ALDERS AND REEDS. 103 



lane like in the middle on 'em, and stacks my shocks 

 o' reeds 'longside on it. Then I poles the punt 

 round the other side and cuts, leavin' the medder 

 all quiet like. I knowed a lot o' them there jacks 

 would git up that trench I'd cut. Afore I cum 

 away I claps a couple o' shock afore the mouth 

 o' thet trench. Then I chains the punt up, and 

 if I didn't actooally forgit tu take him the key ! 

 I knowed he wouldn't bust the padlock, if he did 

 want tu use her, 'cause he'd hev tu git a new one if 

 he did that. 



" Next mornin' I cum 'cross fields way, and 

 brings my hedge - trimmin' bill. Bless ye ! you 

 should hev heard him chouter 'bout my forgettin' 

 tu bring him the key o' the punt. But I tells him 

 I waun't used to chouter, and he better draw sum 

 water off, or he could cut his own reeds. I knowed 

 they was all sold, else he wouldn't ha' wanted me 

 to cut 'em ; he'd ha' let 'em stood and rot fust. 

 Well, when he'd let off a goodish bit, I gits out 

 the punt it was middlin' slushy over my knees 

 and I goes tu cut right in the middle where my 

 trench was out of sight. I gits my hedge-trimmer, 

 and looks in the place I'd cut. Massy ! oh, waun't 



