BIDEFORD, DOWN IN DEVON

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1480, 1 July 1912, Page 9

BIDEFORD, DOWN IN DEVON

There's an olil- brown house in. Bideford Town, Tall mast l : peep over Us.sloping caves; And (.he tide liows up and the tide ebbs down, And it's "Farewell, Jack!" while his sweetheart grieves. A ship looms large at the cud of tlio street, And the russet sails of the fishing fleet Conic rattling down liko the autumn leaves, Ere they anchor safe from the sounding sea By the weedy, walls of Dalcigh's Quny, The pride of pallant Bideford Town, . Bideford, down in Devon. 0 Mill Street's gay of a Saturday night! Chatter and bustle and rolling song; For here are wares lor the heart's dc- ■ light, A <litty-box or a Chines-e gong. And the swarthy giant at the fish shop near Ilai the eyes of a Spanish Buccaneer. ("It's time ,ns were stepping home along.") But there's,' lace of which a Queen might dream. Junkets and laver and clolted cream, 2n Mill Street narrow in Bideford Town, Bideford, down in Devon. There's a groat bridgo stretching from shore to shore (The poor folks walk, while the rich folks

ride), Piously built in the days of yore, Near the deep rock pools wliere the sal-

mon hide. There's a gleaming seagull cheek by jowl With a dusky rook and a batter'd fowl, .Down on the sand-bar left by the tide. And n tangle of silver bells'floats by From the ancient church'where the Cirenvilles lie In the very heart, of Bideford Town, Bideford, down in Devon. And down the river and over the bar. Once, galloons sail'd for the Spanish Main, To plant England's standard in lands afar (Ah. (here's other cargoes than golden grain!). And their caplur'il cannon noint the talc, How never a Devon man shall fail Should England summon her sous again, They'll be true to their Sailor King today, •■ As when great Elizabeth held her sway, For, loyal the hearts, in Bidoford Town, Bideford, down in Devon. —A. M. Nndin, in "The Quern."