Yorkshire Tales. Third Series | Page 8

say, "Who giveth to the poor, Lends to the Lord," but yet, They
all seem varry anxious, Net to get the Lord in debt.
But wi my fooilish nooations Mayhap yo'll net agree,-- Its like enuff 'at
awm mistaen,-- But it seems that way to me.
If yo hear a clivver sarmon, Yor attention it command's, If yo know at
th' praicher's heart's as white As what he keeps his hands.
Ther's too mich love ov worldly ways, An too mich affectation; They
work i'th' vinyard a few days, Then hint abaat vacation.
He has to have a holiday Because he's worked soa hard;-- Well, aw
allus think 'at labor Is desarvin ov reward.
What matters, tho' his little flock A shepherd's care is wantin: Old Nick
may have his run o'th' fold Wol he's off galavantin.
Aw dooant say 'at yo're sich a one, Yo seem a gradely sooart; But if yo'
th' Gospel armour don, Yo'll find it isn't spooart.
Dooant sell yor heavenly birthright, For a mess ov worldly pottage: But

spend less time i'th' squire's hall An moor i'th' poor man's cottage.
Point aght the way an walk in it, They'll follow, one bi one, An when
yo've gained yor journey's end, Yo'll hear them words, "Well done."
A Christian soldier has to be, Endurin, bold an brave; Strong in his
faith he'll sewerly win, As sewer as my name's Dave."

Sammywell's Eggsperiment.
"If my memory sarves me reightly, Mally, its abaght forty year sin aw
tell'd thee at aw liked a boil'd egg for mi braikfast, an it seems tha's
nivver forgetten it, for it seems to me at tha's nivver gein me owt else,
an awm just abaat sick o'th seet on em."
"Ther's nivver onny suitin thee, Sammywell, what aw do for thi, an as
to givin thi eggs to thi braikfast for forty year, tha knows it isn't true,
for aw dooant think tha's had em moor nor once a month, if that. But
tha needn't freeat abaat that, for at th' price eggs is nah, its just like aitin
brass. Aw've gien em to thi a time or two latly becoss tha complained
abaat feelin waik, an ther's nowt at's moor strength nor eggs."
"If this is a sample aw believe tha'rt reight, for this is strong enuff to
drive me aght o'th haase. Eggs is nivver fit to ait unless they're fresh,
and tha owt to know that."
"It's a queer thing if that isn't fresh, for aw nobbut bowt a duzzen off
Judy Jooans yesterdy, an shoo declared shoo laid em hersen."
"Then that accaants for it, for its just th' soort ov a egg at aw should
fancy Judy wod lay. When tha buys onny moor, be sewer they've been
laid wi a nice young pullet an then they willn't poison a chap. That's
ommost browt mi heart up."
"If that's all tha hadn't mich to bring up, but if tha wor like other
husbands tha'd set to wark an fix that cellar up, an buy some hens an
then tha'd know who laid em. But tha'll do nowt nobbut sit o' thi

backside an smook or else spend thi time i' some public wi a glass
anent thi. Aw wonder sometimes ha tha can fashion to pool up to th'
table an ait at all. But ther's nowt trubbles thee soa long as tha gets thi
belly full an has a shillin i' thi pocket an a gooid bed to come to at
neet."
"Why, when aw mentioned keepin hens last spring, tha flew up in a
tantrum, an sed tha'd have nooan sich powse abaat th' haase, but if tha
thinks we could do wi some aw'll get some to-day. This is Setterdy an
ther's allus plenty to be had i'th market. Aw think it ud be a gooid idea
for ther's nowt awm fonder on nor a fresh egg in a drop o' rum in a
mornin."
"Rum agean! It's th' topmost thowt i' thi mind. If aw live longer nor
thee, aw'll put a bottle into thi coffin. Tho' if aw did, aw do believe
tha'd get up an sup it. But if tha likes to goa an buy a couple o' nice
hens an fix a place up for em, tha can tak this five shillin an see what
tha can do. An if tha brings me mi reight change an doesn't stop long,
aw'll see if aw cannot have summat for thi at tha'll like."
"Aw'll hunt up old blind Billy, an get a couple off him, becoss aw know
he's honest, an ther's net monny honest fowk i'th hen trade."
Sammywell worn't long befoor he wor off, an as he wor passin th'
Market Tavern, he saw blind Billy commin aght. He