious balm apply, And brin"- salvation in. TS O, never ! never let me stray, My Faith and Hope increase ; And guide my feet into the way Of Righteousness and Peace. 97 HYMN FOR THE CHARITY CHILDREN. Boys — TO the God of our Salvation, Hymns of praises let us sing; Girls— We accept the invitation, And our willing 1 tribute bring : Duet, pia. — Let the numbers softly flowing, Breathe like Zephyrs o'er the plain ; Chorus, loud-- Strong and loud ! with rapture glowing, Raise a more exalted strain. Boys — Praise him for our first creation, For the gift of life and breath ; Girls — Praise him for our preservation From the paths of sin and death. Duet and Chorus. Boys — Praise him for his loving kindness, Who instruction freely sends ; Girls — And in pity to our blindness, Rais'd us up a host of friends : Duet and Chorus. Boys — Hail ! ye gen'rous, kind protectors, May your efforts never fail ; Girls — Of our youth the wise directors, Friends of Charity — all hail ! Duet and Chorus. N HYMN FOR A CHILD. GOD of my life and hope, to thee My infant voice I raise ; Adore thy pow'r and majesty, And feebly lisp thy praise. Although conceiv'd and born in sin, A child of wrath I lay ; Thy mercy brought redemption in, And turn'd my night to day. Then let thy grace incline my heart, To seek my Saviour's face ; And light and strength to me impart, To run my heav'nly race. That when this mortal life shall end, And sin and sorrow cease ; 1 may to those bright realms ascend, Where all is joy and peace. 99 CHRISTMAS HYMN. COME, ye nations, raise a song, And hail Messiah Prince of Peace ; Roll the sweet harmony along-, And let all strife and discord cease. For angels sing a Saviour's birth, And from the highest heav'ns descend ; " Hear, hear ! heav'ns ! give ear, O earth," And to their heav'nly strains attend. Then " Glory he to God on high," For " Peace 'twixt heav'n and earth restor'd ; " Good will to sinful men brought nigh ; — " Again Jehovah is ador'd." Then let his love your souls inspire, And warm with holy zeal each breast ; A spark of this celestial fire, Will charm each anxious care to rest. 'Twill feed the hungry through the land, Assist the sick, the lame, the blind ; And ev'ry Christian's heart expand T' embrace as brethren all mankind. Hail Him ! ye nations, bow the knee, His reign shall through the earth extend; His shall the pow'r and glory be, And of his kingdom be no end. N 2 100 LINES WRITTEN AFTER ATTENDING A MEETING FOR THE FORMATION OF A BIBLE ASSOCIATION, For Northampton and its Vicinity, JAV. 20, 1818. <{ Arise, shine, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord " is risen upon thee." Isaiah ix. Ver. 1. " AWAKE ! Awake! all ye that dwell in dust," From sin's delusive slumbers, now awake To righteousness ; for now the glorious light, The day-spring from on high, illumes the earth, And dissipates the shadows of the night. The bright, the morning star refulgent beams, And ushers in the long predicted day, "When all the nations of the earth shall turn From sin and vanity, to worship Him Who first created, and then died to save. All we like silly sheep have gone astray, Have wander'd devious from the path of life, Into tin dark waste howling wilderness, Where death unseen attends on ev'ry step: Refusing to return, though often warn'd Of lurking dangers, which our way beset ; BIBLE ASSOCIATION. 101 The husks preferring which the swine refuse, To all the dainties of our Father's house. At length a famine rising in that land, Alarms our fears, and, coming to ourselves, We pause — reflecting on our awful state, And tremble on the brink of deep despair. How welcome, then, is the good shepherd's voice, If heard behind us, sweetly calling out — ** How long, ye simple ones, will ye rebel ? " How long the living seek among the dead ? " Return unto the fold, and rest in peace ; " To pastures green and sweet refreshing streams " I'll lead you ; glad restore your fainting souls," And guide you in the paths of righteousness. — How kind, how condescending is the grace That brings salvation from a state like this ! — This is the grace contain'd in that bless'd book, Which we this day have met to recommend, As the specific, sov'reign antidote, For all the miseries of all mankind. 102 LINES ON THE DEATH OF MR. W. JENSON. AWAY all vain and trifling themes, In dark oblivion roll along ; Be banish' d hence yonr idle dreams, A serious subject claims my song. Death has again with sudden stroke, Depriv'd me of another friend ; Th' endear'd connection quickly broke, And friendship's tie essay'd to rend. 