John Hartley

Darling child, to thee I owe,
More than others here will know;
Thou hast cheered my weary days,
With thy coy and winsome ways.
...

Matilda Jane wor fat an fair,
An nobbut just sixteen;
Shoo'd ruddy cheeks an reddish hair,
An leet blue wor her een.
...

Nettie, Nettie! oh, she's pretty!
With her wreath of golden curls;
None compare with charming Nettie,
She's the prettiest of girls.
...

Love--love--love--love,--
A tiny hand in a tiny glove;
A witching smile that means,--well,--well,
Whether little or much its hard to tell.
...

A little word 'at's easy sed,
Sometimes may heal a smart;
A cruel word or luk instead,
May help to braik a heart.
...

Wheear is thi daddy, boy? Wheear is thi mam?
What are ta' crying' for, poor little lamb?
Dry up thi peepies, pet, wipe thi wet face;
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Dullest month of all the year,--
Suicidal atmosphere,
Everything is dark and drear,
Filling nervous minds with fear,
...

Es ta seen ahr Mary's bonnet
It's a stunner an' nooa mistak!
Yeller ribbons, yeller rooases
...

Its a long time sin thee an' me have met befoor, owd lad,--
Soa pull up thi cheer, an sit daan,
for ther's noabdy moor welcome nor thee:
...

One neet aw went hooam, what time aw can't tell,
But it must ha been lat, for awd th' street to mysel.
...

Why lad, awm sewer tha'rt ommost done,
This ovvertime is killin;
'Twor allus soa sin th' world begun,
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As I hurried through t' taan to my wark,
-I were lat, for all t' buzzers had gooan-
I happen'd to hear a remark
...

It's hard what poor fowk mun put up wi'!
What insults an snubs they've to tak!
What bowin an scrapin's expected,
...

One Easter Mundy, for a spree,
To Bradforth, Mary Jane an me,
Decided we wod tak a jaunt,
An have a dinner wi mi hont;
...

It was an humble cottage,
Snug in a rustic lane,
Geraniums and fuschias peep'd
From every window-pane;
...

Life's pathway is full o' deep ruts,
An we mun tak gooid heed lest we stumble;
Man is made up of 'ifs' and of 'buts,'
...

Draw closer to my side to-night,
Dear wife, give me thy hand,
My heart is sad with memories
Which thou canst understand,
...

Whew!--Tha'rt in a famous hurry!
Awm nooan baan to try to catch thi!
Aw've noa dogs wi' me to worry
Thee poor thing,--aw like to watch thi.
...

Winsome, wee and witty,
Like a little fay,
Carolling her ditty
All the livelong day,
...

I've been sitting reviewing the past, dear wife,
From the time when a toddling child,--
Through my boyish days with their joys and strife,--
...