Thoughts in Rhyme; or, A Blind Man's Poems

16mo (17 x 11 cm). pp 105. Original publisher's red cloth boards, lettered in gilt and decorated in black to front; blind-stamped device to rear. Edges of text block stained red. Yellow endpapers. Boards rubbed and with several marks; corners bumped; spine faded. Loss to foot of front free endpaper where it has adhered to pastedown. Contemporary inscription on behalf of author to verso of front free endpaper. Pages mostly clean, with just a few scattered spots; offsetting from leaf to two pages. Both hinges starting to crack; text block remains firmly bound. A scarce volume of poetry by Jesse Cruse (1835-1915), a blind working class poet and Primitive Methodist lay preacher. Many of the poems have a strong religious theme. The inscription on the front free endpaper appears to read: "Mrs Barber, with the Author's best wishes, pro Mrs Pearson , May 1884". Mrs Pearson is probably the wife of W.H. Pearson who wrote the introduction to the book. The identity of Mrs Barber is unknown.