18 SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR'S LIFE. 



he gave to the world a small publication, entitled 

 " Thoughts as they Rise/' a poem in Byronic mea- 

 sure. It was an attempt at a poem, constructed 

 " without an imaginary hero, romanting through its 

 cantos." Whether owing to the plot wanting thus 

 confessedly the part of Hamlet, or to the disrelish 

 on the part of the public, for moralizations by a 

 shoemaker on human affairs, the work fell still-born 

 from the press, and further ' cantos, which were 

 threatened, John kept to himself. 



The poem is, however, a remarkable production 

 for a working man, if we consider the command over 

 the English language, the easiness of versification, 

 the occasional force and beauty of the sentiments 

 which it betrays. 



At random we make an extract : 



" And so I envy none their lands and dower, 

 Nor all that they can claim below the skies, 



Yet can't resist the wish I had the power, 



To wipe the tear from modest mourning eyes. 



How blest to deck the lowly humble bower 

 With winter fire, and summer sunshine joys, 



Change many a sigh of want into a song, 



And cause the stream of life flow clear along:. 

 * * * * 



Or this picture of rural zest : 



" 0, how I love the moorland scene of spring 

 Beneath the smile of morning's ruddy glow, 



The whirr of heath-cock, and the curving swing 

 Of snipe high booming o'er the marshy flow 



The fond solicitude of flapping wing, 



