nen, cleaenen, howen up an' weeden,
I, an' the biggest o' the childern too,
Do always vind some useful jobs to do.

JOHN.

Aye, wi' a bit o' ground, if woone got any,
Woone's bwoys can soon get out an' eaern a penny;
An' then, by worken, they do learn the vaster
The way to do things when they have a meaester;
Vor woone must know a deael about the land
Bevore woone's fit to lend a useful hand,
In geaerden or a-vield upon a farm.

RICHARD.

An' then the work do keep em out o' harm;
Vor vo'ks that don't do nothen wull be vound
Soon doen woorse than nothen, I'll be bound.
But as vor me, d'ye zee, with theaese here bit
O' land, why I have ev'ry thing a'mwost:
Vor I can fatten vowels for the spit,
Or zell a good fat goose or two to rwoast;
An' have my beaens or cabbage, greens or grass,
Or bit o' wheat, or, sich my happy feaete is,
That I can keep a little cow, or ass,
An' a vew pigs to eat the little teaeties.

JOHN.

An' when your pig's a-fatted pretty well
Wi' teaeties, or wi' barley an' some bran,
Why you've a-got zome vlitches vor to zell,
Or hang in chimney-corner, if you can.

RICHARD.

Aye, that's the thing; an' when the pig do die,
We got a lot ov offal for to fry,
An' netlens for to bwoil; or put the blood in,
An' meaeke a meal or two o' good black-pudden.

JOHN.

I'd keep myzelf from parish, I'd be bound,
If I could get a little patch o' ground.

[Gothic: Eclogue.]

A BIT O' SLY COORTEN.

_John and Fanny._

JOHN.

Now, Fanny, 'tis too bad, you teazen maid!
How leaete you be a' come! Where have ye stay'd?
How long you have a-meaede me wait about!
I thought you werden gwain to come ageaen:
I had a mind to goo back hwome ageaen.
This idden when you promis'd to come out.

FANNY.

Now 'tidden any good to meaeke a row,
Upon my word, I cooden come till now.
Vor I've a-been kept in all day by mother,
At work about woone little job an' t'other.
If you do want to goo, though, don't ye stay
Vor me a minute longer, I do pray.

JOHN.

I thought you mid be out wi' Jemmy Bleaeke,

FANNY.

An' why be out wi' him, vor goodness' seaeke?

JOHN.

You walk'd o' Zunday evenen wi'n, d'ye know,
You went vrom church a-hitch'd up in his eaerm.

FANNY.

Well, if I did, that werden any harm.
Lauk! that _is_ zome'at to teaeke notice o'_.

JOHN.

He took ye roun