To the Critics Mary's Page
Poems of a Nottingham Lace-Runner
TO THE CRITICS
May it please the Almighty on my distress to look,
And send His blessing with my little book;
And screen it from the Critic s piercing eye,
Which might at once my labours all destroy:
Should they find fault, which is, alas! too common,
They'd only set their wit against a Woman!
Against my composition should they rail,
And of this little Treasure spoil the sale,—
'Tis not the chaff, divested of the grain,
That for their time I'd wish them to obtain;
But for their labour very little gains,
And eight small Children to reward their pains:
This do I wish, and wish it from my soul—
And make them feed and clothe and mind the whole!
---oOo---
Contents
To a Lady who visited the author when she was in great distress 14
To a Lady who desired me to pray for the death of youngest child 17
Petition to the British Fair 19
On the Death of the Revd. Dr. Wylde, late of Nottingham 21
Lines, Written in July, on Widow Hind's garden, at Hints, in Staffordshire 26
Lines On the Death of a Gentleman of Basford 31
The Author to Her Infant Twins 35
Appendix: Mary Bailey's Obituary 37
Index of titles and first lines 42
---oOo---
[Work in Progess]
