thi shell, owd lad,
Whativver thi creditors say;
Tell um at least tha'rt foarst ta owe,
If tha artant able ta pay;
An' if they nail thi bits o' traps,
An' sell tha dish an' spooin;
Remember fickle forten lad,
Shoo changes like the mooin.

Nivver dee i' thi shell, owd lad,
Though some may laugh an' scorn;
There wor nivver a neet afore ta neet,
Bud what ther' com a morn;
An' if blind forten used tha bad,
Sho's happen noan so meean;
Ta morn al come, an' then fer some
The sun will shine ageean.

Nivver dee i' thi shell, owd lad,
Bud let thi motto be,--
"Onward!" an' "Excelsior;"
An' try for t' top o't' tree:
An' if thi enemies still pursue,
Which ten-ta-one they will,
Show um owd lad, tha'rt doin' weel,
An' climin' up the hill.

Owd Betty's Advice.

So Mary, lass, tha'rt bahn to wed
It mornin', we young Blacksmith Ned,
An' though it maks thi mother sad,
It's like to be;
I've nowt ageean yond dacent lad,
No more ner thee.

Bud let me tell tha what ta due,
For my advise might help tha thru;
Be kind, and to thi husband true,
An' I'll be bun
Tha'll nivver hev a day ta rue
For owt that's done.

Nah, try to keep thi former knack,
An' du thi weshin' in a crack,
Bud don't be flaid to bend thi back,
Tha'll nobbut sweeat;
So try an' hev a bit o' tack,
An' du it neeat.

Be sure tha keeps fra bein' a flirt,
An' pride thysel i' bein' alert,--
An' mind ta mend thi husband's shirt,
An' keep it cleean;
It wod thi poor owd mother hurt,
If tha wur meean.

Don't kal abaht like monny a wun,
Then hev to broil, an' sweeat, an' run;
Bud alus hev thi dinner done
Withaht a mooild;
If it's nobbut meil, lass, set it on,
An' hev it boiled.

Now Mary, I've no more ta say--
Tha gets thi choice an' tak thi way;
An' if tha leets to rue, I pray,
Don't blame thi mother:
I wish yeh monny a happy day
Wi wun another.

T'owd Blacksmith's Advice ta hiz Son Ned.

So, Ned, awm geen ta understand,
Tha'rt bahn ta join i' wedlock band,
Ta travil thru life's weeary strand,
Yond lass an' thee;
But if yer joinin' heart an' hand,
It pleases me.

Nah tha'll hev trubbles, Ned, ta bear,
While pushin' thru this world o' care,
An' wat tha'll hev it face ta stare,
It's hard ta tell;
Life's ups and dahns tha'll get ta share,
So pleas thisel'.

Tha'rt weel an' strong, long may