110 THE NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE HOUNDS. 



" ' Wi' theii- bones and their acids, their drills and gu banner ; 

 Thy grandfeyther, Tom, niver farmed i' that manner. 

 He'd ha' stared hard enough if he'd heard what they say 

 About boiling o' oilcakes and chopping o' hay.' 

 Gee ho, Dobbin, etc. 



" * Then soughing, a thing as, in course, they mun alter. 

 So they go a mon's depth for to get at th' top water ; 

 And they scoop out the dirt wi' a thing like a spoon, 

 And for tiles, they'll be using o' 'baccy pipes soon.' 

 Gee ho, Dobbin, etc. 



" ' Then they prate o' their carrots and mangles, and sich 

 (As if growing o' carrots would mak' a mon rich) ; 

 Of hoeing o' turmits and clearing o' yallows — 

 StufiF and nonsense — and growing o' wheat without fallows.' 

 Gee ho, Dobbin, etc. 



" ' Why, it makes me to laugh ; without fallows indeed ! 

 I think they mun ha' a soft place in their yed. 

 And what dun ye think they've been doin' just now 1 

 Why, they've got up a laugh at an old wooden plough.' 

 Gee ho, Dobbin, etc. 



" ' Ay, an old wooden plough, and they say, to be sure. 

 As the wide-awake farmers mun use 'em no more ; 

 They mun all be of iron, and wood there's no trade for. 

 Why, what do fools thinken as ash trees was made for ? ' 

 Gee ho, Dobbin, etc. 



" ' Talk o' ploughs made o' iron. Why, the next thing they'll do, 

 As sure as you live, they'll be painting 'em blue. 

 Then they've two tits abreast, as they call it, "Gee ho;" 

 They may call long enough, but it niver can go,' 

 Gee ho, Dobbin, etc. 



" ' No ; gi'e me a good wooden plough as is strong. 

 And a good pair o' big wheels to help it along. 

 And four long-tailed tits, a mon and a lad. 

 And a good steady pace, and it shanna be bad.' 

 Gee ho, Dobbin, etc. 



"'Then, Tommy my lad, niver heed what they say. 

 But get thee on still i' thy feyther's old way ; 

 They'll bring all their hogs to fine markets just now. 

 But stick while thee lives to the old wooden plough.' 

 Gee ho, Dobbin, etc." 