'Till death, his constant truth remain'd, No false or fickle friend was he ; The flatt'rer's part his soul disdain'd, Conscious in his integrity. And when some soul oppress'd with grief, Repentant groan'd beneath his sin ; His friendly counsel gave relief, And pour'd the balm of comfort in. For well he knew that all offend, And thus compassion could bestow ; That we on Jesus must depend — Perfection dwells not here below. ON THE DEATH OF MR. JENSON. 103 But those he saw confirm'd in vice, Could in his friendship have no share ; The virtuous only and the wise, ' Could ever find acceptance there. — . And thou, his widow'd mate, O cast Thy care on Him who cannot lie; Another husband still thou hast, Who'll never leave thee, never die. But still one sucker from this root, Rises the other trees among' ; Which promises to bear much fruit, Worthy the stock from which it sprung - . But I, alas ! like some old tree, When all my fellows fell'd around ; To ev'ry storm expos'd you see, A useless cumb'rer of the ground. &■ Ere long the Woodman's axe shall strike, And lay me like my fellows low; But hope remains for all alike — We in some happier clime may grow. There flourish ever green and fair, Transplanted in a richer soil ; The objects of our Saviour's care, Rewarding him for all his toil. 104 THE NEW STATUE. YOU have heard how that Nebuchadnezzar of old, At Babylon set up an image of gold ; And all that were passing compell'd were to stop, To worship the image that he had set up. But gold being scarce, we must let that alone, And therefore we set up an image of stone ; And if any are passing we beg them to stop, And worship the image that we have set up. Bring hither the cornet, the bagpipe, and flute, The sackbut, the dulcimer, psaltery, and lute, The trumpet, the clarions, the fife, and the drum, Let all kinds of musical instruments come. Ye nobles, ye gentles, ye commons, and all, With tag, rag, and bobtail — O come at the call, Sound the music, then down on your marrow-bones drop, And worship the image that we have set up. In a Protestant country it seems very odd, That Dagon should stand in the temple of God : To Him pay the homage to Him due alone, Nor worship, ye Britons, an Idol of stone. 105 MODERN PATRIOTISM. SAY, what is Patriotism ! — 'tis a name, Assum'd by hypocrites who thirst for fame. Not fame alone will gratify their wishes, But they must too possess the loaves and fishes. Hence, jarring parties in the state arise, And fill the nation with their patriot cries; Envying each other all their state and glory ; And hence arose the terms of Whig and Tory. — When Tories gain th' ascendant, Whigs will rail And clamour ! till their longs their office fail. Zeal for their country's good is their pretence— You'd think they'd willing die in her defence: And after saying all that can be said, Their pens they draw, and floods of Ink are shed ; Which mix'd with gall in venom'd torrents flows, And poisons all the verdure as it goes. — Now change the scene, and let the Whigs have place; Will they their country save from her disgrace ? Ah ! no, their country never was their care, But how they may the loaves and fishes share. We find at last, in all his power and glory, The railing Whig becomes an arrant Tory : Whilst Tories disappointed, rage and rail, And in their turns the envied Whigs assail. — Then, why, with Whigs and Tories make a rout ? No matter who is in, or who is out : Patriots ! to join my Prayer, on you I call — • " From Whigs and Tories Heav'n defend us all." o 106 THE CANDIDATE. GIVE me the man, who with true patriot zeal, Pursues with ardour strong his country's weal ; "Who unappall'd amid»t the courtly tribe, Stands uncorrupted, and rejects a bribe ; Unmov'd again by popular applause, No flatt'ring plaudit him from duty draws ; Procures no favour by mean servile ways, Nor strives by flattery to acquire praise. He makes no pledge, which he does not redeem, But by integrity demands esteem. No undue influence procures your voice, He is the free election of your choice ; Your Purses and your Liberties to guard, Your approbation only his reward : — Of such men may our Parliament be full, And then prosperily to — Old John Bull. on GOSSIPING AT A PLACE OF PUBLIC WORSHIP. YE Church -going gossipers, who vainly prate, And in that place your idle tales relate; Drive from your thoughts all worldly cares away, And learn to meditate, and praise, and pray. Then shall the gentle dews of Heaven descend, And blessings on your waiting souls attend : And if this verse your wand'ring thoughts restrain, I shall not write, nor