The blackbird tried his golden bill,
His sooty love to greet;
Upon the bough, the throstle cock,
Did carol blithe and sweet.
And when the dews began to fall,
And the glowworm's lamp to shine,
To Ashupton Inn they did repair,
In order for to dine.
Then on the board did smoke roast beef,
With pasties hot and cold;
And many a right good stomach showed,
And many a tale was told.
And when the table it was cleared,
And landlord brought them wine;
He swore, that never there before,
Such a companie did dine!
So a health to the Queene, and long may she reign,
And Albert long live he;
Push the glass about,—old Kinder-Scout,
We'll drink long life to thee.
And here's a health to those fine fellows,
And to all those maidens merry;
May each take a heart from the Ashupton-hills,
Singing hey derry down, down derry!
And here's a health unto James Oakes!
And many a year may he
Rise up, and call his merry men all,
Unto the greenwood tree.
Derbyshire Hills.
James Bannard, "a Wandering Poet, in his 74th year," is the writer of the following lines, which he says at the heading of the broad-sheet from which I reprint it, are "Views and reflections taken from Solomon's Temple, near Buxton." Of Bannard I know nothing, farther than that he was a poor man, and eked out his living by selling these verses "at the 'Cottage of Content,' Buxton."