PART III
THE DOG IN ACTION
Course, hunt, in hills, in valley or in plain—
He joys to run and stretch out every limb,
To please but thee he spareth for no pain,
His hurt (for thee) is greatest good to him.
In fields abroad he looks unto thy flocks,
Keeping them safe from wolves and other beasts;
And oftentimes he bears away the knocks
Of some odd thief that many a fold infests.
TOLD TO THE MISSIONARY
Just look 'ee here, Mr. Preacher, you're a-goin' a bit too fur;
There isn't the man as is livin' as I'd let say a word agen her.
She's a rum-lookin' bitch, that I own to, and there is a fierce look in her eyes,
But if any cove says as she's vicious, I sez in his teeth he lies.
Soh! Gently, old 'ooman; come here, now, and set by my side on the bed;
I wonder who'll have yer, my beauty, when him as you're all to 's dead.
There, stow yer palaver a minit; I knows as my end is nigh;
Is a cove to turn round on his dog, like, just 'cos he's goin' to die?
Oh, of course, I was sartin you'd say it. It's allus the same with you.
Give it us straight, now, guv'nor—what would you have me do?
Think of my soul? I do, sir. Think of my Saviour? Right!
Don't be afeard of the bitch, sir; she's not a-goin' to bite.
Tell me about my Saviour—tell me that tale agen,
How he prayed for the coves as killed him, and died for the worst of men.
It's a tale as I always liked, sir; and bound for the 'ternal shore,
I thinks it aloud to myself, sir, and I likes it more and more.