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by Samuel Laycock

From ‘The Collected Writings of Samuel Laycock’, second edition, issued 1908. Published in Oldham by W. E. Clegg, in London by Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent & Co. Ltd., and in Manchester by John Heywood Ltd. and Abel Heywood & Son.

Link to Glossary

Laycock's most famous poem was either 'Bowton's Yard' or 'Bonny Brid', the latter about a baby born in 1863 during the 'Cotton Famine' when the American Civil War prevented raw cotton from arriving at the Lancashire cotton mills. This led to widespread hardship in Lancashire, so marvellously expressed in the 'Bonny Brid' poem. The following poem is a charming and successful sequel to the more famous earlier one, well worth reading. For me it is also notable in that 'New Moston' is where I was brought up - it is near to Failsworth, the home of Ben Brierley.

The “Bonny Brid’s” Wedding Party

Well, Schofied, tha’rt welcome to Hannah;

Tho’ aw’m troubled a bit, as tha’ll see;

But if ther’s one moor nor another

’At th’ lass ’ll be safe wi’, it’s thee.

For twenty-three year, or near on it,

Aw’ve had th’ pleasure o’ callin’ her mine;

But tha’s ’ticed her away fro’ my brid-cage,

An’ coaxed her to go into thine.

Well, bless her! aw’ve done th’ best aw could do,

An’ noa deawt tha intends to do th’ same.

Let’s hope ’at hoo’s made a good bargain

I’ changin’ her cage an’ her name.

When hoo gets to her whoam at New Moston,

May her neighbours eawt theer be as kind

An’ as anxious to mak’ her feel happy,

As those ’at hoo’s leavin’ behind.

Neaw, it’s pleasant to ha’ one’s good wishes,

An’ these yo’ll tak’ wi’ yo’ aw’m sure;

An’ what is ther’ moor to feel preawd on

Than a hearty “God bless yo’!” fro’ th’ poor.

A lovin’ an’ good mother’s blessin’

Is o’ far greater value nor gowd;

Yo’ may find human nature i’th’ crescent,

But yo’ll find a deol moor on’t i’th’ fowd!

Two year sin’ tha sought my acquaintance,

An’ admired oather me or mi song;

At least tha pretended to do so:

But aw saw throo thi game ole along.

We had eawr nice walks in a mornin’,

An’ mi company then wur o reet;

But ther’s one little matter aw noticed,

Thi een wur on th’ brid-cage at neet!

It’s o very weel to be laughin’

But youth allus did laugh at age;

Tha’rt desarvin’ a reet deawn good thrashin’

For stealin’ mi brid eawt o’th’ cage.

Well, ne’er mind; iv tha’rt suited tha’rt welcome;

An’ aw’ve noa deawt but thi motives are pure;

So aw’ll not ha’ thee ta’en up for robb’ry

Iv tha’ll promise to do it no moor.

These presents fro’ friends an’ fro’ neighbours

Are expressive o’ love an’ good-will;

They’re o very pratty an’ useful,

An’ some on ’em samples o skill.

When they get to “Rose Cottage,” New Moston,

They cannot but serve to remind

O’th’ years ’at yo’ spent here at Blackpool,

Wi’ those ’at yo’re leavin’ behind.

We shall think on yo’ kindly an’ often.

Altho’ yo’re away eawt o’th’ seet;

We shall miss Hannah’s footsteps on th’ threshold;

We shall miss, too, her well-known “good neet.”

Well, yo’ go wi’ a father’s good wishes;

Yo’re united for better or worse;

Yo’ll booath ha’ to draw i’ one harness,

An’ join at one bed, an’ one purse.

An’ neaw – just one word to those present –

Aw’m fairly surprised, aw must own,

At th’ manner yo’n treated th’ young couple,

An’ th’ good neighbourly feelin’ yo’n shown.

Yo’n flung a few fleawers i’ life’s pathway,

An’ Royalty couldn’t do moor;

These presents, kind words, an’ good wishes

Will long be remembered, aw’m sure. 

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