Water'd by rivulets and rills,
A lovely village doth appear,
And o'er the trees its chimneys rear
A church there is without a steeple,
And several unconverted people;
Though not much pious fruit appear,
The people still desire to hear.
To chapel oft they go and back,
In their old summer beaten track,
Where they the Holy Spirit grieve,
And pray for what they don't believe.
Those preachers they like best to hear,
Whose doctrine is not too severe;
Who make no push extraordinary,
But tell their tale and let them be.
It happen'd on a certain day,
A stranger chanced to stroll that way;--
I'll try to sketch him if I can,
Some call him an eccentric man.
One whom God's Spirit had enlighten'd,
Whom his own sins had soundly frightened;
Who when by strong conviction pained,
Did pardon seek, which he obtained.
He knew he then accepted stood,
By faith in the atoning blood;
But saw the people's sad condition,
And offer'd them his admonition.
A door was open in that place,
Where long had been the means of grace;
The means by many long neglected,
For fear they there should be detected.
A worthy woman there did live,
Who her advice did gratis give;
Who cared for both the flock and fold,
Like Deborah in days of old.
Like her she long had wish'd to see,
A glorious gospel victory;
And gave a friendly invitation,
To hear an extra exhortation.
The forms were set, and rostrum fix'd,
The preacher went and took his text:--
Sinners! your bleeding Saviour see,
He cries, "Ye will not come to me!"
He tried to tell what those shall win,
Who come to Christ and leave their sin;
How those shall fare in the great day,
Who all their life time stay away.
Having as he thought, clear'd his way,
They sang, and then began to pray;
He left his elevated station,
And went among his congregation,
Of the great things he'd dwelt upon,
He ask'd them questions, one by one,
And if advice or help was needing,
For penitents who then were pleading.
They still went on to sing and pray,
The good, old-fashioned gospel way;
And closer press'd the invitation,
Until 'twas time for separation.
But such unusual proceeding,
They say completely spoil'd the meeting;--
That preacher's conduct is unstable,
Who cannot keep behind the table!
Preachers ought not to come so nigh,
Into the soul's affairs to pry;
For whether they be saved or no,
Is more than they've a right to know.
Such bold presuming impudence,
To some might prove a great offence;--
Going and asking one by one,
How they for Heaven are getting on!
They say they'll come to preaching still,
If she one promise will fulfil;
That is as long as she is able,
Will keep the man behind the table.
Those hearers now are far too thin,
Who like a lusty, loud "Amen!"
And folks have now a taste so fine,
A semiquaver breaks the line!
Ye men of God, the truth enforce,
You cannot press the thing too close,
If you would do the people good,
Or clear your conscience of their blood.
When your sermon is completed,
Then your aid is further needed;
To lift up still your warning voice,
Nor leave the people to their choice.
Though some, alas, are so precise,
And God's rich blessings do despise,
Others may need your friendly care,
And will your counsel gladly hear.
If your advice when managed well,
Perchance might save some soul from Hell;
Oh think of this,--and if you're able,
You may stand still behind the table.
If I should go that way once more,
And find the people as before;
They must have either chain or cable,
If they keep _me_ behind the table.
THE LODGER IN LIVERPOOL;
OR,
THE MASON IN WINTER NIPT BY THE FROST.
While a card party were enjoying themselves in an adjoining
room.
While sad I sit, oft musing over
Happy days for ever fled;
A lonely lodger in a corner,
Like some hermit in his shed.
All around seems blithe and merry;
_My_ light's dim, and harp's unstrung,
While memory turns to yonder valley,
On whose flowery banks I've sung.
Dirty, ragged, and down-hearted,
Far from country, friends, and home;
And as far from kindness parted,
Doom'd for work the world to roam.
While the cheerful game hath flourish'd,
Gaily the glad table round;
From my eye the tear unnoticed,
Oft hath fallen to the ground.
Now they sing of female beauty,
Or the treachery of men,
Or of robbers seeking booty,
Like the tiger from his den.
