Thomas Cowherd

Thomas Cowherd Poems

Thomas Cowherd Biography

Thomas C. Cowherd (March 20, 1817 – April 4, 1907) was a tinsmith and poet. Cowherd was born in Kendal, Westmorland, England. He apprenticed as a tinsmith from age 13 to 20 in England. His family immigrated to Canada in 1837. Cowherd eventually settled on Colborne Street in Brantford, Ontario. He was President of the Brantford Branch Bible Society, President of the Brantford Mechanic's Institute and Literary Association, a school trustee, and was elected as a town councillor in 1869.He was a prolific poet and song writer. Much of his poetry appeared in newspapers. A collection, The Emigrant Mechanic and Other Tales in Verse", was published in 1884. His first marriage, to Ann Batty, produced five children. After her death, his second marriage, to Ann's sister Ellen, produced eleven more children. The Cowherd family were friends and associates of Alexander Graham Bell. Bell used the tinsmithing services of the Cowherds to help produce prototypes for the telephone, and to open the world's first telephone factory. He also called on them to string wire and to assist in demonstrations. Thomas spent many hours speaking with Alexander on the telephone between the Cowherd home in Brantford and the Bell Homestead. He died in Chatham, Ontario.)

The Best Poem Of Thomas Cowherd

To My Wife, On The 25th Anniversary Of Our Wedding Day

Dear Bride of five-and-twenty years,
I gladly give to thee this song.
That thou wilt spurn it I've no fears,
For love still reigns within thee strong,
And will reign long as life shall last;
For it has stood the fiery test
Of anguished moments in the past-
When out of pain came peaceful rest,
Until our life
Of toil and strife
Is joyful still, my darling wife.

When last I penned a lay to thee
I little dreamt that youthful charms
Would cling to thee at forty-three;
But now the thought my spirit warms
That I can see thee lovelier grown!
While fond affection constant beams
Within thy lovely eyes, light brown,
Thus realizing my young dreams.
For then I thought
The wife I sought
Should bring to me what thou hast brought.

A face lit up with genial smiles,
A heart to love through trials great,
With winning ways, with pleasant wiles,
To cheer me in life's troublous state.
I pictured her both fair and neat,
With voice so soft, with wifely skill,
To make my home a snug retreat
From many kinds of mortal ill.
Such hast thou been,
My own heart's queen,
As good a wife as e'er was seen.

What though we've not attained to wealth?
Have still to toil for daily bread?
So long as God gives precious health,
We have no worldly needs to dread,

For, day by day our table's filled,
Our dearest children constant fed;
With many comforts life to gild,
Our years enjoyably have sped.
Then we'll not care
For larger share
Of riches, which oft prove a snare.

Then, darling, let us battle on,
The future may ev'n brighter prove;
But if it does not we have won
A glorious boon in such true love
As well might smooth a harder life.
And few, I trow, have lived so long
wedded state with joys so rife.
Then fear not, let our hearts be strong
In Christ our Lord,
And let His Word
Yield us the comfort therein stored.

Now, as the ears flow swiftly by,
With crosses manifold to hear,
We still will look to Him on high,
Who has permitted us to share
So much of matrimonial bliss,
And in that bond has kept us true.
Let's deem it best His rod to kiss,
And keep His promises in view.
So, side by side
Our lives may glide
Till death bring us o'er Jordan's tide!

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