{"collection":"myth-cosmogony","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_62999/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_62999","id":"gutenberg_62999","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/62999","summary":null,"tags":["Category: Humour","Category: Mythology, Legends & Folklore","Folklore -- England -- Yorkshire","Yorkshire (England) -- Social life and customs"],"text":"Transcriber\u2019s Notes\n\nObvious typographical errors have been silently corrected. Variations\nin hyphenation and accents have been standardised but all other\nspelling and punctuation remains unchanged.\n\nOn page 262\n \u2018To leeak a bad leeak\u2019 = to leeak ill. has been changed to\n \u2018To leeak a bad leeak\u2019 = to look ill.\n\nThe footnotes are located at the end of the book.\n\nThe book begins with an extensive list of subscribers immediatly after\nthe table of contents. This has been moved to the end.\n\nItalics are represented thus _italic_, bold thus +bold+ and\nsuperscripts thus y^{en}.\n\n\n\n\n WIT, CHARACTER, FOLKLORE\n AND CUSTOMS\n OF THE\n NORTH RIDING OF YORKSHIRE\n\n\n\n\n Oxford\n HORACE HART, PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY\n\n\n\n\n _Wit\n Character, Folklore & Customs_\n OF THE\n NORTH RIDING OF YORKSHIRE\n\n WITH\n _A GLOSSARY OF OVER 4,000 WORDS AND IDIOMS\n NOW IN USE_\n\n BY\n RICHARD BLAKEBOROUGH\n (SOCIETY HUMORIST)\n LATE HON. CURATOR OF THE R.S.S.; AUTHOR OF \u2018MORE THAN A DREAM,\u2019\n \u2018T\u2019 HUNT O\u2019 YATTON BRIGG,\u2019 THE COMEDIES \u2018TOMBOY,\u2019 \u2018AUNTIE,\u2019 ETC.\n\n London\n HENRY FROWDE\n OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE\n AMEN CORNER, E.C.\n 1898\n\n\n\n\n THIS WORK\n IS DEDICATED TO\n THE\n REV. E. S. CARTER, M.A.\n OF YORK\n AND\n J. G. WILSON, M.A.\n OF DURHAM\n AS A MEMENTO OF SINCERE GRATITUDE\n FOR MANY ACTS OF FRIENDSHIP\n SHOWN TO\n THE AUTHOR\n\n\n\n\nPREFACE\n\n\nAt one time it was thought possible for the present work to be\nundertaken conjointly by the Rev. M. C. F. Morris, author of _Yorkshire\nFolk-Talk_, and myself. Such collaboration, though pleasing to both,\nwas found to be quite impracticable. Many of my patrons and friends\nhaving urged me to undertake the work single-handed, I have ventured to\ndo so. I have aimed at no higher standard than the chatty style which\nI have adopted in drawing-rooms and on the platform. If friends and\ncritics prove but half as kind and considerate in this new venture as\nthey have hitherto done, I have little to fear. My main object has been\nsimply to place on record, in, I hope, a readable form, some of the\nwit, character, customs, and folklore of the North Riding which I have\nthought to be sufficiently interesting and worthy of being saved from\nthat long list of things forgotten.\n\nThe chapter on some characteristic sayings of both the North and East\nRidings, kindly contributed by the Rev. M. C. F. Morris, will add\ngreatly to the value and interest of the work. I may here mention that\nhe is in no way answerable for any other single sentence throughout\nthe work. I feel it to be my duty to make this quite clear, for, as a\nhumorist, I have ventured to include certain items which the reverend\ngentleman most probably would have run his pen through, had either the\nMS. or proof-sheets passed through his hands.\n\nThe Glossary, though far from containing all the words of our North\nRiding folk-speech, is as complete as it has been possible for me to\nmake it.\n\nMy thanks are due to Mr. Atkinson and to Mr. Morris, whose glossaries\nI have frequently consulted, and in no less a degree to my friend Dr.\nJohnson of Lancaster for his MS. notes, so generously lent me.\n\nI have done my best, and if my literary repast is not set before my\nreaders with the usual glitter of silver and cut glass, I would humbly\nremind them that the fare has been fairly stalked and prepared with\nall due care as to accuracy, and cooked and served with the best of\neverything my literary kitchen possesses.\n\nMany stories illustrative of Yorkshire character and humour are given,\nmostly gathered from original sources covering a period of many years,\nand in the main are true. None of them, I believe, have hitherto been\npublished, and very few contained in these pages have I given publicly.\n\nThe stories afford numerous examples of the idiom and dialect as spoken\nin the North Riding, but mainly (as to dialect) in that of Cleveland.\nThe reason for specializing that district is given elsewhere.\n\nTo the scores of happy hours spent with both old and young by their own\nfiresides, I owe the contents of this book. Nearly all it contains they\nhave given me: to them I return my warmest thanks.\n\nOne other word\u2014should a copy of this work find its way into other\nlands, and be read by any of my Yorkshire colonial cousins, to them I\nsincerely offer the grip of friendship. And should any of our Yorkshire\nwords have gained a footing on other soil, I shall be grateful for a\nlist of the same.\n\nTo many of my subscribers I owe a lasting debt of gratitude for that\nkindness and cordiality which at once made me one of their house party\nwhen staying with them as Society Humorist, and also for the kind\nletters of encouragement they were so good as to send me in the early\nstage of my work, and to one and all I now offer my most sincere thanks\nfor their cordial replies in answer to my circular.\n\nIn conclusion, should this work bring conviction that the Riding ought\nto have a Folklore and Dialectical Society identified with itself, I\nshall not have written in vain, and it would have my hearty if humble\nsupport. No time should be lost. Bear in mind, each aged person who\npasses from amongst us is another valuable volume removed from the\nshelves of an ever-decreasing library. I shall be glad to receive the\nnames of any of my readers willing to help me in forming a North Riding\nFolklore and Dialectical Society.\n\n THE AUTHOR.\n\n 24 TRENT STREET,\n STOCKTON-ON-TEES,\n _September 27, 1898_.\n\n\n\n\nCONTENTS\n\n\n CHAPTER PAGE\n\n I. YORKSHIRE STORIES OF WIT AND CHARACTER 1\n\n II. WIT AND CHARACTER 17\n\n III. WIT AND CHARACTER\u2014_continued_ 28\n\n IV. WIT AND CHARACTER\u2014_continued_ 43\n\n V. WIT AND CHARACTER\u2014_continued_ 54\n\n VI. CUSTOMS OF THE YEAR AND FOLKLORE 66\n\n VII. CUSTOMS OF COURTSHIP, MARRIAGE, BIRTH, AND DEATH 94\n\n VIII. OMENS, CHARMS, RECIPES 126\n\n IX. WITCHCRAFT 153\n\n X. WITCHCRAFT\u2014CONTINUED 173\n\n XI. SOME CHARACTERISTIC YORKSHIRE SAYINGS 210\n By the Rev. M. C. F. MORRIS. B.C.L., M.A., Rector\n of Nunburnholme. Author of _Yorkshire Folk-Talk_.\n\n XII. IDIOMS AND THE PECULIAR USE OF CERTAIN WORDS 222\n\n XIII. SIMILES, PROVERBS, AND SAYINGS 238\n\n XIV. CHILDREN\u2019S LORE 257\n\n XV. ODD SCRAPS OF OLD YORKSHIRE, ETC. 279\n\n XVI. A FEW SIMPLE HINTS ON THE GRAMMAR OF THE FOLK-SPEECH 316\n\n GLOSSARY 342\n\n CONCLUDING REMARKS 475\n\n\n\n\n THE YORKSHIRE FOLK-SPEECH IS NOT A DIALECT, BUT A LANGUAGE.\n\n\nTo those unacquainted with our folk-speech, the following list will\nbe helpful when reading. A glossary of words now in use in the North\nRiding will be found at the end of the volume.\n\n Ah = _I_.\n\n Ah\u2019s = (_I is_) _I am_.\n\n Ah s\u2019 = _I shall_.\n\n \u2019an = _than_.\n\n \u2019at = _that_, _which_, _who_.\n\n i\u2019 = _in_, \u2019iv\u2019 before a vowel.\n\n i\u2019 \u2019t = _in it_.\n\n i\u2019 t\u2019 = _in the_.\n\n \u2019ll = _will_.\n\n ma = _me_.\n\n mah = _my_.\n\n na = _nor_, _no_, _than_.\n\n o\u2019 = _on_, also _of_.\n\n ov = _of_.\n\n \u2019s = _is_, _has_, or _as_.\n\n s\u2019 = _shall_.\n\n \u2018t = _it_.\n\n t\u2019 = _the_.\n\n ta = _thou_ or _you_.\n\n ti = _to_.\n\n ti t\u2019 = _to the_.\n\n ti \u2018t = _to it_.\n\n till = _to_.\n\n tiv, used before a vowel = _to_.\n\n wa = _we_.\n\n wi\u2019 = _with_, as a rule \u2018wiv\u2019\n before a vowel.\n\n ya = _you_.\n\n yer = _your_.\n\n yah, adj., personal numeral = _one_.\n\n yan, adj. = _one_.\n\n ya\u2019d = _you had_ or _you would_.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER I\n\n YORKSHIRE STORIES OF WIT AND CHARACTER.\n\n\n\u2018EDDICATION an\u2019 self-binnders is gahin ti to\u2019n t\u2019 wo\u2019lld upsahd doon,\u2019\nsaid an honest Yorkshireman to me the other day. \u2018Are things in general\nreally much different now from what they were, say, fifty years ago?\u2019\nI asked. To which I received this laconic reply, \u2018Nowt\u2019s t\u2019 saam[1].\u2019\nNothing could have been more forcible: the words meant much, and the\ntone in which they were uttered meant even more.\n\nUnfortunately this \u2018tone,\u2019 which is the very soul of the dialect, can\nnever be rendered in print. How poor and meaningless in the mouth of\na stranger sound the words, \u2018Cu\u2019 thi waays, honey,\u2019 but from the lips\nof a Yorkshire mother to her bairn they carry with them the sound of\ntenderest love and solicitude. They ring with music, but it is music\nwhich is only tuneful to the Yorkshire ear.\n\nBut to return to our friend. Now, though he said \u2018Nowt\u2019s t\u2019 saam\u2019\nin somewhat a depreciatory manner, he was fully aware of the value\nof education and the utility of the various mechanical appliances\nwhich have of late years revolutionized agricultural labour. There\nis a species, shall I say of conservatism? deeply ingrafted in the\nYorkshireman\u2019s character. It is a natural cautiousness which ever keeps\nthis conservatism to the forefront in everything connected with his\ndaily life. He does not, nor ever has, taken kindly to novelties. He\nviews with suspicion all things which he considers innovations, i.e.\nwhich have a tendency to alter the general rut in which his father\ntravelled before him. To him the old way is good, and he is loth to\nleave it. No matter whether it be temporal or spiritual, he hangs on\nlong and hard to the old and beaten track. _Errare est humanum_ fully\napplies to the Yorkshireman; he makes mistakes, but never owing to his\nhaving been too precipitate. He is naturally cautious and eminently\npractical. \u2018Ah leyke ti ken hoo tweea an\u2019 tweea\u2019s gahin ti mak fowr,\nan\u2019 \u2019at fowr penn\u2019oth o\u2019 stuff\u2019s wo\u2019th fow\u2019pence, afoor Ah ware mah\nbrass on owt,\u2019 said an old Tyke one day. This caution and practical\nturn in our character, and which is carried into all things, naturally\nleads those who are strangers to form the opinion that we are dull and\nslow of comprehension, but to those who can read between the lines\nthis verdict is very speedily reversed; for should it be necessary to\n_spend_ only words, \u2018which costs nowt, bud deean\u2019t want wasting foor\nall that,\u2019 then it will be readily conceded that the Yorkshireman\u2019s\nbrain can grasp a question and turn on steam so as to give an answer as\nquickly and as much to the point as the best of them.\n\nIt may not be couched in the politest of language; nay, most likely\nit will be very plain-spoken, even to bluntness; but it will be\njust what the speaker thinks, devoid of all the silken trimmings of\nconventionalism.\n\nMany of the answers given to inquisitive questioners often seem\nirrelevant; they need as it were some sidelight to point the\napplication, and generally it is necessary one should have a\nconsiderable knowledge of the dialect and idiom before its terseness\ncan be fully appreciated.\n\nNevertheless, when properly approached our people are communicative,\nand express their opinion freely and always _ad rem_.\n\nBut once having weighed any matter over, the opinion so formed\nis, as it were, engraved on a rock of adamant. Perhaps one or two\nillustrations will show the different phases of character referred to\nin a clearer light than pages of written explanation.\n\nThe new vicar (not a Yorkshireman) of a country parish decided that his\ncongregation should stand up when he and the choir processed from the\nvestry. \u2018Tha\u2019ll nut deea \u2019t,\u2019 said the churchwarden when the question\nwas mooted; \u2018t\u2019 au\u2019d fau\u2019k nivver did seea, an\u2019 t\u2019 young uns weean\u2019t.\u2019\nThe tone in which this was uttered would have been conclusive to any\nYorkshireman.\n\n\u2018I think I can make them,\u2019 said the vicar. \u2018Mak \u2019em!\u2019 with great\nunction; \u2018did ya saay mak \u2019em? Noo ya mebbe mud \u2019tice \u2019em\u2014yan nivver\nknaws what\u2019ll happen\u2014bud Ah\u2019s mairna sartin sewer \u2019at ya\u2019ll nivver mak\n\u2019em; an\u2019 tha\u2019ll tak a gay bit o\u2019 \u2018ticing, if Ah knaw owt.\u2019\n\n\u2018Oh, leave it to me, I\u2019ll manage it,\u2019 said the vicar confidently.\n\u2018Whya noo, gan on wi\u2019 ya; bud deean\u2019t forgit \u2019at a hoss sumtahms\ntumm\u2019ls ower t\u2019 raal \u2019at it\u2019s loup\u2019d afoor,\u2019 was the parting advice of\nthe worthy churchwarden.\n\nThe following Sunday evening the vicar told his congregation that he\nwished them to stand as the choir came from the vestry, but next Sunday\nmorning found his congregation stolidly seated as heretofore.\n\n\u2018Ah tell\u2019d ya tha wadn\u2019t deea \u2019t,\u2019 chuckled the churchwarden.\n\n\u2018But they will,\u2019 replied the vicar. \u2018Bud tha weean\u2019t,\u2019 put in the\nchurchwarden; and then he added as a clincher, \u2018Acoz tha\u2019ve made up tha\nmahnds aboot it, an\u2019 ya weean\u2019t shift \u2019em when yance tha\u2019ve deean that.\u2019\n\n\u2018You wait until evening,\u2019 said the vicar, \u2018and I shall make them\nstand.\u2019 And he did. Coming to the doorway of the vestry, he gave out\nthe hymn, the organ commenced to play, up rose the congregation, and\nout marched the choir and vicar.\n\n\u2018Ah\u2019ll watch him fra deeaing that onny mair,\u2019 muttered one old dame\nloud enough for half the church to hear.\n\n\u2018Did I not say they would rise? And I\u2019ll do that every Sunday,\u2019 said\nthe vicar, as he and the warden walked home.\n\n\u2018Whya, Ah deean\u2019t knaw saa mich aboot that. It\u2019s nut awlus seeaf ti\nride wiv a curb an\u2019 spurs. Ya\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti tak care noo; wa deean\u2019t tak\nkindly ti being tricked, Ah can tell ya; bud wa s\u2019 see at eftther.\u2019\n\nNext Sunday morning out stepped the vicar, gave out the hymn, and then\nwaited in the vestry until the organ and congregation were in full\nswing; then, and not until then, did he and the choir march out, and to\nhis no little surprise he found the whole congregation lustily singing,\nbut seated to a man.\n\nAs an example of their plain-speaking, as well as their objection to\nfall in with a new order of things, perhaps the following is fairly to\nthe point.\n\nThe wife of the Vicar of \u2014\u2014, having engaged a new maid, concluded\nvarious instructions by saying, \u2018Should any ladies call during the\nafternoon, and I ring, you must bring in the small tea-tray and a\nkettle of boiling water.\u2019 The first two days passed over without a\nhitch, but when the bell rang on the third afternoon, instead of\ntea-tray and kettle a head was thrust through the half-open door, and\nMary said, \u2018Here Ah saay, cum ootsahd; Ah want ya a minit.\u2019 On the\nhostess retiring, Mary was heard to say, \u2018Noo then! is this new-fengled\ngahin-on gahin ti happen ivvery daay? Baith them an\u2019 yow owt ti knaw\n\u2019at it\u2019s maist in_con_venient leeaving yan\u2019s reg\u2019lar wark ti mak tea at\nthis tahm o\u2019 t\u2019 daay. Ya\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti gan back an\u2019 saay \u2019at wa s\u2019aan\u2019t be\nyabble ti mannish owt for \u2019em this efttherneean; Ah\u2019s up ti t\u2019 elbows\ni\u2019 muck.\u2019\n\nThe Archdeacon of \u2014\u2014 gave me the following story, which is too good to\nhide its head. The bishop had been preaching a restoration sermon in\none of our villages. After the sermon his lordship and the archdeacon\novertook the village blacksmith, a well-known character. \u2018Well, John,\nand how have you enjoyed the sermon?\u2019 inquired the archdeacon. \u2018Whya,\nnowt bud weel. Ah s\u2019u\u2019d think, sir\u2019 (turning to the bishop), \u2018wiv a bit\nmair practis ya\u2019ll mannish cannily. I\u2019 t\u2019 main what ya sed war varra\ngood; a larl bit ti low i\u2019 t\u2019 voice for me, bud ya\u2019ll mend o\u2019 that.\nNoo, Ah yance did hear a young chap, an\u2019 he war nobbut a young un an\u2019\nall. Ah think \u2019at he war iv a grosser\u2019s shop, bud Ah\u2019s nut sartin;\nbud that\u2019s nowt. He yance preeached i\u2019 t\u2019 Methody chapel, an\u2019 theer\u2019s\nnut a wo\u2019d of a lee aboot it, what Ah saay is trew; ya c\u2019u\u2019d hear him\nslap t\u2019 Bahble an\u2019 shoot hauf t\u2019 waay doon t\u2019 village. Aye, ya c\u2019u\u2019d\nstan\u2019 ootsahd an\u2019 smeeak ya\u2019re pipe an\u2019 get all t\u2019 good fra what he war\nsaaying; _bud, then, he war a preeacher_.\u2019 I can well imagine the tone\nthat last \u2018bud, then, he war a preeacher\u2019 would be uttered in.\n\nThe younger fry are just as open as the older folk. I remember a lady\ntelling me she had called at a farm-house. Evidently she had been\nseen approaching. It would seem the doll and other litter of the wee\ndaughter had been quickly bundled out of sight, and all things, as far\nas possible, put in order. For the moment the amusement of the little\none was put an end to, and this did not escape the notice of the child.\nShe, Yorkshire-like, formed her own opinion upon the proceeding, and\nonly waited for a suitable moment to very plainly express the same.\nResting her elbows on the lady\u2019s knees, with her chubby little face in\nher hands, she said, when a lull in the conversation gave her a chance\nto speak, \u2018Ah saay, missus, hoo pleasant it wad \u2019a\u2019e been if you\u2019d\nnivver \u2019a\u2019e cum\u2019d.\u2019\n\nThe cautiousness of the Yorkshireman is so evident in all matters,\nit is so pronounced, that to give examples is almost to lay oneself\nopen to the charge \u2018ov telling a chap summat he knaws.\u2019 Nevertheless\nI give you one, not so much because it is exactly Q.E.D., but because\nit is one of the best expositions of Socialism I have ever heard. It\nseems that some Socialist won one man over to his views, and this man\nmet a friend of his. \u2018Whya, noo then,\u2019 began the friend; \u2018what tha\ntell ma \u2019at thoo\u2019s to\u2019n\u2019d ti be a Socialist, is \u2019t reet?\u2019 \u2018Aye, it\u2019s\nreet; an\u2019 it\u2019s a gran\u2019 thing an\u2019 all. Thoo owt ti join uz.\u2019 \u2018Owt Ah?\nWhat is \u2019t \u2019at ya\u2019re efter?\u2019 \u2018Whya, thoo knaws it\u2019s lyke this; ther\u2019s\na lot o\u2019 fau\u2019k living i\u2019 gert hooses, an\u2019 tha\u2019re eating an\u2019 drinking\nall t\u2019 daay lang an\u2019 guzzling t\u2019 neet thruff, sum on \u2019em, an\u2019 it\u2019s\ngahin ti be stopped. Ivverything\u2019s gahin ti be shared up, an\u2019 all on\nuz get what\u2019s wer awn; neeabody nowt na mair \u2019an onnybody else, dizn\u2019t\nta see,\u2019 \u2018Whya, nut fur sartin.\u2019 said his friend. \u2018Diz ta meean \u2019at\nthoo\u2019ll share up an\u2019 all?\u2019 \u2018Aye, ivverybody will.\u2019 \u2018What, is\u2019t gahin ti\nbe a soart o\u2019 brotherly luv\u2019? Ivverybody wi\u2019 nowt neea mair na onnybody\nelse.\u2019 \u2018Aye, that\u2019s it; brotherly luv\u2019. Ivverybody all t\u2019 seeam,\nneeabody nowt neea different neeawaays ti neeabody i\u2019 neea road.\u2019 \u2018It\nsoonds grand; bud diz ta meean ti saay if thoo \u2019ed tweea hosses an\u2019\nAh \u2019edn\u2019t a hoss \u2019at thoo\u2019d gi\u2019e ma yan?\u2019 \u2018Iv a minit Ah wad. If Ah\u2019d\ntweea an\u2019 thoo \u2019edn\u2019t yan Ah s\u2019u\u2019d gi\u2019e tha yan leyke all that,\u2019 said\nhe, slapping his friend on the back. \u2018Aye, an\u2019 if ta \u2019ed tweea coos,\nan\u2019 Ah wanted a coo, wad ta gi\u2019e uz a coo?\u2019 \u2018Just t\u2019 seeam. If thoo\n\u2019edn\u2019t a coo, an\u2019 Ah \u2019ed tweea, Ah s\u2019u\u2019d tell tha ti tak yan awaay wi\ntha. Noo thoo understands what wa\u2019re efter.\u2019 \u2018An\u2019 if thoo\u2019d tweea pigs,\nan\u2019 Ah \u2019edn\u2019t a pig, an\u2019 Ah ass\u2019d tha fur a pig, wad ta gi\u2019e ma yan?\u2019\n\u2018Naay noo,\u2019 said the Socialist; \u2018thoo\u2019s cumin\u2019 teea clooase hand noo;\nthoo knaws \u2019at Ah \u2019ev tweea pigs.\u2019\n\nPossibly not a little surprised was the angler who, when fishing in one\nof the small streams of the upper reaches of the Ure, said jokingly to\nan old chap who had been watching his vain attempts to land several\nfish, \u2018I think I need a hanger on; what do you say?\u2019 The old chap had\nbeen thoroughly disgusted with the way in which the fish had been\nplayed. It was no case for joking; it was a downright sin for such a\nman to be allowed to fish. So the answer, as may be expected, was more\nto the point than polite. \u2018What thoo wants,\u2019 said the old chap with a\ngrunt of disgust, \u2018is nut a hinger on, bud a flinger oot. If it\u2019s fish\n\u2019at thoo\u2019s efter, thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti lig t\u2019 rod doon an\u2019 set ti wark wi t\u2019\nnet; thoo mebbins mud \u2019a\u2019e t\u2019 luck ti catch yan o\u2019 them \u2019at thoo\u2019s hauf\nkilled. Thoo\u2019s naa fisher; thoo\u2019s nowt bud a spoil watter, that\u2019s what\nthoo is.\u2019 Thus relieving himself, Old Willie walked away.\n\nOne of my sketches, given at a Primrose League meeting, gave great\noffence to the coachman of a noble lord. Entertainers, by the way, do\nnot hold any social position in the eyes of such. Some time afterwards\nI was asked to go as entertaining guest on his lordship\u2019s son\u2019s\nattaining his majority. A day or two before my arrival my host asked\nhis coachman if he had not been to the entertainment which I had given.