Lovely forms and handsome faces,
Serve to gild the gay deceit;
Amorous ditties serve for graces,
Both before and after meat.
'Tis theirs to share life's fleeting joys,
Mine to drag the galling chain;
But still a hope my spirit buoys,
That the sun will shine again.
If their pleasures were not carnal,
I might long with them to share;
Did they lead to joys eternal,
When they laugh, I might despair.
But when time makes all surrender,
Nor permits the least excuse,
Happy they, whom time's avenger,
Charges not with its abuse.
EDOM.
(Isaiah lxiii. 1.)
O ye muses, assist me to sing,
Of the things which by faith I have seen;
Of the love of my Saviour and King,
While wandering on earth I have been.
That Him I so little have loved,
For this I have reason to mourn;
And for talents and time mis-improved,
In the days of my youth that are gone.
For neglect of the records divine,
Which so often did sound in mine ear;
My affections they did not incline,
I neglected like others to hear.
Like sheep did we all go astray,
And left the fair pastures serene;
Did wander from him far away,
Where terror and darkness were seen.
There in ambush our enemies lay,
As we roam'd o'er those desolate plains;
We became their unfortunate prey,
And were bound in affliction and chains.
We long in that sad plight did lie,
Nor had courage nor strength to look up;
Yet we oft cast a languishing eye,
To the hills from whence cometh our hope.
And there came one from Edom afar,
To whom the sad signal we gave;
He looked like a champion of war,
He was bloody--yet mighty to save!
And as swift to our rescue He came,
We related to Him all our grief,
He said that heaven heard us complain,
And 'twas He that had brought us relief.
"Who art thou?" then we fearfully said,
"Why so red in thy glorious array?
Like one who is sorely dismayed,
Through the burden and heat of the day?"
"I have come from the Father of lights,
That you in His glory may shine;
Whose throne is on high o'er all heights,
And the work of redemption is mine.
In His courts the great question was ask'd,
Who would rescue lost man from the grave?
I, my love and omnipotence task'd,
That the ruined and lost I might save!
Then stern Justice demanded his due,
And I looked for help but found none;
So my life I have laid down for you,
And have trodden the wine press alone.
"Look on me," He said with a smile,
"'Twas for you I was bruised as ye see;
There was none for this wonderful toil,
And the burden fell all upon me!"
Then He lifted us up from the ground,
And He broke our tyrannical chain;
While His blood stream'd afresh from each wound,
And whoever it touch'd was made clean!
"The ransom, though mighty, is paid,
Therefore open your hearts to receive;
You need be no longer afraid
If you truly repent and believe!"
While sweet comfort thus flow'd from his tongue,
His visage though marr'd grew more fair;
With swift wings and angelical song,
He ascended on high in the air!
A bright cloud took Him out of our sight,
And our eyes could behold him no more;
He arose to the regions of light,
And left us to believe and adore!
REFLECTIONS ON ABSENT FRIENDS, GONE TO AMERICA.
The sun had gone down o'er yon lofty mountain,
The last golden streamer had left the tall tree;
The dwelling below seemed forsaken and gloomy,
Its inmates were tossing upon the wide sea.
The rose tree was nodding the lasses had nourish'd,
Which oft had supplied them with Sunday's perfume;
The wall-flower in sorrowful modesty flourish'd,
And wept o'er the beautiful daisy in bloom!
In the track by the river the green grass is springing,
On whose flowery bank they were oft wont to stray;
No more the still grove with sweet echoes is ringing,
To the voice of the milk maid, or children at play.
The dog in the night time now howls discontented,
Of its master and mistress but lately bereft;
I listen'd and look'd to the place they frequented,
Of them not a sigh, nor a whisper is left.
How strong the emotions of friendship were glowing,
When towed by the steamer the ocean they braved;
Their force was evinced by the tears that were flowing,
As the hat, or the hand, or the handkerchief waved.
From the shores of old England we anxiously view'd them,
A cargo most precious, and dear to our sight;
Far o'er the blue surface affection pursued them,
Till the ship was conceal'd by the curtain of night.
