for fear it
might stop th' tickets for sellin, an' when fowk have getten ther tea
an' want to donce, ther's sure some music to turn up throo somewhear."

Th' landlord seemed convinced ther wor some truth i' what he said, soa
they lifted it carefully into a corner an' left it.

Ther wor a rare sale o' tickets that day, an' when tea time coom they
wor as mony as three sittins daan, but th' pots were noa sooiner sided
nor they began to ax abaght th' mewsic. Tom had set varry still wol he
saw all ready--then standing up wi' his cap i' his hand, he coff'd an'
began, "Ladies an' gents--its a vary unfortunate affair, is this; but yo
see troubles are niver to seek: th' landlord said he'd have a peanner to
neet, an' he's getten one, but its aght o' tune; but rayther nor yo
should be disappointed aw'll whistle a tune for yo misen, an' aw think
ther's two or three moor at '11 be able to help me a bit."

Withaat moor adoo he struck up a tune: th' lasses giggled an th' lads
luk'd soft; but in a bit one or two gate up, an' began turnin raand, an'
it worn't long afoor they wor all whirlin away like a lot o' scopperils,
an' as happy as happy could be. Tom sooin fun two or three moor to help
him at whistling, an' afoor it wor ovver they all agreed 'at they'd
niver enjoyed thersen hauf as weel at ony ball they'd iver been at
afoor, as they had that neet; but th' best o' friends mun pairt, an' th'
time coom when they mud goa hooam, soa just bith' way ov a wind up, Tom
stood ov a bench an' then made a varry nice soort ov a speech, an' ended
bi sayin "ha sorry he felt for th' landlord: for he'd have a deal o'
brass to pay to mak up for th' accident 'at's happened, an' as they'd
all enjoy'd thersen soa weel, he thowt they wodn't object to mak a
collection ov a trifle to help him, an' he should have mich pleasure i'
gooin raand wi' th' hat."

After this speech they all began fumlin i' ther pockets an' declaring
they'd do what they could for him; an' when th' hat went raand they
worn't one but what gave summat an' as ther wor twenty-three on 'em, it
coom to eleven-pence-hawpny. Tom handed it ovver to th' landlord, who
thanked' em in a varry neat an affectin way, an' begged on 'em to have a
shillin oth' o' warm ale at his expense, which they had. After that they
separated, thankful to think' at they'd been able to do a trifle towards
helpin a chap aght ov his troubles.

Th' landlord had to pay for th' peanner at last, an' as they couldn't