[From THE VARGESES.]
By J. Y. Akerman.
[North Wilts.]
'Now, do'e plaze to walk in a bit, zur, and rest'e, and dwont'e mind my measter up agin th' chimley carner. Poor zowl an hin, he've a bin despert ill ever zence t'other night, when a wur tuk ter'ble bad wi' th' rheumatiz in's legs and stummick. He've a bin and tuk dree bottles o' doctor's stuff; but I'll be whipped if a do simbly a bit th' better var't. Lawk, zur, but I be main scrow to be ael in zich a caddle, ael alang o' they childern. They've a bin a leasin, and when um coomed whoame, they ael tuk and drowed the carn ael among th' vire stuff, and zo here we be, ael in a muggle like. And you be lookin' middlinish, zur, and ael as if'e was shrammed. I'll take and bleow up th' vire a mossel; but what be them bellises at? here they be slat a-two! and here's my yeppurn they've a'bin and scarched, and I've a-got narra 'nother 'gin Zunday besepts thisum!'—Wiltshire Tales, pp. 137-8.
[THOMAS'S WIVES.]
[North Wilts: Clyffe Pypard.]
'Lawk aw! if 'tean't Thomas! and how be you? I han't seen 'ee fur a lenth o' time.—An' they tells I as you've a got a new missis agean! That's the vowerth, yun it?'
'Ees, I 'spose te-uz. Thur, didden sim right 'snaw wi'out a 'ooman down thur, 'tes sich a girt gabborn place thuck wold house. Do zim zart o' unkid to bide thur by yerself. 'Tes so lonesome, perticler night-times. Thur yun't narra naighber aniest 'ee, an' if a body wur ill ur anythin' o' that, 'tud be just about a job 'snaw.'
'An' do the new missis shoot 'ee main well?'