\n\n\u2018Aye,\u2019 said the old chap, \u2018bud I wadn\u2019t gan agaan. He\u2019s up ti nowt,\nisn\u2019t yon youth; he\u2019ll nivver git on. He\u2019s gitten impedence foor owt,\nhe spares nowt na neeabody, he taks sarvants an\u2019 t\u2019 quality off all\nalike; Ah reckon nowt on him at all.\u2019\n\n\u2018I am sorry to hear that,\u2019 said his master.\n\n\u2018Whya, Ah\u2019s seear ya\u2019ve gitten neea call ti be, he\u2019s nut wo\u2019th it.\nYa mun excuse me, my lord, bud what mud ya be sorry foor?\u2019 \u2018Well,\nbecause he is coming here.\u2019 \u2018Cumin\u2019 here!\u2019 said the coachman, amazed;\n\u2018what ivver foor?\u2019 \u2018To entertain my guests.\u2019 \u2018What! deea ya meean\nwhen t\u2019 young lord cums at age?\u2019 he asked, his amazement increasing.\n\u2018Yes,\u2019 said his lordship, greatly amused. \u2018Oha! an\u2019 wheer will ya put\nhim up? \u2019coz Ah can tell ya \u2019at t\u2019 sarvants weean\u2019t want ti \u2019ev him\namangst them, tha neeawaays setten up wiv him.\u2019 \u2018But he won\u2019t be with\nthe servants.\u2019 \u2018Then wheer will he be?\u2019 \u2018With us, of course.\u2019 \u2018Deea\nya meean ti saay \u2019at he\u2019ll dine wi\u2019 yow an\u2019 t\u2019 quality?\u2019 asked the\nold chap, fairly amazed now. \u2018Certainly.\u2019 For a moment the old fellow\nhesitated; he was bewildered by such a piece of folly. And then he\nspoke his mind. \u2018Well!\u2019 he gasped, \u2018ya mun excuse me, my lord, bud\nAh think \u2019at yer gahin ti mak a varra common do on \u2019t.\u2019 Nice for me,\nwasn\u2019t it?\n\nHowever boorish and brusque strangers may dub us, it is admitted on all\nhands that the Yorkshireman is fairly \u2019cute: he always has an eye to\nthe main chance. And although others who are glibber of tongue may to a\ncertain extent fairly \u2019mazzle\u2019 him with their verbosity, yet any such\nmay certainly claim to having done the \u2019hat trick\u2019 if in the end they\nmanage to outwit the Tyke. \u2018He ommaist \u2019wildered ma wiv his slather,\nbud Ah pairted wi\u2019 nowt,\u2019 said an old man who had been tackled by a\nbook agent.\n\n\u2018Did ta bet owt at t\u2019 races?\u2019 asked one Tyke of another. \u2018Neea, Ah\ndidn\u2019t. It war leyke this, thoo knaws. T\u2019 chaps \u2019at Ah seed stanning\no\u2019 t\u2019 top o\u2019 steeals an\u2019 sitting unner gert um\u2019erellas all seeam\u2019d ti\n\u2019ev gawd rings an\u2019 cheeans on, an\u2019 tha war varra weel dhriss\u2019d an\u2019\nall, whahl monny ov \u2019em \u2019at war \u2019livering ther brass up war oot at t\u2019\nteeas an\u2019 doon at t\u2019 heels. Seea Ah sed tiv mysen, \u201cT\u2019 steeal an\u2019 t\u2019\num\u2019erella chaps leeak ez if tha war \u2019evving t\u2019 best o\u2019 t\u2019 bargain all\nt\u2019 waay thruff,\u2019 an\u2019 seea neean on \u2019em gat onny o\u2019 mah brass. Dizn\u2019t ta\nthink \u2019at Ah war i\u2019 t\u2019 reet on \u2019t?\u201d\n\nCautiousness and \u2019cuteness is fairly well set forth in the following\nstory. Old Jobson wished to gain some legal information, \u2018bud he didn\u2019t\nwant ti pay owt for \u2019t.\u2019 Meeting the legal light one day, he began,\n\u2018Ah saay, if Ah wor ti ax ya summat aboot summat, s\u2019u\u2019d Ah \u2019a\u2019e ti pay\nsummat? It\u2019s aboot yon pathwaay o\u2019 mahn \u2019at Ah want ti knaw summat.\u2019\n\u2018Certainly; I don\u2019t give advice free,\u2019 replied the lawyer. \u2018Whya then,\nAh weean\u2019t ax ya nowt; things may bahd ez they are, whahl yow want a\nlarl piece o\u2019 knowledge fra me, an\u2019 then wa\u2019ll see if wa caan\u2019t mak a\nswap on\u2019t. Nowther t\u2019 field na t\u2019 path\u2019ll shift,\u2019 said Jobson as he\nwalked away. And so matters rested for some months, in fact until the\nlawyer\u2019s horse (a very valuable one) was suddenly taken ill. Jobson was\nat once sent for, he being an expert in all horse ailments. The old\nfarmer, after a careful examination of his patient, declared he knew\nwhat was amiss and what was needed to effect a cure. \u2018Then I will send\nmy man for what you need at once,\u2019 said the owner.\n\n\u2018Aye, bud wait a bit; deean\u2019t ya aim \u2019at tahm\u2019s cum\u2019d when wa s\u2019all\n\u2019a\u2019e ti swap wer knowledge?\u2019 said the farmer, with a twinkle in his\neye. The solicitor burst out laughing; he saw the joke and admitted the\nvalidity of the claim. The old chap saved the horse, and the pathway\nwas satisfactorily arranged.\n\nThe Yorkshireman always sees that he gets value for his money, at least\nhe always tries to do so.\n\nThe village orchestral society were rehearsing for a public performance\nwhich was to be given the following week. The squire and a musical\nfriend had just dropped in towards its conclusion. The friend, speaking\nat the conclusion with the conductor, said, \u2018You have a remarkably good\nband; you only lack one slight addition to make it one of the best for\nthe size of your village I have ever listened to. Will you allow me to\nsuggest that you get a horn? you lack only that.\u2019 \u2018Oha, an\u2019 what\u2019s a\nhorn?\u2019 inquired the conductor. Having had the matter fully explained,\nhe asked what a horn could be bought for. But the gentleman pointed out\nthere was hardly time to procure a horn and teach a man how to play it\nbefore the entertainment came off. \u2018Whya then,\u2019 asked the conductor,\n\u2018deea yer knaw a chap \u2019at c\u2019u\u2019d cum an\u2019 play t\u2019 horn foor uz, an\u2019 what\nwad he cum foor?\u2019 \u2018I know a first-class player, and I think he would\ncome for five pounds.\u2019 \u2018Fahve pund!\u2019 gasped the conductor. \u2018Whya, Ah\nc\u2019u\u2019d git a whoale band foor that!\u2019 \u2018Never mind the money, John,\u2019 said\nthe squire; \u2018I\u2019ll see about that.\u2019 \u2018Oha, whya, if it\u2019s gahin ti be\nleyke that, let\u2019s \u2019a\u2019e t\u2019 chap wi\u2019 t\u2019 horn.\u2019 And so the matter was\nsettled. On the night of the performance the man with the horn put\nin an appearance, and all went well for about ten minutes, when the\nconductor stopped the band, and turning to the horn-player, he said,\n\u2018Noo then, thee wi\u2019 t\u2019 horn, thoo isn\u2019t playing.\u2019 \u2018No,\u2019 said he; \u2018I\nhave forty-five bars rest here.\u2019 Whereupon the conductor electrified\nevery one by saying, \u2018Mebbe thoo thinks seea, bud leeaks ta here, wa\u2019ve\npaid thee fahve pund foor t\u2019 neet an\u2019 thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti puff all t\u2019 waay\nthruff.\u2019\n\nScores of stories could be given illustrating the aptitude our\ncountry-people exhibit in extricating themselves when placed in an\nawkward corner.\n\nThe dear old lady who was my study for Mrs. Waddleton asked me to paint\nher a picture\u2014\u2018seea ez Ah s\u2019all \u2019a\u2019e summat ti leeak at \u2019at ya\u2019ve deean\nyersel when ya\u2019ve geean,\u2019 said she. I readily promised to do so, and in\ndue course sent her a little snow scene.\n\nA few days afterwards she saw me passing. \u2018Noo then,\u2019 she shouted, \u2018cum\nin wi\u2019 ya. Ah\u2019ve gitten \u2019t heng\u2019d up, an\u2019, mah wo\u2019d, bud it leeaks\ngrand, dizn\u2019t it?\u2019 \u2018I am glad you like it,\u2019 said I, as I gazed at my\nwork of art nestling amongst coloured grasses and peacock feathers;\n\u2018and very nicely you have arranged everything. But perhaps it would\nbe better if you hung it the right way up.\u2019 Her face was a picture.\nThe dear old soul felt that she had blundered; she was fearful lest I\nshould feel hurt.\n\nBut her native wit saved her. \u2018Wrang sahd up, is \u2019t? Aa, bud, Ah saay,\nya mun be a clivver penter seea ez ti pent a picter \u2019at leeaks reet\nonny road up.\u2019 Then, after a moment\u2019s consideration, she added, \u2018But\nmebbies Ah\u2019d best to\u2019n \u2019t t\u2019other road roond; sum fau\u2019k mud think \u2019at\nyan didn\u2019t knaw t\u2019 reet end ov a picter if yan let it bahd ez \u2019tis.\u2019\n\nSir C\u2014\u2014 and Mr. W\u2014\u2014, a solicitor, once overtook Abe Braithwaite, a\nwell-known character in Bedale, on the way to the meet. \u2018Good morning,\u2019\nsaid Sir C\u2014\u2014; \u2018shall we have a find, Abe?\u2019 \u2018Nut i\u2019 yon cover; bud Ah\ncud gi\u2019e ya a wrinkle.\u2019 \u2018Well, let\u2019s have it,\u2019 said Sir C\u2014\u2014. \u2018Whya,\ndeean\u2019t weeast mich tahm yonder, bud gan ti t\u2019 far cover, an\u2019 ya\u2019ll\nfinnd yan theer, hard eneeaf.\u2019 \u2018All right, Abe, I\u2019ll bear in mind what\nyou say,\u2019 said Sir C\u2014\u2014 as the two rode off. \u2018Ah saay,\u2019 shouted Abe\nafter the retreating horsemen, \u2018if ya\u2019d ass\u2019d advice frev him \u2019at\u2019s wi\u2019\nya he\u2019d wanted six an\u2019 eightpence, bud Ah nivver charge nowt na mair\n\u2019an a bob mysen.\u2019 And he got it.\n\nA story just strikes me which illustrates several points already\nmentioned. A young fellow who was supposed to be learning land agency\nbought a horse at an adjacent fair, and was most systematically\nswindled. The said horse was being looked over by one of the village\nTykes. Now for many reasons the fellow did not wish to offend the\npurchaser, but it was really impossible to say one thing in its favour.\n\u2018Well, Tom, what is the verdict?\u2019 asked the embryo agent. And then\ncame the answer, which was worthy of a Grecian lawyer: \u2018Whya noo,\nthat gertly depends. Ya weean\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e bowt it owther ti show or hunt,\nnoo \u2019a\u2019e ya?\u2019 \u2018Oh no, just to knock about on.\u2019 \u2018Oha, whya then, \u2019t\u2019ll\ndeea grandly ti knock aboot on,\u2019 said Tom. \u2018All the same you think\nthey\u2019ve swindled me, now don\u2019t you?\u2019 \u2018Whya it\u2019s mebbins mair \u2019an Ah\u2019d\n\u2019a\u2019e gi\u2019en for \u2019t mysen, but \u2019t\u2019ll deea grandly ti knock aboot on.\u2019\nAt this juncture they were joined by the village ostler, one who was\nnever over-nice in his remarks. \u2018Now, Jack, what do you think of my\nbargain?\u2019 \u2018What div Ah think on \u2019t? Whya, Ah wadn\u2019t be seen takking it\nti t\u2019kennels\u2019 (i. e. taking it to feed the dogs); and then, thinking\nhe had been a little too severe, he added, \u2018Bud Ah\u2019ll tell ya what,\n\u2019t\u2019ll deea foor yer ti larn what a hoss s\u2019u\u2019d be, foor it\u2019s getten\nneean o\u2019 t\u2019 points \u2019at a hoss owt ti \u2019ev, an\u2019 ommaist ivvery yan \u2019at it\ns\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t; \u2019t\u2019ll deea foor yer ti study \u2019t up.\u2019\n\nThe Tyke has a habit of answering you in a kind of metaphor, which, as\nbefore remarked, is almost unintelligible unless something of dialect\nand idiom has been mastered. As a case in point, I remember after the\nlast general election saying to an old fellow, \u2018Now, John! what do you\nthink of this complete change in the country?\u2019 Now, John did not know\nwhich side I favoured, neither did he wish me to learn for which party\nhe had voted, and, further, he was determined not to say anything which\nwould either give offence to me or expose his own hand. The question\nfor a moment was a difficult one to answer, but the answer came pat\nenough: \u2018Whya, Parliment\u2019s varra mich leyke t\u2019 land\u2014ya mun chaange t\u2019\ncrops noos an\u2019 agaan, or it\u2019s ti neea good. Ah s\u2019 \u2018a\u2019e ti be gahin noo;\ngood daay ti ya.\u2019 He had answered me, fully answered me. He had let\nnothing escape him. I was none the wiser as to what his own opinions\nwere, and I might just as well have saved myself the trouble of asking.\n\nThe inspectors of our Board schools can recount many true and curious\nanecdotes of our country scholars; but it should be borne in mind by\nthe department that, although the Yorkshire country-people and their\nbairns are bilingual, it is only their mother tongue and ordinary\nEnglish which up to the present they have mastered. The southern twang,\npronunciation, and slang is to them as a mystic rune. North-country\nmen, if you please, to examine North-country boys and girls. Very\noften the questions, as put by South-country inspectors, might just as\nwell be asked in Sanskrit, and very naturally they remain unanswered,\nwhilst the class is voted as hopeless dunces, when the fault really\nlies at the door of the questioner. At one school in Wensleydale a\nSouth-country inspector, when examining a class on the Bible, put this\nquestion, \u2018Neow tell me something abeout Mouses.\u2019 \u2018Cats kill \u2019em,\u2019 was\nthe prompt reply. Another one said to a promising standard in mental\narithmetic, \u2018Three packets of pins at a penny each, five hanks of tape\npenny each, nine reels of thread penny each, five boxes of hair-pins\npenny each, and six ounces of worsted at three halfpence per ounce.\nHow much does the parcel come to? Quick!\u2019 But the speed with which the\nquestion had been asked, the twang, and the unfamiliar sound of many\nof the words, left the standard almost in absolute ignorance of the\nquestion. One thing, and of only one thing, were they clear upon\u2014that\nthey were being asked something about _thread_, _worsted_, and\n_hair-pins_. But as the inspector uttered that \u2018Quick!\u2019 he fixed his\neyes on one lad, and the effect of that glance was mesmeric. The lad\nimmediately answered, \u2018Pleease, sur, wa ar\u2019n\u2019t lasses.\u2019\n\nBut it is not the South-country man alone who receives unlooked for\nanswers from the practical bairns of our dales. After a somewhat\nlengthy and highflown picture-painting on faith, the teacher, wishing\nto see if the children had grasped her foolish poetical outburst,\nsaid to one of the boys, whose mother, by the way, was a widow and\ndesperately poor, \u2018Now, Tommy, if I were to say to you, \u201cThere will be\na rich plum pudding for your dinner,\u201d and you believed me, what would\nthat be?\u2019 \u2018It \u2019ud be a gert tak in, for wa nivver \u2019a\u2019e nowt na better\n\u2019an a suet dumpling at oor hoos,\u2019 was the unexpected reply.\n\nAgain, an inspector asked one of the boys in Bilsdale, or rather\ncommenced to ask, a question in mental arithmetic: said he, \u2018If you\nhad in your hand five apples, two oranges, and three pears, and I was\nto take\u2014-\u2014 \u2019 But he got no further; the practical bairn stopped him by\nsaying, \u2018Pleease, sur, Ah c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t ho\u2019d \u2019em all i\u2019 yah han\u2019.\u2019\n\nTo conclude this chapter, just one more example. Said an inspector to\na little girl, \u2018If I knitted twelve stitches in a minute, how many\nstitches should I have on my needle at the end of five minutes?\u2019 \u2018Ya\nwadn\u2019t a\u2019e neean, \u2019coz ya deean\u2019t knit stitches; ya\u2019re nut gahin ti\ncatch me i\u2019 that waay.\u2019 He ought to have said \u2019loops.\u2019\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER II\n\n WIT AND CHARACTER\n\n\nOur country-people possess in a very marked degree the faculty of\nexplaining away anything which for special reasons they do not care to\nadmit. Very often they do this in a marvellously subtle way. Sometimes\nso fine is the point upon which they turn an argument, that that which\nwas to be demonstrated is entirely lost sight of, whilst new issues\nare introduced in such a seemingly natural way that in the end you\nfind yourself contending for some point in which you have no earthly\ninterest, and which has no connexion with the original argument, but\nwhich, owing to this strategical shifting, has put them on sure ground,\nleaving you at a hopeless disadvantage. Equally conspicuous is their\npride and independency; no matter how poor they may be they strongly\nobject to being patronized.\n\n\u2018Ah weean\u2019t let onnybody clap me on t\u2019 back. Ah paay fer what Ah git,\nan\u2019 that\u2019s good eneeaf; he\u2019s nowt na better \u2019an what Ah is,\u2019 said a man\none day, who had been spoken to, with the kindest intention, but in\nthat unfortunate way which some of the best-intentioned people have of\nbeing familiar, but faintly colouring the same with just a slight whiff\nof patronizing superiority. And the Yorkshireman won\u2019t stand it. Don\u2019t\nmisunderstand me: although no respecter of person he is quite willing\nto pay deference to those whom he considers his superiors and who are\nworthy of it; but he is the one who acts as judge in such a case.\nIf you are a stranger, you will have to earn this deference by good\nbehaviour on your part, or it is quite possible, if you act otherwise,\nyou will be the recipient of some very plain Yorkshire, whether you\nunderstand it or not. And also bear in mind the Tyke is always equal to\ngiving an answer, and in his own peculiar way very smart at repartee.\n\nA good example of one of the peculiarities mentioned is made evident\nin the following story. Master and man were returning from a coursing\nmatch, at which the master\u2019s dog had been badly beaten. The man knew\nit was a great disappointment, and as a faithful servant he felt\nkeenly the adverse result of the day\u2019s outing. \u2018I felt sure our dog\nwould win,\u2019 said the master, and then waited for his man to reply.\nNow, Tom would not say how much inferior their dog really was to the\nwinner; in fact, he would only admit that to himself. So he held his\npeace. A moment later the master tackled him again, and this time with\na question direct. \u2018You saw the course, Tom; how do you account for\nit?\u2019 \u2018Whya, sur,\u2019 began Tom, \u2018dogs is queer things, an\u2019 hares is queer\nthings; in fact, theer\u2019s nowt na queerer \u2019an what hares offen is. Noo,\nthey\u2019re varra flighty things is hares, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ve offens thowt \u2019at\nsumtahms tha tak mair ti yah dog na what tha deea ti t\u2019 tother. An\u2019 ya\nknaw leyke, when tha finnd oot \u2019at theer\u2019s nowt else for \u2019t bud what\nthey \u2019a\u2019e ti be killed, tha let t\u2019 dog deea\u2019t \u2019at they\u2019ve ta\u2019en t\u2019\nmaist fancy tull. Ah caann\u2019t mak \u2019t oot onny other road, an\u2019 that mun\nbe it.\u2019\n\nYears ago, when guides showed tourists and others round Fountains\nAbbey, giving at the same time their version of the history of the\nruins\u2014much of which it must be said was the outcome of their own\nimagination, and, though deeply interesting, was opposed to all the\ncanons of archaeology\u2014several members of the Royal Archaeological\nSociety and a party of ladies and gentlemen were relegated to the care\nof \u2018Scott,\u2019 an old guide and a well-known Yorkshire character of those\ndays. As they went through the ruins the old fellow gave his version,\nonly a moment afterwards to hear quite a different explanation given\nby some member of the R.A.S. At last Scott could \u2018bahd it na langer.\u2019\n\u2018Ah saay,\u2019 questioned he, \u2018war you here when t\u2019 Abbey war built?\u2019\n\u2018No, neither were you, my friend,\u2019 replied the gentleman. \u2018Mebbe nut,\nbud Ah\u2019ve been here a seet langer \u2019an what you \u2019ev, for all that; sum\nfau\u2019k think tha knaw sa mich,\u2019 he was heard to mutter. By-and-by the\nround was completed, and then it was that old Scott fired off his last\nshot. \u2018Noo then,\u2019 said he, \u2018cum on all t\u2019 lot on ya, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tak\nya ti summat \u2019at neean on ya can owther gainsaay or alter; noo then,\ncum on,\u2019 and he marched them under the echo. \u2018Noo then, gentlemen, ya\ncan\u2019t dispute owt \u2019at\u2019s sed here; gan on, sum on ya, shoot summat.\u2019\nOne of the party, who had already had more than one wordy battle with\nthe old fellow, shouted, \u2018Any one seen an old fool knocking about this\nmorning?\u2019 At which there was a general laugh. But before the repeat\nhad died away, the old fellow shouted in a voice which made the echo\nring again, \u2018Neea, bud theear\u2019s onny amount o\u2019 young uns under t\u2019\necho.\u2019 And I think he scored.\n\nAnother good story: in fact many hail from Great Ayton. When the Grange\nwas being built, artists and other workmen from town and elsewhere were\nrequisitioned to beautify the place. Many of these travelled gentlemen,\non their first arrival, considered the Yattoners fair game for their\nsport and wit, but very often they found out, when too late to save\nthemselves, that they had pressed the wrong button. During their stay\na small wild-beast show opened on the green. In front of the monkeys\u2019\ncage stood a Yattoner, greatly amused with their antics. \u2018Admiring your\nrelations?\u2019 inquired one of the foreign masons as he passed. \u2018They\u2019re\nneea relations o\u2019 mahn; neean ov oor family\u2019s owt akin ti yours,\u2019 was\nthe instant reply. \u2018Why don\u2019t you wash your brains? there\u2019s plenty\nof water in the beck,\u2019 said another of the foreign fraternity. \u2018Ther\nmebbins is what \u2019ud wesh mahn, bud you\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e ti wait whahl a fresh cam\ndoon.\u2019 \u2018Go home,\u2019 said another of them, \u2018and tell your father you are\nthe biggest fool he has ever seen.\u2019 \u2018He\u2019d leather ma for telling a lee\nif Ah did; ya\u2019re forgitting \u2019at ya lodge wiv uz;\u2019 and then he dodged a\nlump of wood which came that way.\n\nOld Bessy kept the village store, and in her way was quite a character;\nso was her shop for the matter of that. I never was in such a shop in\nmy life. Anything, everything, and all on the top of something else.