will you read, in vain. 107 ON J. H. THURSBY, ESQ.'s RETURN, WITH HIS FAMILY, To Abinyton, after Seven Years' Absence. t THURSBY ! long-lost, rever'd, belov'd, By all the neighb'ring country round: The sweets of bliss domestic prov'd ; With ev'ry earthly comfort crown'd. Was there a heart oppress'd with grief, That sought his hospitable door; Here misery obtain'd relief, And here, a refuge for the poor. His faithful Sylvia, too, her share Contributed to make him blest ; T' alleviate ev'ry anxious care That ere assail'd his gentle breast. Pity ! that such a tranquil scene Should ever interrupted be ; Pity ! that sickness should have been The cause of infelicity. Mysterious are the ways of heav'n, And wise and just are His decrees ; To erring man it is not given, To scan His hidden mysteries. o 2 108 ON J. h. thursby's return. Alas ! attack'd by dire disease, The lovely Sylvia hung her head : Nor could the healing art give ease, Hygeia, with her train, were fled. She still the fugitive pursued, Far from the plains of Abington ; Pursued in vain the valued good, And hope seeru'd almost ever gone. At length the parting clouds between, A ray of hope in sight appears ; And ushers in a brighter scene, To dissipate our gloomy fears. O, Abington ! no longer mourn- Your lawns, and groves, forsaken long ; Welcome your patron's glad return, And join the rustic dance and song. Long may they live rever'd and blest, A num'rous offspring smiling round ; By all the virtuous still caress'd, With ev'ry earthly blessing crown'd. And when life's voyage shall be o'er, And they in peace have anchor cast, May they land on that blissful shore, Safe shelter'd from each stormy blast. 109 SONG.— ON THE SAME. t YE lads, and ye lasses, of Abington, come, And welcome the 'Squire, and his family home ; Come cease from your cares and your labours awhile, And in potions of ale all your sorrows beguile. Assemble together ye old, and ye young ; The young trip it away, the old hobble along : Rejoice and be merry, my girls, and my boys, But remember the maxim — be merry and wise. In innocent sports pass the bright hours away, Then retire to rest at the close of the day ; In the morning arise, by sweet slumbers refresh'd, And your duties pursue, with contentment possess'd. Then let's drink a health to our worthy good 'Squire, Who with grateful affection our hearts must insp'ire ; May his family flourish, in health and in peace, And their honour from ages to ages increase. 110 LINES WRITTEN AFTER HEARING A SERMON ON THE DEATH OF A YOUNG MAN, Who ivas Drowned while Bathiny, 1818. " Prepare to meet thy God." Amos iv. Ver. 12. PREPARE ! prepare, to meet thy God, The warning Prophet cries ; Attend unto the chast'ning rod, Descending 1 from the skies. *& With solemn pause — hehold the hand Of Providence display'd ; Repent — return — at His command, Nor be the work delay'd. The voice speaks loud to ev'ry heart, Th' important time is now; When to Death's unrelenting dart, Our youth are call'd to bow. Cut down like some sweet blooming flow'r, That's cropt in all its prime ; And transient as the fleeting hour, That now divides our time. EPITAPH. Ill In humble resignation wait The great decisive day ; When th' myst'ries of our mortal state, Will all be clear' d away. Let faith, and hope, and love divine, Our fainting souls restore ; To God our peaceful souls resign, Submit — obey — adore. EPITAPH, YE thoughtless erring mortals, Attend to what I say, And seriously remember, Your solemn dying day : Come take a friend's advice, And use your best endeavour, To live well while you are here, That you may live for ever. 112 HARVEST HYMN, 1818. TO thee, great God of heav'n and earth, We raise a sacred song : To sing thy praise who gave us birth, Assist our feeble tongue. Thy bounty clothes each smiling field, Fulfilling our desires; And we the willing tribute yield, That gratitude inspires. Continue, Lord, thy wonted aid, Till we the crop secure ; Our fields' increase shall then be made A blessing to the poor. With grateful thanks to thee, God, Our hearts shall overflow, For all thy gracious hand bestow'd, Or ever shall bestow. And when our heart and flesh shall fail, And this short conflict's o'er ; May we in Heav'n thy presence hail, And praise thee evermore. 