226 POEMS IN THE DORSET DIALECT. 



Zoo now gi'e your cheaks a bloom to-night, 

 Where vier do het the room to-night, 

 A'dreven away the gloom to-night, 

 While winterly wind do blow. 



3. THE SURPRISE. 



As there I left the road in May, 



I vound, a-walken drough a ground, 



A gleade, wi' maidens at their play, 



By leafy boughs a-hemm'd all round. 



An' there, in me'th that show'd noo harm, 



They wagg'd their tongues in merry charm, 



Though little did they seem to fear 



So queer a stranger mid be near. 



Teeh ! heeh ! Look here ! Hah ! Hah ! Look there 



An' oh ! so playsome ; oh ! so fear. 



An' oone did dance, an' oone did spring, 



Or bob, or bow, wi' funny smiles ; 



An' oone did swing, or zit and zing, 



Or zew a stitch or two, at whiles ; 



An oone skipp'd on, wi' downcast feace, 



All heedless to my very pleace ; 



An' then, in fright, wi' oone voot out, . 



Meade oone dead step ; an' whirl'd about. 



Wi' heeh ! an' oh ! Ooh ! ooh ! Look there ! 



An' oh ! so playsome ; oh ! so fear. 



Away they scoted, all vull speed, 



By boughs a-swingen on their track, 



As rabbits, out ov wood at veed, 



At zight o' men do scote all back. 



Oone pull'd behind her litty heel 



A thread o' cotton, off her reel. 



An ooh ! to vollow thik white clue, 



I haef begun to scamper too. 



Teeh ! heeh ! Run here ! Eeh ! eeh ! Look there ! 



An' oh ! so skittish ; oh ! so fear. 