\nIn fact it was as one of the natives put it, \u2018Owt \u2019at Bessy \u2019ezn\u2019t \u2019s\nnut wo\u2019th assing for.\u2019 The one big house in the place for a short time\nwas rented by a gentleman whose family made up for any deficiency in\npedigree by all-round rudeness to every one with whom they came in\ncontact. On one occasion a daughter of the said house flounced into\nBessy\u2019s shop and asked for something which it was most unlikely would\nbe kept in a shop of that kind. \u2018Naay,\u2019 said Bessy, \u2018Ah \u2019a\u2019en\u2019t gitten\nnowt o\u2019 that soart; Ah deean\u2019t knaw what t\u2019 stuff is ya\u2019re assing for.\u2019\n\u2018It is just useless my trying to buy anything in a pottering little\nshop like this. You keep nothing but a lot of old rubbish. You never\nhave anything I want,\u2019 was the young lady\u2019s rude reply. \u2018Why noo, Ah\u2019ll\ntell ya what, t\u2019 next tahm \u2019at Ah gan ti Ripon, Ah\u2019ll see if Ah can\u2019t\nget a box o\u2019 good behav\u2019o\u2019r; you mun cum in then, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e ya\ngood weight, for ya want it mair na onnybody else. Noo deean\u2019t forgit\nti cum in,\u2019 were the last words the young lady heard as she hurried out.\n\nHis Honour Judge \u2014- for some little time had a house in a Cleveland\nvillage, and whilst there he did a bit of \u2019hoss swapping\u2019 with one of\nthe farmers. Unfortunately his Honour\u2019s horse did not turn out well.\nMeeting the farmer one day, he said, \u2018Robert, you took me in with that\nhorse, it has turned out very badly.\u2019 \u2018Hez \u2019t, noo? Whya, that\u2019s a bad\njob; bud you maun\u2019t gan blethering aboot \u2019at Ah\u2019ve ta\u2019en ya in, or else\nfau\u2019k\u2019ll get it i\u2019 ther heeads \u2019at ya\u2019re nobbut a varra poor judge.\u2019\n\nQuite likely enough, if you get into conversation with the old people,\nthey will give you their opinion upon most things, and that too very\noften without your asking for it. There will be no beating about the\nbush, no attempt to smooth away rough corners; the Yorkshireman detests\nputty and varnish. What he has to say, like his hitting, comes straight\nfrom the shoulder.\n\nThe hounds were in full cry. A lady and gentleman on approaching a\nclosed gate against which a farmer\u2019s man was leaning, the gentleman\ncalled out, \u2018Hi there! open the gate, look sharp!\u2019 but the man\nstood stolidly looking at the hounds. \u2018Why don\u2019t you open the gate,\nyou fool?\u2019 shouted the horseman angrily. Turning slowly round, the\nyokel said very quietly, \u2018Ah deean\u2019t call ti mahnd \u2019at ivver Ah \u2019ed\na God\u2019s-penny fra you. If ya\u2019ll nobbut stan\u2019 back Ah\u2019ve na doot t\u2019\nlady\u2019ll show ya t\u2019 road ower. Ah can see \u2019at ya\u2019re a bit caff-hearted.\u2019\nSpringing to the ground the horseman found the gate was locked. \u2018Why,\nit\u2019s locked,\u2019 said he, turning to the lady. \u2018Ah c\u2019u\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e tell\u2019d ya\nthat lang sin,\u2019 said the yokel. \u2018Well, I think you might have done so,\u2019\nsaid the lady, kindly. \u2018We have lost a lot of time.\u2019 \u2018If you\u2019d cum\u2019d\nbyv yersen, miss, Ah\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e brokken t\u2019 gate doon for ya. Bud yah feeal\nlosses his wits when he\u2019s called yan byv another,\u2019 was the compliment\nand retort all in one.\n\nOn another occasion, the horseman forgetting to pay the usual toll, the\ngate-opener greatly amused every one by saying, as he touched his cap,\n\u2018Noo, mebbe ya \u2019evn\u2019t gitten neea small chaange on ya, bud Ah\u2019ll tell\nya hoo wa can mannish \u2019t: Ah\u2019ve gitten nahnpence, if you\u2019ve a bob?\u2019\n\nA good story is told by a Cleveland vicar. The day on which he arrived\nin his new parish he had to transact some little matter with the\nsexton. On inquiry he was informed this worthy was to be found in the\nfar pasture. Thither he went, finding the old man busy mowing. \u2018Well,\nmy man!\u2019 began the vicar. \u2018Noo then,\u2019 said Old Willie, going on with\nhis mowing. \u2018I wish to have a word or two with you,\u2019 said the vicar,\nnot very pleased with his off-hand reception. He was not Yorkshire, and\ndidn\u2019t understand their ways then.\n\n\u2018All reet, gan on wi\u2019 tha.\u2019 This without stopping the swing of his\nscythe.\n\n\u2018I think you don\u2019t know who I am. I am your new vicar.\u2019 Doubtless at\nthe time the vicar imagined the effect of this startling announcement\nwould be such that Old Willie\u2019s scythe would fall from his hands, and\nmost abject apologies be poured forth. But no, Willie just remarked,\n\u2018Oh, are ya? Whya, ya maun\u2019t stan theer; ya\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti shift yersen, or\nAh s\u2019all mow yer legs off t\u2019 next swathe Ah tak.\u2019 And the vicar moved.\n\nOur country-people have a way of summing up and giving a verdict quite\non lines of their own. But it must be borne in mind that what is taken\nin a figurative sense by those of a wider experience, is often accepted\nliterally by those whose lives for the most part have been bounded by\ntheir own homestead and dale. When the last historical pageant was\nheld at Ripon, trips brought the dales-people from all parts. And\nalthough I do not think any of them went so far as to imagine the\nvarious characters impersonated had been dug up and set in motion\nfor their amusement and edification, I am sure in the main they were\ngreatly mystified as to how they had all been gathered together. On\nthe last day, when possibly fifteen thousand people were present, a\ngroup of ladies and gentlemen were standing near the east window of the\nAbbey\u2014near by were two or three monks conversing with several knights\nin chain armour, and on their right stood King Charles surrounded by\nthe ladies of his court. A gentleman standing hard by said to his lady\ncompanion, \u2018It is really a splendid spectacle, and gives one a perfect\npicture of what it must have been in days past.\u2019 \u2018You\u2019ll excuse me,\nsir,\u2019 said a dame who had overheard his remark, \u2018bud is this leyke what\nit used ti be?\u2019 \u2018Yes, my good woman, exactly,\u2019 the gentleman answered.\n\u2018Whya then, Ah can weel understan\u2019 hoo it war \u2019at tha pulled t\u2019 pleeace\ndoon\u2019 (meaning the Abbey), \u2018for it\u2019s a giddy gahin-on is this. Bud Ah\nwill saay,\u2019 pointing to the ladies of King Charles\u2019 Court, \u2018\u2019at Ah\nnivver seed a finer set o\u2019 lasses i\u2019 all mah leyfe. An\u2019 Ah\u2019ve na doot\n\u2019at that accoonts for \u2019t.\u2019\n\nThe last clause, I imagine, referred to the ruinous state of the Abbey.\n\nThe same peculiar trait was fully exemplified during an Art exhibition\nat York. Several of the pictures were offered for sale, the price being\ngiven in the catalogue. Whilst a couple were gazing in wonderment at\none picture, the woman was overheard to say, \u2018Ah nivver thowt \u2019at\nfraams cost seea mich brass. Sitha, mun, that yan\u2019s ower a hunderd\npund; it mun be t\u2019 fraam, thoo knaws, fer t\u2019 picter\u2019s nobbut hauf\ndeean; t\u2019 chap \u2019at\u2019s pented it \u2019ezn\u2019t \u2019ed tahm ti finish \u2019t, fer neean\non \u2019em\u2019s gitten ther cleeas on.\u2019\n\nSome few years ago there was an excursion started from Whitby _vi\u00e2_\nBattersby, its destination being Wensleydale. Many who availed\nthemselves of the trip alighted at Aysgarth. One batch in charge of\nthe curate wended their way to the force, which owing to recent rains\nwas seen at its best. \u2018By gum,\u2019 said one, \u2018bud ther\u2019s a seet o\u2019 watter\ncuming ower yonder.\u2019 \u2018Ah\u2019ll tell ya what,\u2019 said another, giving a huge\nwink, \u2018they weean\u2019t be yabble ti keep that gam up lang; tha\u2019ll be\nletting \u2019t all off afoor t\u2019 tothers cum up, if they deean\u2019t mahnd.\u2019\nThe curate was shocked; his poetical soul was pained at such, as he\nimagined, crass ignorance, so he endeavoured to lift them from out of\nthemselves. After quite a rhetorical outburst bearing on the grandeur\nof the scene, he wound up with, \u2018Is it not marvellous, magnificent,\noverwhelming, to behold it thundering, rumbling, tumbling over?\u2019 Poetry\nof that kind makes the speaker breathless, and he paused. Then, turning\nto one of the party, he said, \u2018What do you think, John, eh?\u2019 \u2018Aye,\nya\u2019re all reet about its thunnering, tumm\u2019ling, an\u2019 rumm\u2019ling, bud for\nt\u2019 leyfe o\u2019 mah Ah deean\u2019t see owt \u2019at ther is ti ho\u2019d it back,\u2019 was\nthe laconic reply.\n\nI remember on one occasion, when being driven to the station by a\nreal old Yorkshire coachman\u2014I had been one of a house party for three\ndays as society humorist\u2014the old fellow giving me a huge dig with\nhis elbows, and saying, \u2018Ah saay, is yon all you deea fer a living?\u2019\n\u2018That is all,\u2019 I replied. \u2018Well, by goa! bud ya git yer living easy,\nyou deea.\u2019 \u2018I don\u2019t know; if you had all the knocking about that I\nhave perhaps you would not think it quite so easy,\u2019 said I. \u2018Whya,\nAh deean\u2019t knaw; what ya\u2019ll \u2019ev yer expenses paid, \u2019evn\u2019t ya?\u2019\n\u2018Certainly,\u2019 I answered. \u2018Aye; an\u2019 ya git fed fer nowt, deean\u2019t ya?\u2019\n\u2018Of course,\u2019 I replied, greatly amused. \u2018Whya then,\u2019 said he, \u2018Ah\u2019ll\ntell ya what: ya travel fer nowt, yer sheltered fer nowt, fed fer nowt,\nan\u2019 ya deea nowt; Ah leeak upon ya ez nowt i\u2019 t\u2019 wo\u2019lld else bud a\naristocratic pauper.\u2019 \u2018Wait a moment,\u2019 said I; \u2018don\u2019t you think brains\ncount for something in a matter of this kind?\u2019 And then, with that\nineffable scorn which I think only the Yorkshireman of that type can\nassume, he said, \u2018Braans! braans!! braans!!! Ugh, Ah\u2019ve ez monny brains\nez you \u2019ev if they war nobbut scraped oot.\u2019\n\n\u2018Which waay did ta vote?\u2019 asked one. \u2018Whya noo, it war leyke this waay:\nAh went an\u2019 heeard all \u2019at t\u2019 blew chap \u2019ed ti saay, an\u2019 he made it\noot ez cleear ez t\u2019 neease on yer feeace \u2019at t\u2019 yallers war up ti neea\ngood; an\u2019 efter that Ah went ti lissen ti t\u2019 yaller chap, an\u2019 he sed\n\u2019at t\u2019 blews war warse \u2019an nowt at all. Seea Ah thowt ti mysen, \u2019at if\nthem \u2019at\u2019s my betters dizn\u2019t knaw what\u2019s what, it\u2019s nut for sike o\u2019 me\nti saay; seea when t\u2019 voting daay cam Ah stopped at yam an\u2019 sell\u2019d t\u2019\npig.\u2019\n\nA classical curate was seized with an inordinate yearning to improve\nand elevate the \u2019thought tone\u2019 (I quote his words) of certain Cleveland\nfarmers. Now, as a body of men, the Cleveland farmers, as I know them,\nare about as shrewd, practical, and thoroughly business-like as you\nwill find anywhere in Yorkshire, and that is saying a deal; still I\nam bound to admit, though I know little of \u2019thought tone\u2019 myself,\nthey know less. There is no money in it. Make it clear that an income\nof two hundred a year can be squeezed out of \u2019thought tone,\u2019 and\nYorkshire will supply the world with any amount, in tins, condensed,\nand hermetically sealed. At present it is not quoted on \u2019Change. But\nto my story. The curate made a dead set at one farmer in particular,\ngiving him, on one occasion, a graphic account of the siege of Troy.\n\u2018One general, sir,\u2019 said he, \u2018though sorely wounded, commanded his\narmour-bearer to strap on his armour, and this having been done he\nplaced himself in the forefront of the battle\u2019 (here much dramatic\naction and tone was indulged in by the curate, and the hearth-rug\ngreatly disarranged)\u2014\u2018in the forefront, sir, and single-handed he\nengaged three of the Trojans\u2019 (seizing the poker and swinging it round\nhis head). \u2018He slew two of them, but the third pierced him to the\nheart, and he sank lifeless upon his vanquished foes. \u2018Twas a brave\ndeed, and a noble death, the death of a hero. What do you think, sir?\u2019\nBreathless, and with dampened brow, he waited for an outburst of tone,\nwhich he fully expected would rush forth as waters from the burst bank\nof a reservoir. The farmer just removed his pipe and placidly remarked,\n\u2018Too bou\u2019d, sir, too bou\u2019d.\u2019 The curate sank into a chair aghast. Was\nthe man human, or was he beyond hope! \u2018Is that all?\u2019 he gasped; \u2018has no\nother thought struck you whilst I recounted my story?\u2019 \u2018Whya,\u2019 said the\nfarmer, \u2018Ah did yance ower aim \u2019at ya\u2019d be fetching t\u2019 clock doon wi\u2019\nt\u2019 poker, bud fort\u2019natly ya didn\u2019t.\u2019 The curate fled.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER III\n\n WIT AND CHARACTER\u2014_continued_.\n\n\nOur country-people, as has been incidentally remarked, are very proud\nand independent, but I venture to say both their pride and independency\nare cast in a right groove, and may certainly be classed amongst the\nchief elements which have made the Yorkshireman the self-reliant\nmortal which he certainly is. I have already said that he is eminently\npractical, and I now add hard to convince. Often, I admit, his mode\nof arguing would puzzle a Philadelphian lawyer, but after all it is\nargument, if you are only Yorkshire scholar enough to understand his\nway of handling a subject. The country-people are hard to convince, and\nno respecters of person.\n\nMary W\u2014-\u2014- had for many years received a dole of ten shillings every\nChristmas for coals, but having obtained regular work at the Hall, the\nvicar rightly decided that five shillings in future would meet her\ncircumstances, the more so as there were many other deserving cases.\nAt the time appointed he left five shillings with Mary\u2019s daughter,\nthe mother being out at the time. On her return she was told of the\nvicar\u2019s call, and of the five shillings which he had left. \u2018And what\ndid you do, Mary?\u2019 asked a lady, some short time afterwards. \u2018Deea!\ndeea! Whya, Ah \u2019ed t\u2019 fahve shillin\u2019 seal\u2019d an\u2019 posted back agaan tiv\nhim, afore he left t\u2019 village. Ah\u2019m nut that poor \u2019at Ah want for fahve\nshillin\u2019; an\u2019 if Ah can\u2019t be treated like a lady wi\u2019 ten shillin\u2019, Ah\nweean\u2019t be maad a pauper on; neea, nut if t\u2019 archbishop war ti cum wiv\nit hissel.\u2019\n\nChatting one day with a very old friend of mine, the Vicar of \u2014-, he\ngave me the following:\u2014\u2018In my younger days,\u2019 said he, \u2018I was brought\nup amongst the South-country peasantry, and for some time after I came\ninto the North Riding I was greatly surprised at the small amount\nof deference paid to me as their pastor. So marked was this, that I\ndetermined if possible to discover the reason; so one day I entered\ninto conversation with a blunt but honest old stone-breaker I found\nhard at work by the roadside. \u201cNow, Willie,\u201d said I, \u201cyou are hard at\nit.\u201d \u201cAye,\u201d said he, \u201cAh\u2019ve gitten ti arn my bit; ya\u2019ve nivver \u2019ed ti\ndeea a stroak foor yours.\u201d Not heeding his remark\u2014which, by the way,\na South-country man of like position would never dared have uttered\u2014I\nasked: \u201cHow is it, Willie, that none of the villagers ever touch their\ncaps or the women curtsy when they meet me?\u201d I know it was a bit\nsnobbish to ask such a question, but I had good reason for so doing:\nI wished to find out if I was in any way remiss. \u201cTouch wer caps an\u2019\nco\u2019tsey!\u201d said he, still continuing to break his stones. \u201cWa\u2019ve neea\ncall ti deea owther t\u2019 ane or tither; wa knaw varra larl aboot ya ez\nyit.\u201d \u201cBut I am your pastor,\u201d I urged, feeling at that time that was\nall-sufficient. \u201cThat coonts fer larl,\u201d said the old fellow. \u201cTher\u2019s\ngood uns an\u2019 bad uns ov all soarts. Ah tell ya \u2019at wa knaw varra larl\naboot ya ez yit. Wa s\u2019all finnd oot efter a bit what soart o\u2019 stuff\nyer maad on, bud ya\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti treead yer teeas cannily, or wa s\u2019aan\u2019t\ntak ti ya at all.\u201d All this,\u2019 said my old friend, \u2019at that time was a\ncomplete revelation to me. Up to then I had been used, anyway before my\nface, to something approaching servility, and here was a stone-breaker\nplainly telling me I should have to be very careful, and doing so\nwithout so much as ceasing his work.\u2019 Let me add, the stone-breaker has\nbeen laid to rest now many a year, and the flock has fully recognized\nthe vicar as their shepherd, and as one worthy both of their love and\nrespect; and in their way they give the one and show the other in a\nmarked degree. It takes a little time to get at the bottom of our\npeople, but the trying to do so always brings a plenteous reward.\n\nMr. Pawson by nature was bumptious. He was distinctly of the genus\n_novus homo_. He came to the village as a stranger, and built himself\na house, and from the day he came to reside therein, figuratively\nspeaking, he began to push the villagers about. \u2018He\u2019ll stritch t\u2019\nlastic\u2019 (elastic) \u2019whahl it flees back an\u2019 smacks him i\u2019 t\u2019 feeace,\u2019\nsaid one. And he did. It happened this way. One day, turning to a small\npig-jobber, he said, \u2018Jackson, tell one of your lads to take my dog\nback to the house; and, Jackson, he had better call at the saddler\u2019s\nand take some repairs along at the same time.\u2019 Now, as has been already\nremarked, this addressing the country folk by their surname is deeply\nresented; and in the case of Mr. P. there was almost open rebellion.\nJackson, however, was in no way dependent on the self-elected squire;\nso, winking to the bystanders, he said, \u2018All reet; bud Ah saay, Mr.\nPawson, Ah think \u2019at ya owt ti saay Mister when ya speeak ti ma. Ya\nknaw fau\u2019k\u2019s saying \u2019at maist leyklings wa s\u2019all seean be related, ez\nmah au\u2019dest lad\u2019s gitten his e\u2019e on that eldest lass o\u2019 yours.\u2019 The\nroar of laughter which followed was\u2014well, I pity Mr. Pawson.\n\nA lady of ample means, whose one desire was to do good to others, found\nthe people very difficult to approach when she first came amongst\nthem. As a fact, she knew nothing of the idiosyncrasy of the Yorkshire\npeople. Said she one day to an old Yorkshire dame whom she had weeding\nher garden: \u2018Bessy, how is it the people do not take kindly to me? I am\nmost wishful to help them, and to make them my friends, but they won\u2019t\nlet me; how is it?\u2019 \u2018Whya, ya see wa\u2019re a larl bit different mebbe ti\nt\u2019 fau\u2019k \u2019at you\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e been amang, afoor ya cam inti these pairts;\nAh\u2019ve allus fun\u2019 ya varra canny ti deea wi\u2019 mysen, Ah will saay that.\u2019\n\u2018Yes, but how is it the other cottagers do not seem pleased to see me\nwhen I call?\u2019 \u2018Whya, mebbins Ah c\u2019u\u2019d tell ya, bud Ah deean\u2019t knaw \u2019at\nAh s\u2019u\u2019d be deeaing mysen onny good if Ah did,\u2019 said Bessy, cautiously.\n\u2018But I should be greatly obliged to you if you would.\u2019 \u2018Aye, ya saay\nseea noo, bud ya\u2019d leyklings git yer back up if Ah tell\u2019d ya.\u2019 \u2018No,\nindeed I won\u2019t; I am really wishful to know.\u2019 \u2018Oha, whya noo, when ya\ngi\u2019e ma yer wo\u2019d on \u2019t, Ah s\u2019 \u2018a\u2019e ti gi\u2019e ya a bit ov an inkling. Noo,\nit\u2019s leyke this, mum: wa deean\u2019t tak kindly ti fau\u2019k \u2019at tak liberties\nwiv uz. Noo, Ah deean\u2019t want ti saay owt \u2019at\u2019ll vex ya, bud neea doot,\nbidoot meeaning it, ya tak a gert deal upon yersen.\u2019 \u2018In what way?\u2019\nasked the lady, being quite unaware of ever having done anything of the\nkind. \u2018Whya noo, for yah thing, ya nivver knock at neeabody\u2019s deear;\nya just lift t\u2019 sneck an\u2019 cross t\u2019 deearstan ez if t\u2019 pleeace belang\u2019d\nti ya. An\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tell ya anuther thing whahl Ah\u2019s aboot it: ya ass[2]\na seet ti monny quessions for yan \u2019at isn\u2019t varra weel knawn ti yan.\nYa s\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t deea seea. Ya wadn\u2019t be sae setten up noo, if yan ov uz\ncam an\u2019 walked wersens inti your parlour, bidoot knocking or owt, an\u2019\nstarted ti ass ya quessions aboot all manner o\u2019 macks an\u2019 mander o\u2019\nthings, noo wad ya? Noo, wa ar\u2019n\u2019t aboon awning wer betters; bud, mahnd\nya, wer betters \u2019ez ti wait whahl wa deea\u2019t, an\u2019 they \u2019ev ti let uz\ndeea\u2019t i\u2019 wer awn waay an\u2019 all, an\u2019 ther\u2019s nowt aboot that,\u2019 concluded\nBessy. Let me add, the lady took the hint, and in time learnt to love\nthe plain-spoken people she had come to live amongst; and they gave\ntheir love in return tenfold, which, if rugged and rough at the edges,\nonly enables you to get a firmer grip of it.\n\nJust a few illustrations proving the practical side of our character.\n\nIn the village schoolroom a lecturer very learnedly and emphatically\ndiscoursed on the human eye. Amongst other things he declared the eye\ncould quell the most savage beast. \u2018Ah saay,\u2019 said a sturdy farmer\nat the close of the lecture, \u2018deea ya ho\u2019d ti be trew all \u2019at ya\u2019ve\nbeen telling uz aboot wer e\u2019es?