William Andrews - Poetry on Panes



Here in my wicker chair I sitt,

From folly far, and far from witt,

Content to live, devoid of care,

With country folks and country fare;

To listen to my landlord’s tale,

And drink his health in Yorkshire ale;

Then smoak and read the York Courant;

I’m happy and ’tis all I want.

Though few my tythes, and light my purse,

I thank my God it is no worse.”



In a variety of places, but more especially in old village inns, reflections in verse, good, bad, and indifferent, have been found scratched upon window-panes. We have carefully copied the best examples which have come under our notice, and present a batch herewith, believing that they may entertain our readers.



A genial old Yorkshire parson appears at the commencement of the present century to have been greatly pleased with an inn situated between Northallerton and Boroughbridge, for he visited it daily to enjoy his pipe and glass. On one of its window-panes he inscribed some lines, of which the following is a literal copy:



William Andrews

LITERARY BYWAYS 1898