Opening of Devonshire Park, september 4th, 1888.

september

th

Oh, well do we remember—  For the news it was so pleasant— When His Grace the Duke of Devonshire Made our famous town a present Of a pretty little garden—  An Arcadia in its way— And how the bells rang merrily On that eventful day.

Oh, this lovely little garden  ’Twill be to us a pleasure, It will delight the great elite—  To them ’twill be a treasure. And who are they who dare to say The town it did not need one— A pretty little lovely spot And a happy little Eden.

p. 69In this pretty little Paradise Of beauty and of splendour— Search our land from end to end, You could not find a grander; The turtledove can make its love, Not caring for the pigeon, If he belongs his politics And follows his religion.

p. 69

In this pretty little garden, When the bloom is on the heather, Two minds with but one single thought Can tell their tales together; The maiden from the mansion, And the lady from the villa, Can wander there and shed a tear Beneath the weeping willow.

This bonny little garden Is fine for perambulators, Where our handsome servant-lasses Can wheel our lovely creatures, And oh! how happy they will be! As time they are beguiling, When the mammy and the daddy Are upon the babies smiling.

Oh! this pretty little garden, Which every one admires, Which pleased His Grace the Noble Duke To give our little squires. p. 70The news was something wonderful, Like the shooting of a rocket, When they heard that they had got a Park, And were “nothing out o’pocket.”

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In this pretty little garden, With all its blossom blooming We can sit and sing the whole day long, From the morning till the gloaming; And tell Dame Keighley’s blunders, When her sons were naught but asses; And could not even raise a Park, To please the upper classes.

Then let us give the Noble Duke, The praises of the Borough— For if we did not thank His Grace, We should commit an error— And not forgetting Mr. Leach, For he deserves rewarding, For it is known he got the town This pretty little garden.

 

p. 71Farewell to the REV. H. J. LONGSDON, Formerly Rector of Keighley.

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