“Infirmity is great,
At this advanced age,
And ceaseless grief and weakness leagued,
Now vent their bitter rage.”
From 80 to 90 Years old.
“Life’s ‘Vital Spark’—the soul,
Is hovering on the verge
Of an eternal world above,
And waiting to emerge.”
From 90 to 100 Years old.
“The sun is sinking fast
Behind the clouds of earth,
Oh may it shine with brighter beams,
Where light receiv’d her birth.”
Catnach was now at the height of his fame as a printer of ballads, Christmas-pieces, carols, lotteries, execution papers, dying speeches, catchpennies, primers and battledores, and his stock of type and woodcuts had very considerably increased to meet his business demands. And it may be said that he was the very Napoleon of buyers at sales by auction of “printers’ stock.” On one occasion, when lot after lot was being knocked down to him, one of the “Littlejohn crew” of “knock-out-men” of the period, observed to the auctioneer, “Why, sir, Mr. Catnach is buying up all the lots.” “Yes,” replied the auctioneer, “And what’s more, Mr. Catnach will pay for them and clear away all his lots in the morning;” then adding somewhat pointedly, “which is a thing I can’t say of all parties who attend my sales.”