\u2019 On assuring him every word was quite\ntrue, the lecturer was somewhat staggered by the farmer\u2019s desire for a\npractical proof. \u2018Whya then,\u2019 said he, \u2018Ah\u2019ll tell ya what, Ah deean\u2019t\nbelieve owt \u2019at ya\u2019ve tell\u2019d uz; an\u2019 mair \u2019an that, if you\u2019ll cum up\nti mah hoos ti morn at morn, Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e ya a chance ti tell mah \u2019at\nAh\u2019s wrang. Noo, leeak here, if you\u2019ll gan inti mah paddock, Ah\u2019ll gie\nya leave ti e\u2019e mah bull ez mich ez ivver ya leyke, an\u2019 if he dizn\u2019t\nshift ya afoor ya can count fo\u2019tty, Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e ya leave ti tak him yam\nwi\u2019 ya. Bud you\u2019ll be shifted.\u2019 A friend calling to see one who was\nseriously ill, said just before parting, \u2018Whya noo, thoo maun\u2019t gi\u2019e\nwaay; thoo mun keep thi pluck up, or else it\u2019ll be owered wi\u2019 tha.\u2019\n\u2018Aye, mun!\u2019 said the invalid, \u2018bud it\u2019s hard ti keep yan\u2019s pluck up,\nwhen yan feels all ov a shutther. Ah\u2019ll tell tha what, if summat dizn\u2019t\nsthraangely alter, Ah\u2019s foor off, an\u2019 ther\u2019s nowt can ho\u2019d ma back.\u2019\n\u2018Oha well,\u2019 said the visitor, \u2018thoo owt ti knaw t\u2019 best; bud whativver\nthoo diz, thoo maun\u2019t dee iv a horry\u2019 (hurry). \u2018It\u2019s fowr mile ti t\u2019\nchetch, an\u2019 thoo\u2019s na leet weight, an Ah s\u2019u\u2019d be bidden, an\u2019 \u2018a\u2019e ti\nlen\u2019 a han\u2019 ti hug tha. Liggin i\u2019 bed a bit taks yan doon a lot; thoo\nmun try ti hing on a week or tweea, hooivver.\u2019\n\nOld I\u2014\u2014 of Masham, a well-known jobber in days past, was once asked for\na loan. But I will give the story as given to me years ago by William\nScorrer, than whom a finer specimen of the old school of Yorkshiremen\nnever lived, and to whom I am indebted for many of the best stories and\nother information in this book. Could you but have heard the old man\ntell them\u2014old! why, he never looked old, and he was nearly eighty when\nI knew him\u2014but you never will hear him; he has stepped over the line.\nHis style, raciness, and everything which goes to make a Yorkshire\nstory worth listening to, were lost when the grave closed over his last\nremains. At least, that is to my way of thinking. I know scores of\npeople who can tell a Yorkshire story, and tell it admirably, perfect\nas to dialect, and humorously, too; but still, there always lacks that\nsomething\u2014I mean crispness; no, sparkle is the word\u2014which the old chap\nalways managed to give just at the right moment. \u2018Requiescat in pace.\u2019\n\nPardon me, I will to the story. Old I\u2014\u2014 was at Northallerton Market,\nwhen another jobber rushed up to him. \u2018Ah saay,\u2019 said he, \u2018c\u2019u\u2019d ta\nmannish ti len\u2019 uz fahve pund. Ah finnd mysel that sho\u2019t, an\u2019 Ah s\u2019all\nloss a grand bargain if Ah caan\u2019t leet on sumbody \u2019at \u2019ll len\u2019 uz \u2019t.\u2019\n\u2018Whya, thoo knaws, Bill,\u2019 said I\u2014\u2014, \u2018Ah deean\u2019t ho\u2019d wi\u2019 lennin\u2019; ta\nknaws it offens maks frien\u2019s leeak shy at yan anuther; bud if so be\n\u2019at thoo\u2019s gahin ti miss a bargain, whya, Ah mun stritch a point foor\nyance, bud, mahnd tha, thoo \u2019ezn\u2019t ti mak a common practis on \u2019t. Noo,\nwhen diz ta think \u2019at thoo\u2019ll be yabble ti pay \u2019t back? An\u2019 what \u2019ez ta\ngitten, \u2019at thoo\u2019s gahin ti \u2019liver up ez security?\u2019 \u2018Whya, Ah\u2019ll let\ntha \u2019a\u2019e my watch, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha mah wo\u2019d\u2014\u2014.\u2019\n\n\u2018Nivver mahnd thi wo\u2019d, let\u2019s leeak at t\u2019 watch. Ah tell tha what,\u2019\nsaid I\u2014\u2014, when he had the watch in his hand, \u2018thoo mebbins sets gert\nstore byv it thisen, bud tha\u2019d bunch tha oot ov a pawn shop if thoo\nwar brazzen\u2019d eneeaf ti ass a pund for \u2019t. When can ti let mah \u2019ev it\nback?\u2019 \u2018Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha \u2019t at Bedale next Tuesday.\u2019 \u2018Whya noo, Ah\u2019ll\ntrust tha for yance, bud it\u2019s mair \u2019an what thi awn feyther \u2019ud deea.\nNoo thoo maun\u2019t tak ma in; Ah s\u2019all leeak for tha ti\u2019 pay \u2019t back when\nAh see tha at Bedale.\u2019 To Bill\u2019s credit, the money was paid the week\nfollowing. But a fortnight afterwards he again begged for a loan, this\ntime for fifteen pounds. \u2018Neea!\u2019 said I\u2014\u2014, \u2018thoo teeak mah in yance;\nAh\u2019ll nut trust tha na mair.\u2019 \u2018Teeak tha in! Didn\u2019t Ah pay tha back\nhard eneeaf at Bedale, when Ah tell\u2019d tha Ah wad?\u2019 \u2018Aye, thoo paid ma\nback all reet, bud Ah nivver thowt \u2019at thoo wad; naay, thoo\u2019s ta\u2019en ma\nin yance, Ah weean\u2019t be on agaan.\u2019\n\nThat by nature the Tyke is tenacious of his opinion, and hard to\nconvince, may be taken as an axiom. I have referred to this before, but\nthis is a convenient opportunity to produce proofs of the same.\n\nFor years, old Sykes and Hobson, though neighbours, had been on\nunfriendly terms. Years back, Sykes had found on several occasions a\ncertain gate thrown off its hinges. Whether he held any proof, history\ndoes not recount, but he blamed Hobson for doing it. Hobson, however,\nstoutly denied all knowledge of the affair. Anyway, for long they\nremained about as unfriendly as they well could; until one day, Hobson,\nat the risk of his life, rescued Sykes\u2019 lad from drowning. On hearing\nof the rescue, Sykes hurried away to thank Hobson. They met in one of\nthe latter\u2019s fields. \u2018Whya, noo then,\u2019 began Sykes, \u2018Ah\u2019ve cum\u2019d ti\nshak tha byv t\u2019 han\u2019; thoo\u2019s saved my bairn, an\u2019 Ah\u2019s behodden ti tha\nfoor awlus. Noo wa s\u2019all \u2019a\u2019e ti let bygones be bygones, an\u2019 start\nafresh. Thoo knaws wa used ti hit it off all reet yance ower; noo,\nwhat diz ta saay?\u2019 \u2018Wha, mun, ther\u2019s my hand on \u2019t, an\u2019 Ah\u2019s mair \u2019an\nglad \u2019at wa\u2019ve hap\u2019t t\u2019 au\u2019d sore up at last; an\u2019 ez thoo sez, wa mun\nstart afresh, just ez if nivver nowt \u2019ed cum\u2019d atween uz\u2019 So they shook\nhands, and talked farming for an hour or so, until it was time for\nSykes to return. Shaking Hobson by the hand, he said, \u2018Noo thoo knaws\nAh s\u2019all nivver be yabble ti mak it up ti tha for saving t\u2019 lad, an\u2019\nAh\u2019s reet glad \u2019at Ah can gan yam an\u2019 tell t\u2019 missus \u2019at thee an\u2019 me\u2019s\nkind agaan, an\u2019 Ah whoap \u2019at wa s\u2019all awlus keep seea. Bud mahnd tha,\nAh still ho\u2019d ti \u2019t \u2019at it war thoo \u2019at flang t\u2019 yat offen t\u2019 creeaks,\u2019\ni.e. \u2018But bear in mind, I still think it was you who flung the gate off\nthe hinges.\u2019\n\nOld Hall, a well-known character in one of our dales, was the doctor\nfor miles round, and proud was the village wherein he actually resided.\nHe was more than doctor, he was the vet. as well; he read the lessons\nin church; in fact, he was the father of the village. He was consulted,\nand his advice acted upon in all things which are incident to a village\ncommunity. And then he died, and a new doctor took his place\u2014top\nhat, frock-coat, and everything. Some little time after his arrival,\nWilson\u2019s cow died, and the death of the said cow was fully discussed\nthe day following, in the blacksmith\u2019s shop. \u2018What did ta gi\u2019e it?\u2019\nasked one. \u2018Nowt. Hoo mud Ah knaw what ti git for \u2019t?\u2019 \u2018Did ta gan for\nt\u2019 doctor?\u2019 asked another. \u2018Aye, an\u2019 he war neean sae setten up, at\nbeing fetched oot o\u2019 bed i\u2019 t\u2019 middle o\u2019 t\u2019 neet.\u2019 \u2018Warn\u2019t he! What\ndid he saay?\u2019 \u2018He tell\u2019d ma \u2019at he warn\u2019t a coo doctor, an\u2019 knew nowt\naboot \u2019em.\u2019 \u2018Did he saay that?\u2019 asked the smith slowly, resting on\nhis hammer, as he waited for an answer. \u2018Aye, an\u2019 he tell\u2019d ma ti gan\nyam an\u2019 nivver wakken him up na mair on sike an earand,\u2019 \u2018Wha, then,\u2019\nsaid the smith very deliberately, \u2018he\u2019s nut a Hall! an\u2019 he mud just ez\nweel teeam his stuff oot, an\u2019 quit his bottles foor au\u2019d glass. Foor\nAh meean ti saay \u2019at a chap \u2019at dizn\u2019t knaw nowt aboot t\u2019 innards\u2019\n(the inside) \u2018of a coo, an\u2019 hosses, an\u2019 pigs, an\u2019 sike leyke, isn\u2019t\ngahin ti practis on onny ov uz, \u2019coz if he \u2019ezn\u2019t gitten them off, he\ncaan\u2019t knaw nowt aboot oor innards, foor wa\u2019re a seet mair intrickiter\u2019\n(intricate) \u2019na onny o\u2019 t\u2019 dumb critters. He\u2019s nut a Hall, an\u2019 he\u2019s na\newse tiv uz.\u2019 The oracle having spoken, it was agreed on all hands that\nit was so. And from that moment the influence of that man as a doctor\nceased.\n\nHere is another, which brings out a trait I purpose touching upon\nafterwards. Incidentally, I may mention, a bargain is a bargain, and\nmust be maintained and carried out as originally agreed upon. The\nstory, however, I give as an illustration of how hard it is to convince\nour people that their preconceived notion on any subject is wrong.\n\nIt was quite four miles from a certain house to the village, and as the\ngardener was often required to go thither for one thing or another, his\nmaster bought him a bicycle, thinking to make the journey easier for\nhim. A few days after the machine had been presented, John said, \u2018Noo,\nsir, Ah wanted ti \u2019ev a wo\u2019d wi\u2019 ya. Noo, when Ah cam, Ah cam for ti\nbe t\u2019 gardener, an\u2019 ti deea onny odd jobs \u2019at wanted deeaing. Bud,\nya knaw, Ah s\u2019all want a bit mair a week if Ah\u2019ve ti larn ti mannish\nyon thing\u2019\u2014jerking his thumb over his shoulder in the direction of\nthe tool-house, where the byke was kept. \u2018Ya knaw, sir, ther warn\u2019t\nnivver nowt at no tahm owt sed aboot a bisittle, an\u2019 Ah s\u2019 want a bit\nmair afoor Ah tattle yon thing. Noo, hoo mich is \u2019t ti be?\u2019 The master\npointed out that it was for his (the gardener\u2019s) own comfort, and to\nlighten the journey to and from the village, he had been induced to\nbuy the bicycle. \u2018Whya, noo, Ah deean\u2019t knaw sae mich aboot that,\u2019\nsaid John; \u2018it soonds weel eneeaf t\u2019 waay \u2019at you put it; ther\u2019s nowt\naboot that, bud Ah\u2019ve leeaked fother inti \u2019t \u2019an what yow \u2019ev. Noo,\nleeak here, it taks me nigh on ti tweea hoors an\u2019 a hauf ti gan an\u2019 cum\nwalking; noo, hoo lang is \u2019t gahin ti tak ma ti deea \u2019t o\u2019 yon thing?\u2019\n\u2018When you get used to it, you will run there and back easily in an\nhour.\u2019 \u2018Oha, s\u2019all Ah! Then that\u2019ll be leyke an hoor an\u2019 a hauf ti t\u2019\ngood.\u2019 \u2018Yes, you will save quite that.\u2019 \u2018Then when Ah git back, s\u2019all\nAh \u2019a\u2019e ti sit ma doon an\u2019 deea nowt for t\u2019 hoor an\u2019 t\u2019 hauf?\u2019 \u2018Sit\ndown and do nothing! Certainly not; you will go on with your work.\u2019\n\u2018Aye, Ah thowt seea; an\u2019 that\u2019s what maks ma saay \u2019at ya\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti\ngi\u2019e ma a larl bit mair, ez Ah\u2019s gahin ti put sa monny mair hoors\u2019 wark\nin i\u2019 t\u2019 week. Ya see, you reckon yah waay, an\u2019 Ah reckon another, an\u2019\nAh think Ah\u2019s i\u2019 t\u2019 reet on \u2019t.\u2019\n\nThose who have given the slightest attention to the various traits\nwhich are so interesting in the character of our people, will not have\nfailed to notice one which is very pronounced. I mean the objection\nthey have to showing, and the cleverness they display in hiding, their\nignorance on any matter. If in speaking to our country people you use\na word which they do not understand, they never let you know that they\ndo not catch your meaning: they wait until you say \u2019summat else,\u2019 in\nthe hope that they may gather therefrom what you mean; and if you do\nnot happen to say anything which throws light upon the unknown word,\nwell, there the matter ends, and as a rule it does not trouble them\nfor one moment. A farm labourer fell off a bicycle, and sprained his\narm very severely; the doctor, a young locum, and a trifle pedantic,\ngave him a bottle of lotion, saying, as he did so, \u2018Your arm will be\nall right in a few days: you have strained your biceps, you must rub it\nwell with this lotion.\u2019 \u2018What diz ta think on him?\u2019 asked one, who had\nbeen waiting outside. \u2018Whya, he\u2019s nowt bud a fondheead, is yon. What\ndiz ta think? He sez \u2019at Ah\u2019ve spraaned my airm, an\u2019 he\u2019s gi\u2019en ma a\nbottle o\u2019 stuff ti rub t\u2019 bisittle wiv; let\u2019s gan ti t\u2019 bone-setter.\u2019\nA lady visiting a poor young fellow who was seriously ill, and very\nfeverish, said to the mother, \u2018Your son is very ill, I fear.\u2019 \u2018He is\nthat, mum; he\u2019s nut foor lang doon here. Hooivver, wa\u2019ve deean t\u2019 best\n\u2019at lay i\u2019 wer power, an\u2019 yan isn\u2019t yabble ti deea na mair \u2019an that.\nBud Ah\u2019s pleeased ti saay \u2019at wa\u2019ve gitten eneeaf saved up ti put him\ndeeacently by, an\u2019 that\u2019s a blessing. It\u2019ll be a beautiful funeral,\nmum, an\u2019 wa\u2019ve let him saay whau\u2019s ti be bidden; an\u2019 Ah deean\u2019t think\nhe\u2019s forgitten yan ov his au\u2019d frien\u2019s\u2014bud he awlus was thowtful.\u2019\n\u2018That is very nice,\u2019 said the lady, for she understood something of\nthe people and their ways. \u2018I will send you a couple of ice wafers,\u2019\nsaid she, thinking they would be nice for him to cool his lips with. \u2018I\nthink your son will like them, he seems so feverish.\u2019 Next day, when\nshe inquired how the patient was, the poor mother said, with tears\nin her eyes, \u2018Thank ya, mum, Ah think he\u2019s warse.\u2019 \u2018Did he like the\nwafers?\u2019 she inquired, adding, \u2018you can have more.\u2019 \u2018Well, mum,\u2019 said\nthe mother, \u2018Ah c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t saay foor sartin whether he liked \u2019em or nut.\nYa see, ez seean ez ya sent \u2019em, Ah put him t\u2019 white yan on his chist;\nbud he \u2019pleeaned \u2019at it felt varra cau\u2019d, an\u2019 seea Ah teeak it off, an\u2019\nput t\u2019 pink un on a plate i\u2019 front o\u2019 t\u2019 fire ti warm. Bud Ah think t\u2019\ncat must \u2019a\u2019e gitten \u2019t, foor it war gone when Ah went for\u2019t. So ya\nsee, iv a waay, he \u2019adn\u2019t a fair go wiv \u2019em. Bud you needn\u2019t send na\nmair, he\u2019s gahin fast noo.\u2019\n\nA gentleman said to a Yorkshire dame, \u2018Your little chap looks very\nrobust.\u2019 \u2018Aye, an\u2019 your larl chap leeaks t\u2019 saame,\u2019 said she; not in\nthe least knowing what \u2019robust\u2019 meant. \u2018Nay, nay,\u2019 said the gentleman;\n\u2018I only wish he was\u2019\u2014glancing at the very weakly child he held by the\nhand. The dame perceived she had made a mistake, so added, \u2018Whya he\nseean wad be\u2019; and then, not quite certain of her ground, or where\n\u2018robust\u2019 was going to land her, continued, \u2018bud then yan nivver knaws.\u2019\nWhen the gentleman had left the group, one of the bystanders said,\n\u2018Dolly, what diz ro-bust meean?\u2019 \u2018Deean\u2019t ass me, Ah\u2019ve na mair idea na\nt\u2019 man i\u2019 t\u2019 meean,\u2019 said she. \u2018Then what maad ta saay \u2019at his bairn\nleeaked t\u2019 saame ez what he sed thahn did?\u2019 \u2018Whya, Ah thowt \u2019at if he\nwar calling mah bairn naames, Ah\u2019d let him \u2019ev ez good ez he sent;\nwhahl, if he war sayin\u2019 summat i\u2019 praise on \u2019t, Ah sud be deeaing t\u2019\nsaame byv his.\u2019\n\nOn another occasion, a village dame entered the doctor\u2019s visiting-room.\n\u2018Noo, then,\u2019 she commenced, \u2018gie ma summat, an\u2019 leeak sharp aboot it,\nfer Ah is badly; Ah can nowther bahd ti sit doon, stan\u2019 up, ner nowt.\u2019\n\u2018What is the matter with you?\u2019 inquired the doctor. \u2018Naay, what; it\u2019s\nneea ewse assing me, Ah\u2019ve cumd to see you aboot that.\u2019 \u2018Well, but\nwhat ails you?\u2019 \u2018Aals ma! Ah\u2019ve gitten galloping paans all reet roond\naboot ivverywheear; Ah is badly.\u2019 \u2018But what have you been doing to\nget them?\u2019 \u2018Whya, Ah can think o\u2019 nowt bud, t\u2019 daay afoor yesterdaay,\nAh war weshin\u2019, an\u2019 Ah mun \u2019a\u2019e kept a damp ap\u2019on on, an\u2019 Ah aim \u2019at\nit\u2019s gi\u2019en ma cau\u2019d all reet roond aboot ivverywheer.\u2019 \u2018Now I know\nwhat\u2019s the matter with you. Here\u2019s a bottle for you; take it home, and\nyou had better drink a teaspoonful every ten minutes, and it will be\nbest if you take it in a recumbent position,\u2019 said he, handing Martha\nthe bottle. Now, \u2018recumbent position\u2019 was quite outside Martha\u2019s\nvocabulary; she had not the least idea what he meant, but she was not\ngoing to expose her ignorance by asking. So off home she set, saying\nto herself as she went along, \u2018\u201cRe-cum-bunt po-zition;\u201d noo what diz\nthat mean?\u2019 However, Yorkshire like, she hit upon a plan of getting to\nknow, without exposing her own ignorance. Calling on a neighbour as she\npassed by, she shouted, \u2018\u2018Liza Jane, Ah\u2019ve been ti t\u2019 doctor, an\u2019 he\u2019s\ngi\u2019en ma a bottle o\u2019 stuff, an\u2019 Ah \u2019ev ti tak a speeanful on \u2019t ivvery\nten minits; bud he sez \u2019at Ah \u2019ev ti tak it in a recumbunt po-zition.\nBud thoo knaws Ah \u2019evn\u2019t gitten yan, an\u2019 Ah thowt mebbe \u2019at thoo\u2019d be\nseea good ez ti let ma \u2019a\u2019e t\u2019 len\u2019 o\u2019 thahn; will ta?\u2019 Liza Jane knew\nno more what \u2019recumbunt po-zition\u2019 meant than Martha, but she was not\ngoing to give herself away, so she replied, \u2018Ah wad \u2019a\u2019e deean sa wi\u2019\nt\u2019 gertest o\u2019 pleasure i\u2019 t\u2019 wo\u2019lld, nobbut Ah lent mahn yisterday. Bud\nez thoo gans up t\u2019 village, call in at t\u2019 shop an\u2019 buy yan for thisen,\nan\u2019 then thoo\u2019ll \u2019ev it at heeam when thoo wants it; an\u2019 if tha \u2019evn\u2019t\ngitten yan, buy a mug\u2014it\u2019ll deea just t\u2019 seeam.\u2019\n\nOne more. Bessy having explained to the doctor that her husband was\nsuffering from a fearful pain in the head, was ordered to apply the\nhalf-dozen leeches which he gave her. Now, had the doctor said, \u2018stick\n\u2019em on,\u2019 or \u2019clap \u2019em on,\u2019 Bessy would have known what she had to do\nwith them. However, she had half a dozen leeches to do something with,\nso she went home and did her level best. A couple of days after, the\ndoctor, seeing Bessy, asked her how John was. \u2018Oh, he\u2019s all reet noo.\nThem things capped him; tha did, hooivver.\u2019 \u2018You managed all right,\ndid you, Bessy?\u2019 asked he. \u2018Whya, Ah caan\u2019t saay \u2019at wa mannished sa\nweel wi\u2019 t\u2019 fo\u2019st un \u2019at Ah gav\u2019 him; he chow\u2019d on wi\u2019 \u2018t, bud he c\u2019u\u2019d\ncatch ho\u2019d on \u2019t neea road, soa Ah boil\u2019d him t\u2019 rest, an\u2019 he sluthered\n\u2019em doon neycely.\u2019\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER IV\n\n WIT AND CHARACTER\u2014_continued_\n\n\nThere are many other side-lights to our character, only a few of which\nit will be possible to notice. But every story is pictured in such\nvarying light and shade as to afford those who can fully appreciate\nthem many varied traits of our character. And one word, if you please,\nwith reference to these stories. Nearly all have the merit of being in\nessence true. They have been gathered from various sources, but in the\nmain first hand. Many of the characters were known personally to the\nwriter; and although in a few instances the origin and authenticity are\ndoubtful, they are included because they so fully illustrate that which\nwas to be demonstrated, and because they are so true to life, and just\nwhat would really have happened under like circumstances.\n\nThere is one special gift which the Yorkshireman possesses in a high\ndegree, i.e. the humorous. It is a humorousness, too, which often\n(given that you understand and appreciate the dialect) sparkles with\ngenuine wit. I plead guilty to the fact that much of the wit of our\ncountry-people is, as it were, given with the back of the hand. Still,\nit is none the less witty, for all that. And if the same sounds rough\nand unmusical to you, kindly bear in mind that the Chinese consider\nour best music little else than a tumult of discordant sound. It is\ngenerally the last few words uttered which contain the bud, blossom,\nand fruit all in one. I remember once being completely shut up by a\nYorkshire lad, and he only uttered two words; but the tone and the look\nwere the very cream of sarcastic jeering. This was how it came about.\nThe lad was driving home some ducks from the pond. \u2018You have a lot of\nfine ducks, my boy,\u2019 said I. And then, thinking to buy a couple, I\nasked, \u2018How often do you kill them?\u2019 \u2018Nobbut yance,\u2019 was the laconic\nreply.\n\n\u2018T\u2019 law\u2019s nowt bud a tak in all t\u2019 waay thruff,\u2019 said one. \u2018When me\nan\u2019 Tom went afoor wer betters aboot that hedge, Ah\u2019d Jackson ti talk\nfoor me, an\u2019 he \u2019ed Smith ti talk foor him. An\u2019 ti lissen ti them tweea\nblackguarding yan anuther when t\u2019 case war on, yan mud \u2018 thowt \u2019at tha\nwar i\u2019 arnist, an\u2019 \u2018at tha nivver wad \u2019a\u2019e spokken civil t\u2019 ane tither\nagaan; bud bless mah leyfe, when t\u2019 case war adjourned ti t\u2019 next court\ndaay, an\u2019 when me an\u2019 Tom, scooling at yan anuther leyke all that, went\ninti t\u2019 Black Lion ti \u2019ev a glass o\u2019 yal, if wa didn\u2019t finnd them tweea\ntakking wine an\u2019 \u2018ranging ti gan fishing tigither t\u2019 next daay. \u201cTom,\u201d\nsez Ah, \u201cif this is t\u2019 waay tha mak t\u2019 feeal o\u2019 yan, seeaner thee an\u2019\nme haps t\u2019 business up an\u2019 t\u2019 better it\u2019ll be foor baith on uz.