Poems and Lancashire Songs | ||
179
COME, MARY, LINK THI ARM I' MINE.
I
Come, Mary, link thi arm i' mine,An' lilt away wi' me;
An' dry that little drop o' brine,
Fro' th' corner o' thi e'e;
Th' mornin' dew i'th heather-bell's
A bonny bit o' weet;
That tear a different story tells,—
It pains my heart to see't.
So, Mary, link thi arm i' mine.
II
No lordly ho' o'th country-side'sSo welcome to my view,
180
My bonny lass an' true;
But there's a nook beside yon spring,—
An' iv theaw'll share't wi' me;
Aw'll buy tho th' bonny'st gowden ring
That ever theaw did see!
So, Mary, link thi arm i' mine.
III
My feyther's gan mo forty peawnd,I' silver an' i' gowd;
An' a pratty bit o' garden greawnd,
O' th' mornin' side o'th fowd;
An' a honsome bible, clen an' new,
To read for days to come;—
There's leaves for writin' names in, too,
Like th' owd un at's awhoam.
So, Mary, link thi arm i' mine.
181
IV
Eawr Jenny's bin a-buyin' in,An' every day hoo brings
Knives an' forks, an' pots; an' irons
For smoothin' caps an' things;
My gronny's sent a chist o' drawers,
Sunday clooas to keep;
An' little Fanny's bought a glass
Where thee an' me can peep.
So, Mary, link thi arm i' mine.
V
Eawr Tum has sent a bacon-flitch;Eawr Jem a load o' coals;
Eawr Charlie's bought some pickters, an'
He's hanged 'em upo' th' woles;
Owd Posy's white-weshed th' cottage through;
Eawr Matty's made it sweet;
182
To play bi th' fire at neet!
So, Mary, link thi arm i' mine.
VI
There's cups an' saucers; porritch-pons,An' tables, greyt an' smo';
There's brushes, mugs, an' ladin'-cans;
An eight-day's clock an' o';
There's a cheer for thee, an' one for me,
An' one i' every nook;
Thi mother's has a cushion on't—
It's th' nicest cheer i'th rook.
So, Mary, link thi arm i' mine.
VII
My gronny's gan me th' four-post bed,Wi' curtains to 't an' o';
183
As white as driven snow;
It isn't stuffed wi' fither-deawn;
But th' flocks are clen an' new;
Hoo says there's honest folk i'th teawn
That's made a warse un do.
So, Mary, link thi arm i' mine.
VIII
Aw peeped into my cot last neet;It made me hutchin' fain;
A bonny fire were winkin' breet
I' every window-pane;
Aw marlocked upo' th' white hearth-stone.
An' drummed o'th kettle lid;
184
Aw'll go and fotch my brid !”
So, Mary, link thi arm i' mine.
Poems and Lancashire Songs | ||