(^ G UCSB LIBRARY X- nmi THE POETS Spen BEING BIOGRAPHIES A.NL) POEMS, HV VARIOL'S AtTHORS, OF THE PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION Of THE SPEX VALLEY. KUllEll I'.V CHAS. F. FORSHAW, LL.D. '.tAKY DOCTOR OF DFNTAL SI KGERY OK THK ISAI.TIMOKK COLLEGE OF DEXTAL Sl'RGEKV; - PAST AM) PRI iFST," -n'KKSHIKI.: SONXETTKF.B " VORKSHIRF MALI AH.s." BRADFORD: I'KINIED AND 1-l'HLlbHKl) ii\ THORNTON AND PI,AKbON, 1IIF O.LLU.I I'K|..- HARKKRKND ROAD. 1'KiNir.u m IIORMO.N A.vli l'EAIweet strains of thrilling harmony : Thou hast the will heroic to achieve Still doughtier deeds with fitting minstrelsy. What better tribute could a poet pay To one who weds his words to such gay sounds That steps he lithe and lightsome on his way, Whilst his glad heart with winsome laughter bounds ? -Music and song beloved are by all. And thou art powerful to portray their charm- : For Terpsichore is ready at thy call To soothe, to thrill, or till with wild alarms ! So 1 to thee this volume dedicate- To brighten, beautify, and elevate. Km n>K. The fv/liwui^ (ruiHt/iien have contributed the Biographical Sketches of the Authors under noliee : GEORGE ACKROYD, Esq. J.P. JOSEPH X. CUTTS. Ph.D. B.Sc. Dr. P. H. DAVIS. F.R.H.S. F.R.G.S. F.S.A. ALBERT E. ELLISON. M.D.S. JOHN FIRTH. CHAS. F. FORSHAW, LL.D. JOSEPH GAUNT, 15. A. W. H. HATTON, F.R.H.S. WALTER J. KAYE, M.A. Rev. THOMAS KING. M.A. Rev. B. MAYOU. M.A. FRANK PEEL. A. RAMAGE. M.U. L.F.P.S.G. HERBERT SHACKLETON. M.R.C.S. Eng. L.R.C.P.I. Rev. JOSEPH STRAUSS. M.A. Ph.D. J. A. ERSKIXE STUART, L.R.C.P. & S. Eilin. Rev. R. V. TAYLOR. B.A. F.R.H.S. THOMAS AVILMOT. L.R.C.P. Loud. M.R.C.S. Eng. BUTLER WOOD. PREFACE. is poetry everywhere; in the green fields where the flowers watch the rising and setting of the sun, and where the blush of beauty and the breath of song are married in a com- munion of the spiritual ; in the blue sky with its benedictions of sun- light, starlight and moonlight, folding us, as it were, in its soft dewy arm> and whispering the serenity of heaven ; in the streets of the crowded city, where wealth and poverty, luxury and rags, vice and virtue, hold uninterrupted carnival. No less true is it that the love of poetry is as universal as poetry itself. It is the talismanic key that unlocks the door of every heart. It is the soul's vision of delight ; the bud and flower of its primal bloom. It is the poet's high privilege to sit above the world. Within his heart burns a lire which is quenchless, and his utterances never die. Through all time his song has floated over the world like the voice of an angelic choir chanting their liosannahs in the far-off empyrean. The poet is the herald of the coming time. He stands in the van of pro- gress pointing the onward march of the ages. Though he be clad in "hodden gray" like Scotia's gifted bard his sway is more than regal. The aim of the editor of this work has been to bring together the best poems, with original biographies of their authors, who were by birth or residence connected with the Parliamentary Division of the Spen Valley. It nviy be that readers of the volume could be found who would hardly designate some of the contributions by the name of poetry.' The authors of these have evidently been inspired with the poetic afflatus in a minor degree. Some of the poems rise to the highest humour and humanity brilliant similes and homeliest meta- phor- abound. Others are full of dash, and strength, and sweetness, alone compel to admiration, by reason of the hardihood of the intellect that created them. Some approach as nearly as possible to mediocrity as they can safely descend, which makes one wish they had kept to prose or refrained from versifying altogether. However that is a question that is not desirable to dive int i ( > > deeply. As a local work it c.imot fail to be interesting, and th.it 'interest has been evinced in its appearance is amply prove 1 by a glance at the list of subscribers the majority of whom re.iile in the district peculiar to the authors dealt with. 1'RKKACK. By far the greatest intux^t ha.