Page:A Glossary of Berkshire Words and Phrases.djvu/51

82 as much as possible. As an instance, I may mention an old carpenter called "Jemps Burgess," who, with his son Dick, was employed about Hampstead Norreys Farm to do all small repairs and services. His duties ranged from mending dolls' legs and arms to framing buildings; he used to come in daily at noon, with his son, for the regulated pint of beer. He was greatly esteemed and liked.

One day he came in, not accompanied by his son Dick as usual.

The girl who brought his beer said quite civilly, "Oh, Jemps, wher be Dick to-daay?" to which Jemps replied, "Who d'ye mane by Dick? beant ut enough vor 'e as his godveythers an' godmothers christened un Richut, &c. ? The maid hastily disappeared. Up till this time none had ever known "Dick" under any other name.

A touch of the same spirit existed in Dick himself; it was usual to take him off his regular work for any odd messages, &c., and one day he had several times been sent with notes or messages to a house in the village where the occupants were on very intimate terms with the family of his master. On another note being at length handed to Dick he turned it over as if not understanding, and then said to the servant maid, "Tell um plaze as I dwoant know my waay."

About fifty years ago there lived at Hagbourn Mr. Robert Appleford. He was a Pig dealer by trade, was a "Character," and was well known throughout the county as "Bob Applevord."

Bob caused to be circulated far and wide notification that he had, at Hagbourn, a prime fat Pig which he intended to present to any man who could prove that he had always strictly minded his own business. For some time nobody responded to the invitation, and the one or two who at length did so had weak claims, which fell through.

But there was a man at Didcot of remarkably taciturn disposition, and his neighbours told him he was the right man to claim the Pig. Accordingly he one morning went over to Bob Appleford's Pig-yard at Hagbourn, and accosted him with, "I be the man as minds my awn business an' be come vor that ther Peg." "Well," says Bob Appleford, "I