113 TO ALICE MERRY, ON HER FIRST BIRTH DAY. ALICIA ! I my offering- bring - , Joyful thy first birth-day sing- ; Beg - that Heav'n in love may shed Blessings on thy infant head. As thy faculties expand, May'st thou quickly understand, Who it was that made and fed thee, And through num'rous dangers led thee Who redeem'd thee, and who still Does thy cup with pleasure fill ; (Though 'tis often mix'd with gall, Sad effect of Adam's fall ;) Who preserves thee from each ill, And attends upon thee still. May'st thou learn to lisp his praise, Love, and serve him, all thy days ; Ever may his grace direct thee, And his power still protect thee May no evil mark thy way, Nor the tempter, man, betray. When life's fleeting sand is run, And the thread of life is spun, May thy happy spirit rise, And bloom a flow'r in Paradise. 114 NORTHAMPTON ROSES versus ADDERBURY. THOUGH Adderbury's Rose shall shine, And flourish in the Poet's line ; Yet many a ftow'r as sweet and fair, Adorns Northampton's gay parterre. Here Roses smile hoth white and red, Around their fragrant odours shed ; While all, and each, their charms unite, To fill the senses with delight. Then how shall I select a flower, From hence to deck my humble bower; Where such a rich profusion lies, The scent to please, and charm the eyes. Yes, yonder flow'r the prize must be, That bears its head so modestly ; That Rose Pll to my bower bear, And plant, and water it with care. And when by time its beauties fade, And all its charms in dust are laid ; Past joys a pleasure still shall give, And in my mem'ry ever live. But let no cynic hence suppose, I envy Adderbury's Rose ; No, let it bloom — I only claim, For ours an equal meed of fame. 115 THE RIVAL ROSES. STILL Adderbury's Rose shall shine, Dnenvied in the Poet's line ; But for intrinsic worth alone, Northampton yields the palm to none. If niis'ry is the poor man's lot, The angel, Mercy, seeks his cot; And while the heart with pity bleeds, The naked clothes, the hungry feeds. The dark desponding mind to calm, The Bible pours its healing balm ; And ev'ry species of distress, No sooner known, than render'd less. Then, let us not forget that pow'r, Who first endued each beauteous flow'r, With all its various charms, to fill The breast with admiration still. But, ah ! these ftow'rs must all decay, Their beauties all must fade away ; And if you pluck the fairest Rose, Some latent thorn it will disclose. But Hope affords a glimm'ring ray, Which Faith illumes to perfect day ; That from these roots new stems shall rise, And bloom again in Paradise. p 2 116 THE HOSE WITHOUT A THORN. " I am the Rose of Sharon." THERE is a flow'r, as yet unsung ; And mortal pun, nor angel tongue, Could ever adequately praise The charms which Sharon's Rose displays. Then why do you (perhaps you ask) Presume to undertake the task ? Because, should I my aid deny, The very stones for shame would cry. It flourished once the queen of flowers, In Eden's amaranthine bovvers ; Agrain Judea's plains adorn'd, Till rooted up, despis'd, and scorn'd. Now, (borne by angel bands on high,) It blooms in realms above the sky ; Where with perennial verdure crown'd, It scatters fragrance all around. On earth it left a sweet perfume, And to it all the nations come ; Appears with healing in its wings, And unexhausted pleasure brings. Then, let us seek that blissful scene, Where peace, and joy, for ever reign; Nor treat with rude contempt and scorn, That lovely Rose without a Thorn. 117 LINES t WRITTEN ON THE DEATH OF MR. WILLIAM CHOWN, SCHOOLMASTER, Of Moulton, Northamptonshire. AGAIN unto the will of Heav'n I bend, For Chown is gone, my first, my earliest friend ; Whose social converse oft my heart has warm'd, And many a dull and gloomy hour has charm'd. When oft our evening' rural walk we took, Along the path, or by the bubbling brook, Viewing the cultivated scene arouud, (Where industry is with Heav'n's blessing crown'd,) Our thoughts were led to that Almighty pow'r, Who perfects every herb, and fruit, and fiow'r ; And when this pleasing intercourse denied, His well-selected books that loss supplied. Young, Milton, Hervey, Thompson's friendly aid, Of principles a sound foundation laid ; While Addtson, and Steele, and Johnson too, Brought forth the superstructure to the view ; And num'rous Authors, though of humbler name, Have yet obtain'd a just decree of fame. These are advantages, I freely own, hat, but for Chown, I never should have known ; 118 EPITAPH. For which, my gratitude I now express, In marks of true esteem, and thankfulness. — Vann, Ingman, Jenson, Chown, all now are gone, And I am left forsaken, and alone : Like some old tree that stands upon the heath, Whose sapless trunk proclaims th' approach of death. Religion yet a humble hope supplies, That from these roots, new stems again shall rise; And in some milder, happier clime be found, And flourish, with perpetual verdure ctown'd. EPITAPH. ON THE SAME. HIS province was, to teach unguarded youth, And guide their footsteps in the path of truth ; This pleasing task he executed well, As numbers from experience can tell : From Christian principles his precepts drew, His virtues many, and his frailties few ; He now enjoys the presence of his Lord, Whose approbation is his rich reward. 