Eclogue.
THE COMMON A-TOOK IN.
Thomas an’ John.
THOMAS.
Good morn t’ye, John. How b’ye? how b’ye?
Zoo you be gwaïn to market, I do zee.
Why, you be quite a-lwoaded wi’ your geese.
JOHN.
Ees, Thomas, ees.
Why, I’m a-gettèn rid ov ev’ry goose
An’ goslèn I’ve a-got: an’ what is woose,
I fear that I must zell my little cow.
THOMAS.
How zoo, then, John? Why, what’s the matter now?
What, can’t ye get along? B’ye run a-ground?
An’ can’t paÿ twenty shillèns vor a pound?
What can’t ye put a lwoaf on shelf?
JOHN.
Ees, now;
But I do fear I shan’t ’ithout my cow.
No; they do meän to teäke the moor in, I do hear,
An’ ’twill be soon begun upon;
Zoo I must zell my bit o’ stock to-year.
Because they woon’t have any groun’ to run upon.
THOMAS.
Why, what d’ye tell o’? I be very zorry
To hear what they be gwaïn about;
But yet I s’pose there ’ll be a ’lotment vor ye,