-, been centred in Herbert Knowles the talented Gomersal poet many of the subscribers having ordered copies of the book simply to have something in volume form to per- petuate bis much-beloved memory. Alderman Woodhead, J.P., of ALIJKRMAX JOSEPH WOODHKAD, M.]'. Longdenholme, the Member of Parliament for the Spen Valley, wrote as follows : HOUSE OF COMMONS, LONDON, Dear Sir May 2?th, 1892. I enclose oriler for ten copies of your ' Poets of the Spen Valley, 1 ' and trust it may prove a success in even,- way, as a contribution to our local literary history. If you had no other name than that of Herbert Knowles, that alone to every 'over ot true poetry would be sufficient to make the book attractive. With best wishes. I am dear sir, Faithfully yours, DR. KORSHAW. JOSEPH WOODHKAD. I his high tribute to the genius ot Knowles, from a gentleman of such literary eminence as Alderman Woodhead, is specially valuable, and in the procuration of subscribers has been very helpful. PREFACE. The Editor desires to acknowledge the great indebtedness he is under to the gentlemen who have so generously contributed the original biographies of the different poets ; and he would take this opportunity of pointing out that they alone are responsible for the accuracy of the statements that appear in the memoirs. He would also heartily thank the following gentlemen for innumerable kindnesses and for assistance given during the progress of the work : Alderman Woodhead, M.P., Dr. J. A. Erskine-Stuart, F.S.A., Mr. John Oddy, Mr. J. H. Knowles, Mr. John Firth. Mr. Frank Peel, Mr. ButlerWoo'd, Mr. Chas. A. Federer, L.C.P.. Mr. W. Venables Rhodes, and Mr. E. Mortimer. In conclusion, the Editor would state that the Rev. Patrick Bronte, who resided at Liversedge, and was vicar of Hartshead-cum-Clifton, was dealt with in his volume entitled "The Poets of Keighley, Bingley and District," published last year. He points this out, feeling sure that many of his readers would expect to find some account of the reverend gentleman in the forthcoming pages. C^ Q^&tJT&LcJ. WlNDKK HOCSI , P.K \1)K(>RI>, JllIK- 21-t, |S.|2. CONTENTS. ABBEY, JOHX i 7 BRIGGS, Miss EDITH M. , England Mysteries 56 Suicide of a Young Woman 20 The Poet's. Mission 57 Moonlight on the Hills 21 Only an Irishman 59 A Sister's Love ... 22 The Story that Transformed The First Transgressor 23 the World... 60 Henry's Soliliquy 24 The Message of the Organ 61 Shadows 62 BIRKBY, Miss LUCY ETHEL 25 A Memory 25 BRIGGS, JONAS 63 Nobody Knows ... 27 A Smile 64 A Rule for Life ... 27 On Death 65 Two Castles 28 ! is Love Five Kisses 29 Morning (,- The Six Bridg< 3 Gratitude ''7 Quite Another Thing 32 An Angel's Whisper 68 How to Spend Christmas ... 11-room Alphabet Remember or Forget 33 34 35 BKNXI-: IT, d. \V. ... The Farewell To the Ocean 69 7 Spring ... 36 Nearly, but not Quite 37 . W. BRI\DLI-:\ . . 7 i Remembrance Links 71 BRIGG.S, Mi>s Knrni M. 40 DAM HI., HAROLD C. 73 Lux in Tenebris ... 44 Ignatius... 73 Le Diable 47 A Modern Atalanla 4') EDITOR Messages from Hell 5' Miss E. M. B. 40 Such a? Thot .. ... *t \ 1 li'rbcrt Knmvlc-s F.MMivr. JOHN N'ORTH. Mrs. J.S. ... I3S ::iiN Lines on Love 57 H.irtshead Church Our Town Hall Clock and to Christmas Chimes til... ... 131 PEEL, FRANK Benedicite the Death o: In Memoriam .-id The Piiest and the Robber MARK J. 133 5t ... '33 RHODl.s. Al.]< L'he Church-going Bell 134 Spring ... September '34 Life'- Progiv-,- CuN J KM.-. ROBERTS, SAMUEL DRAKE ... 170 TAYLOR, THOMAS BIRKBY . Stansficld ... 171 All the Joys of the Season In Memoriam ... ... 172 My Queen In Alemorian STKAL), M. A. ... --.173 Attachment to the English Church ... ... 