{"id":1058,"date":"2009-04-13T02:28:56","date_gmt":"2009-04-13T02:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newton-le-willows.com\/wp\/?p=1058"},"modified":"2013-12-22T17:15:46","modified_gmt":"2013-12-22T17:15:46","slug":"newton-le-willows-in-verse-j-h-lane","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/?p=1058","title":{"rendered":"Newton le Willows in Verse – J H Lane<\/span>"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today I managed to transcribe some poems written by J H Lane, which he published in 1916 in a small 40 page booklet called “Newton le Willows – Pictures and Verse”.<\/p>\n

Most of the Pictures from the book have already made it into the photo gallery, as they duplicate ones in his other two publications, as do some of the verse from the book, but here are three small sections of verse which are new to me.<\/p>\n

\n

A Sad Mishap.<\/strong><\/p>\n

PRELUDE.<\/strong>
\nNear Castle Hill, that ancient mound
\nWhose top with withered oaks is crowned.
\nThere stands a bridge, of wood its make,
\nThat spans an artificial lake.<\/p>\n

THE MISHAP.<\/strong>
\nTowards this bridge, one Sabbath-day,
\nThree Newton swains did wend their way,
\nIn Sunday suits attired,
\nIn hopes to see some maidens fair,
\nWho often had resorted there–
\nFor what, Ive neer enquired.<\/p>\n

Around their eager eyes they turn,
\nBut not a maid can they discern
\nOn this side or on that;
\nSo on the bridge, with many a yell,
\nThey rush and now the Muse will tell
\nOf a sad mishap which there befell
\nA certain tall silk hat.<\/p>\n

To soothe their disappointment sore,
\nThese swains begin a-jumping oer
\nThis bridge upheld by stumps.
\nThe first two jump the bridge in six,
\nThe third, by swinging long and kicks,
\nGets over in five jumps.<\/p>\n

Then the owner of a “shiner”
\n(Not a common “four-and-niner”)
\nShouts out with might and main:
\n“0 lads! as sure as Im alive,
\nI will get oer this bridge in five,
\nSo here I go again”<\/p>\n

He pulls his hat down oer his ears,
\nAnd soon in attitude appears
\nKnees bent and arms outspread;
\nAnon a mighty jump he takes,
\nWhich shakes the bridge, and also shakes
\nThe hat from off his head.<\/p>\n

To save his hat from falling down
\nUpon the bridge, which might the crown
\nIndent or break the brim,
\nSome frantic struggles he doth make,
\nAnd also makes a sad mistake,
\nFor soon upon the rippled lake
\nHis “chimney-pot” doth swim.<\/p>\n

Bare headed now, with clasped hands,
\nUpon the bridge the owner stands,
\nSo sad and so distressed;<\/p>\n

And, having watched his hats descent,
\nHis feelings then in words give vent,
\nWhich words composed this sad lament,
\nTo his tall hat addressed:-<\/p>\n

THE OWNERS LAMENT, AND THE HATS REPLY.<\/p>\n

” 0 HAT! 0 hat! my Sunday hat!
\nPray tell, in accents clear,
\nWhy thou hast left thy resting-place
\nTo sail on Newton Mere!<\/p>\n

Tis true that Ive not used thee well,
\nFor oft Ive let thee fall;
\nBut, why thou shouldst turn mariner,
\nI cant make out at all.<\/p>\n

“What would thy honest maker say
\nTo see thy sorry plight?
\nIm sure hed rave most terribly,
\nAnd swear that thou wast tight!”<\/p>\n

A gust of wind came thro the bridge,
\nAnd turned the tall hat oer;
\nThen, thro its ventilator, came
\nThis verse?and nothing more :-<\/p>\n

“My brim is hard, my crown is tough;
\nI blame thee not for usage rough
\nAy, many a bump and thump!
\nBut this Id have thee understand,
\nThat, in the Book so rarely scanned,
\nThourt bid remember this command ?
\nThis day thou shalt not jump!<\/p>\n

