Welcome to the Dunkerley-Tuson Family Website!

William Edward Armytage Axon was born and died in Manchester. He entered the service of the Manchester Public Libraries when fifteen and became Deputy Chief Librarian, resigning in 1874 when he joined the literary staff of the Manchester Guardian, the forerunner of The Guardian.

Link to Glossary

Owd Jone

A Pilgrim aw’ve bin o’ mi days,

Bu’ awm gettin’ to th’ eend o’ mi ways;

Aw hanno much lunger to roam

It’s toime aw wur shapin’ fur whoam.

Aw conno see weel wi four een,

An’ th’ trees looken breawn sted o’ green;

Eh! th’ lads ’at aw fowt wi’ i’ play

Han o on ‘em powlert away,

An’ th’ lasses aw donst wi’ i’ th’ lone

Lee under a blanket o’ stone.

At neetfo brids seeken ther nest

An’ fowd up ther wings for a rest

Aw bithink me mi mother ’ud say,

“Neaw Jone, lad, come in fro’ thi play,

It’s toime tha wur safe i’ thi bed,”

An’ hoo kist me an’ patted mi yed,

An’ hoo billed me up snugly an’ warm,

An’ sed “Theer lad, tha’ll happen no harm.”

Eh! th’ Power at set her love i’ choon

Still orders aw things up aboon,

An’ so aw’s lay me deawn i’ trust

That he who made me eawt o’ dust,

An’ gan me to mi mother’s breast

Will end mi day wi’ welcome rest.