Page:Barnes (1879) Poems of rural life in the Dorset dialect (combined).djvu/206

190 A. Our Company would suit en best, &emsp;&ensp;When we do teäke our bit o’ rest, &emsp;&ensp;At nunch, a-gather’d here below &emsp;&ensp;The sheäde theäse wide-bough’d woak do drow, &emsp;&ensp;Where hissèn froth mid rise, an’ float &emsp;&ensp;In horns o’ eäle, to wet his droat.

J. Aye, if his zwellèn han’ could drag &emsp;&ensp;A meat-slice vrom his dinner bag. &emsp;&ensp;’T’ud meäke the busy little chap &emsp;&ensp;Look rather glum, to zee his lap &emsp;&ensp;Wi’ all his meal ov woone dry croust, &emsp;&ensp;An’ vinny cheese so dry as doust.

A. Well, I don’t grumble at my food, &emsp;&ensp;’Tis wholesome, John, an’ zoo ’tis good.

J. Whose reäke is that a-lyèn there? &emsp;&ensp;Do look a bit the woo’se vor wear.

A. Oh! I mus’ get the man to meäke &emsp;&ensp;A tooth or two vor thik wold reäke, &emsp;&ensp;’Tis leäbour lost to strik a stroke &emsp;&ensp;Wi’ him, wi’ half his teeth a-broke.

J. I should ha’ thought your han’ too fine &emsp;&ensp;To break your reäke, if I broke mine.

A. The ramsclaws thin’d his wooden gum &emsp;&ensp;O’ two teeth here, an’ here were zome &emsp;&ensp;That broke when I did reäke a patch &emsp;&ensp;O’ groun’ wi’ Jimmy, vor a match: &emsp;&ensp;An’ here’s a gap ov woone or two &emsp;&ensp;A-broke by Simon’s clumsy shoe, &emsp;&ensp;An’ when I gi’ed his poll a poke, &emsp;&ensp;Vor better luck, another broke. &emsp;&ensp;In what a veag have you a-swung &emsp;&ensp;Your pick, though, John? His stem’s a-sprung.