Willy stood up like a man, and look'd the thing that he meant ; Jenny, the viper, made me a mocking courtesy and went. You cannot love me at all, if you love not my good name." XIII. And he turn'd, and I saw his eyes all wet, in the sweet moonshine: "Sweetheart, I love you so well that your good name is mine. And what do I care for Jane, let her speak of you well or ill; But marry me out of hand: we too shall be happy still." XIV. 'Marry you, Willy!" said I, "but I needs must speak my mind, And I fear you'll listen to tales, be jealous and hard and unkind." But he turn'd and claspt me in his arms, and answer'd, No, love, no"; Seventy years ago, my darling, seventy years ago. XV. And I said, "Let us part: in a hundred So Willy and I were wedded: I wore a years it 'll all be the same, lilac gown; XX. And age is a time of peace, so it be free from pain, And happy has been my life; but I would not live it again. I seem to be tired a little, that's all, and long for rest; Pattering over the boards, my Annie who Only at your age, Annie, I could have left me at two, wept with the best. And Willy's wife has written, she never was over-wise. An' I niver knaw'd whot a mean'd but I thowt a 'ad summut to saay, Get me my glasses, Annie: thank God An' I thowt a said whot a owt to 'a said that I keep my eyes. There is but a trifle left you, when I shall have past away. But stay with the old woman now cannot have long to stay. NORTHERN FARMER. OLD STYLE. I. you an' I coom'd awaäy. VI. Bessy Marris's bairn! tha knaws she laäid it to mea. Mowt 'a bean, mayhap, for she wur a bad un, sheä. 'Siver, I kep 'm, I kep 'm, my lass, tha mun understond; I done my duty by 'm as I 'a done by the lond. D'ya moind the waäste, my lass? naw, naw, tha was not born then; Theer wur a boggle in it, I often 'eerd 'm mysen; Moäst loike a butter-bump, + for I 'eerd 'm aboot an' aboot, But I stubb'd 'm oop wi' the lot, an' raaved an' rembled 'm oot. IX. Keäper's it wur; fo' they fun 'm theer afoor I a-laäid on 'is faäce Doon i' the woild 'enemies coomed to the plaäce. Noäks or Thimbleby - toaner 'ed shot 'm as dead as a naäil. Noäks wur'ang'd for it oop at 'soize - but git ma my 'aäle. X. Dubbut loook at the waäste: theer warn't not feead for a cow; Nowt at all but bracken an' fuzz, an' loook at it now |