Epitaph
In St. Modwen's Churchyard at Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, the
following inscription has been copied from the tombstone of a deaf and
dumb man:--
This Stone
Was raised by Subscription
To the Memory of
THOMAS STOKES,
An eccentric and much-respected deaf and dumb man,
Better k
own by the name of
DUMB TOM,
Who departed this life Feb. 25th, 1837,
Aged 57 years.
"What man can pause, and charge the senseless dust
With fraud, or subtlety, or aught unjust?
How few can conscientiously declare
Their acts have been as honourably fair?
No gilded bait, no heart ensnaring meed,
Could bribe poor Stokes to one dishonest deed:
Firm in attachment, to his friends most true--
Though deaf and dumb he was excell'd by few.
Go ye, by nature formed, without defect,
And copy Tom, and gain as much respect."