“So then I made a will o’t’ lot, Fer that did suit mi mind; I planned it as I thowt wor t’best, To benefit mankind.

“I left a lot ta t’ Grammar Skooil; By reading t’will tha’ll see, That ivvery body’s barn, tha knaws, May hev ther skooilin’ free.

“An’ if tha be teetotal, John—  Tha may think it a fault— To ivvery woman liggin’ in I gav a peck o’ malt.

“Bud t’biggest bulk o’ brass ’at’s left, As tha’ll hev heeard afooar, Wor to be dealt half-yearly Among ahr Keighley poor.

“I certainly did mak a flaw, Fer which I’ve rued, alas! ’Twor them ’at troubled t’parish, John, Sud hev no Feffee Brass.

p. 53“An’ nah, if tha will be so kind, Go let mi trustees knaw ’At I sall be oblidg’d to them To null that little flaw.

p. 53

“An’ will ta meushun this an’ all, Wal tha’s an interview?— Tell ’em to share t’moast brass to t’poor, Whativver else they do.

“Then I sall rest an’ be at peace, Both here an’ when i’ Heaven; When them ’at need it will rejoice Fer t’bit o’ brass I’ve given;

“An’ tell ’em to remember thee Upon t’next Feffee Day!” I says—“I sallant get a meg, I’m gettin’ parish pay.”

So when shoo’d spokken what shoo thowt, An’ tell’d me what to do, I ax’d her if shoo’d harken me, Wal I just said a word or two.

“I’ll nut tell you one word o’ lie, As sure as my name’s John; I think at you are quite i’ t’mist Abaht things going on.

“Folks gether in fra far an’ near, When it is Feffee Day, An’ think they hev another lowse, Wi’ t’little bit o’ pay.

p. 54“Asteead o’ givin’ t’brass to t’poor, It’s shocking fer to tell, They’ll hardly let ’em into t’door—  I knaw it bi misell.

p. 54

“Asteead o’ bein’ a peck o’ malt Fer t’wimmen liggin’ in, It’s geen to rascals ower-grown, To drink i’ rum an’ gin.

“Then them at is—I understand—  What you may call trustees; They hev ther favourites, you knaw, An’ gives to who they please.

“Some’s nowt to do but shew ther face, An’ skrew ther maath awry; An’ t’brass is shuvv’d into ther hand, As they are passin’ by.

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