A Quiet Tawk
‘Nah, lass, caar thi daan, an let’s have a chat,—
It’s long sin we’d th’ haase to ussen;
Just give me thi nooations o’ this thing an that,
What tha thinks abaat measures an men.
We’ve lived a long time i’ this world an we’ve seen,
A share of its joys an its cares;
Tha wor nooan born baght wit, an tha’rt net varry green,
Soa let’s hear what tha thinks of affairs.’
‘Well, Jooany, aw’ve thowt a gooid deal i’ mi time,
An aw think wi’ one thing tha’ll agree,—
If tha’d listened sometimes to advice sich as mine,
It mud ha been better for thee.
This smookin an drinkin—tha knows tha does booath,
It’s a sad waste o’ brass tha’ll admit;
But awm net findin fault,—noa indeed! awd be looath!
But aw want thi to reason a bit.’
‘Then tha’rt lawse i’ thi tawk, tho’ tha doesn’t mean wrang,
An tha says stuff aw darnt repeat;
An tha grumels at hooam if we chonce to be thrang,
When tha comes throo thi wark of a neet.
An if th’ childer are noisy, tha kicks up a shine,
Tha mud want 'em as dummy as wax;
An if they should want owt to laik wi’ 'at’s thine,
They’re ommost too freetened to ax.’
‘An they all want new clooas, they’re ashamed to be seen,
An aw’ve net had a new cap this year;
An awm sewer it’s fair cappin ha careful we’ve been,
There’s nooan like us for that onnywhear.’
‘Come, lass, that’s enuff,—when aw ax’d thi to talk,
It worn’t a sarmon aw meant,
Soa aw’ll don on mi hat, an aw’ll goa for a walk,
For dang it! tha’rt nivver content!’
