Chorus: He and his wig wid the curls, etc.
Thin, his doctherin’ done,
in a rollickin’ run
Wid the rod or the gun he’s the foremost
to figure;
Be Jupiter Ammon! what jack-snipe or salmon
E’er rose to backgammon his tail-fly or
trigger!
And hark that view-holloa! ’Tis Mack
in full follow
On black “Faugh-a-ballagh” the country-side
sailin’!
Och, but you’d think ’twas ould Nimrod
in pink,
Wid his spurs cryin’ chink over park wall
and palin’.
Chorus: He and his wig
wid the curls so carroty,
Aigle eye and complexion clarety.
Here’s to his health,
Honour and wealth,
Hip, hip, hooray, wid all hilarity!
Hip, hip, hooray!
That’s the way!
All at once widout disparity!
One more cheer for our docther dear,
The king of his kind and the cream
of all charity,
Hip, hip, hooray!
TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN OWEN
HARLECH CHOIRMASTER
Who is this they bear along the street
In his coffin through the sunshine sweet?
Who is this so many comrades crave,
Turn by turn, to carry to the grave?
Who is this for whom the hillward track
Glooms with mounting lines of mourners
black?
Till the Baptists’ green old burial-ground
Clasps them all within its quiet bound.
Here John Owen we must lay to rest,
’Tis for him our hearts are sore
distressed;
Since his sister wistfully he eyed,
Bowed his head upon her breast and died.
Well and truly at his work he wrought;
Every Harlech road to order brought;
Then through winter evenings dark and
long
At the chapel gave his heart to song.
Till before his gesture of command—
Till before his hushing voice and hand—
Sweeter, fuller strains who could desire
Than he charmed from out his Baptist choir.
Many a time the passer-by enchained
By their rapture to its close remained,
And the churches joyfully agreed
Their united choirs his skill should lead.
So in Handel’s choruses sublime
He would train them for the Christmas
time;
Mould their measures for the concert hall,
Roll their thunders round the Castle wall.
Loving husband, tender father, quick
To console the suffering and sick—
Christ to follow was his constant aim,
Christ’s own deacon ere he bore
the name.
Widowed wife and children fatherless,
Stricken kinsfolk, friends in keen distress—
Sorrow swept them all beneath its wave
As his coffin sank into the grave.
But his Pastor’s fervent voice went
forth,
Delicately dwelling on his worth,
Urging his example, till at last
Heavenly comfort o’er our grief
he cast.
For his lonely ones we bowed in prayer,
Sighed one hymn, and left him lying there,
Whispering: “Lord, Thy will
be done to-day,
Thou didst give him, Thou hast taken away.”