\u201d An\u2019 he\nsez ti me, \u201cGi\u2019e uz thi han\u2019 on\u2019t,\u201d an\u2019 Ah did. An\u2019 then Ah shoots oot,\n\u201cHi! Ah\u2019ll tell ya what, you tweea \u2019ed best \u2019range to gan fishing foor\nawlus; bud mahnd ya, nowther me ner Tom\u2019s gahin ti finnd t\u2019 bait for\nowther on ya!\u201d\n\nSally Ridge was a terror to all those she took a dislike to. She\nusually played some prank to the detriment of those who, for the time\nbeing, were out of favour. On one occasion, however, she went a trifle\ntoo far; she broke the back of a duck with a stone. This got poor Sally\ninto fearfully hot water, and there was every likelihood of her being\nsummoned; however, the writer interceded on her behalf, and on Sally\nfaithfully promising never to stone a duck again, she was pardoned.\nWithin an hour afterwards, I surprised her gaily pitching stones\namongst the feathered swimmers. \u2018Didn\u2019t you promise me faithfully not\nto throw stones at the ducks again, Sally?\u2019 I asked, taking hold of\nher, and adding, \u2018it is wicked of you to break your word in this way.\u2019\n\u2018Ah \u2019evn\u2019t brokken my wo\u2019d,\u2019 replied Sally, trying to free herself.\n\u2018But you have; you promised not to throw stones at the ducks again,\u2019 I\nrepeated. \u2018An\u2019 Ah isn\u2019t; Ah\u2019s thrawing at yon geese, an\u2019 it\u2019s nut mah\nfau\u2019t if t\u2019 silly au\u2019d ducks git thersens i\u2019 t\u2019 road. Leave lowse, Ah\nnivver sed nowt ti naebody aboot geese.\u2019\n\nThree visitors hired a boat at Staithes for an hour\u2019s fishing, having a\nman each to attend to their lines. On returning to land, the fishermen\nwere paid half a crown for the sail. The visitors had not got far away,\nwhen one of the fishermen ran after them. \u2018Ah saay, mister,\u2019 said he,\nturning the half-crown over in his hand, \u2018ya see ther\u2019s three on uz,\nan\u2019 nut being schollars, wa\u2019re bet ti knaw hoo ti share \u2019t oot; bud\nAh\u2019ll tell ya what wa deea knaw,\u2019 he added, with a merry twinkle in\nhis eye, \u2018if ya war ti gi\u2019e uz anuther sixpence, wa s\u2019u\u2019d \u2019ev a bob\napiece.\u2019 And they got it.\n\nAn old keeper was told off to hand the gun for a very poor shot. After\nblazing away at several coveys, he turned to the old chap, saying, \u2018I\nam afraid you will think me a very bad shot!\u2019 \u2018Nut Ah. Ah think \u2019at Ah\nnivver seed naebody shut better an\u2019 hit warse i\u2019 mah leyfe.\u2019 \u2018And yet\nI have made many a good bag before to-day,\u2019 said the sportsman, just\na wee bit nettled. \u2018Aye, bud oor bo\u2019ds flee, tha deean\u2019t sit ti be\nshutten at,\u2019 was the quiet rejoinder.\n\nLady \u2014- said to one of her under-gardeners, \u2018Thomas, the maids tell\nme that you often say very nasty things about women; do you ever do\nthe same of the men?\u2019 And then her ladyship looked him squarely in the\nface, but Thomas was equal to the occasion. \u2018Neea, my lady, that Ah\ndeean\u2019t, acoz i\u2019 that case it \u2019ud be trew, ya knaw.\u2019\n\nTommy had been fishing on Sunday; he had been caught red-handed by the\nChapel minister. The good man read Tommy a long lesson on the enormity\nof his sin, concluding by asking what Tommy had to say for himself.\n\u2018It\u2019s nut a real rod!\u2019 ventured Tommy. \u2018That does not matter,\u2019 said his\njudge; \u2018the sin is just the same, and the Lord never prospers those who\nbreak the sabbath.\u2019 \u2018Wha, then,\u2019 promptly replied Tommy, \u2018it mun \u2019a\u2019e\nbeen Au\u2019d Scrat\u2019 (i.e. Satan) \u2018\u2019at\u2019s egg\u2019d \u2019em on ti bite ti-daay, foor\nAh nivver catched sa monny afoor\u2019\u2014holding up a bottle fairly alive with\nsticklebacks and minnows.\n\nWhether I am succeeding or not is for others to judge, but what I\nam striving to do is to paint the various points in our character\nfaithfully. I am neither hiding nor glossing. Our brusquerie and\ndoggedness, our tenacity of opinion and keenness to acquire the\nall-needful, our pride and independency, as also our want of that\nrespect for those who may consider themselves our superiors, have been\nas fully and as truthfully set forth as space would admit of.\n\nOn the other hand, our people are warm-hearted, hospitable to a degree,\nand exhibit a deep sense of gratitude for favours received, such as\nwould never be credited by those who judge us by our rugged exterior.\nBut it is there, for all that. Let me give you two or three stories\nquite true, which prove to some extent what I have just asserted.\n\nA woman possessed an old, carved corner cupboard, not really worth\nmuch, but it had been her mother\u2019s, and she prized it greatly\u2014in fact,\nfar above its market value. The village doctor had often tried to buy\nit, but without success. Her husband falling seriously ill, the doctor\nwas called in, and though there was no hope of a long bill being paid,\nhe was most assiduous in his attendance day and night. When recovering,\nthe patient, fully aware that he had been fairly snatched from the\ngrave, said to his wife one night, when she was sitting by the bedside,\n\u2018Fanny, thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti let t\u2019 doctor \u2019ev t\u2019 cupboard.\u2019 He well knew\nwhat a wrench this would be, and was no little surprised when his wife\nreplied, \u2018Bless tha, mun, ez seean ez ivver thoo gat a to\u2019n foor t\u2019\nbetter, Ah \u2019ed t\u2019 cupboard rovven doon, an\u2019 sent Bob wi\u2019 \u2018t. Doctor\ndidn\u2019t want ti \u2019a\u2019e \u2019t, an\u2019 sent it back, bud Ah sent Bob wiv it agaan,\nan\u2019 tell\u2019d him ti saay \u2019at if he sent it back onny mair Ah\u2019d mak\nfirewood on \u2019t. Thoo\u2019s wo\u2019th mair \u2019an all t\u2019 cupboards i\u2019 t\u2019 wo\u2019lld ti\nme, an\u2019 it war t\u2019 only road ther war o\u2019 paying him.\u2019\n\nAgain. An old dame having been ill for a long time, recovered, much to\nthe surprise of every one. During her long illness a certain lady often\nvisited her, and sent her many little comforts. Some months after the\nold dame\u2019s recovery, she presented her benefactress with an elaborate\nclip-hearthrug. For this the lady wished to pay her, but that the old\ndame almost indignantly refused. \u2018Neea, mum,\u2019 said she, with tears in\nher eyes; \u2018Ah\u2019ve \u2019ed ommaist ivvery bit o\u2019 t\u2019 stuff gi\u2019en ma \u2019at Ah\u2019ve\nmaad t\u2019 clips on, an\u2019 if ivvery prod \u2019at Ah\u2019ve gi\u2019en an\u2019 ivvery clip\n\u2019at Ah\u2019ve cutten war a gowden guinea, it wadn\u2019t mak up foor hauf your\nkindness ti me.\u2019 Oh no, they do not lack gratitude.\n\nThe vicar\u2019s bride had a remark made to her by one of the oldest men in\nthe village, which seemed to her to have a nasty application, but in\nits idiomatic sense it was quite innocent of any such construction;\nand the remark as addressed to the lady was certainly given in its\nidiomatic form. By-and-by she learnt she had been a little hasty in\ncondemning the old fellow. However, to make up for any unkindness on\nher part, she engaged the old man as a sort of anything-you-like about\nthe vicarage. It was not long ere the old chap won a very warm place in\nthe lady\u2019s heart. This was after the arrival of the baby. Every night,\nwhen his work was done, he would say, \u2018Noo then what, Ah\u2019ve deean; bud\nAh mun \u2019ev a leeak at t\u2019 baa\u2019n afoor Ah gan.\u2019 One evening, after this\nsame formula had been gone through, he said, \u2018Noo, Ah\u2019ll tell ya what;\nt\u2019 baa\u2019n\u2019s nut sa varra weel ti-neet, an\u2019 Ah knaw a seet mair aboot\nbabbies \u2019an what you deea. Noo you mun put \u2019t iv a hot bath, an\u2019 then\nhap \u2019t up an\u2019 keep \u2019t varra warm. Noo you mun deea ez Ah\u2019ve tell\u2019d\nya.\u2019 With this admonition he left the vicarage, and, though turned\nseventy-eight years of age, set off at once to trudge seven miles for\na doctor, landing back again about midnight. The doctor assured the\ndelighted mother that, having followed the old man\u2019s advice, and with\nthe remedies he had brought, a severe fit of croup had been staved off.\nOh yes, these blunt country-people have feelings. And they are grateful.\n\nGratitude shows itself in different ways, sometimes in a form of\nself-sacrifice, as in the following, which occurred not so very long\nago. Said a vicar to one of his parishioners\u2014who, by-the-way, was a\nnotorious poacher\u2014\u2018I am very pleased to see you coming to church so\nregularly; very pleased, indeed, William; and I trust that it may lead\nyou to see the error of your past life.\u2019 \u2018Well, Ah wadn\u2019t gan sa far ez\nti saay \u2019at owt o\u2019 that soart\u2019s leykley ti happen, bud Ah s\u2019 cum ti t\u2019\nchetch, for all that.\u2019 \u2018And may I ask the reason for this sudden change\nin your life?\u2019 inquired the parson. \u2018Whya noo, it war i\u2019 this waay. Me\nan\u2019 Luke an\u2019 tweea or three uthers war talking ya ower yah neet i\u2019 t\u2019\nSwan, an\u2019 Luke sed \u2019at he didn\u2019t ho\u2019d wi\u2019 neea parsons \u2019at hunted, an\u2019\nAh sed \u2019at a parson war nowt neea different ti neeabody else, when he\u2019d\nta\u2019en t\u2019 white goon off, an\u2019 \u2018at it maad neea odds whether ya hunted or\nwhether ya didn\u2019t. Bud t\u2019 main on \u2019em seeamed ti ho\u2019d \u2019at ya warn\u2019t\ni\u2019 t\u2019 reet on \u2019t hunting. And seea Ah thowt ti mysen, t\u2019 parson\u2019s\noffens deean me a good to\u2019n, an\u2019 if ther\u2019s gahin to be sike a lot o\u2019\nnarrer-mahnded fau\u2019k i\u2019 t\u2019 village\u2014an\u2019 being a bit of a sportsman\nmysen, ya knaw\u2014wha, Ah sez, noo Ah\u2019ll gan ti chetch if it\u2019s foor nowt\nelse bud ti back ya up a bit, an\u2019 sa Ah cums.\u2019\n\nThe hospitality of the Yorkshire people is so well known, and so\ngenerally admitted by all those who have been recipients of the same,\nthat I purpose just leaving it as an established fact. Still, there\nis one curious offshoot from this generous branch, which needs _en\npassant_ a moment\u2019s consideration.\n\nI once heard a South-country man say, \u2018Yorkshire people give you more\nthan you want at their table, and then beg from you on the doorstep.\u2019\nAnd to those who know nothing of our ways, usages, and customs,\nsuch would almost seem to be the case. Of course, as put by the\nSouth-country man, the statement, if complete, would stamp Yorkshire\nand its people as being rather more than contemptible. But such is not\nthe case, and when the reason for the remark was perfectly sifted,\nthe notion which had got such a firm hold of the speaker was found to\nhave been based on a want of knowledge of the elementary rules which\ngovern the unwritten law of bargaining. Why, pages could be written on\nbargaining, and stories told by the score.\n\nBut when a bargain has been concluded, the money paid, the receipt\ngiven, a substantial meal partaken of, with grog, &c., ad lib., it\nbecomes quite easy to understand the South-country man\u2019s surprise,\non leaving the house, to be asked \u2019ti gi\u2019e summat back foor luck.\u2019\nTo him, not knowing our ways, the transaction was completed; with us\nit was not, and therein lies the difference. It does strike one as\npeculiar to find such marked generosity, when run on certain lines,\nonly to be confronted the next step with some little action which at\nfirst sight looks very much like meanness. But all this misconception\nvanishes if we bear in mind that _hospitality_ and _business_ are never\nmade to clash; they, as it were, occupy separate rooms.\n\nI have a story in my mind which illustrates fully these peculiarities,\nas well as others already mentioned. As it was given to me by his\nlordship, so briefly let me give it to you.\n\nOne day two of a shooting party, his lordship and the Hon. G\u2014\u2014, decided\nto give their guns a rest, and visit an ancient church some six miles\ndistant. They were strongly advised to take a keeper with them, but\nfeeling quite sure they could find their way, started by themselves.\nPossibly they might have succeeded, had not a sea fret and heavy fog\nwrapped the whole moor in a shroud. They were lost, and they knew it.\nFortunately, when quite worn out, they discovered a farm-house; and on\ninquiry they were told that they had wandered much out of their way,\nbeing then quite ten miles from the shooting-box. Too tired to walk\nback, they asked the farmer if he could possibly drive them. \u2018Whya,\nAh c\u2019u\u2019d,\u2019 said he, \u2018bud it\u2019s a langish waay, an\u2019 mah meer\u2019s a bit\ntired; Ah\u2019d ommaist rayther set ya ti wheer you c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t loss yersels.\u2019\nThey, however, declared they were too tired to think of walking, and\noffered him half a sovereign as an inducement. Then the bargaining\npropensity came to the surface. \u2018Haaf a sover\u2019ign!\u2019 said he. \u2018Neea,\nwhat ya\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti mak it fifteen bob.\u2019 To which they assented. During\nthis bargaining, the good wife was spreading the table with abundance\nof food. \u2018Noo then,\u2019 said the good man, \u2018ya mun\u2019 reeach teea an\u2019 mak\nyersens at heeam. Ya\u2019re welcome ti t\u2019 best o\u2019 what wa\u2019ve gitten;\ndeean\u2019t be neyce aboot it, ther\u2019s plenty mair wheer that\u2019s cum\u2019d fra;\nAh\u2019ll cum roond wi\u2019 t\u2019 meer efter a bit.\u2019 When they were ready for\ndeparture, one of them inquired how much they were indebted for their\nsplendid repast. To which the farmer, in characteristic fashion, made\nanswer: \u2018What wa\u2019ve gi\u2019en ya, wa\u2019ve gi\u2019en ya, an\u2019 ya\u2019re welcome ti\n\u2019t; drhaaving ya ti t\u2019 shutting-box war a bargain, an\u2019 anuther thing\naltigither, an\u2019 ther\u2019s nowt aboot that.\u2019 And not a penny piece could\neither be prevailed upon to receive for their hospitality.\n\nJust one other story, which illustrates the same propensity for\nbargaining. A hamper containing a dead \u2018pricky-back otch\u2019n,\u2019 with one\nshilling carriage to pay, was delivered to one Pettigrew; by some means\nhe found out that the hamper had been the property of a friend of his,\nnamed Tom Scott. But Scott declared on his word of honour that he was\ninnocent of the whole transaction. Unfortunately, Pettigrew did not\nbelieve him, in consequence of which a coolness sprang up, which lasted\nfor two years. At the expiration of that time, Pettigrew met Scott one\nmarket-day. \u2018Whya, noo then,\u2019 said he, \u2018they tell ma \u2019at thoo\u2019s gahin\nti wed mah cousin Martha; is \u2019t trew?\u2019 \u2018Aye, it\u2019s trew hard eneeaf, Ah\nis, hooivver,\u2019 acknowledged Scott. \u2018Whya, then thoo knaws thee an\u2019 me\nowtn\u2019t ti be at loggerheeads when t\u2019 ane\u2019s gahin ti be related ti t\u2019\nither; owt wa, noo?\u2019 \u2018Neea, bud thoo knaws \u2019at it\u2019s neea fau\u2019t o\u2019 mahn;\nAh\u2019ve nowt agaan tha, thoo knaws,\u2019 said Scott.\n\n\u2018Wha, bud Ah\u2019d gert call ti blaam tha; thoo\u2019ll awn ti t\u2019 hamper,\nweean\u2019t ta?\u2019 \u2018Aye, Ah nivver, \u2019at Ah mahnd on, ivver tried ti disawn\n\u2019t. What mud Ah foor? Sumboddy stowl \u2019t; Ah c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t help that, onny\nroad, c\u2019u\u2019d Ah?\u2019\n\n\u2018Then thoo\u2019d nowt i\u2019 t\u2019 wo\u2019lld ti deea wi\u2019 t\u2019 pricky-back otch\u2019n?\u2019\n\u2018Ah\u2019ve tell\u2019d tha ower an\u2019 up agaan i\u2019 tahms back \u2019at Ah\u2019d nivver\nnowt i\u2019 noa waay whatsoivver owt ti deea wi\u2019 t\u2019 otch\u2019n,\u2019 said Scott,\nemphatically.\n\n\u2018Whya, thoo knaws \u2019at Ah \u2019ed a shilling ti pay for \u2019t cuming; what\u2019s\ngahin ti be deean aboot that, then?\u2019 \u2018Whya, thoo dizn\u2019t leeak ti me for\n\u2019t, diz ta?\u2019 \u2018Whya, Ah war that oot o\u2019 pocket, an\u2019 it war thi hamper\n\u2019at it cam in hard eneeaf.\u2019 \u2018Aye, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tell tha what, thoo\u2019s\nnivver let ma \u2019a\u2019e \u2019t back agaan; bud nivver mahnd, thoo mun keep t\u2019\nhamper, an\u2019 wa\u2019ll lap t\u2019 job up that waay,\u2019 magnanimously offered Scott.\n\n\u2018Ah see \u2019at Ah\u2019s boun ti be oot o\u2019 pocket wi\u2019 t\u2019 otch\u2019n,\u2019 persisted\nPettigrew, \u2018bud Ah\u2019ll tell tha what, thoo mun stan\u2019 uz a glass foor\nfriendship\u2019s sake.\u2019 \u2018Whya, noo then, ez Ah\u2019s gahin ti wed thi cusin\nMartha, cu\u2019 thi waay.\u2019 And so the matter was settled.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER V\n\n WIT AND CHARACTER\u2014_continued_\n\n\nI purpose devoting this chapter to stories which in themselves are\ngood examples, embracing, as they do, many phases of Yorkshire\ncharacter. With the exception of the first two or three, they will be\ngiven regardless of classification. But these two or three do need\njust a word. Our country-people, in their own way, hold in sincere\nveneration all spiritual teaching; but don\u2019t look for too much. Bear\nin mind, superstition dies hard, and in judging them on this head, it\nis well to keep to the forefront the fact that in religion, as well\nas in everything else, they cling to much which their grandmothers\nbelieved before them, just as they speak of their parents as \u2018t\u2019 au\u2019d\nfau\u2019k,\u2019 without in the least being disrespectful. So, without the least\nintention of being irreverent, the Deity is often addressed and spoken\nof in a manner which would shock the ears of many. \u2018Ah wadn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e\ndeean that if Ah\u2019d been Him,\u2019 said an old dame, after hearing how the\nIsraelites had been punished by God\u2019s vengeance. \u2018He owt ti \u2019a\u2019e letten\n\u2019em off that tahm,\u2019 was her concluding remark. It was her opinion, and\nshe freely gave it. The Deity being spoken of as \u2018Him\u2019 and \u2018He,\u2019 was\nas natural to the old lady as it would have been for us to say \u2018the\nLord.\u2019 Anyway, for real piety, I for one make my bow to the old dame.\n\nAgain, they have a way of materializing the most spiritual things.\nTo them, heaven is nothing more than a big, beautiful city, which\nthey have to try their best to get into, and having managed to do so,\nthey are safe for ever. Doubtlessly they picture it sunnier, purer,\nand altogether more delightful than any place they have ever seen or\nheard of. But to them it is just a city. Certainly this applies more\nespecially to the older people in our dales; the rising generation are\nlearning different, but it will be long before they altogether leave\nthe old and beaten track. And may it be so, for, after all, their\nreligion is to them a very real and tangible thing. It is something\nwhich in these days of higher criticism many of us are letting slip\nfrom us. When reading the following stories, it should be borne in mind\nwhy they are given, and just what I wish to illustrate.\n\nA clergyman having asked an old dying woman if she were quite happy,\nreceived this reply: \u2018Neea, that Ah isn\u2019t. Ah\u2019s boun to dee, an\u2019 Ah\ns\u2019 gan ti heaven, an\u2019 it\u2019s that what\u2019s boddering ma. Nut gahin ti\nheaven\u2014Ah deean\u2019t meean that\u2014bud t\u2019 music,\u2019 said she, emphatically.\n\u2018Ya see, Ah\u2019ve nivver larnt nowt o\u2019 music; Ah knaw nowt aboot it, an\u2019\nif tha start ma off wiv owther a harp or a dulcima, Ah s\u2019all mak nowt\nbud a laughing-stock o\u2019 mysel, for Ah can nowther tune ner scrat on\n\u2019em. Noo, if \u2019t c\u2019u\u2019d be \u2019ranged foor ma ti tak care o\u2019 yan o\u2019 t\u2019 angel\nbabbies, Ah s\u2019u\u2019d be ez reet ez ninepins, foor Ah allus did git on wi\u2019\nchilder, an\u2019 Ah\u2019d fetch it up a pattern, an\u2019 Ah\u2019d promise nivver ti\nslap it; onny road, Ah s\u2019all mak nowt ow \u2019t wiv a dulcima.\u2019\n\nThe village artist was dying; he had painted three out of the four\nvillage signs, he had executed the scrollwork for every church\ndecoration for years past, and there was in his house an imitation\nmarble mantelpiece, which he had yearned to show every one. The\nclergyman was about to leave him, but before doing so, asked if he\nshould pray. \u2018Aye, aye,\u2019 said the dying man, \u2018and ez mebbe this\u2019ll be\nt\u2019 last tahm \u2019at ya will pray foor ma, Ah s\u2019u\u2019d be glad if ya\u2019d mention\n\u2019at Ah\u2019s a good hand at decorating; it\u2019ll mebbe help yan a bit.\u2019\n\nOld Matthew was a well-known character. For years both he and his old\ndame lived in a little cottage near Newton-under-Rosebery. When on\nhis death-bed, a lady, after reading to him, said, \u2018And after all I\nhave read and told you, Matthew, heaven is more beautiful than you can\npossibly imagine; you might lie and call to mind all the beautiful\nthings you have either seen or dreamt of, and even then you would not\nhave the least idea what heaven is like.\u2019 To say the least, she was\nsomewhat surprised when the old man, gently patting her hand, said in\na whisper, \u2018Ya mebbe deean\u2019t knaw \u2019at Ah yance seed Leeds pantomine;\nthat gave yan a inkling.