free-verse20 lines

Lines Read at a Parsonage Opening at the Village where Ranney had once flourished, 1883.

Some do boast of their pedigrees,

But Salford's parent of the cheese,

Ranney, industrious and wise,

Here started this great enterprise.

He did work on the dairy plan,

While Farrington was factoryman,

Both of these men it well did please

To hear of progress making cheese.

The farmers are in cheerful mood,

For harvest all it has been good,

And all the grain was sown this spring

An abundant yield will bring.

And you can scarcely stow away

The yield of barley, oats and hay,

Such pasture it is seldom seen,

E'en now it is so fresh and green.

This beauteous colour nature decks,

While it insures you large milk cheques,

And certes you've much cause to praise,

For hogs and cattle that you raise.