Those who went to Hurst Nook Sunday School would know that the aim of the children was to complete their Star Card for good attendance. Each time you attended you got a star.As some of the kids didn't want to go, they got entered in the register and ejected for bad behaviour, thus achieving both goals; in the register and being out of school.The easiest way to do this was to the adjust the words of the hymn called Happy Land as follows:
- There is a Happy Land far, far away
- Where all the piggies play all through the day
- When they see the butcher come
- Cutting slices off their bum
- You should see the buggers run
- Far, far away
This would always result in being dismissed by Parker Birtwistle the Sunday School Teacher
And the real words
- There is a happy land, far, far away
- Where saints in glory stand, bright as the day
- Oh, how they sweetly sing, worthy is our Savior King
- Come to that happy land, come, come away
- Why will you doubting stand, why still delay?
- Oh, we shall happy be, when from sin and sorrow free
- Lord, we shall live with Thee, blest, blest for aye.
- Bright, in that happy land, beams every eye
- Kept by a Father's hand, love cannot die
- Loud let His praises ring, praise, praise for aye.
- Oh, then to glory run; be a crown and kingdom won
- And, bright, above the sun, we reign for aye
©Antony Lambert