Elias Tozer (21 November 1825 – 13 December 1873) was a Devon journalist, poet and collector of folk stories.
[6] A dialect poem entitled "Satan's visit to North Lew as told by Ma Granfer" begins:[1] The devil he cum to our parish wan day, But he zed he didden intend vor to stay; He was gwain on varther to vetch a vat Prior, The layder of Tavistock's vair Abbey quire, Who'd a been a behavin as no Prior shude do, And he'd vix'd to make un a vine brimstone stew.
Some poems were in standard English, thus On Cawsand Beacon celebrates the famous Dartmoor hill as,[7] Rolling o’er the purple heather, In the glorious Summer weather, Staining lips with whortleberries, Sweet as any figs or cherries.
Sipping from the crystal stream, Lying on the banks to dream, Watching skylarks soar above Singing, with them, strains of love.
Gazing over boundless plain, List’ning to the sweet refrain Of the rivulets and rills As they flow by distant hills;