as probably the son of John, who came from Bilham Comit. Salop.
circa 1642.

This first John was a man of considerable importance, being twice
mentioned with the honourable prefix of _Mr._ in the town records. Name
spelt with two _l_-s.

"Hear lyeth y^e bod [_stone unhappily broken_.]
Mr. Ihon Willber [Esq.] [_I inclose this in brackets as doubtful. To
me it seems clear._]
Ob't die [_illegible; looks like xviii._] ... iii [_prob. 1693._]
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... paynt
... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... deseased seinte:
A friend and [fath]er untoe all y^e opreast,
Hee gave y^e wicked familists noe reast,
When Sat[an bl]ewe his Antinomian blaste,
Wee clong to [Willber as a steadf]ast maste.
[A]gaynst y^e horrid Qua[kers]...."

It is greatly to be lamented that this curious epitaph is mutilated. It
is said that the sacrilegious British soldiers made a target of this
stone during the war of Independence. How odious an animosity which
pauses not at the grave! How brutal that which spares not the monuments
of authentic history! This is not improbably from the pen of Rev. Moddy
Pyram, who is mentioned by Hubbard as having been noted for a silver
vein of poetry. If his papers be still extant, a copy might possibly be
recovered.

FOOTNOTES:

[3] The reader curious in such matters may refer (if he can find them)
to "A Sermon preached on the Anniversary of the Dark Day," "An Artillery
Election Sermon," "A Discourse on the Late Eclipse," "Dorcas, a Funeral
Sermon on the Death of Madam Submit Tidd, Relict of the late Experience
Tidd, Esq." &c. &c.

THE BIGLOW PAPERS.

No. I.

A LETTER

FROM MR. EZEKIEL BIGLOW OF JAALAM TO THE HON. JOSEPH
T. BUCKINGHAM, EDITOR OF THE BOSTON COURIER, INCLOSING
A POEM OF HIS SON, MR. HOSEA BIGLOW.

JAYLEM, june 1846.

MISTER EDDYTER:--Our Hosea wuz down to Boston last week, and he see a
cruetin Sarjunt a struttin round as popler as a hen with 1 chicking,
with 2 fellers a drummin and fifin arter him like all nater. the sarjunt
he thout Hosea hedn't gut his i teeth cut cos he looked a kindo's though
he'd jest com down, so he cal'lated to hook him in, but Hosy woodn't
take none o' his sarse for all he hed much as 20 Rooster's tales stuck
onto his hat and eenamost enuf brass a bobbin up and down on his
shoulders and figureed onto his coat and trousis, let alone