174 TAYLOR, JANK ... ... 175 Something Mori 1 ... ... 176 182 TODD, WILLIAM ... ... 184 An Kclio from the Dales of the Plough ... 185 WRIGHT, THOMAS... ... 187 Richard and Matthew ... 190 His Grace tli- Ili-ln Hon. :inil Most Rev. K. W. BKNSON. D.I) Archbishop of Canterbury. The Right Hon. the MAKQUIS or LOUNK, K.T.. LL . D.C.L. I.onl D. Abbey. John. . Bishop Auckland (10) Brills. Miss !'. . . . . Wvke (ii> Aekrovil. George. J.P. . . Bradford (8) Brigps, Miss H. M. .. . . " Wyke Aekroyd, W.. J.P. .. Birkenshaw (2) Bromley. Miss . .C'lec.kheaton Alderson. .Tolni ..Cleekheaton Brook, Frank Cleekheaton Allott. Joseph Goinersal Brook, Alfred Hightown Anderton, W.. Esq.. ,J. 1' . Cleekheat. Brought on. H., M.A. Heckmondwike Anderton. C. P. Cleekheaton (2) Bruce v, Josiah Liversedge Andrews. W., F.R.H.S Hull Burnley. J. Heckmondwike Arinitagv, Jo.-eph .. Cleekheaton Butterl'ield. Kuslnvorth . . Cleekheaton Anuituge. Win.. Junr. . .Cleekheaton Butterfield, Thomas Cleekheaton Carver, George Cleekheaton Balderson, Henry . .Cleekheaton Chadwick. S. J. .. Dewsbury Banv.elouuh. David Cleekheaton Clavton. Mrs. Lighteliffe Bedford, J. P. Cleekheaton Clayton. Mrs. Cleekheaton Bell, .1. II.. Esq. .. .. Darlin.aton Clayton, Win. I'.ell. J. II.. M.D. .. Heckmondwike Clough, Beniamin Cleekheaton Bennett, \\~rn. . .C'lecklicaton Clough. W. H. T'l'iisoji. Arthur White, M.A. Windsor Craven. Joseph, ^I.P... . .Thornton licr-h. Miss A. J. London Cutts, J. X. D.D.S. .. Moreeambe Birkby. Miss Ethel . . Liversedge (3) Birkett, Francis Cleekheaton Binns. J. Arthur Bradford Daniel, H. C. .Ciinibridge (3) Blakey. J. Wesley Millbridge Dsivies, Rev. W. J. Cleekheaton Boon, Win. New Barnet (2) Dickenson. F. Birstall Booth, Frank Cleekheaton Booth, George . Bottomlev, Thomas Cleekhraton Ellis, J. F. Cleekheaton Bratherton, Miss Bradford Ellis. Jonas . . . . Cleekheaton \ 'leu ..Cleekheaton Ellison. George, Birkenshaw (2) Brearley, V. II. Ellison. A.E. Bradford .Arthur, .T.I'. . Bradford (2) Emsley, John Bradford Briu-s. C. H.. Hs M . Wykc (, Emmet, J.. Esq.. F.I..S Bortoi 1-ist of Subscribers aitunud. 4~ X- + Farr, J. B., Esq. . Bradford (o) Knowles, George . . Hightown Farrow, Dr. . .Cleekheaton Knowles, J. H. .. Cleekheaton (9) Farrow, Rev. Charles. M.A. .. Tong Knowles, Dan . . ,, -. Sarah . . Goii! Knowles, F. M... .. ..Bradford Federer, (has. A.. Ksq.. L.C.I'. Bradford Firth, Col., Sir C. H. Firth, John Forshaw, AY. A. . . Ilkley (.-3) Cleekheaton Bradford Lacy, Benjamin .. .. Cleekheaton Law. Alfred . . Cleekheaton (2) Law, Henrv . . ,, Fowler, Rev. AY.. M.A Liver France, Hiram. . M.I). . . Bradford (o) Longoottoni, John . . . . Birstall -<<>iie. Alderman .. Stanhope Lewis, J.H., D.C.L. .. London (5) Gal.K Kev. J.. B.A. .. Well >urn (3) Alarley. Rev. RoVrt, L.Th. ..Si ray, F. C. Bowness ('2} Marshall. Mr J., Editor Xortltrr>t Echo le, Mis.- H. . . . . Birkenshaw [Da'rli [e, "\Valter FI arrogate Alavou, Rev. B.. M.A. .. P.), Gaunt. J.. B.A. Dewslmry McCullagb, T. A.,M.l)., J.P.,L.i Greaves. C. II. ( ioiiit-rsal Mitchell, Sir Henry .. [ford Moody. J. . . Cled Haigh, Miss K. .1. .. . . Lonirwond Moorhonso. Benj. [lainsworth, Lewis Bra: Mortimer Kdwani .. Bishop A:: Halev. Cleekheaton Mundy, James . . Brai Halliwell, Mrs. Queensbo: Halliwell. AY Cleckb Hammond. Councillor A. A". Bradford (5) , B.A. Bradford (10) Navey. AYalter .. < lecl Naylor, Thomas !Navlor A\'illiam Hammond. Alderman v. John n. W.ll.. F.R.H. Heald, Rev. C. AV '. .. . John Bradford Ck-ckhe S. . . Bradford I. of AV. (3) >i Niven, G. II. . . Cled Nelson Ralph; J. P. Nornabell. John .. Cleekheaton North, J. S. .. Cleekheaton (3) Nutter, Squire llev, J. (',. n ('2) Ilillard. J. AY. . .