They have left us,--their absence wakes mournful reflection,
As the fast sailing Arundel bears them away;
We can only consign them to heavenly protection,
To Him, whom the winds and the waters obey.
He who roves through the wood may quickly discover,
Their affection in tokens which there he will see;
Where with sorrowful heart each friend or each lover,
May sigh o'er their names in the bark of the tree.
THE LAST JOB OF AN OLD TRAMP;
OR,
REFLECTIONS ON BURNING A MASON'S MALLET
FOR A YULE CLOG, ON CHRISTMAS EVE.
O thou once highly valued piece of wood,
By him who best that value understood;
Whose purse so often thou didst help to fill,--
Whom bed and board,
Thou didst afford,
Attended by thy train of sharpen'd steel!
True to thy task throughout the changing year,
Thy fellowship was to thy master dear:--
Whether at work, or o'er his shoulder slung,
Or near his side,
Thou wast his pride,
While with his friend he cheerful sat and sung!
Without a murmur at stern winter's frown,
Or summer's heat, in country or in town,
The stone hath yielded to thy sturdy blow:--
Thy day is gone,
Thy task is done,
And thou art own'd by thy last master now!
While careless I thy destiny survey,
And see thee down to ashes waste away;
Thy crackling whisper seems to shew to me,
The frailty clear,
Of all things here,
To earth allied, and man's mortality!
Since first on thee the tender bud appear'd,
Or on thy branch the birds the woodlands cheer'd,
What strange vicissitudes have roll'd between;
Since thou wast nurs'd,
With care at first,
Or in the forest flourish'd gay and green!
There was a time when high thy top did wave,
In mystic triumph o'er the woodman's grave,
Whose stroke had ceas'd, worn out by course of years;
Where undismay'd
The breezes play'd,
Whose peaceful shade remembrance only bears!
Ah! thou wilt never, never bud again,
Thy ashes lost in field, or flood, or lane;
No more the sun will on thy substance shine:
It would, at last, I fear,
Be well with many here,
If life's last spark might be compared with thine!
GLOSSARY.
Aboon--_above_
Ageean--_against_
Ah--_I_
Ah'v--_I have_
Airm--_arm_
Alang--_along_
'At's--_that is_
Awd--_old_
Awn--_own_
Awlus--_always_
Ax--_ask_
Baable--_bible_
Bairn--_child_
Beck--_a brook_
Beean--_been_
Beeans--_bones_
Beean't--_be not_
Beeath--_both_
Beelds--_builds_
Berreed--_buried_
Besaads--_besides_
Blaw--_blow_
Bleead--_blood_
Boo--_bow_
Booast--_boast_
Boorn--_born_
Boon--_going_
Bon--_burn_
Bonny--_handsome_
Bowght--_bought_
Breeght--_bright_
Brigg--_bridge_
Broo--_brow_
Bukes--_books_
Cawd--_cold_
Caps--_puzzles_
Cheeans--_chains_
Childer--_children_
Chimler--_chimney_
Clim--_climb_
Clivver--_clever_
Com--_came_
Congker'd--_conquered_
Convarsion--_conversion_
Cooat--_coat_
Coorn--_corn_
Coorse--_course_
Cubburt--_cupboard_
Cum--_come_
Daft--_weak in mind_
Dee--_die_
Deea--_do_
Deeal--_dale_
Deean--_done_
Deed--_died_
Deein--_dying_
Desaun'd--_designed_
Doon--_down_
Doot--_doubt_
Draave--_drive_
Duffil--_kind of coarse cloth_
Ee--_eye_
Een--_eyes_
Efter--_after_
Ey--_aye_
