OLD AIR—“_When Dolly and I get wed_.”
Th’ wynt blows keen thro’ th’ shiverin’ thorn,
An’ th’ leet looks wild i’th sky;
Come, Tet, stir up that fire, an’ draw
That keyther gently by;
Aw’ve done my weshin’, gronny; an’
Aw’ve tidied every thing;
An’ neaw aw’ll sit me deawn to sew,
An’ hearken th’ kettle sing.
Bring in some coals; an’ shut that dur,—
It’s quite a wintry day;
Reitch deawn that ham; eawr Robin likes
A relish to his tay.
Sweep th’ grate, an’ set this table eawt;
Put th’ tay-pot upo’ th’ oon;
It’s gettin’ on for baggin’ time,
An’ he’ll be comin’ soon.
Th’ fire bruns clear; an’ th’ heawse begins,
A-lookin’ brisk an’ breet,
As th’ time draws near when he gets back,
Fro’ th’ teawn at th’ edge o’ neet;
It makes one hutch wi’ glee to yer
A favourite fuut come whoam;
An’ it’s very fine to hearken, when
One knows its sure to come
Th’ cat pricks up her ears at th’ sneck,
Wi’ mony a leetsome toot;
An’ th’ owd arm-cheer i’th corner seems,
As if it yerd his fuut;
Th’ window blinks; an’ th’ clock begins
A-tickin’ leawd an’ fain;
An’ th’ tin things winkin’ upo’ th’ wole,—
They groon as breet again.
Th’ kettle’s hummin’ o’er wi’ fun—
Just look at th’ end o’th speawt;
It’s like some little sooty lad
At’s set his lips to sheawt.
Yon wayter-drops at fo’n fro’ th’ tap,
Are gettin’ wick wi’ glee;
An yo’re fain, gronny, too, aw know,—
But noan as fain as me.
Keep th’ rockers gooin’ soft an’ slow,
An’ shade that leet away;
Aw think this little duck’s o’th mend;
Hoo sleeps so weel to-day;
Doze on, my darlin’; keep ’em shut,—
Those teeny windows blue;
Good Lord! iv aught should happen thee,
What could thi mother do!
Here, gronny, put this cover on,
An’ tuck it nicely in;
Keep th’ keyther stirrin’ gently; an’
Make very little din.
An’ lap thoose dimpled honds away
Fro’ th’ frosty winter air;
They lie’n a-top o’ th’ bit o’ quilt,
Like two clock-hommers theer.
But stop; hoo’s laughin’! come, hie up;
My bonny little puss!
God bless it! Daddy’s noan far off;
Let mammy have a buss!
He’s here! He’s here! Tet, bring that cheer!
Eh, dear; these darlin’s two!
Iv it wur not for this chylt an’ him,
What could a body do!
[Illustration]