100 MEMOIR OF 



his home at South Molton, some thirty-five or 

 forty miles away ; but had he really loved the 

 game, that distance would certainly not have 

 been an impediment to which he would have 

 given a moment's thought. 



The Club, however, had already done him 

 good service ; it had brought him into friendly 

 association not only w^ith the Stover party, but 

 with many influential men connected with that 

 side of the county. At the death of one of 

 its best plavers, and certainly one of its most 

 valued members, the Rev. Henry Taylor, his 

 bat, carrying like Curius Dentatus the marks of 

 many a hard-fought tussle on its battered front, 

 was presented to the Club by his late widow, 

 and being elevated to a niche of honour in the 

 banqueting-room, received from the pen of a 

 loving friend the following inscription : — 



Hail, honoured relic of the manly fame 



By Taylor won at every noble game ! 



Some g-entle stream may haply mourn the tree* 



That decked its marg-in, ere it fell for thee ; 



But deeper far Teignbridge laments the day, 



When that stout arm was turned again to clay : 



Relic, alas ! thy gladsome work is done, 



Death is the bowler, and the game is won : 



But rest thou here, still eloquent to tell 



The grief of those who loved the man so well. 



E. W. L. Davies. . 



* It may not be generally known that cricket-bats are made from 

 the willow tree. 



