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Kindly loaned. Presented in no particular order, by Kay Collins
An Autograph Collection?
Each little sheet has a picture, or a verse, and has been signed and dated in most cases. Several are by Rushden people and most date from the first decade of the 20C. The latest date is on a Cunard Line menu card for a Farewell Dinner on Thursday August 21, 1952, with RMS ‘Mauretania’ on the outer, and autographed inside.
[It is possible that these belonged to a member of the Walker family of Higham Ferrers.]

She doeth little kindnesses,
Which most leave undone or despise,
For nought that sets one heart at ease,
And giveth happiness and peace
Is low-esteemed in her eyes.
J R Lowell

Grace M Allen, Rushden

July 1905

Small service is true service while it lasts,
Of friends, however humble scorn not one,
The daisy by the shadow that it casts
Protectes the lingering dewdrop from the sun.
Wordsworth

With Very Pleasant Remembrances of a happy time, Yours with love S. A. Swift.

Sweet is the smile of home; The mutual look,
When hearts are of each other sure;
Sweet all the joys that crowd the household nook,
The haunt of all affections pure.” Keble.

Edgar Hustwaite
‘The School House Higham Ferrers
Jan. 3 1905’

“It is the greatest of folly
not to be jolly,
And that’s what I think.”

Yours very sincerely, Ethie Browne

S’sea
20th Nov. 1904


“Love’s Labour Lost”

with apologies to Shakespeare

W G Hastings, Rushden. ’10

With all of us some wishes dwell
Deppe in our hearts instilled;
What yours may be I cannot tell
But wish them all fulfilled
Hilda Browne
“Jesmond” Southsea xii.’04

“Eat to Live”
Not
“Live to Eat”

E Hustwaite
Higham Ferrers
Apl. 7 02

The bird has a wing,
That on high he may sail;

Jan 25th 1901
Nellie Wright,
“Bleake House” Rushden.

E Sargent, Higham Ferrers,
Sept. 10th 1903

After Louis Wain
10/17/03 W Clipson, Rushden

Cure For Love
Into a pint of water of oblivion,
Put of the essence of resignation 1 grain
Of prudence and patience each 5 grains,
And of sound judgement 1 drachm,
Mix well? And after they have stood some time,
Take off the scum of former remembrances,
And sweeten the mixture with the spirit of hope,
Pass it through the filter of common sense,
Through the funnel of conviction, into a bottle of firm resolve
Stopping it tightly with the cork of indifference
Take a Drachm night and morning,
Or often if the constitution will bear it,
Reducing the dose as the disease decreases.

F M Scott

June 1904

Pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flower its bloom is shed,
Or like the snow-fall on the river
A moment white then melts for ever.
Burns.

N Wright, Rushden. Nov 28th 1902

A Very Sad Parting

“Good-bye” said Pen “dear Mr. Ink!
From bidding you farewell I shrink
But still, you know, we have to part
So let me press you to my heart”
“Come, that will do,” quoth Ink. “Alack!
Your tears are dripping down my back!”

I Sargent 26/9/03

Two little Pigs went out one day,
All in the summer weather O
They came to a stile & smiled a little smile
And sat on it close together O.

One little Pig came up the hill
All in the summer weather O
And gave such a stare to see them flirting there
His sweetheart and rival together O.

H. Brawn

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot!”

After L Wain
L.S.

Jan 25th 1901

There is a little word,
In every language dear,
In English ’tis for get me not
In French ’tis Souvenir.

B Wright, Bleake House, Rushden.


In Far-Away Japan
W M Hayes April 15th 1902
A Scott - June 1904

In the intercourse of social life, it is by little acts of watchful kindness, recurring daily and hourly (and opportunities of doing kindnesses, if sought for, are for ever starting up) it is by words, by tones, by gestures, by looks, that affection is won and preserved. — Zimmerman.
Give us the man who sings at his work: Be his occupation that it may, he is equal to any of those who follow the same pursuit in silent sullenness. He will do more in the same time – he will do it better – he will persevere longer. One is scarcely sensible of fatigue whilst he dances to music. — Carlyle.

Wishing you every success, Bertram Hollick, Coronation Week 1902.


“The best of friends must part”
H Kimber, S’pore 12 xii 07

B Randall
April 23 1902

Yours truly Leila Gainher
27th Feb. 1905


Farmer: “There’s a fine fat pig for sale here. Can I see it?”
Boy (calling out): “Feyther! Some un wants to see yer.”
May 19th 1902 - Herbert A Bridgwater.

Oh! Sweet Birdie, how I love you!
It quite breaks my heart to see
(When I’m waiting for my dinner)
How you flit from tree to tree.

Won’t you come and be my breakfast!
Won’t you come and stay to tea?
I can’t tell how much I love you-
Birdie, dear, won’t you love me?

R Bull, Rushden 12-12-1902


Old Mother Gummidge
Popsy Hayes - April 16th 1902
N Cave
23/1/01
N Clipson,
Rushden 10/14/03

All these sketches were with a Cunard Line menu card with R M S ‘Mauretania’ on the outer, and autographed inside [by fellow passengers] at a Farewell Dinner on Thursday August 21, 1952:
Ann Wilf – Buffalo, NY, USA
Hedwig Black – 54 Warwiels Av, Edgware, MDX
Wallace C Rooney Jn. – 755 Madison Ave, N.Y., N.Y., U.S.A.
Harvey Carey, Postgraduate Medical School, London W.12
Muriel Wood 1701 N.E. 18 Ohla ...



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