119 ON CHRISTMAS. NOW Christians again celebrate the glad season, That brought the good news of Salvation to man ; Attend to the voice of Religion and Reason, And with rapture contemplate the wonderful plan. 'Twas not merit in man that induc'd the blest Jesus To leave his bright seat in the mansions above : He came from tbe bondage of sin to release us, And our hearts to inspire with a similar love. This boon he bestows upon all who receive him, His doctrines believe, and his precepts obey ; No trial can ever induce them to leave him, Who bow to his yoke, and submit to his sway. Ye rich, on whom he has bestow'd such abundance, Most freely your hearts and your coffers unlock ; And from the rich stores of your endless redundance, Distribute relief to the poor of the flock : For round the dull cottage the bleak wind is blowing, And " Winter puts on a most terrible frown ;" And scarce on the hearth is an ember seen glowing, Then haste with your bounty their comfort to crown : Forifyonr hearts burn with true love to your neighbours, And your hands they are ready their wants to relieve ; His promise will recompense all your kind labours; You'll find it " more blessed to give than receive." 120 ON THE SAME. THE annual season of Christmas returns, And the heart of each Christian with gratitude burns ; And if he is bless'd with a plentiful store, He wants but a hint to " remember the poor." The transcendant love which his Saviour display'd, When he came to redeem those who from him hadstray'd; That love which constrains him to wander no more, Will constrain him likewise to " remember the poor." The sons and the daughters of poverty plead, For a share of your plenty, to help them in need ; O, turn them not empty away from your door, But in mercy and kindness " remember the poor." Ye affluent, whose tables with plenty are crown'd, And where a profusion of lux'ries abound ; If you would the blessing of Heav'n ensure, With compassionate hearts, then, "remember the poor." Hark ! how the wind whistles our dwellings around, And the snow, like a mantle, envelopes the ground ; Though willing, how difficult, work to procure. Now, now, is the time to " remember the poor." Let benevolence give to our hearts such a glow, As none but the wise and benevolent know ; And if you a blessing would wish to procure, Expand then your hearts, and " remember the poor." 121 THE END OF ALL THINGS IS AT HAND. AGAIN the yearly list I bring, r Again produce the annual lay ; The conquests of Death's tjrant King, Before your view once more display. Again I raise the warning voice, Which has too oft been rais'd in vain ; Consider well, and make your choice, And pay attention to my strain. Perhaps some friend or neighbour kind, Who last year was as hale as you ; In the dark grave now lies confin'd, A putrid mass conceal'd from view. If you Religion's ways should choose, Which lead to Happiness and Peace ; And Sin's delusive snares refuse, And from its bonds obtain release : If Penitence prepare the way, And Faith and Exercise appear ; If Holiness your lives display, And prove your Faith and Hope sincere : Death will in vain its terrors bring :— For you may then exulting cry, O, Death ! where is thy dreaded sting, And where, Grave ! thy victory. Q 122 TO MARY MERRY, OF WICKHAM, On Her Birth Day, 1820. DEAR Mary, 1 will not refuse The tribute of my humble Muse, But in compliance with your wish, I now cook up my Christmas dish ; And should it not your palate suit, 'Tis your own fault without dispute. — Since then it is your own free choice, Come, listen to my grave advice : Though grave indeed, and free from folly, \L It need not make you melancholy ; For Wisdom's paths are paths of peace, And all her ways are pleasantness. On this important day will you, Then take a retrospective view Of all your ways, and words, and thoughts, And strive to recollect your faults; That finding where some errors lie, You may hereafter rectify ; And tracing them up to their source, You may arrest them in their course: For evil habits will at length, By being indulg'd in, gather strength. Beneath a Mother's fostering care, You've been preserv'd from many a snare ; Which now