The Rev. S. D. Lockwood 163 



of a sackful of sermons, I give the verses referred to, which have 

 been lent to me in manuscript by the vicar's brother, Captain 

 H. Lockwood. They are from the late Bromley Davenport's 

 poetic eruption, inspired by a great run from Ranksborough 

 gorse, entitled " The Dream of an Old Meltonian." 



And oh, young descendants of ancient top-sawyers. 

 By your lives to the world their example inforce. 

 Whether landlords, or parsons, or statesmen, or lawyers. 

 Ride straight, as they rode it from Ranksborough gorse. 



Though a rough-riding world may bespatter your breeches. 

 Though sorrow may cross you, and slander revile. 

 Though you plunge over head in misfortune's blind ditches. 

 Shun the gap of deception, the hand-gate of guile. 



Oh ! avoid them, for see, there the crowd is contending, 

 Ignoble the object, ill-mannered the throng. 

 Shun the miry lane falsehood with turns never ending. 

 Ride straight for truth's timber, no matter how strong. 



I'll pound you sure over, sit steady and quiet 

 Along the sound headland, if honesty steer ; 

 Beware of false holloas and juvenile riot, 

 Tho' the oxer of duty loom wide, never fear. 



And when the run's over of earthly existence, 

 And you get safe to ground, you shall feel no remorse 

 If you've ridden, no matter the line, or the distance. 

 As straight as they rode it from Ranksborough gorse. 



How far he was right in his belief that sermons have little 

 influence on their listeners is a matter of opinion, but Mr. 

 Lockwood's, at any rate, were always full of common sense, and 

 men of travel and experience sometimes went to hear him twice 

 on the same Sunday. His sermons began life in the form of 

 notes on the back of old envelopes, scribbled during breakfast 

 on Sunday morning, and he always robed in the house, walking 

 to church in full canonicals. 



He had three pet subjects which by persistence and recur- 

 rence really did seem to make an impression on his villagers. 

 The first subject was backbiting ; the second the responsibility 

 of parents for the upbringing of their children ; and the third 

 consisted of denunciations of an extreme brand of Calvinism 

 which led people to regard themselves as " elect." This last, 

 his discourses apparently succeeded in uprooting. His admoni- 

 tions against backbiting were exemplified in his life, for he never 

 said a word against anyone if he could possibly help it. But 

 there was one man against whom he could not resist launching 

 a few mild censures ; this reprehensible person died worth 



