At the centre of his being lodged A soul by resignation sanctified O, he was good if e'er a good man lived! WORDSWORTH.
In memory of WILLIAM COWPER, THE POET Born in Berkhampstead 1731 Died and buried at East Dereham 1800. He was the author of The Diverting History of "John Gilpin."
John Gilpin was a citizen Of credit and renown, A trainband captain eke was he Of famous London town.
John Gilpin's spouse said to her dear, Though wedded we have been These twice ten tedious years, yet we No holiday have seen.
To-morrow is our wedding day, And we will then repair Unto "the Bell" at Edmonton, All in a chaise and pair, etc.
This monument to commemorate the visit of the London and Middlesex Archæological Association/ to Edmonton church and parish on the 26th July 1888/ was erected by the President of the Meeting Joshua W. Butterworth, F.S.A.
For some years we have been interested in the life and poetry of Mary Pyper, "A Poet of the Poor," and in our "Literary Byways" have told at length the story of her career. We there state, through the exertions of Dr. Rogers in May, 1885, a handsome cross was erected over her remains in Greyfriars' churchyard, Edinburgh, simply bearing her name, "Mary Pyper." Such was the information we received from a friend whom we induced to see the memorial and give us particulars of it, and to our surprise when we visited her grave in April, 1899, we found on the cross the following inscription, which we presume has been added since its erection:--
By admiring Friends Erected in memory of MARY PYPER, who amidst untoward surroundings cherished her gift as a writer of sacred verse. Born 25th May, 1795. She died at Edinburgh, 25th May, 1870.
Let me go! The day is breaking; Morning bursts upon the eye; Death this mortal frame is shaking, But the soul can never die!
The lines are from her poem entitled "The Christian's View of Death," which finds a place in several standard works of poetry. Her best known production is an "Epitaph: A Life," and often attributed incorrectly to German sources. It is as follows:--
"I came at morn--'twas Spring, and smiled, The fields with green were clad; I walked abroad at noon, and lo! 'Twas Summer--I was glad. I sate me down--'twas Autumn eve, And I with sadness wept; I laid me down at night--and then 'Twas Winter--and I slept."