\u2019 N.B.\u2014The Yorkshire people always pronounce\n\u2018pantomime\u2019 as spelt above.\n\nOld Bessy, who lived in an old house near Kildale, was very near the\nborderland. The clergyman found her quite happy and reconciled, and on\nleaving her (he was going away for some time), said, \u2018Well, goodbye,\nBessy; I may never see you on earth again, but I shall hope to meet you\nin heaven.\u2019 \u2018Aye, an\u2019 Ah s\u2019 leeak oot for ya cuming; an\u2019 deean\u2019t forgit\n\u2019at neean on uz is nowt na different up yonder, so you maun\u2019t git yer\nback up if Ah just shak ya byv t\u2019 han\u2019, an\u2019 saay, famil\u2019ar leyke, \u2019at\nAh\u2019s glad ti see \u2019at ya\u2019ve mannished it.\u2019\n\nThe rest of this chapter is merely a collection of Yorkshire stories,\nwhich I think should not be lost, and which I leave to the perspicuity\nof my readers, who doubtless, without any hints from me, will grasp the\nmany different phases of character contained therein.\n\nThe tire had come off the cart wheel, and the Tyke was in a bit of a\nfix; shortly afterwards a cyclist drew up, and dismounting, remarked,\n\u2018Punctchard. Can I lend you my pump?\u2019 and then burst out laughing\nat the man\u2019s dilemma and his own wit. \u2018Punctchard? neea, Ah isn\u2019t\npunctchard,\u2019 retorted the Tyke, in fairly good imitation of the\nwould-be wit. \u2018An\u2019 thoo can stick ti thi pump; bud Ah deean\u2019t knaw what\nthoo wants it fer, fer thoo\u2019d be all t\u2019 better if thoo war punctchard\nthisen a larl bit; it \u2019ud let sum o\u2019 thi gas oot, foor thoo\u2019s ommaist\nbrussen wi\u2019 \u2018t.\u2019 And then he set to work to replace the tyre, as though\nno cyclist had appeared upon the scene.\n\nSeveral rustics were admiring two brand-new machines, whilst the owners\n(a lady and gentleman) regaled themselves in the village pub. When\nabout to start on their journey again, the young fellow, taking stock\nof the group, and, as he thought, seeing good material for a joke,\nsaid, \u2018Admiring our machines?\u2019 and then, nudging his fair companion,\ncontinued, \u2018These are the very latest; they can either be used as\ncycles, musical boxes, or garden mowers. I only have to turn a screw,\nthat\u2019s all. Clever, aren\u2019t they?\u2019 \u2018Aye!\u2019 said one of the group, looking\nas if he had swallowed every word just uttered. \u2018It\u2019s wunnerful what\nthey\u2019ve gitten \u2019em ti deea noo; my weyfe\u2019s gitten yan \u2019at gans wiv a\ncan an\u2019 milks t\u2019 coos all byv itsen.\u2019 Then those two proceeded on their\njourney.\n\nThere had been a terrific thunderstorm, lasting most of the night.\nTalking the matter over next day, one said, \u2018Did ta ivver hear owt\nti cum up tul \u2019t?\u2019 \u2018Naay, it gav mah a to\u2019n yance or twice. What diz\nta mak on\u2019t?\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s t\u2019 aliments\u2019 (elements), \u2019thoo knaws; it\u2019s t\u2019\naliments.\u2019 \u2018Aye, thoo\u2019s reet, it\u2019ll be t\u2019 aliments; bud, Ah saay, it\nsets yan on ti think.\u2019 \u2018It diz, an\u2019 all; just eftther that despert lood\ncrack cam, Ah thowt ti mysen, it\u2019s gahin ti be all owered wiv uz; an\u2019\nfoor a larl bit Ah wished \u2019at Ah\u2019d ta\u2019en Tom\u2019s bid foor t\u2019 colt.\u2019\n\nA delightful gathering had taken place at the rectory, followed by a\nmost sumptuous tea. The people had come to celebrate the home-coming of\nthe rector and his bride (a very dear South-country lady). After tea,\nthe bride, speaking to an old fellow, said, \u2018I hope you have enjoyed\nyourself?\u2019 To which kind inquiry he promptly replied, \u2018Whya noo, Ah\u2019ve\nbeen at monny a warse do ner this\u2014Ah \u2019ev that.\u2019 This really was the\nvery highest praise he could possibly have given. The bride, somewhat\nannoyed at what she considered the ingratitude of the man, turned to\nan old dame she saw walking down the drive. \u2018Have you tired yourself?\u2019\nshe kindly inquired. \u2018Tired mysen? Neea, Ah\u2019ve nut tired mysen. Ah\n\u2019edn\u2019t need git mysen tew\u2019d at a do leyke this. Ah\u2019s nut tired, bud\nAh\u2019s gahin yam. Ah wad \u2019a\u2019e stopped on ti t\u2019 end, bud ther\u2019s that monny\nflees aboot t\u2019 pleeace, whahl yan dizn\u2019t knaw what ti deea wi\u2019 yan\u2019s\nsen, an\u2019 sae Ah\u2019s foor off.\u2019 The only thing which had been made at all\nclear to the bride was that the old lady complained of being troubled\nwith fleas, which she found too many for her. \u2018Fleas!\u2019 said she; \u2018I\nfeel sure you are mistaken.\u2019 To which the old lady made this reply:\n\u2018Noa, Ah\u2019s nut; but Ah deean\u2019t meean fleas \u2019at\u2019s fleas, bud flees \u2019at\nflee\u2019 (flies that fly), leaving the rector\u2019s wife more bewildered than\never.\n\nA new-comer related to those assembled in the village bar a most\nmarvellous story of an accident from which his son had just\nrecovered. If anything, it erred on the side of being just a trifle\ntoo marvellous. Several said, \u2018How wonderful!\u2019 but there was one man\nsitting in the far corner, and spake he never a word. \u2018Perhaps you\ndoubt my story?\u2019 ventured the narrator. \u2018Nut Ah. Ah\u2019ve neea call ti\ndoot owt \u2019at ya\u2019ve tell\u2019d uz, foor yance yan o\u2019 mah lads swaller\u2019d a\npin, an\u2019 ya can tak mah wo\u2019d for \u2019t, bud i\u2019 less \u2019an a month eftther it\ncam oot o\u2019 t\u2019 back ov his brother\u2019s neck. That\u2019ll match your taal onny\ndaay.\u2019\n\nThe following conversation between two old mothers was overheard by a\nclergyman who happened to be travelling in the same compartment of the\ntrain. Said one to the other, \u2018Whya, noo then, wa\u2019ve gitten him sahded\nby.\u2019 \u2018Aye, wa \u2019ev,\u2019 sighed the other; \u2018Ah\u2019ve knawn him ivver sin he\nwar a lad.\u2019 \u2018Thoo \u2019ez, an\u2019 what thoo knaws \u2019at Ah went ti skeeal wiv\nhim?\u2019 \u2018Aye, thoo did,\u2019 said her friend; \u2018Ah\u2019d forgitten that. Ah saay,\nMary, what a beautiful corpse he maad\u2014sae still an\u2019 sae quiet, bud they\nmaistly are.\u2019 \u2018Aye, aye,\u2019 said Mary, slowly adding, \u2018bud what a tea it\nwar; Ah\u2019ve nivver been at sike an a-sitting doon i\u2019 mah leyfe; ther\nwar nowt bud tea-cakes, an\u2019 badly buttered at that. Noo Ah\u2019ve sahded\nfahve o\u2019 my awn, bud thank the Lord Ah buried \u2019em all wi\u2019 ham,\u2019 which\nwas a sign not only of great respectability, but as having shown proper\nrespect to the dead.\n\nTaking my seat in a third-class carriage at Malton, two men and a woman\njoined me, and much edified by their conversation I was. They commenced\ndiscussing the merits of an entertainment which had been given the\nnight previous in one of the villages in the neighbourhood. I gathered\nfrom their remarks that Lady M\u2014\u2014 and the Hon. Mrs. B\u2014\u2014 had taken an\nactive part in organizing the same. However, for the moment, Lady M\u2014\u2014\nwas very freely discussed. The woman had possession of the carriage,\nand almost without drawing breath said, \u2018Noo, sha\u2019s a grand un, is t\u2019\nau\u2019d leddy; sha\u2019s gam foor owt. Mah songs, Ah nivver cam across t\u2019\nleykes on her onnywheear else; bud ther isn\u2019t sike anuther onnywheear\naboot here, an\u2019 Ah knaw summat aboot t\u2019 maist on \u2019em. Sha\u2019s nut yan o\u2019\ntheease twopenny-haupenny upstarts \u2019at dizn\u2019t knaw what\u2019s matter wiv\n\u2019em hauf ther tahm. Aye, sha\u2019s a grand un, is t\u2019 au\u2019d leddy.\u2019 \u2018Aye, sha\nis,\u2019 joined in one of the men, as the woman ceased for want of breath.\n\u2018An\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tell ya what, that au\u2019dist lad ov hers isn\u2019t a bad un, an\u2019\nAh meean ti saay \u2019at his lordship can rear poultry \u2019at neean on \u2019em\ncan touch aboot here; noo, he can. He\u2019s a rare han\u2019 wi\u2019 bo\u2019ds, is his\nlordship.\u2019 \u2018Him rear poultry!\u2019 burst in the woman. \u2018Him rear poultry!\u2019\nshe repeated, with ineffable scorn; and then, slowly and emphatically\n(you, who are Yorkshire people, know exactly what I mean), she added,\n\u2018Ah meean ti saay \u2019at t\u2019 au\u2019d leddy can mak a hen lay mair eggs \u2019an\nonny man, woman, or bairn i\u2019 this countrysahd; an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tell ya what,\nif tha deean\u2019t gi\u2019e her yan o\u2019 t\u2019 best harps ti plaay on when sha dees\nan\u2019 gans ti heaven, Ah\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e nowt ti deea wi\u2019 \u2018t.\u2019\n\nA vicar once asked his sexton what he thought of the previous Sunday\u2019s\npreacher. The pulpit had been occupied on that occasion by a clergyman\nwhose oratorical powers are pretty widely known, but whose sermon had\nbeen quite over the heads of his congregation on that particular day.\nThe reply the vicar got was certainly to the point. \u2018Whya, Ah wadn\u2019t\nsaay bud what mebbe you mud larn summat fra what he tell\u2019d uz, acoz\nther\u2019s neea doot \u2019at he war varra far larnt; bud ez foor me, an\u2019 t\u2019\nlikes o\u2019 me, wa\u2019d reyther sit an\u2019 lissen ti t\u2019 saam au\u2019d ditties fra\nyou \u2019at wa\u2019ve heeard ower an\u2019 up agaan. Aye, that wa wad; ya see, wa\nknaw what\u2019s cuming.\u2019\n\nA neighbour\u2019s third wife lay dead. Said a dame to the husband, \u2018Mary\u2019s\ngone! Dear me, hoo sum fau\u2019k diz \u2019ev bad luck; thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti gan ti\nt\u2019 burying, hooivver.\u2019 \u2018Naay,\u2019 said the husband, \u2018Ah deean\u2019t think \u2019at\nAh s\u2019all gan this tahm; Ah went ti t\u2019 tother tweea\u2014they\u2019ll \u2018 ti mannish\nbidoot ma this tahm.\u2019 \u2018Naay, what, thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti gan, hooivver; it\u2019ll\nnivver deea eftther seeing t\u2019 other tweea sahded by, nut ti gan ti t\u2019\ntho\u2019d un. Whativver maks tha think \u2019at thoo weean\u2019t gan?\u2019 \u2018Whya, thoo\nsees, it\u2019s ez thoo sez, Ah\u2019ve seen tweea on \u2019em sahded by, an\u2019 Ah think\n\u2019at it leeaks a bit greedy ti gan ti t\u2019 tho\u2019d un. Thoo sees, up ti noo\nAh\u2019ve nivver been yabble ti return t\u2019 compliment, an\u2019 Ah deean\u2019t leyke\nti put on a chap, an\u2019 Ah s\u2019aan\u2019t gan.\u2019\n\nA good dame found her husband lying on the chamber floor. \u2018Whativver\nis ta deeaing, ligging on t\u2019 cham\u2019er fleear foor?\u2019 \u2018Aa, lass,\u2019 the old\nchap groaned, \u2018Ah thowt Ah war boun ti dee; Ah did, hooivver. If ivver\nAh\u2019s ta\u2019en leyke that agaan, Ah s\u2019aan\u2019t cum round na mair; thoo\u2019ll\nfinnd ma deead wheear Ah tumm\u2019ls.\u2019 \u2018Whya, let\u2019s get tha inti bed, an\u2019\nAh\u2019ll fetch tha a basin o\u2019 gruel up; an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll put t\u2019 au\u2019d stick byv t\u2019\nsahd o\u2019 t\u2019 bed, an\u2019 thoo mun think on \u2019at thoo mun thump on t\u2019 fleear\nif thoo\u2019s ta\u2019en queer agaan; whativver thoo diz, noo, thoo maun\u2019t dee\nunbeknawn. It\u2019s varra inconsiderate o\u2019 fau\u2019k ti tak thersens off i\u2019\nthat waay,\u2019 said the wife, bustling about. \u2018Bud thoo knaws yan caan\u2019t\nhelp \u2019t,\u2019 said the old chap. \u2018Whya, thoo mun deea thi best, an\u2019 bear\ni\u2019 mahnd what a tideea ther wad \u2019a\u2019e been if Ah\u2019d happened ti finnd\ntha deead on t\u2019 fleear. Crowner wad \u2019ev \u2019ed ti cum\u2019d, an\u2019 all t\u2019 jury\nchaps gahin in an\u2019 oot ez if t\u2019 pleeace warn\u2019t yan\u2019s awn, an\u2019 leykly\neneeaf afoor yan \u2019ed gitten tidied up, an\u2019 then Ah s\u2019u\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e \u2019ed t\u2019\nbobby fussing aboot an\u2019 assing all manner o\u2019 quessions, an\u2019 Ah deean\u2019t\nknaw what else. Noo, thoo mauh\u2019t let ma in foor a gahin-on leyke that.\nAh\u2019ve putten tha t\u2019 stick handy, seea mahnd thoo dizn\u2019t drop off bidoot\ngi\u2019ing yan warning. It weean\u2019t tew tha mich ti thump on t\u2019 fleear, an\u2019\nthen Ah\u2019ll be up iv a crack. Noo, deean\u2019t forgit thoo \u2019ezn\u2019t ti dee\nbidoot thumping.\u2019\n\nOld Sally was dying. On being asked by the vicar if she felt quite\nhappy, the old lady said, with great unction, \u2018Oh yes, Ah s\u2019all seean\nbe iv Jacob\u2019s bosom.\u2019 \u2018Abraham\u2019s bosom, Sally,\u2019 corrected the vicar.\n\u2018Aye, well, mebbe it is, bud if you\u2019d been unmarried for sixty-fahve\nyear, leyke what Ah \u2019ev, ya wudn\u2019t be particular wheeas bosom it war,\nseea lang ez ya gat inti sumbody\u2019s.\u2019\n\nA good story is told in Gloucestershire, which is a fair example that\nYorkshiremen are credited with being able to take care of themselves by\nthose of other counties. An ostler at one of the inns in that county in\na general way managed to draw a tip from all who put up, even from one\nor two chaps who were well known as being very greedy. Said a gentleman\none day to the ostler, who had just led out of the yard the horse and\ntrap of one of these penurious old chaps, \u2018Did you manage to drag a tip\nout of him?\u2019 \u2018Aye,\u2019 said the ostler, \u2018he awlus gi\u2019es ma summat, bud it\nommaist brecks his heart ivvery tahm he gans away.\u2019 \u2018Yorkshire, are you\nnot?\u2019 questioned the gentleman. \u2018Aye, Ah\u2019s Yorkshire hard eneeaf,\u2019 was\nthe characteristic reply. \u2018Why,\u2019 said the questioner, with a smile,\n\u2018I am a bit surprised, seeing that you have been here so long, that\nthe whole place doesn\u2019t belong to you.\u2019 To which, with a twinkle in\nhis eye, the ostler replied, \u2018It mebbe wad \u2019a\u2019e deean afoor noo, if my\nmaister \u2019edn\u2019t been Yorkshire an\u2019 all.\u2019\n\nA story is told of two Yorkshire Tykes bargaining\u2014of course this was a\ncase of \u2019when Greek meets Greek.\u2019 Said one, \u2018Whya, noo then, John, what\ndiz ta think if wa mak a unseen swap on \u2019t? Thoo \u2019ezn\u2019t seen mah meer,\nan\u2019 Ah \u2019evn\u2019t seen tha cob; bud Ah knaw \u2019at thoo awlus leyked t\u2019 meer,\nan\u2019 Ah\u2019ve awlus \u2019ed a bit ov a leaning ti t\u2019 cob, an\u2019 wa\u2019ve knawn t\u2019\nane t\u2019 ither foor a lang whahl\u2014noo, what diz ta saay?\u2019 \u2018Whya noo, ez\nthoo sez wa\u2019ve knawn t\u2019 ane t\u2019 ither ivver sen wa war lads, an\u2019 ez thoo\n\u2019ezn\u2019t seen t\u2019 cob an\u2019 Ah \u2019evn\u2019t seen t\u2019 meer, whya, thoo mun ho\u2019d the\nhan\u2019 oot.\u2019 And so the bargain was struck. Then said one to the other,\n\u2018Whya, it\u2019s owered noo. Ther\u2019s neea backing oot fra t\u2019 bargain noo,\nbud Ah aim \u2019at thoo war a larl bit ti keen. Thoo sees it\u2019s leyke this:\nt\u2019 meer\u2019s geean that deead laam, \u2019at Ah deean\u2019t think \u2019at sha\u2019ll ivver\ngan agaan,\u2019 \u2018Oha, why, nivver mahnd,\u2019 said the other; \u2018t\u2019 cob\u2019s deead\naltigither, an\u2019 flayed.\u2019\n\nIn the preceding five chapters, I have striven to give you some insight\ninto the character of our people. This, however, has not been my only\naim. I have endeavoured\u2014and shall continue to do so\u2014to put the dialect\nin such a way as to be easily mastered by my readers, even should they\nbe strangers to our county.\n\nPlease bear in mind that the North and East Ridings dialectically are\nthe same. Certainly some few words have been retained or dropped, as\nthe case may be, in each Riding, but the pronunciation is identical,\nor at least almost so. These remarks, however, do not hold good when\napplied to the West Riding. Ripon (my native place) and Leeds are not\nvery far distant, only twenty-six miles. Ripon, although in the West\nRiding, is to all intents dialectically in the North, but by the time\nyou have travelled the twenty-six miles all is changed\u2014you have as it\nwere crossed the line.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER VI\n\n CUSTOMS OF THE YEAR AND FOLKLORE\n\n\nCustom and folklore are so interwoven that it is quite impossible to\nwrite of them separately. The North Riding to-day is _par excellence_\nthe home of both. This is easily accounted for. Many of the dales\nare far removed from the varied influences of the outer world; they\nare little communities; they belong to themselves. Many of the older\npeople have never seen a locomotive. It is in and about such places the\nstudent may gather a rich harvest of folklore, always remembering that\nany given area is not the whole of the riding, much less of Yorkshire.\nI mention this because a custom, superstition, or peculiarity of\ndialect, which may still flourish in one dale, may be quite unknown in\nsome other part of the riding. Bear in mind the riding, within a very\nfew miles, stretches from the North Sea to St. George\u2019s Channel; so\nit will be readily conceived that over such an extensive area, much\nof which is sparsely populated and not easy of access, custom and\nsuperstition still go hand in hand.\n\nOur greatest observance of custom is, as it should be, in connexion\nwith Christmastide; indeed preparation for the same really commences\nsome weeks in advance. There is the pudding to make and partly boil;\nall the ingredients for the plum-cake to order; the mincemeat to\nprepare for the mince-pies; the goose to choose from some neighbouring\nfarmer\u2019s stock; the cheese to buy and the wheat to have the hullins\nbeaten off, and to cree, for the all-important frumenty; the yule-cakes\nor pepper-cake to make; the hollin to gather; the mistletoe and Santa\nClaus presents to buy for the little folk\u2019s stockings; the old yule\nlog and a new one to see after, as well as the yule candles. Even long\nbefore these various duties have been taken in hand, children nightly\nsing their Christmas carols on our doorstep, reminding us the great\nevent of the year is fast approaching, when peace and good will should\nbe extended to all men. The \u2019vessel-cups\u2019 (i.e. wassail-cup) still come\nround, with their doll in a box, decked out as the Virgin Mary, lying\nin pink cotton-wool and evergreens. Some of these vessel-cups are in\ntheir way quite little works of art. I remember (up to the time I left\nGuisborough five years ago) Lavinia Leather travelled every year all\nthe way from the other side of Leeds, to sing the vessel-cup throughout\nthat part of Cleveland. As my wife had known the old body for many\nyears, we always had a call. There was no mistaking the advent of\nChristmas, when, after unceremoniously opening the door, the old lady\ncommenced saying,\u2014\n\n God bless t\u2019 maaster of this hoos,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 mis-ter-ess also,\n An\u2019 all yer lahtle bonny bairns\n \u2018At round yer table go!\n\n Fer it is at this tahm\n Straangers travel far an\u2019 near.\n Seea Ah wish ya a merry Kessamas\n An\u2019 a happy New \u2018Ear.\n\nBut the days speed on, until there comes a night when the charred\nremains of last year\u2019s yule log glow with heat intense beneath the one\nof that year\u2019s cutting; for the new log must always rest upon and be\nlighted by the old one, which has been carefully stored away for this,\nthe night of nights\u2014Christmas Eve. The lads have kissed the lasses\nunder the mistletoe, fashioned out of two hoops bedecked with holly,\noranges, and apples, and with a bunch of the mystic white berries\nglistening beneath. Every picture-frame, ornament, and everywhere,\nwhere a sprig of holly would remain, has had the dark green leaves and\nred berries thrust into or behind it. The old folk clasp each other\u2019s\nhands, knowingly nodding their heads the while, \u2018for they remember,\u2019\nand, remembering, note the flashing eyes and whispered nothings,\nsweet and low, of those whose horizon for the present is illumined\nwith love, with never a cloud in sight. Shrieks of laughter loud and\nhilarious from the younger branches ring from basement to roof, almost\ndeafening the \u2019au\u2019d fau\u2019k,\u2019 but a smile lights up their wrinkled faces\nas they remember. By-and-by, the magic words uttered by the maid, \u2018T\u2019\nfrummety\u2019s riddy,\u2019 results in a rush for the dining-room or kitchen,\nas the case may be. But first the yule candle must be lighted by the\nmaster of the house. This must be done from a piece of the candle\nsaved from the year previous; it too must be lighted from the blaze\nof the yule log, and on no account must anything be lighted from it.\nThat would be as unlucky as giving or receiving a light on Christmas\nDay. Next, a cross must be scraped on the top of the uncut cheese, and\nthen, after having wished the guests assembled \u2018A merry Christmas,\u2019\nthe frumenty may be attacked. And very palatable is the creed-wheat\nwhen boiled in milk, thickened with \u2019lithing,\u2019 seasoned with nutmeg\nand cloves, and sweetened with treacle. After this there are the\nyule-cakes, one for each person, with a dice of cheese and a glass of\nmulled ale or hot elder-berry wine.\n\nBy-and-by the younger ones are packed off to bed, and with us, as\nthe world over, their stockings are hung at the bed-foot to await\nthe mysterious visit of Santa Claus. It may be the sword-dancers are\nannounced; if so, their quaint performance is gone through, they are\nserved with \u2019summat to keep \u2019em warm\u2019 and a few coppers, and they\ndepart for pastures new[3]. Some maiden mayhap has retired to her\nchamber with a leaf and a berry plucked from the mistletoe under\nwhich she has been saluted. Having locked her door, the berry must be\nswallowed, whilst on the leaf she will prick the initials of him her\nheart loves best; this she will stitch in the inside of her corset, so\nthat it rest near her heart, and thus bind his love to her so long as\nthere it remains.