Poems and Songs :: :: University of Virginia Library

Oh, Jamie Raddle lost his dog
I'th thrang o' Turton fair,
While he wur dancin' in his clogs
To win a bran new pair;
But when he found poor Laddie gone,
He swore by th' leet o'th moon,
He'd find the chap that stoole his dog,
An let him feel his shoon.

II

“My dog, my dog! Through good an' ill,
An mony a journey dree,
Through swelterin' sun an' wintry chill,
Poor Laddie's gone wi' me!

135

I'll seek the mon, fro' morn to neet,
That's taen my dog away;
An' if that thief I chance to meet,
I'll make him rue the day!”

III

But Jamie's search had no avail,
His anger was in vain;
He never met wi' top nor tail
Of his good dog again;
For he chanced to spy a bonny lass,
That brought him to the floor;
An' he cried, “Yon woman's mine, by th' mass!
I'll look for th' dog no moore.”

IV

Then off he went, in hungry chase;
Through country an' through town,
He kept her track, fro' place to place,
Until he ran her down;
But Nanny didn't run so fast,
If I may tell yo plain,
For hoo wanted catchin'; so at last,
Hoo're very soon o'ertaen.

136

V

It wur just a week fro' Michaelmas
When Jamie took a wife,
But afore it coom to Candlemas
He're weary of his life.
At harvest-time he quaked wi' fear
At th' fate he had to dree;
An' when it geet to th' end o'th year
He're quite content to dee.

VI

“Oh, parson, parson, yo did wrong
To tether us so fast;
For now we's snap an' snarl as long
As ever life may last!
I paid yo four white shillin' when
Yo teed me to our Nan;
But I'll gi' yo th' price o' my best cow
To let me loose again!

VII

“Oh, my good dog; I went astray,
Like a fither-pated foo!
I wish I'd followed thee that day,
An' let this craiter goo:

137

My poor dog's gone, my hopes are flown;
It's useless to repine;
But I'd raither ha' th' warst whelp i'th town
Than sich a mate as mine!”