( leckhi Charlotte M 11 ind, Abraham Wyke Oddv, Chas. .. Port Elizato th S.A. Hind, Mrs. F. . . . Oddy, John, Y.S. .. Clei Hirst F Lond-'ll Oddy, Joseph . . Liv. Holdroyd, Alfred Cleekheaton Oldroyd, G. H. lloldroyd, Joseph . . . . Low Moor h, Joseph . . Cleekheaton Parkinson, Mrs F Wyke Howarth, AY. H. Parkinson, J. AY. Ilnd- . . . Soholes Panlton. J. M., F,sq.. M.P.. Bishu]. llnnter. John .ersal kland Peel. H. II. . . . . Live Jackson, ller'iert ( 'leekheatou 1'ecl. C. A South \miie . . . . South Peel. Edith M. . . Ileekilli i] Karn, !'. .1 .. Mu- . 1 loc. . . 1 I 'eel. i '.olidwiko (-"I . W. J.. M.A. Ilklev Peel, AS'illiam . Rev. Canon. M A. Bir8tan(2) Pinder, James . . . . C Kershaw, Georji. Porritt. Arthur .. . Kershav, . Walker Pun-ill. Saul. . . . . .< Kershaw, 1 ! . W Priestley. AI i's. Rev. Thom .A. . . 1! Proud. John F-u. . . liMiop A Rubagliati. A. M.A. .. Bradford Tattersall. W. A. . . Cleckheatou Ramap-. A.. M.I). .. S,-:iton-Deh>val Tavlor. Mrs. T. B. .. Bradford Frlxiii Taylor, M . . Wvke (2) Reeve. .Sand.. . . . . . ( " ' Tavlur. Mi.-s A. W. .. ' Wvke Rhodes. W. Venal '.chcatou (:i) Taylor, Miss E. N. .. Wvke'(:T) Rix. Rev. v. H. I, L.I). .. Bradford Taylor. Mis-. J. .. Wvke (2) Rhode . .!, during which time the paper made progress that necessitated two or three removals to larger premises, new machinery, &c. In this con- nection it may be averred that for a year or so he was the sole printer and reporter on the paper, and many a time has set up the whole of the paper and provided most of the reported matter which appeared therein. It is also noteworthy that he set up scores of columns without a line of MS. or printed copy before him. Of course, no single-handed journalist could repeat the feat to-day, the paper being at least three or four times its original size. Abbey remained on the (iunrdlan about ten years, and it is to his endeavours, to a great extent ) that the success of the paper can be attributed ; his well-known face was to be seen at every gathering, and he is still held in grateful B is THE POKIS 01 line Si'Kx VALLEY. remembrance by the inhabitants of the Spen Valley district. Leaving Cleckheaton, he joined the Belfast press, but shortly after he accepted an engagement on the Clecklieaton Advertiser, where he remained for a short time only, subsequently joining the prc ut \Yigan and Oldham. At the latter place he experienced the great sorrow of his life in the death of hi* two eldest sons from epidemic. After this, he broke up his home, and we next hear of him at West Hartlepool, where again : vices were in general requisition as reader, reporter, sub-editor, &c., the circumstances of the case calling also for the exercise of the editorial faculty, and for some time he wrote most of the "leaders," of which several of the proprietors spoke in complimentary terms. The p:iper ultimately came to grief, and in ; . svas invited to join the stall of the Northern Echo morning paper as a repoiter for a wide district of which Bishop Auckland is head quarters : and his is probably o-ie of the best known figures in South Durham, where he enjoys the confidence of his employers, and is held in regard by the thousands who know him so well. It is bis boast that he has worked 0:1 morning, evening, weekly, and bi-weekly papers, published at all sorts of prices, and that he has done everything that pertains to a printing office from sweeping the floors, sorting "pie,'' lighting the to reporting, sub-editing, and editing. Several of his articles have been reprinted for special circulation, and his colK includes several hundred leaders on all sorts of topics. : .rried the daughter of a Littletown (Livcrsedge) man and has five children living. Throughout life he has adhered to the principles of temper- ance, and has won many prizes in poetical and other literary or intellectual competitions. He is a good musician, but plays by ear, and has often given his services at entertainments,