Another gust came thro the bridge,
\nThe hat turned oer again,
\nAt which its owner cried aloud,
\nAs smit with sudden pain :-<\/p>\n

“Will no one save my hat for me
\nBefore it disappears?”
\nUpsprang his friend, and, smiling, said
\n“I will!” which stopped his tears.<\/p>\n

THE RESCUE.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Fast to the rescue his friend now rushes,
\nThro nettles, ferns, and blackberry-bushes,
\nTo where a small boat lay chained by a stage;
\nBut, when he got there, he fell into a rage,
\nFor the boat was locked, and he had no key;
\nSo he raises his foot, and smashes a tree,
\nWhich loosens the chain; then jumps in the boat,
\nTakes off his hat, and throws off his coat,
\nRolls up his shirt-sleeves, then grippeth the oars,
\nAnd soon, with exertion, sweat down him pours.
\nA voice of wailing now conies from the shore,
\n“Be quick! be quick! or my hat is no more!”
\nThe cry is heard, and, in less than a minute,
\nUprushes the boat with the lad who is in it,
\nWho rescues the hat from a watery fate,
\nAnd restores it, all wet, to its owners pate.
\nThen the owner raises his musical voice,
\nAnd shouteth aloud, “Rejoice! 0 rejoice!
\nFor my tall hat a watery fate bath braved:
\nSo rejoice with me, friends, that my hat is saved!”<\/p>\n

\n

A Newton Pastoral<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

NIGHTS spangled curtain is withdrawn;
\nFair Nature smileth thro her tears,
\nFor brightly beauteous beamed the dawn,
\nAnd now the glorious day appears.<\/p>\n

The owl hath long regained her home;
\nThe blinking bats, the barns and ricks;
\nAnd, from the churchs little dome,
\nThe village clock proclaimeth six.<\/p>\n

The prostrate cattle low their thanks;
\nFor balmy rest, and, as I pass,
\nThey rise and shake their steaming flanks,
\nAnd, eager, graze the moistened grass.<\/p>\n

The leas are dotted oer with lambs
\nThat frisk about with happy bleat,
\nOr, crowding round their patient dams,
\nDraw sweetness from the yielding teat.<\/p>\n

The waters breezy bosom heaves,
\nThe flowers have oped their dewy eyes,
\nThe trees have dried their shady leaves,
\nAnd larks, exulting, seek the skies.<\/p>\n

The thrushes and the linnets sing,
\nThe robins and the sparrows pipe,
\nThe joyous bees are on the wing,
\nAnd lakeward darts the lonely snipe.<\/p>\n

The rabbit crops the tender sprout,
\nThe water-hen her journey plies,
\nThe pike prepares to seize the trout,
\nThe trout outleaps to catch the flies.<\/p>\n

The water-rat sniffs round the edges
\nTo find the fishers fallen food,
\nThe wagtail darts among the sedges,
\nThe duck escorts her yellow brood.<\/p>\n

With arched wings, the graceful swans
\nPursue the ducks, with jealous eyes,
\nAs though the proud and selfish ones
\nWould all the mere monopolize.<\/p>\n

The dusky martins cleave the air,
\nAnd, as they chase the butterfly,
\nTheir faultless sight and flight declare
\nThe gaily-painted pet must die.<\/p>\n

They tunable from the giddy height,
\nAnd, skimming, oer the surface go,
\nYet stoop, amid their rapid flight,
\nTo greet the birds they spy below,<\/p>\n

And gnats, in ever-widening rings,
\nDisport them in the sunny rays,
\nUntil the swish of swallows wings
\nScatters their armies in amaze.<\/p>\n

The breezes skim along the lake,
\nRippling its sunbeam-burnished breast,
\nAnd playfully the rushes shake,
\nRocking the widgeon in her nest,<\/p>\n