Faanly--_finely_
Fain--_glad_
Fand--_found_
Fause--_false_
Feeat--_foot_
Feead--_fed_
Feight--_fight_
Finnd--_find_
Flay'd--_afraid_
Fleead--_flood_
Fleer--_floor_
Floor--_flower_
Foark--_fork_
Fooas--_foes_
Fooaks--_folks_
Fooam--_foam_
Foond--_found_
Forgeean--_forgiven_
Fower--_four_
Fra'--_from_
Freeat--_fret_
Frev--_from_
Froon'd--_frowned_
Fund--_found_
Gaain--_going_
Gamlin--_gambling_
Gang--_to go_
Gangin--_going_
Gat--_got_
Geean--_gone_
Geean'd--_gained_
Geen--_given_
Gie--_give_
Ginnes--_guineas_
Gitten--_got_
Gooan--_gone_
Graw--_grow_
Greeatin--_groaning_
Greeave--_grave_
Hawf--_half_
Heeame--_home_
Heearth--_earth_
Heeigh--_high_
Hennut--_have not_
Hev--_have_
Hez--_has_
Hezzen't--_has not_
Hods--_holds_
Hoo--_how_
Hoor--_hour_
Hooivver--_however_
Hoose--_house_
Hoosin--_household_
Hoss--_horse_
Iddicated--_educated_
I' noo--_soon_
I' t'--_in the_
Iv--_in_
Ivvery--_every_
Keease--_case_
Ken--_to see_
Kesenmas--_christmas_
Kest--_cast_
Kirk--_church_
Knaw--_know_
Ky--_cows_
Lahtle--_little_
Lee--_a lie_
Leeak--_look_
Leeatly--_lately_
Leeght--_light_
Lie--_to lay_
Lig--_to lie_
Lood--_loud_
Loore--_learning_
Loss--_lose_
Mack--_make_
Mah--_my_
Mahle--_mile_
Mare--_more_
Maund--_mind_
Mebby--_may be_
Meead--_made_
Meeasons--_masons_
Meeght--_might_
Meer--_a mare_
Misteean--_mistaken_
Mitch--_much_
Mooan't--_must not_
Mooat--_mote_
Moont--_mount_
Moorning--_mourning_
Mud--_might_
Mun--_must_
Natches--_notches_
Neea--_no_
Neean--_none_
Neegh--_nigh_
Neeght--_night_
Neen--_nine_
Nivver--_never_
Nobbut--_only_
Nooas--_noes_
Nooatice--_notice_
Nooation--_idea_
Nowght--_nothing_
Nowther--_neither_
Nowthern--_northern_
Nut--_not_
Ommost--_almost_
Onny--_any_
Oor--_our_
O' t'--_of the_
Ower--_over_
Owerton--_overturn_
Owght--_ought, or aught_
Owther--_either_
Pearted--_parted_
Pertend--_pretend_
Pleeace--_place_
Pleugh--_plough_
Plissures--_pleasures_
Poosts--_posts_
Praaze--_praise, or prize_
Preear--_prayer_
Preeav--_prove_
Prisance--_presence_
Prooan--_prone_
Prooase--_prose_
Prood--_proud_
Raise--_rise_
Rath--_wrath_
Reeace--_race_
Reeght--_right_
Reen--_reign_
Rint--_rent_
Rowlin--_rolling_
Rum--_room_
Saain'd--_signed_
Sal--_shall_
Sare--_sore_
Sarten--_certain_
Sawn--_sown_
Screeve--_mark_
Seea--_so_
Seeaf--_safe_
Seean--_soon_
Seeaven--_seven_
Seeght--_sight_
Seer--_sure_
Shanks--_legs_
Shaw--_show_
Sheeape--_shape_
Shoat--_short_
Shoo--_show_
Shoothers--_shoulders_
Sike--_such_
Sin'--_since_
Skoors--_scores_
Snaw--_snow_
Soorce--_source_
Sowl--_soul_
Spak--_spoke_
Steead--_stood_
Steeaks--_stakes_
Steean--_stone_
Strang--_strong_
Strave--_strive_
Stond--_stand_
Stour--_drift_
Sud--_should_
Sum--_some_
Sute--_suit_
Swap--_exchange_
Taame--_time_
Tack--_take_
Teea an' fraw--_to and fro_
Teeables--_tables_
Teeak--_took_
Teeal--_tale_
Teean--_taken_
Tegither--_together_
Te t'--_to the_
Thah--_thy_
Thee--_thy_
Theer--_there_
Thenk--_thank_
Ther--_their_
Thof--_though_
Thowght--_thought_
Thraving--_thriving_
Thruff--_through_
Thunner--_thunder_
Tiv--_to_
Ton--_turn_
Toons--_towns_
Towght--_taught_
