Page:Lancashire Legends, Traditions, Pageants, Sports, Etc., with an Appendix Containing a Rare Tract.djvu/255

 He bites as keen as an otter; he can dinge [indent] iron. You'll sooner get blood out of a stone, than get him to give you anything. He's a keen un; he'll flay two cats for one skin. He'll never get on; his back's too stiff; there's a booan in it at willont bend. They're as like as two peys [peas]; their wives wouldn't know toan fro' t' other. He's a good un, is Jack; he never says dee [die]. There's noa good in him, I can see, by t' cast of his een. As queer as Dick's hat-band, that went nine times round, and wouldn't tie. He's as deeof as a dur nail; but offer him owt, and he'll hear you a mile off.

Like a cat; always leets on his feet. It's noa yuse tynin t' yate [shutting the gate] when t' hoss is stown. When poverty enters the door, love flies out at the window. Many years ago, during a violent thunderstorm, Jem O' Bradeley's wife asked him to pray. The answer was, "Pray thysel;" and she began, "Thou shalt have no other gods but me." Bradeley, hearing this, declared that he would "be beawt then." This incident gave rise to the now common expression—"If that's all, I'll be Jem O' Bradeley on 't, I'll be beawt."