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We cannot
exclude a poem from Edwin (Ned) Wright, of Failsworth, born in/by Holebottom pre
1853. He emigrated to America in about 1881, and settled in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania. Joseph Burgess called him “the eldest of our band.” It seems no
matter where Failsworthians' go, they always seem to have a soft spot for home,
as his “My heart is far Away,” “Past and Present,” and “Home Memories” show. Ned
didn’t write in the dialect, so far as I know, but his “Donkey Cart” is
well—worth a read. It was first published in “Ben Brierley’s Journal” of 12th
June 1886.
Good
people, all to me attend,
while I
repeat these lines I’ve penned,
For it
would melt a heart of stone to hear poor Peggy sigh and groan.
I say to
every fair maid, who would. become a wife,
Be
cautious when you ‘re choosing a partner for your life;
Don’t be
like Peggy Brookstone, go and throw yourself away;
For she,
through spite, has been and wed a dealer in pipeclay.
Now,
Peggy long had been in love with Jack, the apple lad,
And. when
he shouted “apple pie” it made her young heart glad;
For
something which he did amiss she turned him off one day,
And gave
her hand, but not her hand, to a man that sold pipeclay.
Now,
Peggy, every morning, went with pipeclay on her back,
Until,
one day, she chanced to meet her own sweet Apple Jack;
She told
her troubles, great and small, and said she would elope,
Or
else she’d end her mortal life by swinging on a rope.
So, early
next morning a donkey cart was seen,
Wherein
sat John and Peggy, as blithe as king and queen;
They took
their way down Pendleton, and down by Hulme did wind,
All for
to blind this pipeclay man, and leave him far behind.
They
landed safe at Newton Heath just as the clock struck nine,
And as
they’d neither tasted food they both agreed to dine;
The
donkey, too, must have a feed,
and so
they sought about ‘Till they found some raw potatoes, with the insides taken
out.
Now,
Peggy got a cup of tea, as she was rather ill,
But Jacky
stuck to cheese and bread, and drank a double gill;
And when
they’d rested and refreshed, and were about to start,
Low and
behold, what did they see but another donkey cart.
“Oh”
Peggy cried, “it’s Pipeclay Dick that’s coming on our track,
And with
him there’s a bobby, who intends to take me back;
If we can
get to Oldham we need not be afraid,
So push
your donkey on a trot, and break through this blockade.”
Now, the
donkey got encouragement with many a roaring thump,
‘Till
blood was running down his tail, like water from a pump;
But in a
moment all was stop, and think what they would feel,
For they
lay upon the pavement, as the cart had lost a wheel.
Now, the
bobby in an instant, secured poor Apple Jack,
But Peggy
bit and. stamped, and swore she never would. go back;
But
safely in the pipeclay cart, they held. her down with force,
Although,
she screamed, she’d never rest till she’d got a divorce.
Now,
Peggy, with her pipeclay man, is looking thin and pale,
And Jack
is walking up the stairs a month in Belle Vue Gaol;
The
donkey, too, is turned adrift — I’m sorry for the brute,
For he’ll
never wag his tail again — it’s broken at the root.
So all
you lads and lasses that wish to do what’s right,
If ever
you should chance to wed, don’t you get wed. for spite;
And. when
you give your hand away, be sure you give a heart,
Or bad
luck will overtake you, as did the donkey cart. EW.
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