Treead--_trade_
Trimmel'd--_trembled_
Trist--_trust_
'Twad--_it would_
Twea--_two_
Ungker'd--_strange_
Voo--_vow_
Wad--_would_
Waddn't--_would not_
Wark--_work_
Warst--_worst_
Wean't--_will not_
Weeap--_weep_
Weel--_well_
Wesh--_wash_
Wha--_who_
Whahl--_while_
Wheas--_who is, or whose_
Whooap--_hope_
Whoor--_where_
Winder--_window_
Winnut--_will not_
Wiv--_with_
Woak--_walk_
Woark--_work_
Wods--_words_
Wor--_were_
Woth--_worth_
Wrang--_wrong_
Wur--_our_
Wur--_was_
Yack--_oak_
Yah--_one_
Yan--_one_
Yance--_once_
Yer--_your_
INDEX.
Page.
Preface, 5
Awd Isaac, Part First, 9
---- Part Second, 25
---- His dying advice, 30
Dialogue on a Steeple Chase, 35
The Lucky Dream, 44
A strange effusion, 46
Lealholm Bridge, 48
Old Sam, or the effects of the Gospel, 51
Thoughts on Good Friday, 55
To a withered flower, 57
The country Love Feast, 59
Ode to Britain, 62
A voice from the dead, 63
To the Moor birds in a storm, 66
Lines on returning a borrowed Stick, 67
The thunder storm, 68
The Miser's away, 69
The Mistake, 71
The broken seal, 72
The Stone!, 75
To the rising Sun, 82
Lines in memory of the Rev. D. Duck, 84
An elegy on the death of a beloved child, 85
On the first text heard spiritually, 88
To a Squirrel in a cage, 90
To a bird singing in winter, 92
Petch's Elegy, 93
Reflections on Petch's tomb, 95
"Who hath believed our report?", 97
The Bees, 100
Caution from Limber Hill, 101
The village church in ruins, 103
Poetical reflections, 105
The two hours' task, 110
The country blunder, 113
A sinner saved by grace, 115
The portion of the Just, 117
The happy choice, 118
On the death of John Morley, 119
The servant's address to his master, 122
Sabbath morning musings, 125
Lines on leaving Fryup, 129
The Swallow, 131
A call to the careless, 132
To a horse, dying alone!, 134
Musings during affliction, 137
The Play, 144
The remote Christian, 146
Solitary reflections, 149
On some who had left us, 150
There is a God, 152
Confirmation, 153
The man of the world, 155
The rule of contrary, 157
On finding some Deistical books, in the
house of one who once feared God, 160
On visiting Fryup, 162
The Three Voices, 164
Dialogue between Rosedale Bob, and Hartoft John, 165
A love letter, 170
Truth triumphant, 173
Reflections on a Backslider, 176
Village preaching, 178
The lodger in Liverpool, 182
Edom, 184
Reflections on absent Friends, 187
Last Job of an old Tramp, 189
Glossary, 191
_Whitby: Printed by Horne and Richardson._
TRANSCRIBERS' NOTES
Page 23: Unnecessary opening " as in original
Page 27: .! at end of verse as in original
Page 34: Closing " has no associated opening " in the original
Page 46: Opening " has no associated closing " in the original
Page 54: " added before We all must
Page 59: mispent as in the original
Page 70: expence as in the original
Page 148: bles'd as in the original
Page 174: Powr's corrected to Pow'rs (second instance)
Page 175: &c, corrected to &c. in the last verse
Page 186: Unnecessary opening " as in original
Page 190: flourish,d corrected to flourish'd
Page 195: sowl corrected to soul