OF THE

FOREST:

A COLLECTION OF POEMS, AND

HISTORICAL, GENEALOGICAL, & BIOGRAPHICAL
ESSAYS AND SKETCHES,

LONDON: KENT & CO., PATERNOSTER ROW.

HARROGATE: R. ACKRILL.

Dedication.

TO THEE; around whom all affections entwine,
Whose grace, form, and truth in our spring days of old,
First taught me the love that never grows cold,

And, since thou allowed me to claim thee as mine,
Hast gladden'd the heart which from youth had been thine;
Whose devotion and care, which that day will unfold,
Have shed peace on my path more precious than gold,
And ever thy love my breast shall enshrine;

Though cares have oppress'd thee, and suff'ring distress'd;
Thy children arise, each calleth thee bless'd;
While twenty-five years of our summer have run,
To me thou hast been "Paradisus-in-sun ;"*
These Leaves of the Forest, and Lays of our life,
I dedicate to thee,—TO THEE, MY DEAR WIFE.

January 2nd, 1882 A.D.

(Our silver wedding day.)

* An old and fanciful play upon the surname :

"In labore requies

In æstu temperies

In fletu solatium."

i. e. Park-in-sun.

"Paradisus-in-sole,"

"Thou in labour our repose

Cooling shade when noontide glows,
Solace sweet in all our woes."

Missale ad Usum insignis Ecclesiæ Eboracensis

(Sabbatio post Penticostem-Sequentia.)