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Title: The Wiverton Boy; Or, Sailor Returned
Author: James Parkerson [
More Titles by Parkerson]
On Wiverton Green a boy was found,
Weeping his fate upon the ground;
Compassion soon the helpless drew,
To give him aid they instant flew;
The overseer quick took the youth,
Matured him in the paths of truth;
At proper age they sought to find,
What calling suited best his mind;
Upon the main he wished to try,
His fortune and his destiny.
Quick to a merchant ship was sent,
He braved the stormy eliment;
Intrepid courage gave him aid,
And due attention well he paid,
To every order that he heard,
And by the crew was much revered;
At riper years became a mate,
In the same ship he tried his fate;
His master died he took his place,
His tutor he did not disgrace,
He soon became a man of wealth,
Adorned with riches, strength, and health.
Tired of the sea he came on shore,
His Wiverton friends to see once more.
Each hailed the happy pleasing day,
They view’d the orphan nam’d Greenway.
The tear of sorrow from him flew,
When he the fatal spot did view;
Says he this village fostered me,
Till I embarked upon the sea.
Part of my earnings will I give,
That poorer souls may better live;
He bought the Briston tithes to do
A generous act outdone by few;
And soon as bought gave them away,
To those that named him young Greenway.
In trust to aid the needy poor,
Who will till death his name adore.
Owing to times it will be found,
These tithes have fetched three hundred pound;
And Wiverton poor have every year,
A sum that keeps them from despair;
And oft they cry we bless the day,
That brought to us our good Greenway.
Knighted Sir Richard Greenway.
[The end]
James Parkerson's poem: Wiverton Boy; Or, Sailor Returned
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