Lays From The Mine, The Moor, And The Mountain by John Harris [Cornish Miner] - 1853

Simpkin, Marshall, And Co, London, 1853. First Edition. Softcover. Fair Condition/No Dust Jacket. TRUE FIRST EDITION DATED 1853. ‘Some of you will know the writings of John Harris of Bolenowe near Camborne, Cornwall's miner poet. He was born in 1820, the eldest of ten children and he started work at the ripe old age of nine. At the age of 13 worked under ground at Dolcoath Mine Camborne and became the author of 16 books mostly of poetry. He was so keen to get his ideas on paper that he would write on slates and use the juice of berries as ink of no other materials were available. Within four years he became a miner and he stayed at Dolcoath for 20 years until a job as a Bible reader at Falmouth was found for him. and his verse has found many enthusiastic followers including the Poet Laureate Sir John Betjemen, and a particular champion in Donald M.Thomas,a well-known novelist and poet himself, who comes from Carnkie near Redruth. Harris had no formal education. He picked up his English by listening to educated speakers and reading the few books available. He built his home at Troon, with his own hands, bringing the stone from the quarry. He looked after his family of four, two boys and two girls, but was often treated with great cruelty by people who should have known better. John Harris died in Falmouth on 7th January 1884, and was buried 3 days later at Treslothan Church.’ Contents: THE LOVE OF HOME-PART I. PART II. CHRISTIAN HEROISM. MINOR POEMS. The Miner's Wife, The Miner's Daughter, My Mother's Voice, To my Bower, The Emigrant's Departure, To a Cluster of Primroses, My own beloved Hills, The Death of my Father, The Brasen Serpent, Spring, The strange Distribution of worldly Wealth, The World for Christ, The Child's First Prayer, Death's Visits, My little Maid thanking God at Supper-Time, The Death of the First-born, "Work while it is Day", The Heath, The Sabbath, O for a Cot in some lone Place, The Hour of Rest, To the Swallow, The Parting Scene, To my native Valley, The Mother preaching Christ, The First Primrose, I steal away to weep, To the Rivulet, Camborne, To the Lark, Eda, To a Violet found in October, The Fall of the Old House. RHYMES FOR MY CHILDREN. The Truant Schoolboys. (A Story for Jane.), The Lost Child. (A Story for Lucretia, when two Years of Age.), The two Boys and the Lamb. (A Story for Jane.), My little Sister. (A Story for Lucretia.), To my Children. HUMOROUS PIECES. To my Old Silk Hat, The Housewife's Soliloquy over her waning Loaf, But all Things will change. (An Epistle to my Brother). CHANONCHET AND WETAMOE. Notes to Chanonchet and Wetamoe. Book - in Fair card covers which are faded, marked and have some creasing, professional repair, strengthening, to the extreme corners and to the long edge of the back cover, the spine has also been professionally replaced. Contents, all edges gilt,browning to the pages with some marking to a few pages, previous owner's book plate to the front paste down otherwise clean and tightly bound. Scarce in this original first edition. Size: 6.25 inches tall by 4 inches. viii, 112 pages. Quantity Available: 1. Shipped Weight: Under 200 grams. Category: Poetry; Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 8961.. This book is lighter than the average upon which international charges are based and so will be sent Airmail as standard.