I fear you'll often meet, T' entangle your unwary feet : 123 Though in your present situation, You're not expos'd to much temptation ; And have encouragement most ample, To profit by a good example. But still for grace you oft must pray, To keep you in the narrow way ; And not yourself too much expose, To outward or to inward foes : Whose powers too often are combin'd, To help corrupt the human mind, With all the blandishments of vice : — Thus much for caution — now advice. From duty's path you ne'er must swerve ; Obedient be to those you serve : With diligence, and care, and skill, All your engagements must fulfil. Beware, ! and no tale-bearer be, From family to family ; For shame will be the lot of those, Who family secrets do disclose : Keep truth for ever in your view, Cautious in all you say or do ; Then shall you gain esteem and love, Within the circle where you move. Be always modest, neat, and clean, Of cheerful and engaging mien ; Be courteous, civil, kind to all, 'Mong whom your province is to fall. Q2 124 TO LADY ELIZA COMPTON. Beware of vanity and dress, As unbecoming godliness ; For the Apostle's word denounces, 'Gainst laces, furbelows, and flounces ; Nor would approve, depend upon it, Of a prodigious long-pok'd bonnet :— But he, like me, I shrewdly guess, Was not a j udge of female dress. — And now I must this task decline, For I have got beyond my line ; And if you think me too severe, The fault's you own, the case is .clear. I still profess your friend to be, In truth and in sincerity : Be honest, faithful, and sincere, And keep a conscience bright and clear. TO LADY ELIZA COMPTON. LET not a cloud o'ercast thy lovely face, Defeat, with honour, never is disgrace ; And though thy Brother's merits all confess, The best of mortals can't command success : But, Northampton ! venal, vicious place, Thine is the loss, and thine the sole disgrace. 125 ON THE AUTHOR'S BIRTH-DAY, 1818. IN seventeen hundred fifty-six, I drew my life's first breath ; In eighteen hundred and eighteen, I'm still secur'd from death. Full three-score fleeting years I've seen, And still. preserv'd I stand ; From num'rous dangers guarded been, By God's Almighty hand. In infancy, and giddy youth, His care was kindly shewn ; Ere I was taught the words of truth, Or his great name was known. And when at manhood I arriv'd, His mercy still pursued ; From whence I ev'ry help deriv'd, And was with strength endued. His grace first taught my waud'ring feet The way to Sion's hill ; Where oft his holy saints I meet, And learn his sacred will. 126 ON THE AUTHOR'S BIRTH DAY But what returns, alas ! I've made, For such unbounded love ; — By my too treach'rous heart betray'd, Against his Spirit strove. Pardon, O Lord, my nuin'rous faults, For Jesu's sake forgive My wicked works, and words, and thoughts, And let the rebel live. " Evil and few !" have been my days, A motley, chequer'd scene; But may, by Faith's enlivening rays, The future be serene. And when the solemn hour shall come, That calls me hence away ; May Hope irradiate the gloom, And blaze an endless day. 1-27 SONG FOR THE CORONATION, 1821. Tune—" Scots ivha luC wic Wallace bled."'' BRITONS now rejoice and sing, Instruments of music bring, Strike aloud each cheerful string, Joy and mirth abound ; Drive each anxious care away, Hail the happy, happy day, Bless great George's gentle sway, England's King he's crown'd. Britons with decisive stroke, Stern Napoleon's power broke, And destroy'd his iron yoke, By British bravery ! Europe long had struggling Iain, Underneath the galling chain, 'Till Britannia's sons again, Them freed from slavery. Britons now united be, All with hearts and hands agree, To preserve our liberty, King and laws to save : Who would e'er disloyal prove, Not his King and Country love, But in faction's circle move, He shall die a slave. FINIS. Trinltd By C. B. Merry, Bedford MOTJLTON. SCHOOL BOARD. • Sir,— The election is near at band, and a few remarks for the consideration of fellow-ratepayers may not be out of place. By observation and by careful enquiries I have come to the conclusion that the present majority have inade a complete fiilure during their term of office. Their policy, if it can be dignified by such a term, appears to have been " meddle and muddle." Have the ratepayers been relieved iu any way? Not at all. On the contrary they complain if the way in which the School Board rate is " called." The Board ou^ht to try to make their calls upon the ratepayers as equal as possible. A lid. rate once a year would not be heavily felt. But" the clever financiers on the Board study their constituencies so much that the rates are as irregular and as inconvenient as possible. They seem to have no system at all, and the heaviest rates are always made m the worst part of the year. In addition to this the Board are so " muddled " in their accounts that a large amount of the Government grant was lost this year, nearly £20 I under- stand. And yet these are the men who pose as "ratepayers' friends." and as "econo- mists." Besides the ratepayers feeling dissatisfied, many parents strongly complain of the action of the Board in regard to teachers. Some time ago I had occasion to go into t!