Part 18

Tha're cuffs an' falls, tunics an' shawls, An' fancy pollaneeses, All sham displays, ower tatter'd stays, An' hard-worn ragg'd chemises.

Tha're mushroom fops, fra' fields an' shops, Fine cigarettes were sookin', An' lots o' youths, wi' beardless mooths, All kinds o' pipes were smookin'.

An' when at last the sports were past, All heamward turn'd their feaces; To ne'er relent at e'er they spent A day wi' Pateley Reaces.

1. Huge 2. Grassington labourers. 3. Spurring. 4. Kiln. 5. Hobbling. 6. If 7. Over-dressed. 8. Strut about.

Play Cricket (1909)

Ben Turner

Whativer task you tackle, lads, Whativer job you do, I' all your ways, I' all your days, Be honest through an' through: Play cricket.

If claads oppress you wi' their gloom, An' t' sun seems lost to view, Don't fret an' whine, Ask t' sun to shine, An' don't o' livin' rue: Play cricket.

If you're i' debt, don't growl an' grunt, An' wish' at others had T' same want o' luck; But show more pluck, An' ne'er mak others sad: Play cricket.

If in your days there's chonce to do Good deeds, then reight an' fair, Don't hesitate, An' wait too late, An' say you'n(1) done your share: Play cricket.

We've all a row to hoe, that's true, Let's do it best we can; It's nobbut once We have the chonce To play on earth the man: Play cricket.

1. You have.

The File-cutter's Lament to Liberty (1910)

E. Downing

Nay, I'm moithered,(1) fairly maddled,(2) What's a "nicker-peck"(3) to do? My owd brain's a egg that's addled, Tryin' to see this matter through.

Here's a strappin' young inspector-- Dacent lad he is, an' all-- Says all things mun be correct, or I shall have to climb the pole.

Says as all my bonny pigeons As I keep wi' me i' t' shop, Mun be ta'en to other regions; Here the law wain't ler 'em stop.

Says as how my little terrier Mun foind kennellin' elsewheer. I expect awst(4) have to bury 'er; Shoo'll rest nowheer else bur(5) here.

Says as I mun wear a appron Throo my shoulder to my knee; An' (naa, listen! this puts t' capper on) Says how cleanly it mun be.

Each ten men mun have a basin, Fastened, mark you, fixed and sure, For to wesh ther hands and face in; Not to throw it aat o' door.

There's to be two ventilators, In good order and repair; Us at's short o' beef an' taters, Has to fatten on fresh air.

Each shop floor mun be substantial- Concrete, pavement, wood, or brick- So that water from the branch'll Keep the dust from lyin' thick.

An' for iv'ry bloomin' stiddie(6) There's so many cubic feet, We'st(7) ha' room to play at hiddie(8) Us at isn't aat i' t' street.

Eh, I can't tell hauf o' t' tottle(9) Of these Regulations steep; I expect a suckin'-bottle Will be t' next we have to keep.

Eh! I know, mun! who knows better? It's for t' good of all, is this. Iv'rybody's teed to t' letter, 'Cause o' t' few at's done amiss.

Eytin' leead-dust brings leead-colic, Sure as mornin' brings the day. Does te think at iver I'll lick Thumb and fingers' dirt away?

Well, good-bye, my good owd beauty-- Liberty, naa left to few! Since the common-weal's my duty, Dear owd Liberty--adieu!

1. Perplexed. 2. Bewildered. 3. File-cutter. 4. I shall. 5. But. 6. Stithy 7. We shall. 8. Hide and seek. 9. Total.