\n\nIn the early hours of the morning the waits will arrive, and tunefully\nor otherwise sing \u2018Christians, awake,\u2019 and, unless precautions are\ntaken to stuff the bell with paper and fasten down the knocker, there\nwill be no sleep after five o\u2019clock; for the children, in their\neagerness to catch the early worm, follow one another without a\nmoment\u2019s rest, singing loudly through your key-hole one or other of\ntheir Christmas greetings, as\u2014\n\n I wish ya a merry Kessamas\n An\u2019 a happy New \u2018Ear,\n A poss (purse) full o\u2019 money\n An\u2019 a barrel full o\u2019 beer,\n A good fat pig\n \u2018At\u2019ll sarve ya thruff t\u2019 year,\n An\u2019 pleease will ya gi\u2019e ma\n My Kessamas box.\n\nGentle and simple herald Christmas morn[4] with kindly greetings, \u2018A\nmerry Christmas to you,\u2019 as they pass. And oh the parties, night after\nnight, the games, postman\u2019s knock, hunting the slipper, spinning the\ntrencher, cushion dance, forfeits, &c.! Aye, but we knew how to enjoy\nourselves when I was a lad, and in many of our dales to-day Christmas\nis Christmas still, with all the old observances treasured; aye, and\nthe old old games too. Amidst such scenes one is apt to forget that the\nhair is turning grey at the sides, and easy to brush on the crown.\n\nThe Christmas dinner with its sirloin, turkey, or goose, followed by\nthe rich plum-pudding and mince-pies, in a greater or less degree,\nis indulged in by all. Go where you may on and after Christmas\nDay, either plum or pepper cake (a rich kind of gingerbread), or\nspice-cake (a cheaper form of plum-cake) and cheese, will be found\nupon the sideboard or table. \u2018Ya mun \u2019ev a bit o\u2019 keeak an\u2019 cheese,\nhooivver,\u2019 say the country folk almost before you are seated. And be it\nremembered, for every cake and cheese you taste one more happy month is\nadded to your life.\n\nOn St. Stephen\u2019s Eve maybe some will pay a visit to the \u2019coo byre\u2019 in\nthe hope of seeing the oxen kneel, for the quaint notion still lives\nthat on this eve the oxen kneel in their stalls in commemoration of the\nmartyr\u2019s death.\n\nOn New Year\u2019s Eve it is customary to eat the remains of the frumenty\nleft from Christmas Eve. This being finished, none other will be made\nuntil the festive season comes round again. The older people always\nwatch the old year out and the new year in, which is made known by the\nringing of the church bells, and the loud knocking at your door of the\n\u2018first foot or lucky bird.\u2019 This happens immediately on the last stroke\nof twelve. This first foot to cross your threshold\u2014for none must go\nout until the first foot has come in\u2014must be a man or boy with dark\nhair. Such only can bring luck to the household; for should he have\nlight hair, he would not be admitted, for he could only bring dire and\ndisastrous results.\n\nThe same clamorous singing as on Christmas Day commences just as early\non New Year\u2019s morn, greetings for the new year are as freely given, and\nthe festive season itself lasts pretty well on towards the middle of\nthe month.\n\nThe dumb-cake is yet made\u2014of which more hereafter\u2014whilst other rites,\nceremonies, and charms are still indulged in by the buxom lasses of the\nriding.\n\nBy due observance of certain ritual performed on the eve of St. Agnes,\na maiden might have a vision of her future spouse.\n\nVery often, however, difficulties of no light kind had to be overcome,\nbefore the ritual could be carried out in its entirety. And in some\ncases, to my thinking, the maiden would need nerves of iron, and the\nsupple limbs of an acrobat, before she would be able to accomplish the\ndemands made upon her.\n\nTake for example the following, which was given to me by an old lady in\nRosedale:\u2014At midnight on the eve of St. Agnes, a maiden must pluck from\nthe grave of a bachelor a blade of grass, walk backward from the grave\nto the church gate, and then hurry to her bed-chamber. Safely there,\nshe had to lock her door, hanging the key on a nail outside the window,\nthen undress herself; but\u2014and here comes the difficulty\u2014her various\ngarments had to be removed in the same order as they had been put on,\nthat is, that which she had donned first must be taken off first. This\nmust have been a feat requiring great agility and no little patience,\nexceeding by a long way the task of skinning an eel in the dark. No\ndoubt everything would be worn very loosely that day, and any undue\nexertion must have rendered such a maid liable any moment to assume the\ncondition of a statue. Of one thing I am absolutely certain: did the\nmaid accomplish the feat so far as her skirts and other items of her\napparel are concerned, she would have to sleep with her boots on, for\nher stockings would present a problem which jeers at the senile efforts\nof the Sphinx. But, having performed the said ritual so far, it only\nremained for her to wrap the blade of grass in a clean sheet of paper,\nplace it under her pillow, leave a burning candle near the window, and\nretire to rest, when presently she would see the man who was to be her\nhusband open the window, look in, throw the key into the room, close\nthe window, and depart. Where the chamber was on the ground floor,\nor ladders were handy, I can well understand this ritual would often\nsucceed.\n\nMaidens, however, may have a vision of their future lord and master(?)\nwithout the necessity of almost dislocating their joints. For I find\nat the present time it is only needful, on the day of the eve of St.\nAgnes, to fast from the time of rising, only eating a little stale\nbread and drinking parsley tea. On retiring to rest, remake your bed,\nputting thereon clean sheets and pillow-cases, remembering to repeat as\nyou lay on each cover the following:\u2014\n\n St. Agnes, I pray unto thee,\n I, a maid, would married be,\n So thou my husband show to me.\n\nRetire to rest, sleeping by yourself, and you will see the man you will\nmarry in a dream. Should you awake, my advice is\u2014having seen the future\nhusband, get up and have a good supper; parsley tea and stale bread\nfor a day is not satisfying. There are other forms of the same charm,\ndiffering only in minor details.\n\nThe making of the dumb-cake, however, differs only in one particular\nthroughout the riding. Some hold that those engaged in its preparation\nmust stand on something upon which they have never stood before, no\ntwo persons standing on a similar thing, e.g. a box-lid, a newspaper,\n&c. Others altogether ignore this canon in the ritual. Therefore I\nmust leave my fair readers to decide which formula they will adopt, in\ncase they decide to make a dumb-cake for themselves. As to the actual\npreparation, it must be begun after eleven o\u2019clock p.m. on the eve of\nSt. Agnes, and either three, five, or seven maidens may take part. In\nthe making of a dumb-cake, each must take a handful of flour and lay\nit on a sheet of clean paper (this must be pretty large), bearing in\nmind that from the moment the first hand is dipped in the flour, not a\nword must be uttered whilst the cake-makers remain in that room, or the\nspell will be broken.\n\nHaving each laid a handful of flour on the sheet of paper, all add a\nsmall pinch of salt, water being also added, all taking part in working\nthe same into dough, every one kneading and assisting in rolling\nthe same into a thin cake, sufficiently large for each to mark her\ninitials in fairly large letters thereon. All must now lend a hand in\nlifting it on to a tin, and in carrying it to the fire, in front of\nwhich it must be laid. Having seated themselves as far from the fire\nas possible, each will in turn rise, cross the room, and turn the cake\nround once\u2014not over, as it must be left the inscribed side uppermost.\nAll this having been accomplished before twelve strikes, remain quietly\nseated; for, a few minutes after midnight, the husband of the maiden\nwho is to be married first will appear and touch her initials, often\nleaving his fingermark upon the same. So there can be no doubt about\nit.\n\nShould you have no opportunity of joining others in the preparation of\na dumb-cake, you may, if so inclined, on the Friday evening following\nthat of St. Agnes (some say any Friday but Good Friday), have a vision\nof your future husband by a strict observance of the following:\u2014\n\nMake a flat dough cake about the size of a crown piece; on this prick\nthe initials of the one you secretly love. Next procure three small\nkeys, all different, and make an impression of each on the underside\nof the cake. On retiring to rest, thread the three keys on the garter\nof your left leg, wrapping the same about the little cake; stitch\nthis ball to the inside of your nightdress so that it will rest in\nthe centre of your bosom, and you will then dream, either of the man\nyou love, or some other swain. If not of the one you love, then your\naffections for the present are misplaced.\n\nThe days in Holy Week are familiarly known as Collop Monday, Pancake\nTuesday, Frutas or Fritters Wednesday, Bloody Thorsday,\n\n An\u2019 Lang Friday \u2019at\u2019s nivver deean,\n Seea lig i\u2019 bed whahl Seterdaay neean.\n\nThe usual menu for the week is still pretty much as it was. Collops of\nbacon and fried eggs on Monday. Pancakes served with either treacle\nor lemon-juice and sugar on Tuesday. Frutas, or fritters, made from\na light kind of tea-cake paste, only much richer in fruit and fried\neither in lard or butter, on Wednesday; and, with many of humble\ndegree, black puddings on Thursday. Whilst on Friday, fast is kept on\nany frutas which may have been spared from Wednesday\u2019s feast, and\nthere always is a very considerable helping left over.\n\nPaste-egg or Troll-egg[5] Day, is now celebrated on Easter Monday, but\nin days past Easter Day and Paste-egg Day were one. At the present\ntime the last five Sundays of Lent and Easter Day are still called\nTid, Mid, Miseray, Carlin\u2019, and Paum, an\u2019 Paste-egg Day. There is some\nuncertainty as to what Tid and Mid mean, but there can be no doubt that\nMiseray is a corruption of Miserere, the commencement of one of the\npsalms ordered to be read during Lent. The whole of the names, however,\ntake us back to mediaeval times, and though some are inclined to think\nthat Tid means \u2018Te Deum\u2019 and Mid \u2018Mid Lent,\u2019 it seems to me careful\nresearch will in time give a more plausible solution. Carling Sunday is\nstill observed in many places, grey peas fried with bacon or in butter\nbeing a well-known dish on that day, many even carrying a goodly store\nabout in paper bags. At Great Ayton, and in many parts of Cleveland,\nCarling Sunday is still fully observed. The same is equally true of\nPalm Sunday, or, as it is called, \u2018Paum Sunda,\u2019 catkins, or lambs\u2019\ntails, as they are universally designated, being carried in the hand,\nthrust in the buttonhole, or worn in the hat, whilst many a mantelpiece\nand ornament is often tastefully decorated with the same. From noon on\nEaster Day to noon the following day, an old custom which is now only\nkept up in remote villages, but which was quite general throughout the\nriding when I was a lad, was that of one or more young fellows seizing\na female and forcibly pulling off her shoe, sometimes both, laces being\nno protection. These were held in bondage until a fine was paid. This\nvery rough proceeding was formerly known as \u2019buckle-snatching,\u2019 the old\nname for the theft during the days when buckles were worn. However,\nif the lads had their good time from the Sunday to Monday\u2019s noon, the\nlasses did not fail to retaliate from that time until noon on Tuesday.\nFrom any hidden corner or doorway, out they rushed, and rarely failed\nto snatch either a hat, whip, stick, handkerchief, or something, they\nwere not particular what, or to scratching either, generally managing\nto recuperate themselves for any losses of the day previous. On Easter\nMonday the bairns hie themselves to some field and roll or troll their\nhard-boiled eggs dyed in many colours; this lasts until the egg is\nbroken, when the youngsters feed upon the contents. Many of the lads,\nhowever, have a much speedier method of either adding to their store\nof food or losing their egg. They jaup or jarp them together, i.e. one\nlad strikes his egg against that of his opponent, when one or both are\nbroken; if only one, it is forfeited and becomes the property of the\nconqueror. Shuttlecock and battledoor is now greatly _en evidence_ with\nthe girls, and knur and spell with the lads. One might well, and with\nprofit, write a chapter on the sequence of games, but such comes hardly\nwithin the scope of this work. But here and there a few will be noted\nwhen they have attached to them special peculiarities.\n\nThere is an old custom, almost dead now. It is only in hidden and\nunfrequented spots that it still survives\u2014I mean \u2019the wading of the\nsun.\u2019 It was common enough thirty years ago. The _modus operandi_ was\nas follows:\u2014As the sun rose on Easter morn, a bucket of water was\nplaced in such a position that the sun was reflected in it. If the sun\nwaded, i.e. glimmered in the water, it would rain that day; but if it\nkept fine in the morning and rained in the afternoon, then the spring\nwould be fine and the autumn wet, and vice versa. On this morning too\nthe flight of the crows was carefully observed; if they settled near\nhome, instead of flying far afield to feed, the farmer shook his head,\nfor they plainly told him, by so doing, that grub and other pests would\nsorely afflict his crops that year.\n\nFriday is looked upon as an unlucky day to commence or conclude any\nundertaking. It is considered unlucky for the first lamb to be dropped\non a Friday, to begin sowing or reaping, or to lead the last load on\nthat day. Should the weather be very threatening, instead of finishing\nleading on the Friday, one stook is very often left, and not brought in\nuntil the following day.\n\nOf St. Valentine\u2019s Day we might truly write, \u2018Poor St. Valentine! for\nwith thee it is Ichabod.\u2019 No longer do we find shop windows filled\nwith works of art, wrought in silver, lace, and gold; no longer within\na coral bower, hung with icicles and rosebuds, is the maiden\u2019s hand\nclasped or waist encircled; no longer does a pathway of powdered\nfish-scales lead direct to the little church seen in the far distance,\nwhilst the overfed cupid, who managed to sit on the edge of a very\nthin cloud, must have fallen off and decamped with the couple of\nskewered hearts which were usually floating at their own sweet will\n\u2019mid heaven. Hearts are at a discount now. Fifty years ago, love-making\nwas a very real and somewhat pedantic proceeding; in these days, when\ntime is money, the whole thing has been curtailed. It is\u2014cut the\ndialogue and come to the bank book.\n\nWhy, there was a time, and only a few years ago, when as many pounds\nwere spent on these love tokens as pennies now.\n\nThere may be, here and there, a maiden left who, before retiring to\nrest, splits a holly twig and binds within the split part a small slip\nof paper, upon which she has written, with her heart\u2019s blood, the name\nof him she loveth best, and who places the same under her pillow,\nso that she may dream her fate. There may be, but I doubt it. Their\ngrandmothers did, though.\n\nValentine\u2019s Day may be dead, but April Fools\u2019 Day is still with us.\n\u2018Makking t\u2019 feeal o\u2019 yan\u2019 is yet common. The last sell I heard of was\nsending a lad from one place to another for a bucket of steam. I wonder\nhow long ago it is since the first boy was sent for \u2019a penn\u2019orth o\u2019\nstrap oil\u2019 or \u2019a pint ov pigeon\u2019s milk,\u2019 &c., &c.\n\nOn Good Friday it is considered impious to dig or plough.\n\n On Good Friday rist thi pleeaf;\n Start nowt, end nowt, that\u2019s eneeaf.\n\nPerhaps one of the oldest customs is that in connexion with St. Mark\u2019s\nEve. The belief is still held that those who watch the church porch at\nthe hour of midnight on that eve, will see pass in front of them and\nenter the church the spirits of all those friends who will die during\nthe coming year. With some it is held to be a _sine qua non_ that the\nwatcher must sit within the porch; whilst others hold four cross roads\nto be equally efficacious, always provided that the body of one who had\ncommitted suicide, with the orthodox stake driven through the chest,\nhad been buried there, that being the end of suicides in the good old\ndays.\n\nIt should be borne in mind that there are two slight penalties attached\nto this porch or cross-road watching.\n\nFirstly, should the watcher fall asleep, there is every probability\nof its being the sleep of death. Should he, however, manage to awaken\nfrom such a lethargic slumber, it doesn\u2019t amount to much, as he will\nassuredly die within the next twelve months. Secondly, whoever tries\nthis game once must continue to do so ever afterwards. There is no\nescape; the spell upon them is said to be too strong to withstand.\n\nSaid an old fellow at Carthorpe, \u2018Ah nivver watched mysen, bud one\nJames Haw used ti watch t\u2019 deead gan in an\u2019 cum oot o\u2019 Bon\u2019iston Chetch\nivvery St. Mark Eve ez it cam roond. He \u2019ed teea; he war forced tul\u2019t,\nhe c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t help hissen; he\u2019d deean it yance, an\u2019 \u2018ed ti gan on wi\u2019\n\u2018t. Aye, an\u2019 he seed t\u2019 sperrits ov all them \u2019at war gahin ti dee that\nyear, all on \u2019em dhrissed i\u2019 ther natt\u2019ral cleeas, or else hoo mud he\n\u2019a\u2019e kenn\u2019d whau tha war? They all passed cleease tiv him, bud neean on\n\u2019em ivver gav\u2019 him a nod, na nowt o\u2019 that soart. Bud,\u2019 added he, almost\nin a whisper, \u2018them \u2019at duz it yance awlus \u2019ev ti deea\u2019t; tha cann\u2019t\nho\u2019d thersens back, they\u2019re forced ti gan ivvery tahm St. Mark\u2019s Eve\ncums roond. Mun! it\u2019s a despert thing ti \u2019a\u2019e ti deea, \u2019coz ya \u2019a\u2019e ti\ngan, whahl at t\u2019 last end ya see yersen pass yersen, an\u2019 then ya knaw\n\u2019at yer tahm\u2019s cum\u2019d an\u2019 \u2018at ya\u2019ll be laid i\u2019 t\u2019 cau\u2019d grund afoor that\ndaay cum twelve-month.\u2019\n\nThere was another method of divination very commonly resorted to, known\nby the name of \u2019caff riddling\u2019 (chaff riddling). The rite was carried\nout as follows:\u2014At midnight, with the barn doors thrown wide open, a\nquantity of chaff had to be riddled, those taking part in the ceremony\nriddling in turn; should a coffin pass the door whilst any one was\nworking the sieve, that person would die within the year. A story is\nstill current in Malton of a woman who tried the above divination. It\nwould seem, some little time after she had commenced to riddle, two men\npassed the open doors carrying a coffin, and on those who were with her\nrushing outside to see where they went, neither men nor coffin were\nanywhere to be seen. Only the woman saw the coffin. It is on record\nthat she died within the year. The occurrence took place about forty\nyears ago.\n\nPerhaps we are a trifle more superstitious than some other counties,\nbut it must be borne in mind that a wealth of folklore adds great\nrespectability to a genealogy which dates back to times so far remote,\nthat the rites and ceremonies of the religion from which it sprang must\nnow be sought for in the myth-history of other lands.\n\nIn connexion with Royal Oak Day took place the locking out of the\nschoolmaster by the scholars, loudly singing, whilst they held the\nfortress\u2014\n\n It\u2019s Royal Oak daay,\n T\u2019 twenty-nahnth o\u2019 Maay,\n An\u2019 if ya deean\u2019t gi\u2019e uz hollida\n Wa\u2019ll all run awaay.\n\nThe above was sung, to the entire satisfaction of the lads, a couple of\nyears ago at Great Ayton. On this day it is customary for every one to\ndisplay a twig of oak; should any one be so remiss as to walk abroad\nwithout sporting an oak-leaf or two, it is quite probable some urchin\nmay give the delinquent a sharp reminder by switching him over the\nhand with a nettle. And woe betide the lad who is so foolhardy as to\nventure forth oakless, for in addition to being stung with nettles, he\nmay have to submit to being rubbed over with chalk until he looks very\nlike a miller. It may be mentioned that Royal Oak Day is often called\nChalky-back Day.\n\nThere are several charms and ceremonies peculiar to Midsummer Eve, the\ncareful observance of which enables a maiden to learn something of\nwhat fate may have in store for her. Does she doubt the constancy of\nher lover, she can satisfy herself once for all, no matter what other\nfolk may say, and in spite of anything she may have seen or imagined\nherself, by observing the following rite. Certainly the carrying out of\nthe ceremony is a wee bit troublesome, but of what account is trouble\nwhen such vital points are at issue as the unmasking of perfidy or the\nestablishment of truth and love? To perform the rite the maiden must\nproceed as follows:\u2014Pull three hairs from the tail of a perfectly\nblack cat, also three from a red cow; gather three leaves of the deadly\nnightshade, and, having killed a white pigeon, smear each leaf with\nblood from its heart. Now make three flat parcels, each containing a\ncat\u2019s hair, a cow\u2019s hair, and a leaf. Next stew the pigeon, saving the\ngravy. Now make a savoury dish, adding thereto the gravy. The suspected\none must be asked to supper on Midsummer Eve, the damsel being careful\nto place under the tablecloth the three parcels, in such manner that\none will lie under his plate, one under the dish containing the gravy,\nand the third under her own plate. During supper, should her lover\nfind the least fault with any person or thing, he is faithless. If the\nmaiden is very deeply in love, I should advise her to do most of the\ntalking; let it be only a one-course supper, and hurry through with it.