Perceiving how matters stood, Old Brooks, having had his joke, but these hearty couples trudged on foot “o’er field, meadow, and stile” from Birches to Manchester Old Church and back, a distance of some sixteen or seventeen miles in all, of course making occasional calls on the way. “Donty at th’ Roe-lone” was Jone’s best man, and he is said to have been always in for a “lark.” He seems to have been pretty well acquainted with the Rev. Joshua Brooks, who at that time generally presided at Hymen’s altar, especially at a country wedding. It is well known that the Rev. Joshua would always have his joke, and “Donty” knew this as well as anybody. Due notice had been given to the church officials of the wedding, and the Rev. Joshua was waiting in the church porch at the appointed time of its arrival.

Jone, then a young man of course, was one of the last couple in that happy crowd, and his shoe-strings, through the long walk had become untied. Arrived at church, as he stooped down to fasten his shoe-strings, he shouted to Donty, who was leading the blushing bride, to tell “owd Joshua ut he’d be in as soon as he’d teed his shoon.” The Rev. Joshua heard this remark unperceived by Jone and winked at Donty as the wedding party, all but the expectant bridegroom passed by him into the church. Donty having shown the bride elect into the church, immediately returned to the porch, where he found what old Joshua meant by his knowing wink. The reverend gentleman had closed the church door and turned the key on the unlucky bridegroom, and there Donty found the inveterate joker waiting behind the door for what was to follow. The beleaguered bridegroom approached the church door, and to his horror found himself locked out. Then came the storm; first a shake at the door, then a rattle, then a thunge; but all to no purpose. There was no voice, nor any to answer. The infuriated bridegroom feared lest his intended should be married to “th’ wrang felly.” Jone had heard of such things occurring in Manchester Old Church. He knew that “th’parson” had gone into the church, and he feared the worst. Then he mustered up his courage, and didn’t he lay his newly “Teed shoon into that oak dur?” At length the reverend joker broke silence, and in his peculiar stentorian voice, howled through the keyhole-“Who art theaw, theaw owd bobbin winder?” The distressed bridegroom, imitating the strong voice of Brooks, In a tone of mixed irony and rage howled back again. -“Who art theaw, theaw owd bobbin winder?” I’m th’ main mon , and if theaw doesno oppen this dur, e’gadlings I’ll punce it deawn.

The wedding party inside the church were becoming alarmed at the state of things. There was no parson in sight, and, worst still, “th’ felly were lost ut should ha’ bin wed.” Besides “wheer were Donty?” Then it began to dawn on the minds of some of the party that they were going to have a “jow fair.” Perceiving how matters stood, Old Brooks, having had his joke,

April 15th - Was found floating on Leeshall dam the body of Peggy Dronsfield, of Oldham, single woman. It appears that this unfortunate woman being affected with a fever eluded the vigilance of her friends, and threw herself into this water on the 13th.

April 16th - For several days last past very fine, and so excessive hot as never felt in April, and never much hotter in July.

April 12th - One Bradey, an Irish taylor, stole a silver cup from the house of Mrs. Whalley, the George Inn, Oldham, for wich ofence he was commited to the New Bailey prison to take his tryal.

April 19th -This day John Hartley, fustian cutter, of Oldham, arived from Colchester, at Manchester with his prisnor, William Wrigley. Hartley had his house broke some time sinc, and fustian to a large amount therefrom stolen. Suspicions falling upon the above Wrigley, he aprehended him at Colchester with his goods in his possession.

April 25th - Was interred at Oldham, John Ashton, of Lane End, near Foxdenton, a man far advanced in years, and once famous in the flower garden.

How many names we find in these annals famous in the flower garden both in Oldham and in Royton! A Roytonian was telling me the other day that some of these names are still preserved in local floral nomenclature. Love of flowers is certainly one of the finest traits of human character, and it is with some pride that I find this trait so common among the people of Oldham and the district. Need one wonder that our botanical societies in modern days have been so successful?. Like wooden legs, our love of flowers runs in the blood.

April 28th - Last night died at Oldham in an advanced state of years, Thomas Ogden, mufflin baker.

April 25th - Murther. Monday morning, 25th, a mallancolly sceen was discovered early this morning at the house of Mr. E. Hesketh, of Hollinwood, who was found dead upon the floor, with the fire poker in his hand, and Ollive Ogden, his housekeeper, who was in a state of pregnancy, in a dying state by his side, a little boy of three years old, the fruit of their amours, laid over the legs of Hesketh. The woman survived but a few minutes, and was spechles and motionles. They were all brused, the man and the woman in a most shocking condition, their heads very much shatered; the windows where secured with iron bars, and he had the key of the door in his pocket, so there is not the least doubt but the man and the woman killed each other, and in the affray killed the child.