Aw’ve just mended th’ fire wi’ a cob;
Owd Swaddle has brought thi new shoon;
There’s some nice bacon collops o’th hob,
An’ a quart o’ ale-posset i’th oon;
Aw’ve brought thi top cwot, doesto know,
For th’ rain’s comin’ deawn very dree;
An’ th’ har’stone’s as white as new snow;
Come whoam to thi childer an’ me.
When aw put little Sally to bed,
Hoo cried ’cose her feyther weren’t theer;
So aw kiss’d th’ little thing, an’ aw said
Thae’d bring her a ribbin fro’ th’ fair;
An’ aw gav her her doll, an’ some rags,
An’ a nice little white cotton bo’;
An’ aw kiss’d her again; but hoo said
At hoo wanted to kiss _thee_ an’ o’.
An’ Dick, too, aw’d sich wark wi’ him,
Afore aw could get him up stairs;
Thae towd him thae’d bring him a drum,
He said, when he’re sayin’ his prayers;
Then he look’d i’ my face, an’ he said,
“Has th’ boggarts taen houd o’ my dad?”
An’ he cried whol his e’en were quite red;—
He likes thee some weel, does yon lad!
At th’ lung-length aw geet ’em laid still;
An’ aw hearken’t folks’ feet at went by;
So aw iron’t o’ my clooas reet weel,
An’ aw hanged ’em o’th maiden to dry;
When aw’d mended thi stockin’s an’ shirts,
Aw sit deawn to knit i’ my cheer,
An’ aw rayley did feel rather hurt—
Mon, aw’m _one-ly_ when theaw art’nt theer.
“Aw’ve a drum and a trumpet for Dick;
Aw’ve a yard o’ blue ribbin for Sal;
Aw’ve a book full o’ babs; an’ a stick,
An’ some bacco an’ pipes for mysel;
Aw’ve brought thee some coffee an’ tay—
Iv thae’ll _feel_ i’ my pocket, thae’ll _see_;
An’ aw’ve bought tho a new cap to-day,—
But aw olez bring summat for _thee_!
“God bless tho, my lass; aw’ll go whoam,
An’ aw’ll kiss thee an’ th’ childer o’ reawnd;
Thae knows, at wheerever aw roam,
Aw’m fain to get back to th’ owd greawnd;
Aw can do wi’ a crack o’er a glass;
Aw can do wi’ a bit ov a spree;
But aw’ve no gradely comfort, my lass,
Except wi’ yon childer and thee.”
[Illustration]
[Illustration]