an cheese wor rollin'
amang th' coils, an a bowl o' broth had emptied itsen onto th' front o'
mi clean shirt, an aw wor sylin weet throo mi neck to mi feet. Th' hens
wor chuckin' i' different corners, an th' cock started crowin' laader bi
th' hawff, an aw tried mi best to groap mi way up th' steps into th'
haase. Aw managed at last, an if yo could ha seen me as' aw lukt just
then, yo'd ha believed aw should niver be able 'to get cleean agean. Mi
heead wor covered wi mail, an mi clooas wor sooaked wi broth an
ornamented wi bits o' chopt carrots, an turnips, an onion skins, an hawf
a pund o' butter wor stickin' to one booit heel an pairt ov a suet
dumplin' to t'other, an as aw wor standin' wonderin' which end to begin
at to set things straight, a young woman 'at lived next door coom in to
ax me if awd been buyin' some hens, for shoo'd heeard th' cock crowin',
an when shoo saw me i' sich a pickle shoo held up her hands an skriked
as if awd getten mi throit cut. 'Whativver has ta been dooin?' shoo sed.
'Tha'rt fair flaysum to luk at.' Shut th' door, Dorothy,' aw sed, 'an
come in an see if yo can help me aght o' this mess;' soa she put th'
door to, an aw tell'd her all hah it had happened. 'Why,' shoo sed, 'tha
mun tak all thi clooase off, for they'll have to goa into th'
tub-ther'll nowt ivver get that greeas off but bailin' watter an weshin
licker; goa upstairs an get 'em all off an fling 'em daan to me, an awl
see if aw can do owt wi 'em.' 'Awl pay yo whativver yo charge,' aw sed,
'an if aw dooant screw yond cock an hens' necks raand it'll be becoss
awve changed mi mind!' 'O tha'll manage weel enuff wi 'em after this,'
shoo sed, 'tha knows th' hen trade is like ivverything else, it wants
sombdy 'at understands it; but that cock's a rare voice; is it a young
un? Sithee, th' childer's standin' ith middle oth yard wonderin' wheal
th' noise comes throo.'

Aw went up stairs an tuk off all mi clooas an threw' em daan to
Dorothy, an a grand lot they lukt, an awd just pool'd on mi warty
britches when shoo called aght, 'David, David! I come this minnit! Th'
childer's oppend th' cellar winder an letten th' cock aght!' Daan stairs
aw flew withaat stoppin' to festen mi gallowses or put mi booits on, an
as sooin as aw went aght th' lads set up a shaat an th' cock flew into a
chamber winder at t'other side o' th' yard. Th' naybors all coom runnin'
aght, an Dorothy foller'd me wi mi clooas tukt under her arm, an a shirt
sleeve an a bri