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Dictionary'-whose Resident Tutorship in the Theological Hall in student days, and warm friendship ever since, have been among the highest privileges of my life-I am indebted for reading several chapters, and verifying some points of historic interest. And a very tender and grateful recollection will always remain with me of the characteristic kindness of the distinguished man to whom the MS. was first submitted just two years ago, and who, with other grateful words, wrote, “I am so much interested in the whole tale, that I would like to preach to your people." Alas! before the generous and revered wish could be gratified, the eloquent voice was suddenly hushed in its last silence: it was the late gifted and chivalrous minister of Marylebone, London-Dr Donald Fraser.

One thought specially impresses me in completing the volume-it is, that almost all the old friends, from whose lips it was my privilege to gather what perhaps may lend interest to some of its pages, have passed away. The age, in the aggregate, of six of these amounted to 522 years, an average of 87 for each. It would not be possible, starting now, satisfactorily to accomplish the task.

WM. HUME ELLIOT.

WOODHILL, RAMSBOTTOм,
December 15, 1893.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.-TOPOGRAPHY.

The landscape now and in prehistoric times - The Irwell

Valley - Neighbouring towns - The Peel Monument - The

view from the summit-The home of the De Notoghs

Park Grant's Tower Walmersley House - Springside,

the Home of the Cheerybles Chamber Hall Totting-
ton - Claremont - Watling Street-Ancient pillar marking
middle point between London and Edinburgh-Turton Chapel
-Edgeworth Homes-Entwistle Moor-Holcombe Range-
The Pilgrim's Cross-Bull Hill-" Ellen Strange '"-Robin
Hood's Well-Stake Lane Bar-Ewood Hall-Windy Arbour
-Horncliff-Cliff Towers-Edenfield-Dearden Moor-Fo'
Edge and Waugh's Well - Whittle Pike - Scout-Facit-
Fletcher Bank-Top o'th' Hoof-Horse-shoe formation of

hills-Ramsbottom,

I

b

CHAPTER V.-HOLCOMBE VILLAGE.

Its situation-The coom-The Church-The Original Chapel--
Tithes for it and Edenfield-The Bishop's arrangement-Eden-
field Church tower-The Minister's Pathway-The incumbents
of Holcombe-Cock-fighting suppressed-John o' Matty's and
his loved bass - "Sing smo', sing smo'!'" - Rush-bearing or
wakes-Origin and history - The rush-cart-Its adornments
and journey-Adam and Eve-The custom explained-The
sports-Donkey and other races, greasy-pole, Grinning match
-Ralph Fish-His unique victory-Holcombe churchyard-

Quaint inscriptions--The Ramsbottom Cromptons in America
-The Crompton Loom-Tower and clock-Dr Bates-Dr
Woodcock-The very Rev. Jas. Wood, D.D.---Roger Worthing-
ton-The Howcum Weaver chap, &c.,

CHAPTER VI.--CHEERYBLE BROTHERS.

The advent of the Grants to the valley-How their father was
impressed - William Grant, the Cheeryble's reminiscences-
Description of district at the time - Founding of the cotton
industry at Ramsbottom - Apprenticeship of the Grants-
Their industry and progress-Purchase of Sir Robert Peel's
works-Top o'th' Brow-Grant Arms-George Goodrick-
The parents of the Grants-M'Kenzies of Tumbrech-Recol-
lections of Mrs Grant's maid - Mrs Grant's aphorisms-A
genial pair-Topwood saved-Extent of foreign commercial
connections-The Corn Laws-Relieving the poor-Reminis-
cences of the late John Slagg, M.P. - William reads Riot Act
at Chatterton-Henshaw's Blind Asylum - The Cheerybles
and Steam-hammer Naysmith £500 "and no security!''-'' A
most-knowing wink ''-Its explanation-Naysmith's gratitude-
"Always be civil"-Unfailing courtesy tested-Daniel Grant,
the younger Cheeryble His characteristics Illustrative
incidents" First to come first to go"-His severest rebuke

-Springside-Egypt! Pharaoh! mummies! - Mosley Street,

Manchester - Alfred Boot, Dickens's "apoplectic butler"

Tiffin at 2-"Alfred! Ruby! Lightning!'"'-Impulsive oration

in St Andrew's Church on Daniel in the den of lions - The

preacher appeased - John Roe and John Wardle's boy

Aversion to signing documents Generosity "A thing of

honour '"-The Grants' affection for their parents-Character-

istic speech in 'Nicholas Nickleby'-"The memory of our

mother!"
Franklin Haworth's recollections-Mr William

Grant's death-Funeral Sermon by Dr MacLean-Inscription

on tombstone-Mr William Grant's account of their coming to

Lancashire, and their subsequent career-Death of Daniel Grant

and the other members of the family-Pulpit references,

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