Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/234

 He danc't up an' deawn war nor a drunken pace-egger. As stiff [dead] as a maggot. As cramm'd [ill-tempered] as a wisket, an' as 'cute as Dick's hat-band. That winter 'ut things wurn so bad bent him deawn like a windle. His hant wur as thin as a comm [comb]. He 're as quiet as a stopt clock; he 're stark deead.

Aw'd no brass [money] o' mi awn; nobbut what had as monny legs as an earwig. We're o' oo a litter, like Kitter pigs [i.e., the pigs of the sand-knockers of Smallbridge]. It's war [worse] nor muckin wi' sond an' drainin wi' cinders. His e'e-seet cuts across somewheer abeawt th' end ov his nose as sharp as a pair o' sithors. "Every one to ther likins," as owd George o' Jammy's sed when he swallut th' suvverin. Off aw seet deawn th' fowt, like a thrail dog. It 'ud melt th' heart o' a whet-stone, or, what's harder, a putter-eawt. That's same as owd Nanny Roger's blynt hoss; it's a ripper. He sprawlt like a stricken tooad upo' the greawnd. As quiet as a chapel. He 're straight as ony picken-rod, And limber as a snig. Goo trailin' abeawt Like a hen at 's i' th' meawt [moult].