that he recollected learning the words of it when a schoolboy. It seemed to him the perfection of poetry, with its melancholy strain so often repeated: Adieu, adieu thou faithless world, Thou wert not made for me! filled him with mournful pleasure, and he became indifferent to the sports and plays usual with boys. He had often pored over these verses, not knowing their full import, but devouring and dwelling on them with secret and indescribable satisfaction. He knew not then what a "faithless world" meant. Here are some of the verses: "As on Killarney's bank I stood, near to her crystal wave, I saw a holy hermit retired within his cave; His eyes he often turn'd to heaven, and thus exclaimed he: 'Adieu, adieu, thou faithless world, thou wert not made for me!' His bed was strewed with rushes, which grew along the shore, And o'er his limbs emaciate, a sackcloth shirt he wore; His hoary beard and matted hair hung listless to his knee: 'Adieu, adieu, thou faithless world, thou wert not made for me!' I thought his heart had broken, so heavy were his sighs, I thought his tears would dry up the fountains of his eyes; Oh! 'twas a grievous thing to hear, a piteous sight to see: 'Adieu, adieu, thou faithless world, thou wert not made for me! His sorrow pierced my bosom, in all I took my share; My sighs his sighs re-echoed, I gave him tear for tear; I had no comfort left to give-it might intrusion be: 'Adieu, adieu, thou faithless world, thou wert not made for me!' I thought that there was friendship, but that's a gem most rare; I thought that love was sacred, and beauty was sincere ; But these are visions all like dreams, which with the morning flee: 'Adieu, adieu, thou faithless world, thou wert not made for me!'" I have now only to sincerely express my indebtedness to all those who have helped me in any way to accomplish the object I have had in view in delivering these lectures, which have been to benefit the funds of the Salford Royal Hospital, towards which a substantial amount has been contributed, after the payment of all the attendant expenses. THOMAS COSTLEY. 8, Saint Mary's Street, Manchester, 1897. LIST OF PLACES, AUTHORS AND OTHERS MENTIONED IN THIS BOOK. 7 8 Booth, Barton, born 1681, died May 1733.. Wilson, Thomas, born December 3rd, 1747, died March 3rd, 1813 10 Holt, David, born 1764, died May 30th, 1846 15 18 21 Holt, David, Junr., born Nov. 13th, 1828, died March 15th, 1880 Crabtree, William, born 1610, died 1644 Byrom, John, born 1691, died 1763 Clark, Henry, Schoolmaster, born 1745, died 1818 Boutflower, Henry Crewe, Divine, born 1796 Watkin, Sir E. W., 1819 Gibson, Rev. Father, born 1826 Perkins, Rev. George, born 1825 Beard, Rev. Charles, born 1847 Holt, Mary H. (now Mrs. J. M. Meldrum) Bailey. Sir W. H. Mandley, Alderman.. Larmuth, George H.. 27 PAGE. 54 59 63 64 66 69 70 Somers, Alexander, Solicitor Bentley, Philip Collier, born 1840, died May, 1885 Knowles, Lees, Esq., M.P. Brotherton, Joseph, born May 17th, 1783, died January 7th, 1857 Stowell, Rev. Hugh, M.A., born 1799, died October 8th, 1865 Armitage, Sir E., Manufacturer, born 1794, died Novemoer 26th, Heywood, Qliver, Gentleman, born September, 1825, died March 17th, 1892 Joule, Benjamin Baptist, Musician, born November 5th, 1817 Kay, Joseph, born February, 1821 Coombs, Rev. John Addison Bone, John William, Banker, born 1828, died December 8th, 1895 Theocritus, B.c. 300 Fawkes, Rev. Francis, 1721 Chaucer, Geoffrey, born 1340, died 1400 |