The most trifling and homely incidents frequently give occasion to a Yorkshireman for bringing out some of his flashes of wit and raciness of expression. I remember not long ago hearing of a native of the North Riding who, one day in the fore-part of ‘sheep-clipping time,’ accompanied an old shepherd in order to have some sheep washed. They had to wait near the appointed place until another flock had gone through the well-known process of cleansing, and as they were whiling away the time, the vicar’s mother and sister drove by. Seeing what was going on, they pulled up and entered into conversation with the old shepherd, who, like every Yorkshireman, was a bit of a character. ‘We do so like the smell of sheep,’ they said; to which the old man replied, ‘Yis, mum, an’ seea deea Ah; bud Ah leykes t’ teeast on ’em betther!’
In the few examples I have here given, it will perhaps be seen how that the Yorkshireman has a way of expressing himself which seems to be peculiarly his own, and how his utterances generally strike a stranger by their originality and quaintness. Refreshing is it to hear these when spoken with all the naturalness and force with which some of the older folk tongue them. They come upon us like whiffs of sea air laden with ozone, which put new life into us and make us walk with a lighter step.
I will bring my short chapter to a close by a characteristic little story which forcibly illustrates how strong the Yorkshireman’s ruling passion—I mean, of course, his love of horseflesh—is in death.
I was told quite recently of a farmer who, at the time of the transaction to be related, was laid up with a dangerous illness; indeed, it proved to be his last. At this time he was possessed of a thoroughbred mare, which he was anxious to sell. A dealer in the neighbourhood had had his eye on the mare, and wanted at once to buy it. Accordingly he called on the farmer, and was shown into his bedroom. The bargain was not struck during the visit, though the difference between the two was only a matter of a sovereign or so.
A few days, however, after this interview, the dealer again presented himself at the house, not knowing that in the meantime the farmer had died. On entering the yard, the horse-dealer inquired of the man in the stables, how the master was. ‘Oh! he’s deead,’ said the man; ‘he deed last Tho’sda, bud afoor he deed he said ’at thoo was ti ’ev t’ meer!’
CHAPTER XII
IDIOMS AND THE PECULIAR USE OF CERTAIN WORDS
The folk-speech of our county abounds in idioms, and possesses many forms of curious phraseology.
It is these and other peculiarities which add much to its forcefulness, and form one of its main features.
It will be the object of this short chapter to explain some of these usages and idioms.