They press the clover-sprinkled grass,
\nWhich undulates in shady swells,
\nAnd, sweetly whispering, onward pass
\nTo toss the odour-freighted bells<\/p>\n

Of hyacinths that clothe the banks
\nIn robes of green and skies- blue,
\nAnd leave them, nodding on their shanks,
\nThe modest primroses to woo.<\/p>\n

They breathe about their tender stems,
\nUplift their petals towards the sky,
\nAnd whispering low, “Ye pretty gems I”
\nA-rustling thro the bracken hie;<\/p>\n

And fan the little feathery fern
\nthat in the mossy cranny dwells,
\nThe stately foxgloves backward turn,
\nTossing the bees within their bells.<\/p>\n

They circle round the sturdy oaks.
\nAnd make their apples dance with;lee,
\nAnd, fondly kissing, gently coax
\nThe very leaves to harmony.<\/p>\n

The sun bath journeyed on an hour
\nAthwart the silver plains of heaven,
\nAnd, from the churchs little tower,
\nThe village clock proclaimeth seven.<\/p>\n

\n

The Wanderers Return<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Tune?”Believe me, if all those endearing young charms.”
\nthe second part repeated for Chorus.<\/em><\/p>\n

HAIL! Newton-le-Willows, the place I love best,
\nWith emotion a native beholds thee,
\nAnd gratefully welcomes thy haven of rest,
\nTo enjoy the blest calm that enfolds thee.
\nNeer again shall I wander, for blessings in store,
\nIn His bounty, my God hath provided;
\nAnd thy youth-haunted scenes are as dear as of yore,
\nEre misfortune my parting decided.<\/p>\n

CHORUS<\/strong>.
\nI have travelled afar, and beheld with delight
\nThe fair towns of the Gaul and the Teuton,
\nBut the dearest on earth is the place of my birth,
\nThe “Sweet Auburn” of Lancashire?Newton<\/em><\/p>\n

All hail! shady trees, and thou breeze-rippled lake,
\nWhere we gathered for frequent immersion,
\nAnd, strangers to care, made the echoes awake
\nIn the joy of our youthful diversion;
\nOn thy bank is the hill where my Mary and I
\nSat at eve, while the pigeons were cooing
\nIn the branches above, and, sore smitten with love,
\nThere I first felt the rapture of wooing.<\/p>\n

And all hail! to the church I attended in youth
\nFor its hearty and true adoration,
\nAnd to list to the parson expounding the Truth
\nWith conviction and earnest persuasion;
\nIn thy shade are the graves where my forefathers sleep,
\nAnd the maid of my deepest affection,
\nAnd the friends of my youth, whom my memory will keep
\nEver worthy of fond recollection.<\/p>\n

Hail! Newton-le-Willows, the place I love best,
\nMay these kindly impressions neer leave me,
\nUntil with my kindred Im gathered to rest,
\nAnd the quiet churchyard shall receive me ;
\nAnd there may the flower-sprinkled grass oer me wave,
\nWhile the lark trills his carol above me,
\nAnd my nearest and dearest repair to my grave
\nTo show by remembering they love me!<\/p>\n

\n

Transcribed by Steven Dowd from the 1916 publication, “Newton le Willows – Pictures and Verse” by J H Lane for use in the Newton-le-Willows website \u00a92005<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today I managed to transcribe some poems written by J H Lane, which he published in 1916 in a small 40 page booklet called “Newton le Willows – Pictures and Verse”. Most of the Pictures from the book have already made it into the photo gallery, as they duplicate ones in his other two publications, as do some of the verse from the book, but here are three small sections of verse which are new to me. A Sad Mishap. PRELUDE. Near Castle Hill, that ancient mound Whose top with…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[102,9],"tags":[33,88,90],"class_list":["post-1058","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-local-hstory","category-newton-history","tag-newton-le-willows","tag-newton-poems","tag-j-h-lane"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1058"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1060,"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1058\/revisions\/1060"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1058"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1058"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newton-le-willows.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1058"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}