The Onward reciter ed. by W. Darrah

THE

Onward Reciter.

EDITED BY

WILLIAM DARRAH.

VOLUME IV.

LONDON:

S. W. Partridge & Co., 9, Paternoster Row.

MANCHESTER:

Lancashire & Cheshire Band of Hope Union, Barlow's Court,
43, Market Street, and John Heywood, Deansgate.

1875.

Per. 2705 £

Work away!

For the Father's eye is on us,
Never off us, still upon us,

Night and day!

WORK AND PRAY!

Pray and Work will be completer; Work! and Frayer will be the sweeter;

Love! and Prayer and Work the fleeter Will ascend upon their way!

Fear not lest the busy finger

Weave a net the soul to stay;

Give her wings-she will not linger;
Soaring to the source of day;
Cleaving clouds that still divide us
From the azure depths of rest,
She will come again! beside us
With the sunshine on her breast,
Sit, and sing to us, while quickest
On their task the fingers move,
While the outward din wars thickest
Songs that she hath learned above!

PREFACE.

GLANCE at our contents will show that in addition

to original contributions by able writers, and copyright poems appearing by permission of their respective authors, many pieces are included in this Fourth Volume of the "ONWARD RECITER" which have not hitherto appeared in similar works. We have, however, taken care to insert a few of those special favourites which, though originally published long ago, still "flourish in immortal youth."

The Temperance selections will be found to deal, forcibly and eloquently, with the social, political, and scientific aspects of the question: including, under the first head, contributions by Bloomfield, Elihu Burritt, Dr. Byrom, J. Critchley Prince, T. Guthrie, D.D., and others; under the second, a description of the beneficial results of Prohibition, by W. Hepworth Dixon; and under the third head, the weighty testimony of Sir Henry Thompson as to the advantages of Total Abstinence, from a medical point of view.

In the general selections-in which we have endeavoured to inculcate faith, virtue, knowledge, brotherly kindness, and charity-will be found, to use the words of the Literary World in reviewing our monthly issue, "the finest things of some of our most famous men." Amongst the authors quoted from are: Addison, Carlyle, Campbell, Cowper, Bishop Heber, Hood, Shenstone, Smollett, Southey, and Wolcot. Our transatlantic cousins are also given a fair

share of space: W. C. Bryant, J. G. Saxe, Mark Twain, J. G. Whittier, and others representing the American "republic of letters."

It has been one of our chief aims to render the work suitable for all ages, classes, and tastes and equally adapted for public recitals and home reading: by providing simple lays for the children; narratives and kindly counsels for youth; facts and arguments for manhood; food for quiet thought for age; and humorous and pathetic pieces for all.

We have, in short, done our best to make the "ONWARD RECITER," cheerful, instructive, and attractive: and to all who have in any way assisted us in the effort, we tender our heartiest thanks.

It gives us pleasure to announce that our staff of Contributors for the next Volume has been largely increased and comprises some of the most talented and popular authors of the day.

MANCHESTER,

AUGUST 23Rd, 1875.

THE EDITOR.