k, he used
to nawp wi' his stick if he could catch' em. But ther wor one, a reglar
blade, he used to be allus playin some sooarts o' marlocks, but
iverybody liked him except owd Stooansnatch. He'd gooan wi' a donkey
hawkin puttates an' turnips an' stuff for a year or two, an' as he'd
gooan his raand he'd seen Bessy,--'Bonny Bessy,' as fowk called her--an'
th' neighbors nooaticed 'at if shoo wanted owt, 'at he allus picked th'
grandest bit he had for her, an' used to give her far moor bumpin weight
nor what he gave them.

He'd gooan as far as to give her a wink once or twice, an' shoo'd gooan
as far as to give him a smile, but that wor all they'd getten to. But
one neet when he'd getten hooam, an' th' donkey wor put i'th' stable,
an' all his wark done, he sat daan ov a stooil an' stared into th' fire.

'What's th' matter wi' thi, Joa?' sed his owd mother; 'aw see tha's
summat o' thi mind, hasn't ta had a gooid day?'

'Yi! aw've had a gooid enuff day, mother, it isn't that.'

'Why what is it lad? Tha luks a wantin.'

'Yo say reight, an' aw am a wantin, but aw dooan't meean to be long.
Aw've made up mi mind to get wed, an' sooin an' all; for awm sure yo
arn't fit to be tewin as yor forced to be nah.'

'A'a, Joa, tha'rt tryin to fooil thi owd mother awm feeard! But aw wish
aw may live to see that day, for aw think if aw saw thi nicely settled
aw could leave this world better content. But who does ta think o'
havin? Aw didn't know tha wor cooartin.'

'Well, aw dooant think yo did, for aw havn't begun yet, but awve made up
mi mind to start, an that sooin.'

'Waw, ther'll be a bit ov a sign when tha does begin, but if tha luks
soa yonderly afoor startin, aw dooant know what tha'll luk like afoor
th' weddin day. But let's be knowin who's th' lass.'

'Well, aw know yo'll be capt when aw tell yo; but it's owd Stooansnatch
dowter.'

'Th' grandest lass aw iver clapt mi een on, but if that's her tha's made
choice on awm feeard tha'll be disappointed. Owd Stooansnatch 'll want a
different chap throo bi thee for his son i'-law; waw, mun, when owt
happens th' owd man, shoo'll be worth her weight i' gold.'

'Hi! fowk say soa, an' aw've been thinkin 'at that's nooan a bad thing!
Aw'll drop hawkin then, mother. If aw get aw'll that brass aw'll have
suet dumplins to ivery meal. But putting all that i'th' back graand, if
shoo hadn't a rag to her back nor a penny in her pocket, shoo's th' lass
for me; an' aw connot rest for thin