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Title: Farewell To The Rev. H. J. Longsdon
Author: Bill o'th' Hoylus End [
More Titles by Bill o'th' Hoylus End]
REV. H. J. LONGSDON,
Formerly Rector of Keighley.
Farewell dear friend, nor take it hard,
To leave the town where thou hast been,
Where many a joy we hope thou'st had,
Though witness'd many a sorry scene.
Thy works were good, we know it well,
We watched thee in thy weary toil;
Where oft obstruction, shame to tell,
Waits on the good their plans to spoil.
Yet thou dids't toil without a fear
From day to day, from year to year;
Beloved by all, thy foes are few,
And they are loth to bid adieu.
We saw thee in the early dawn
Up with the lark at break of morn,
Thy duties promptly to attend,
Our shepherd, pastor, and our friend.
With good advice to one and all,
The old, the young, the great, the small;
In lane or house, in church or street,
Thy presence we were glad to meet.
"Thou art a man! a man! a man!"
The Poet quotes from some old play;
"An upright, honest gentleman,
Whose likes we meet not every day."
And when thou leavest us behind,
Our recollections will not die--
Of thee whose meekness, zeal, and love,
Are known alike to low and high.
Out from thy fold, all other flocks
Were proud of thee--a shepherd true,
All other shepherds greeted thee,
Although thy flocks to theirs were few.
Thou tended with a shepherd's care,
And saw that none did go astray;
Thou led them with an honest will,
From early morn to evening's ray.
Adieu, dear sir, long may'st thou live
To be a credit to our isle;
And when thou toil'st 'midst other friends,
May fortune on thy labours smile.
[The end]
Bill o'th' Hoylus End's poem: Farewell To The Rev. H. J. Longsdon
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