20. BEAUTIFUL ONIONHEAD 



Every one on the beach, every man who works 

 hard when the sea allows, Is pretty well of the 

 same opinion. 'Old Onionhead — Beautiful 

 Onionhead as they calls 'en — he's another o' they 

 sort, an' thee casn't alter 'em. Sometimes he'll 

 come down an' lend a hand, an' take what you 

 gives 'en; an' sometimes he'll stand on the wall 

 an' watch thee In the tub o' the sea — aye ! watch 

 thee knock ashore broadside wl'out lifting a finger 

 to help 'ee. He don't care. He've a-let hisself 

 go. Don' know w'er he's any use to hisself; he 

 ain't much use to anybody else, 'cept when he's 

 minded, an' then thee cousn't wish for a better. 

 He's always on his hoppers; one o' they sort that's 

 happy on a shilling, only he don't never show 

 when he's happy. If ever he Is. Yet I've a-see'd 

 'en throw a couple o' coppers into the sea 'cause 

 he thought 'twasn't enough for what he'd a-done. 



210 



