A Ha'P'Orth Poem by John Hartley

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;
Tears on thy little cheeks seem out o' place.
What do they call thi, lad? Tell me thi name.
Have they bin ooinin thi? Why, it's a shame!
Here, tak this orpni and by thi some spice,
Rocksticks, or humbugs, or summat at's nice.
Then run off hooam again, fast as tha can;
Theer, th'art awreyt again, run like a man.
Hi wiped up 'is tears wi' 'is little white brat.
'An he tried to say summat, Ah couldn't tell what;
But 'is little face breeten'd wi' pleasure all throo,
Eeh, it's cappin' sometimes what a horpni can do.