The Parish Clerk (1907) by P. H. (Peter Hampson) Ditchfield
page 108 of 360 (30%)
page 108 of 360 (30%)
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His tombstone, near to that of his son, was erected "to record his worth
both in his public and private character, and as a mark of personal esteem--p. 1. F.H. and W.C. p.c." I am told that these initials stand for F. Hustle, and the Rev. William Callow, and that the latter was the author of the following lines inscribed on the monument, which are well worth quoting: If courtly bards adorn each statesman's bust And strew their laurels o'er each warrior's dust, Alike immortalise, as good and great, Him who enslaved as him who saved the State, Surely the Muse (a rustic minstrel) may Drop one wild flower upon a poor man's clay. This artless tribute to his mem'ry give Whose life was such as heroes seldom live. In worldly knowledge, poor indeed his store-- He knew the village, and he scarce knew more. The worth of heavenly truth he justly knew-- In faith a Christian, and in practice too. Yes, here lies one, excel him ye who can: Go! imitate the virtues of that man! The famous "Amen" epitaph at Crayford, Kent, is well known, though the name of the clerk who is thus commemorated is sometimes forgotten. It is to the memory of one Peter Snell, who repeated his "Amens" diligently for a period of thirty years, and runs as follows: Here lieth the body of Peter Snell, Thirty years clerk of this Parish. |
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