An’ I belong’d ta t’latter lot, An’ them wor t’war o’t’ two, Fer I’d nine pair o’ jaws i’ t’haase, An nowt for ’em ta do.

T’owd wife at t’ time wor sick i’ bed, An’ I’d a shockin’ cowd, Wal t’youngest barn we hed at home, Wor nobbut three days owd.

Distracted to mi varry heart, At sitch a bitter cup, An’ lippenin’ ivvery day at com, At summat wod turn up;

At last I started off wun neet, To see what I could mak; Determin’d I’d hev summat ta eit, Or else I’d noan go back.

Through t’Skantraps an’ be t’ Bracken Benk, I tuke wi’ all mi meet; Be t’ Wire Mill an’ Ingrow Loin, Reight into t’ oppen street.

Saint John’s Church spire then I saw, An’ I wor rare an’ fain, Fer near it stood t’owd parsonage—  I cuddant be mistain.

p. 44So up I went ta t’ Wicket Gate, Though sad I am ta say it, Resolv’d to ax ’em for some breead, Or else some brocken meit.

p. 44

Bud just as I wor shackin’ it, A form raase up before, An’ sed “What does ta want, tha knave, Shackin’ t’ Wicket Door?”

He gav me then ta understand, If I hedant come to pray, At t’grace o’ God an’ t’breead o’ life, Wor all they gav away.

It’s fearful nice fer folk ta talk Abaat ther breead o’ life, An’ specially when they’ve plenty, Fer t’childer an’ ther wife.

Bud I set off ageean at t’run, Fer I weel understood, If I gat owt fra that thear clahn, It woddant do ma good.

I’ travellin’ on I thowt I heeard, As I went nearer t’tahn, A thaasand voices i’ mi ears, Sayin’ “John, whear are ta bahn?”

In ivvery grocer’s shop I pass’d, A play-card I could see, I’ t’biggest type at e’er wod print—  “There’s nowt here, lad, fer thee.”

p. 45Wal ivvery butcher’s shop I pass’d, Asteead o’ meit wor seen, A mighty carvin’-knife hung up, Reight fair afore mi een.

p. 45

Destruction wor invitin’ me, I saw it fearful clear, Fer ivvery druggist window sed—  “Real poison is sold here.”

At last I gav a frantic howl, A shaat o’ dreead despair, I seized missen by t’toppin then, An’ shack’d an’ lugged mi hair.

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