The Copybook

Short passages for reading, drawn from history, legend, poetry and fiction.

775

© Trescastillos, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC-BY-SA 4.0.

Cuthbert and the White Rider Clay Lane

The young Christian from ancient Northumbria was healed of a lame leg in a manner that reminded Bede of the archangel Rafael.

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776

By Tom Roberts (1856-1931), via the Royal Collection and Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Crimson Thread Sir Henry Parkes

In 1890, Sir Henry Parkes reminded Australians that they had a natural kinship and declared them ready to manage their own affairs.

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777

© Coekon, Wikimedia Commons. Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0.

Mischievous Interference The Council of New South Wales

In 1852 the Council of New South Wales sent a strongly-worded petition to London, demanding the right of self-government.

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778

Thomas Phillips, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

Defective Democracy John George Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham

Lord Durham warned Westminster that colonial Canada must be run by elected MPs, not career bureaucrats.

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779

Anonymous c. 1902, via Wikimedia Commons. Licence: Public domain.

The Central People of the World William Monypenny

Some wanted Britain on a path to being a thoroughly European nation, but William Monypenny wanted her at the world’s crossroads.

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780

© Mike Qunn, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0.

The Boy Who Cried Wolf Clay Lane

A shepherd boy has fun teasing the local farmers, but comes to regret it.

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