-e school to complain to the master of one of the teachers. I found this "teacher" to be a boy of about eleven years of age. The School Board had actually appointed this child to teach the other children. I expressed the opinion that before he could teach others he ought to receive some teaching himself. He might do very well to help an older teacher, but to expect him to control other children is as preposterous and as silly as the act of appointing him. And I understand ] there is a majority of these juvenile " teachers." 1 Now this is a strong point amongst' us parents. We are compelled to send our children to school, but we want proper teachers to see to them when- they are there, and as the present majority on the Board will not appoint such we must elect members who will. We pay rate3 for the purpose and we demand a good article for the price. The £20 lost by the Board would have helped to pay a proper and efficient teacher, but I suppose the members are too " muddled " to see that. We must put members on the Board who will do their duty as men not meddlers and muddlers. A Parent. MOULTON SCHOOL BOARD. Sir, — 1 beg to ask the writer of the letter signed " A Parent " to explain in what the Boxrd have meddled wrongly, and what they have muddled. Has the Board meddled with his pecuniary interests, or what ? With regard to the £20 siid to ba " lost," I defy " A Parent " to prove it would have been possible to save the £20 other than by a much larger expenditure of the ratepayers' money. " A Parent " is further at sea when he says the Board have not economised, for during the last few months tte Board have reduced the master's salary about £24 perauE'Um, the mistress's about £13 per annum, and by the employment of monitors in lieu of an assistant master and an assistant mistress effected a saving of £50 per annum. They have also cut down the expenses for books anc! stationery by at least £15 per annum, showing a total saving to the ratepayers of £102 per annum. The Board have also effected minor savings in other depart- ments. Tkuth. MOOLTON SCHOOL BOARD. Sir, — I beg to ask the writer of the letter signed " A Parent " to explain in what the Board have meddled wrongly, and what they have muddled. Has the Board meddled with his pecuniary interests, or what? With regard to the £20 said to be " lost," I defy " A Parent " to prove it would have been possible to save the £20 other than by a much larger expenditure of the ratepayers' money. *' A Parent " is further at sea when he says the Board have not economized, for, during the last few months, the Board have reduced the master's salary about £24 per annum, the mistress's about £13, and, by the employment of monitors in lieu of an assistant master and an assistant mistress, effected a saving of £50 per annum. They have also cut down the expenses for books and stationery by at least £15 per annum, showing a total saving of £i02 per annum. The Board have also effected minor savings in other departments. TRUTH. Kissing Games and Sugared Kisses.-" Kontry Lad," writing from Moulton, refers to this subject. The " harmy " games ho doesn't think much of, and thinks they do no good to the young women who Lave gone for "sodgers" in the Army. Many of them had come to grief, though he did not know if this had come out of kissing games. The Army would do very well for lads who did not care about their reputation much, hut young women, he thinks, should keep out of it. He should not fret at being called unpopular for objecting to kissing game?. What good did anyone ever get out of kissing ho asks. On the contrary, a great deal of harm had come of it. "Sugared" kisses may have all the sugar sucked oft th'.'Ui, and then there was nothing but "cison" left, " the very sort as kills a feller." " Kontry Lad" has had them so often that he is now able to " spot " them. Even the kisses of a sweetheart turn to poison (he says) after the sugar is off