Well, we're making some progress but now we have TWO versions of line 4 of the first verse, apparently from the same published source. I don't have the book in front of me. Am I supposed to flip a coin or write my own variant?

Ever said, "Old Len's a match!"

OR:

Had ever said, "Len''s a match!"

I believe these two variations have different meanings. Margaret is quite firm that "Len''s a match" is what's there and that the meaning is in her words:

the laconic "len' 's a match" [to light a cigarette/pipe] suggests an intimacy born of tough times shared together.

Any more thoughtful feedback?