ir 'GIT 'OME!' 79 



o'ee. Thee casn't treat 'em cruel. They be but 

 chil'ern. . . .' 



That's it. They have an advantage over us 

 which, whether knowingly or not (I believe they 

 have an inkling), they use to the full. 



*We are but little children weak, 

 Not born to any high estate!' 



they as good as say. 'You can't hae the heart to 

 wallop us, 'cause you'm so much bigger'n us be; 

 you could beat our brains out easy, like you'm 

 always telling. An' 'tisn't no good thinking we'm 

 going to pay for what us breaks, 'cause us an't got 

 'nuff 'ap'nys for to do it wiv. 'Sides, If you was 

 to hurt us, you'd hae to have a shindy wl' our 

 father, an' you an't got no call for that. He an't 

 done 'ee no harm; you an't got nort against he. 

 My father'd 'at thee into a jelly, if he was to start 

 on 'ee. You wouldn't like for to see 'en beat 

 your chU'ern, n'eet your dog nuther. No, you 

 wouldn't — not come to It. Us be going to play 

 see-saw wi' your little punt d'rec'ly your back's 

 turned — 'fore 'tis. If you like. Git 'ome wi' thee 

 talk 'bout stove In ! Us have played In boats ever 

 since us can mind, an' us an't never see'd one stove 

 in. Come on, you kids ! let's go'n squat down 



