The Market Day

Oh! hinny Jack, aw've wearied sair
To see the come back frae the pay,
That aw may get it ettled reet:
Te-morn, thou knaws, is market day.

Aw gat the bits o' bairns te bed,
Conn'd ower the things we wanted myest;
But 'till aw knaw'd what thou had myed,
Maw etlin' was but nobbut guessed.

Aw's glad te see it is se much,
And noo hev hopes to get the goon
Thou promised, in thy wily way,
The varry furist good fortnith's hewin'.

This mun stand furst upon the list.
That sadly croods maw muddled brain;
And, just like wanderin' iv a mist,
Te fix the rest seems all in vain.

Thou munnet Bobby's clogs forget
That we hev promised him se lang,
Te keep him frae the cawd and wet
He's barefoot trudged for weeks amang.

And little Sall wants varry sair
A bit new ribbon for her hat;
She says, "Aw's sure ye this mun spare:
Ye knaw aw've lang expected that."

Thou wants some odds and ends thyself":
Thy panties luick but varry bare:
Thy coat's beginnin' sair te fyell,
At elbows it wants some repair.

Thou'll mebby call at Alder Dunn's
To see if maw bit hat be duin,
For aw've te stand for Nelly's bairn
In it, neist Sunday efternuin,.

Now, just as he was gawn te leave,
A little curly-heeded callant
Tuik deddy softly by the sleeve,
And said, "Eh! fetch me heym a ballant,

"Or else some funny story buick
That aw may read tiv Uncle Joe,
As he sits laughin' I' the nuick-
He diz enjoy these worthies so.

"The feats of Hickathrift and Hood
All pass with him for Gospel truth,
And ony doot he nivir coiuld
Admit, e'en frae the preacher's mooth."

Noo, hinny! mind thoiu comes suin hyem,
Aw' hev a white kyeck for thy tea,
Thou knaws the treat's nut like the syem
Withoot thy canny company.

-T. Wilson, " Norther Tribune," 1854