torm:--

The atmosphere's no longer clear,
The clouds are black an' stormy;
Then all the comp'ny away did run
Like one deserting army.

Like some fast steed, wi' all its speed,
All seemed as they wor flying;
To escape the rain, an' catch the train
Both old an' young wor trying.

The people got into the train all right, and travelled safely to
Keighley:--

All satisfied wi' their short ride'
But sorry for the rain.

THE PEOPLE'S "TRIBUNE"

The above verses are included in a piece I wrote in celebration of the
trip. It was about this period I began to spend a good deal of time in
writing doggerel and rhyme for publication in the local press. Many of my
"efforts" took the form of satires upon defaulting gentlemen--men who, I
thought, should be held up to public ridicule and censure. I placed
myself at the service of the people, and was always ready to show up
their wrongs under my motto, "Right against Might." For my pains in that
direction I was often boycotted, and occasionally brought before the
magistrates. In the latter case, an indirect charge was invariably
brought against me in order that certain individuals might take "revenge
out of me." But I flatter myself that I had as often a friend behind me
to save me from "durance vile." On one occasion I was hauled up for
refusing to quit the old Crown Inn, Church Green. I had occasion to go to
the place where, it seemed, there had been a row a few minutes
previously; indeed, I met several men in the passage who had taken part
in the row and were being turned out. I made my way forward and took a
seat in the tap-room. Before I had been seated many minutes a policeman
came in and charged me with refusing to quit the public-house when
ordered to do so. I endeavoured to convince "Robert" that I had not taken
part in the row, and that I had never been asked to quit; but I soon
found what a hopeless task I had set myself in trying to "convince a
policeman against his will." On the following Friday I was hauled up
before the magistrates. I defended myself as best I could, but was told
by the presiding magistrate that I was nothing but an "impudent
scoundrel." However, the charge against me--preferred by a policeman, and
supported by no other witness--was considered proved by the Bench, who
mulcted me in a fine of 10s and costs. Greatly incensed at the verdict,
but more especially at the manner in which the chairman of