them. The prevalence of kisses is due to the fact that " they are so sweet when yer fust gets era that a feller carnt help axing fer them." He has kept his eyes open in town and saw room, according to his opinion, for a few alterations. " Big young mens" should not be allowed " todrag little yong oomana by the harm through the streets." " Next thing," he thinks. " it aint rite for three or four young oomen ter wark along the fat road in a row ail joined together wid their harms " for the purpose of attracting young men's attention and inviting a collision. Neither should the young women imitate the men in respect to the "cnttin of their air all short of ther eds. He ventures to say that unless a change comes fn another 40- years the ••childers in the town wull ardly no thur mother fiom thur dad." He " wull be a comin into the toun agin in the sutuer if us is not all frez to death an snawed up afore then," and he will mention " other things as aint rite " if he is. allowed. MOULTON ALLOTMENTS. Sir,— My name having been mentioned in your report of the meeting in connection with the above and also that £\i per acre is charged in some instances, allow me to add that no bind sublet by me is charged for at such a ridiculously high figure. The rent charged by me ranges from 5id. to 7 jd per pole according to how the ground is circumstanced, and the average for the whole is barely 63 d per pole. There is not 19 or 20 acres. The exact measurement is 18a lr. 23p. Of this there are II acres of roads, hedges, ditches, and waste. This 1 J acres are included in my measurement (and for which I have to pay) but this is excluded in that measured out to the sub-tenants, so that I draw rent (when I get it all) for a few poles over 17 acres. These are facts not assertions. Mr. Mallard's talk about " extortion," " brow sweating," "treating with contempt," "eaten alive," &c, are too laughable to need comment. I wish Mr. Mallard would take his wonderful pen in hand and write to you, sir, with his name attached, and then we will soon see who is right and who is wrong.— Yours truly, G. HERBERT. WE'S MOULTON LAND DEPRETATION. master Heritor of the northampton herrald, we's had a meetin of us workin men, and we's got a depretation to wate on master Lord warntage about us land, but we was to are a cow along we the land an aint the depretation a goin for to speak for hit same time i think their oughter, or else hit'll be hay time afore we gets hit, and us carnt grow taturs on hall the land and heat em hall we selves, we's just a goin to make the depity and pety landlords sit up, if they's a goin to send hus land an cows on picturs fur vjlentine3 we's a goin to let em see we's goin to 'ave em not on picturs. i ope yer will ave room on yer paper for this so as us depretation till see it afore they goes about the land. yarn ever, jabez hodge. [Lord Wantage, we doubt not, will do what becomes him as a good-hearted Conservative Landlord, but it must be remembered that his Lordship does not belong to the delusive three-acres-and-a-cow party. — Ed. N.D.C] I The centenary of Carey ^^f^T^^l bra ted on Thursday, posses ses more * ban a lo <* At the time Carey founded the Eaptis Chapel ^ no one dreamt that his subsequent .abouxs wou^^ national importance : and ^^i^i^ry, he became "the four and a quarter years suc h c ^ e 7 { .Vnying, devoted work in evangelist of I«AV.T^f tv £e self d enyms, ^^ tbe d the cause of the Christianity uelovea , , s j which have Proved so abu "$ n "* dona1)W ptide> and biB associations are the source oi reV erential respect memory is perhaps "^"Xm^y service, at Monlton on MOULTON PARK AND MOULTON ^orUf^,feTroSiSrof Ue th R "ftl X ™^ > Thursday week Refe H n Wo th« ° t°' . Gaardia ^ °* MonUon lost the day byX*oa° 8 inVv* ot-'jli? f *> that mr a.. O. Netheroote, Moulton L ? he ch »>rraan. votm* and thereby can*d Mo£lt?„ ?*".' absUin «d from the chairman's casting vote T,rf ,° l08e the °«» by Netheroote could not ^brlnl his mfn?- 7 r ^- refc that Mr' ratepayers of Moulton ; he had a "rl^ nnl8i ° n with ^ doingr Moultou a ' md T„ s *""»<* opportunity of '°r us, allowed his chance ♦ * nnfert «^tely | am algamation opposed t, PaSS b ^- Th ^ ' Se» '„ an 1 J have b ^ inform^ T*? cle ™*n I them are also trustees of orergeer of M6mUon UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY Los Angeles This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. REC'D LD-URL \R 1 7 1984 35to-8,'71 (P6347s4)-C-120 so f-caJ 158 00920 795 UC SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY AA 000 370 623 1 Le> SRARYtf/