SONG, "OLDHAM LOCAL."

TUNE-"There's ne'er nea luck about the house."

O, HARK! the rolling, rolling drum,
O, hark! the music play;
Down Ebor's march, the local lads
In soldier-like array.

And see their spangled banners wave
And see their armour shine;
Approach a thousand hearts so brave,
And one of them is mine.

I'll sweep the hearth, I'll beet the fire,
A posset will I make ;

I'll reach him down the dainty cheese,
There's bread upon the flake:
And if beneath his baggage load
His weary feet should fail,

I'll roast his cheese, and toast his bread,
And sop it in good ale.

For ever since the dreary morn
When from me he did part,
I've been bewilder'd and forlorn,

No joy hath known my heart;

But now I'll cheer me up and sing,
My love approaches near,

And hark! the cymbals louder ring,
I'll go and meet my dear.

I'll take my bonny prattler sweet
And hie me down the lane,
And when my baby's dad we meet,

I'm sure he will be fain;

And he will bring thee things so fine,

Thou art his little store,

And O! my arms shall round him twine,
I'll love him more and more.

Prepare the dance in Oldham town,
Ye blushing maidens gay;
Prepare the feast in Oldham town,
Ye matrons, growing gray;
Prepare the couch in Oldham town,
Ye wives, as sweet as May,
For Oldham local back are boun'
To Oldham town to-day.

THE FRAY OF STOCKPORT.

WRITTEN IN 1818.

HA! han they ta'en our cap and flag? Whot! han the Dandies ta'en 'em?

An' did Reformers' courage lag,

An' could they not regain 'em?

M

An' did the Gentles ride so gay, Wi' Birch and Loyd afore 'em, the "Gruntin herd" away,

To

sweep

Or bravely gallop o'er 'em?

O! whot could ston' afore the might

O' Yeomanry so loyal?

Who coom to drive the "herd" aright,
An' would ha' no denial;
Until the stones began to fly,
An' yeds began a crackin',
An' then the Gallant Yeomanry
Wurn fain to find a backin'.

But furst coom Birch, the deputy,
Our cap and flag demandin';
I'faith, afore he'd said his say,

The lubber lost his standin'!

For up there step'd a lusty lad,

An' knock'd his shanks fro' under;

An' laid his shoon into his ribs,

Which made him gasp an' wonder.

An' then came one o' Nadin's cubs,
An' he essay'd to take it ;
But Mister Bangy geet his dubs,
Which made him soon forsake it ;
For Saxton blun'd his thievin' e'e,
An' gan' his jaw a welter,
Which made "right about" to flee
As fast as he could skelter.

Then amblin' up the "Gemmen came

Towards the front o'th' hustin';

But soon their folly did they blame,
The "rabblement" for trustin';
For sticks wurn up, an' stones they flew,
Their gentle bodies bruisin',

And in a hurry they withdrew
Fro' sitch unmannert usin'.

Then preawdly let our banner wave,
Wi' freedom's emblem o'er it,
And toasted be the Stopport lads,
The lads who bravely bore it.
An' let the " war-worn Yeomanry

Go curse their sad disasters,

An' count, in rueful agony,

Their bruises an' their plasters.

THE UNION HYMN.

YE bards of Britain, strike the lyre,
And sing the happy Union;

In strains of patriotic fire,

O sing the happy Union.

Not distant is the welcome day,
When woe, and want, and tyranny,
Shall from our isle be swept away.
The grand epoch of Liberty

Awaits a faithful Union.

O worthy is the glorious cause,
Ye patriots of the Union;

Our fathers' rights, our fathers' laws,
Await a constant Union.

A crouching dastard sure is he
Who would not strike for liberty,
And die to set old England free
From all her load of tyranny:

Up brave men of the Union.

Our little ones shall learn to bless
Their fathers of the Union;
And every mother shall caress

Her hero of the Union.

Our plains with plenty shall be crown'd— The sword shall till the fruitful ground

The

spear shall prune our trees aroundAnd joy shall everywhere abound,

To bless a faithful Union.

Then Britain's Prince shall truly reign,
His subjects will defend him;
And free from loath'd corruption's train,
Bright honour shall attend him;
Whilst foreign despots ever more
Shall venerate our Albion's shore;
And war, with all its crime and gore,
Forgotten and for ever o'er,

Shall crown a nation's Union.