money. He spoke to my master, and obtained for me two or three days'
leave of absence. This proved the greatest breakdown that ever happened
to me. I stayed a day or two with Mr Brown, who then suggested that I
should extend my holiday. I was always easily persuaded, and this time
was no exception. There was plenty of money to go at, and Mr Brown
induced me to travel to Middlesbro' with him. From there we visited many
places, being absent from Bradford about a fortnight. On returning to my
employment, I found that my place had been filled. Mr Ward, after hearing
my story, expressed himself very sorry for me. He said he kept my place
vacant for eight or nine days, but was then compelled to fill it up.

AS "BUM" BAILIFF

I was thus again a workless worker. But not for long. I fell in with an
auctioneer, who set me on as a sort of "bum" bailiff. This auctioneer had
Douglas Mills and Victoria Mills, Bradford, on his hands for sale, and
required someone to watch them. I was in charge of Douglas Mills for
three weeks, and a fine time I had. The spinning frames and other
machinery had been sold to Messrs Binns and Masker, brokers, of Keighley,
but there were many odds and ends left, which I was given permission to
realise. These "odds and ends" included all the leather, cotton waste,
and loose wood about the place, and the proceeds from the sale of these,
in addition to my weekly wage, tended to a not inconsiderable sum.
Perhaps it was this extraordinary "flush" of money that caused me to have
sufficient courage to venture back to Keighley. (I may say that I had not
during my absence from the town encountered my friend, the drysalter.)

BACK TO KEIGHLEY

It was 1876 when I returned home. It was just before the Liberal club was
opened by the Marquis of Hartington. The occasion, I may say, was made a
great "to do"--what with the elaborate opening ceremonial, the procession
in the street, and the great banquet at Dalton Mills (which had just been
built). I wrote some twenty verses descriptive of the event, and these I
had printed and ready for distribution before the banquet commenced. I
was introduced to the ducal party, which, in addition to the Marquis of
Hartington, included his brother, Lord Frederick Cavendish, Lord
Houghton, and others. Perhaps I shall not be thought unduly egotistical
for mentioning that Lord Houghton, who is a poet of no mean order,
commended my verses.

THE ORDER OF BUFFALOES

W