The Pitman's Tickor An' the Wag-At-The-Wa'

Tune- "Barbara Allen."

Wor Tommy was crissind, an' weel aw remembor
We tuik worsels off for Newcassel toon;
'Twis in the blithe munth iv bonny Septembor,
Not varry lang 'fore wor blindin' cam roon.
The wifey cried oot for new shawl an' bonnit,
The bairns an' the laddies they wanted new claes;
An' wor awdist lass, Jinny, the slee witchin' donnit!
Had coaxed her and minnie te buy her new stays.

We gat te the toon, and gat wor brass ettled,
An' then a' the bairnies war ower the muin
In the easy bit way that thor hashes was settled,
An' glad te get drest in new duds varry suin.
They tuik whor ways hyem, an' aw wandered iboot,
Tyekin stock iv the seets on a Settorday neet;
For aw wis ditermined, ' fore the toon aw went oot,
Hyem for me-sel te tyek sum fine treet.

Aw suin spied a chep thit wes sellin' a tickor,
Thit he boastid wad beet a' the clocks I' the toon;
Is he nobbit axed for'd what aw'd hev spent ippon likor,
Aw suin struck a bargain, an' munny laid doon.
Aw tuik her off hyem, an' hung her up bi the wawl,
'Side the wag-at-the-wa' thit had hung se lang there;
But the crazy awd thing 'side it wad scairce gan it awl-
Tickor bet Waggy kwite oot o' time, aw diclaire!

Saws aw, "Thoo aud lump, what myeks thoo se feulish
Te let a bit thing like that beat thee noo?
Did aw ivor think aw had owt hawf se cullish,
Is onny sic hoyt hawf is lazy is thoo?"
Aw tuik up the hammer, an' levil'd her law, man,
'Spite o' what wifey an' bairnies cud say;
Aw struck te the tickor thit aw varry weel naw, man,
Aw kin elwis dippend te gan thorteen oors I' the day.

-William Henderson Dawson, 1862