\nThe above charm is rarely resorted to now; the several difficulties\nwhich have to be overcome before it can be successfully carried out,\nhave almost laid it on one side. But I well remember its being tried\nyears ago by one of our servants, and I have been informed that it\nwas resorted to, inside of the last five years, at a farm-house near\nSwainby.\n\nHere is another one for the same eve, which is much more widely known,\nand believed in yet by many. Three maids, unseen by and unknown to any\nother but themselves, must each gather a sprig of rosemary, and between\nthe hours of eleven and twelve p.m. retire to an upper chamber, lock\nthe door, and from the moment the key is turned not a word must be\nspoken. Near one end of the room a basin half full of water must be\nplaced, in which each maiden has dropped a handful of red-rose leaves;\nthe three sprigs of rosemary must now be laid on the rose leaves; next,\nfix a line across the room, over which each must throw\u2014not fasten\nin any way\u2014a chemise of her own make, but which she has never worn.\nHaving thus arranged matters, they must seat themselves as far from\nthe basin as possible, when they will be shortly rewarded, for a few\nmoments after twelve o\u2019clock the husband of each will appear. There can\nbe no doubt about this, because each apparition will seize a sprig of\nrosemary and sprinkle the chemise of the girl he loves. Nothing could\nbe more convincing than this; now, could there be?\n\nIf not yet fully satisfied, they may make another attempt on the eve of\nSt. Mary Magdalene. For this they will have to prepare the following\ndecoction:\u2014Take a wineglassful each of rum, gin, and red wine, a\nteaspoonful of honey, treacle, and sugar, and the same of vinegar,\nlemon-juice, and sour oranges; these must be mixed together in some\nutensil purchased that day, and for which each must pay an equal share.\nWhen mixing the ingredients, the following rule must be observed: the\nfirst maiden must pour in the spirits and wine, the second the sweets,\nand the third the sours; this must be done at the hour of midnight.\nLet each now take a sprig of rosemary, dip it in the liquor, and then\ncarefully stitch the same securely to the bosom of her nightdress;\nbear in mind you are an old maid for ever if you and your sprig part\ncompany during the night. Each in turn must now drink a tablespoonful\nof the mixture, until every drop is consumed, then jump into bed, all\nthree together, and on falling asleep, each maiden will have a dream,\nthe meaning of which cannot be misunderstood. This seems to be quite\ncertain, and there is another thing equally assured\u2014one and all will\nawake with such a splitting headache in the morning, that they will\nforswear improvised cold punch for ever afterwards.\n\nIt is not within the scope of this work to take note of purely local\ncustoms, deeply interesting though they be. Therefore the Vardy dinner\nat Helmsley, the procession of the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of York\nat Kilburn, the race up the hill at Askrigg, or the May-pole dances at\nseveral other places, and the like, must be passed over.\n\nThe mell supper, though lacking much of its pristine glory, is still\nwith us. Mr. Robinson of Carthorpe, and many others in the riding,\nstill keep to the good old ways. The mell supper, i.e. a supper and\na dance after the ingathering of the harvest, is exceedingly common,\nbut with its older observances, or at least as many of them as are\nremembered, is only adhered to here and there. Still, at the present\nday, something of the old-time doings are to be met with. The last\nsheaf at Carthorpe, as in Jutland, is called the \u2019widow,\u2019 and the last\nload is always led triumphantly home with songs of joy.\n\nIn many places it is common for the last few sheaves to be bound\ntogether, these being decorated with ribbons and handkerchiefs\u2014the\nwomen racing for the ribbons, and the men contending for the\nhandkerchiefs. This, of course, is a survival of the time when the\nsheaves themselves were run for; and in the days when an additional\nbushel of grain was a thing greatly to be desired, the prize would\nbe not a little coveted. Here and there the mell doll is still made;\ncertainly it is not now bedecked with all the gaudy trappings it was\nadorned with in days of yore, but often some skilful hand will plait\nthe straw into fantastical shapes, exhibiting considerable artistic\ntaste and skill. When completed, whether it be in the form of a doll[6]\nor that of some other device, it still goes by the name of \u2019t\u2019 mell\ndoll,\u2019 and is placed in the centre of the barn, round which, by-and-by,\nthe guests will trip on the light fantastic toe.\n\nOne characteristic of the mell supper, so far as I know, is now a thing\nof the past, i.e. the guisers. These were a kind of sword-dancers, who\ntwenty years ago generally came as unbidden guests after the dancing\nhad commenced; as a rule they were accorded a hearty welcome, as they\nadded greatly to the merriment of the evening\u2019s revel, for as the cake\nand ale went round, the excitement increased, songs and shouting became\ngeneral, and the dancing something after the nature of a stampede, till\nat last the uproar was general. It is at such times when age forgets\nits years, and the young let slip the tether of their youthful spirits,\nand romp\u2014aye, romp; for the ale is good, the lasses are bonny, \u2018slim o\u2019\nwaist and leet o\u2019 foot.\u2019 It is Yorkshire, all Yorkshire.\n\nThe fifth of November, with its bonfires and Guy Fawkes, is as\nreligiously observed in the riding as in any other part of the country.\nOver a wide area it is the festive occasion on which every good wife\nbakes a store of parkin, its general form being that of a flat cake of\ngingerbread, the recipe varying according to the means of the house.\n\nIn the days when there were no county police, if not wise enough to\nsecurely lock up your yard broom, of a certainty it would be stolen;\nand if ever you did see it again, it would be on the evening of the\nfifth, soaked with tar, in the hands of some fellow rushing like a mad\nthing along the street with your property blazing in front of him.\nI have known of scores of brooms which were stolen\u2014aye, and stolen\nthem myself\u2014but I do not recollect an instance of the thief being\nprosecuted. No, if you did not secure your broom, it went, and that was\nvery much the end of it. There was more fun running with a stolen besom\nthan a bought one.\n\nQuite an interesting collection of doggerel verses might be given,\nwhich the lads in various parts sing when dragging their load of\nsticks and thorns to the site of the bonfire. I give one, which an old\ninhabitant of Great Ayton tells me was sung when his grandfather was a\nboy.\n\n Au\u2019d Grimey sits upon yon hill\n Ez black ez onny au\u2019d craw;\n He\u2019s gitten on his lang grey coat\n Wi\u2019 buttons doon afoor-oor-oor,\n Wi\u2019 buttons doon afoor-oor-oor,\n Wi\u2019 buttons doon afoor-oor-oor,\n He\u2019s gitten on his lang grey coat\n Wi\u2019 buttons doon afoor.\n\nWithin a week, the young carol-singers will be on your doorstep night\nafter night, reminding you that Christmas is drawing nigh.\n\nA very old custom, but which has now been pretty nigh stamped out by\nthe county policeman, is that of \u2018Riding the Stang.\u2019 It is not dead\nyet, though; I witnessed the stang being ridden as recently as 1891 in\nGuisborough, and in many of the villages in Wensleydale it is to this\nday resorted to when considered needful.\n\nThe stang is held in wholesome dread by a certain class of evil-doers.\nWife-beaters and immoral characters chiefly had and have the benefit\nof the stang[7]. Whatever their discovered sin might be, was fully set\nforth in the stang doggerel. One or two points have to be, or at least\nare, most carefully observed: (1) The real name of the culprit must not\nbe mentioned. (2) The stang must be ridden in three separate parishes\neach night; and in many places, to make the proceedings quite legal, it\nwas considered a _sine qua non_ that the stang-master must knock at the\ndoor of the man or woman they were holding up to ridicule, and ask for\na pocket-piece, i.e. fourpence.\n\nThe whole proceeding was carried out as follows:\u2014An effigy made of\nstraw and old clothes, representing the culprit, was bound to a pole[8]\nand set in an upright position in the centre of either a handcart or a\nsmall pony cart, in which was seated the stang-master; and following\nbehind were gathered all the ragamuffins of the village, armed with\npan lids, tin cans, tin whistles, or anything which could be made to\nproduce a discordant sound. Being ready, the cart was drawn in front\nof the culprit\u2019s house, and after a fearful hubbub, the stang-master\ncried out, in a sing-song voice,\u2014\n\n Ah tinkle, Ah tinkle, Ah tinkle tang,\n It\u2019s nut foor your part ner mah part\n \u2018At Ah rahd the stang,\n Bud foor yan Bill Switch whau his weyfe did bang,\n Ah tinkle, Ah tinkle, Ah tinkle tang.\n He banged her, he banged her, he banged her indeed,\n He banged her, he banged her, afoor sha steead need;\n Upstairs aback o\u2019 t\u2019 bed\n He sairly brayed her whahl sha bled,\n Oot o\u2019 t\u2019 hoos on ti t\u2019 green,\n Sikan a seet ez nivver war seen,\n Ez neean c\u2019u\u2019d think, ez neean c\u2019u\u2019d dream.\n Sae Ah gat ma a few cumarades\n Ti traal ma aboot;\n Sae it\u2019s hip hip hurrah, lads,\n Set up a gert shoot,\n An\u2019 blaw all yer whistles,\n Screeam, rattle, an\u2019 bang\n All \u2019at ivver ya\u2019ve gitten,\n Foor Ah ride the stang.\n\nThen, for a few moments, there arose a tumult of sound, to which the\nwildest ravings of bedlam would seem insignificant.\n\nThis performance lasts three nights, and on the third the effigy is\nburnt in front of the culprit\u2019s house.\n\nAnother very old custom, which is now rarely seen, is that of bottle\nbreaking. When a house was ready for the thatch, in later days the\ntiles, a bottle was suspended by a ribbon from the ridge beam. Stones\nwere then shied at it, and the one who was lucky enough to smash the\nbottle claimed the ribbon. If in days past this custom had anything of\nan occult nature attached to it, it has long ago been forgotten. In its\nlast days it degenerated into what was considered to be a valid excuse\nfor spending the rest of the day in the village pub. _O tempora, O\nmores!_\n\nThe daily life of the Guisboreans does not seem to have altered much\nfrom the time of Edward VI to the end of last century. In a letter\namong the Cottonian MSS., the writer, addressing Sir Thomas Chaloner,\nsays, \u2018The people bread here (Guisborough) live very longe, if they\nbe a while absent they growe sicklye; they are altogether given\nto pleasure, scarce any good husband amongst them; Day and Nighte\nfeastinge, making Matches for Horse Races, Dog runninge, or runninge\non Foote,\u2019 &c. The above was written about 1550, and we find in 1784\nthat things were still pretty lively, as the contents of the small\nhand-bill[9] (see next page) fully testify. The contents of another,\nsetting forth the varied attractions of \u2018Staithes Feast,\u2019 are also\ncharacteristic of the time.\n\n Gisbrough Races.\n\n Saturday, August 14, 1784.\n\n A MATCH between SIR WILLIAM FOULIS\u2019S Ass Colt, Turkey Nab, and Mr.\n CHALONER\u2019S Ass Colt, Sturdy; Catch-weights, 1l. 1s. play or pay, the\n last Comer-in to Win. Change of Jockeys, crossing, jostling, and\n kicking.\n\n A PURSE of SILVER to be run for by Men in Sacks. Crossing and jostling.\n\n LADIES\u2019 PLATE.\n\n A SHIFT to be run for by Ladies. No crossing-and-jostling. No Lady to\n enter who has won more than one Shift. A Pair of Cotton Stockings for\n the second Lady; and a Pair of Garters for the third. Free for all\n Weights and Ages.\n\n \u2042 After the Races, A Soap-tail\u2019d PIG will be turn\u2019d out. Whoever\n throws him over his Shoulder by the Tail is to have him for his own\n Property.\n\n \u2020\u2020\u2020 Smoaking, Cudgel-\u2020\u2020playing, and other Entertainments.\n\n JOHN HALE, Steward.\n\n \u2021\u2021 An Ordinary at the Cock at Gisbrough at Half past Two o\u2018Clock. The\n Race to begin at Five o\u2018Clock.\n\n * * * * *\n\n STAITHES FEAST.\n\n \u2014WILL BE HELDE ON\u2014\n\n TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 1797.\n\n When the prizes AS ADVERTIZED BELOW will be offered to ALL those\n skilled in such matters, as well as DIVERS others not herin stated.\n\n TO WIT.\n\n \u2042 A fish skin purse contayninge SILVER will be run or rolled for in\n sacks a man and a boy in each sack. 25 Y^{RDS.} ERIC STAUMER Esq. will\n adjudge.\n\n \u2020\u2020\u2020 A 50 Y^{RDS.} race. To be run for, A HOOD and CLOAK, each, for\n maidens runninge in pairs, the right legge of the one to be fast bound\n below the knee and at the ancle, to y^e left legge of the other[10].\n T. METCALFE WILL BIND Y^E LEGGES AND ADJUDGE.\n\n \u2042 A CROWN piece for A MAN and WIFE race, y^e wife to be hugged either\n on the backe, in arms, or by any other device, so as she be lifted\n clean from y^e ground, HUSBANDS with light wives to be put backe. No\n WHEELBARROWS allowed. M^{R.} MAT PETCH WILL ADJUDGE.\n\n The choyce of a sark or petticote offered to the best performance of\n skille in a SKEP and POLE tryal[11]. Only for married women. One\n clean turn to be mayde. THOS. HILTUNE Esq. will adjudge.\n\n \u2020\u2020\u2020 A C\u014cBLE RACE for 1.l. 1.s.\n\n \u2042 A LYKE SUM will be gyven to the owners of the best kept C\u014cBLE. To be\n equally divided. W. Hymers Esq. WILL adjudge.\n\n \u2020\u2020\u2020 2 new CROWN pieces will be gyven to y^e maid under 18 yeares who\n shalle fyrst cleanly bayte 100 hooks. M^{R.} W. PICKLES will adjudge.\n\n \u2042 LYKEWISE, Genning throw a BARFAN, SMOAKING, and other pastimes for\n y^e entertainment of all commers will in nowise be found lacking.\n\n ALL friends and nighbours are dilligently invited.\n\n This was wrote by I. STOREY, schoolmaster.\n\nN.B. This hand-bill was not printed, but most carefully and neatly\nwritten.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER VII\n\n CUSTOMS OF COURTSHIP, MARRIAGE, BIRTH, AND DEATH\n\n\n_Superstition._\n\nThe old customs and superstitions connected with marriage festivities\nare perhaps more closely observed here and there in the North Riding\nthan in any other part of Yorkshire. In some parts of Cleveland, I\ndoubt if the bride and bridegroom would consider themselves properly\nwedded if there were no race for a ribbon or handkerchief. And\ncertainly it would be a most unlucky omen, should any one but the\nbride cut the first piece from the bride\u2019s cake. But I anticipate\u2014let\nus commence at the beginning. Very rarely, I imagine, is it that an\northodox proposal is ever made by a Yorkshire lad to the lass of his\nchoice. No, they just \u2019keep cump\u2019ny t\u2019 ane wi\u2019 t\u2019 t\u2019other.\u2019 \u2018Keeping\ncompany\u2019 is the Yorkshire idiom for courting; and during that happy\ntime, in days past, were a young fellow ever caught kissing his\nlady-love whilst a roof was over their heads (i.e. in any one\u2019s\nhouse), he was liable\u2014if he did not instantly throw on the table\nkiss-money\u2014to be \u2018pitchered[12]\u2019 on the spot, i.e. either have a hole\nburnt through his coat or his buttons cut off. This violent attack\non the person of arson and robbery was usually effected by a bevy of\ndamsels.\n\nIn time, if all went well, the twain decided to become one; to this\nend the \u2019spurrings\u2019 were put in, i.e. the banns were published. This\nhaving been accomplished, the couple were said to be \u2019hanging in the\nbell-ropes\u2019\u2014no maiden would ever think of attending church during the\ntime she was hanging in the bell-ropes, or to use another expression,\n\u2018whilst she was suffering from a broken leg after having tumm\u2019l\u2019d ower\nt\u2019 bauk.\u2019\n\nThe wedding day having arrived, the happy couple, accompanied by their\nfriends, either proceed two and two, or hire a cab.\n\nOf course the bride is properly garnished for the occasion, and very\nnice and blushy she looks\u2014that goes without saying. But whatever her\ntoilet may be, one thing is certain\u2014not a speck of blue or green\nwill be found anywhere about her, both colours being considered very\nunlucky; neither will the wedding take place on a Friday.\n\n Deean\u2019t o\u2019 Friday buy yer ring,\n O\u2019 Friday deean\u2019t put t\u2019 spurrings in,\n Deean\u2019t wed o\u2019 Friday. Think on o\u2019 this,\n Nowther blue ner green mun match her dhriss.\n\nIf during the ceremony the sun is obscured for a short time, and then\nbursts forth shining on the couple, happy will such a bride be. For\n\n Blessed is t\u2019 bride \u2019at t\u2019 sun shines on,\n An\u2019 blessed is t\u2019 deead \u2019at t\u2019 rain rains on.\n\nYears ago, it was the custom, in many parts of Cleveland, for the\nbride and bridegroom to leap over a form on leaving the church\nporch. On this feat being accomplished, a gun was fired, this often\nbeing charged with feathers. At Guisborough the firing of guns was\ncontinued throughout the whole route. And in many parts of Cleveland,\nmeeting the bridal procession with hot pots was common; these were\nbowls filled with a kind of steaming punch, and as the bridal party\nwere expected to drink from every hot pot, one can well imagine and\nunderstand the revelry which so often took place, especially when the\nhot pots were numerous. Afterwards, these pots were carried from door\nto door, a plate covered with a saucer being also presented; a gift\nof money was slipped under the saucer, given to enable the hot pot to\nbe replenished. In the Staithes district, if a guest stepped in any\nkind of filth on his or her way to the house, on no account would it\nbe wiped off, it being considered very unlucky to do so. I believe, at\nthat time, sanded floors and not carpets were the rule.\n\nOn passing through the church gates, the bridegroom usually threw a\nhandful of coppers amongst the crowd. A man now headed the procession,\ncarrying under his arm a young cockerel, which he made continually to\n\u2018skrike oot\u2019; this could only be silenced by the payment of bride\u2019s\nmoney. On arriving at the bride\u2019s home, she was met on the doorstep,\nand presented with a small cake on a plate. A little of this she would\neat, throwing the remainder over her head, typical of the hope that\nthey might always have plenty and something to spare. She then handed\nthe plate to her husband; this he threw over his head, their future\nhappiness depending upon its being broken[13].\n\nThe race for the bride\u2019s garter was a common custom in former times,\nits possession being held in high esteem, and valued as a potent love\ncharm.\n\nNow, however, the custom has almost fallen into disuse, though within\nthe last five years the ceremony was fully carried out. At one time it\nwas not only a recognized custom, but in most cases special preparation\nwas made for its due observance, the maidens spending no little time\nand skill in the working of their bridal garters.\n\nImmediately after the plate had been broken, the bride\u2019s attempt to\ncross the threshold was hindered by the kneeling figure of the winner\nof the race, claiming the privilege of removing the prize. The bride\nthen raised her skirt whilst he removed the valued trophy[14].\n\nAs it was the correct thing in those good old days for ladies to\nraise the skirt quite as high when dancing, and as elaborately worked\nstockings were worn to be looked at, nothing was thought of lifting the\nskirt, and nothing would in these days if some lady of title revived\nthe custom. From an old rhyme, I give the following lines:\u2014\n\n T\u2019 BRAHDAL BANDS.\n\n Blushing, theer oor Peggy sits\n Stitching, fahn stitching,\n Luv knots roond her brahdal bands,\n Witching, bewitching.\n\n T\u2019 brahd\u2019s maids all mun deea a stitch,\n Stitching, fahn stitching,\n An\u2019 tha mun binnd it roond her leg[15],\n Witching, bewitching.\n\n Bud sum bauf[16] swain \u2019at\u2019s soond o\u2019 puff[17],\n Stitching, fahn stitching,\n \u2018Ll claim his reet ti tak\u2019 it off,\n Witching, bewitching.\n\n An\u2019 he aroond his awn luv\u2019s leg,\n Stitching, fahn stitching,\n \u2018Ll lap it roond ti binnd his luv,\n Witching, bewitching.\n\n Whahl sha sweet maid\u2019ll wear his troth,\n Stitching, fahn stitching,\n Mahnding each tahm sha taks it off,\n Witching, bewitching.\n\n That daay when sha will \u2019a\u2019e ti wear,\n Stitching, fahn stitching,\n Nut yan, bud tweea, a brahdal pair,\n Witching, bewitching.\n\n Oh, happy day! when sha s\u2019all stitch,\n Stitching, fahn stitching,\n Her brahdal bands, the wearing which\n Mak maids bewitching.\n\nIt may be remembered that knights often bound the garter of their\nlady-love about their sword-hilts.\n\nThe following lines evidently were written when the bridal garter was\nheld in greater favour than the ribbon:\u2014\n\n\n SONG.\n\n DRINK TO THE BRIDAL GARTER.\n\n\n Nance is wed ti morn at morn,\n High doon a derry O,\n Monny a lad \u2019s this daay \u2019s forlorn,\n High doon a derry O;\n Bud cheer up, lads, yer glasses fill,\n Fer ivvery Jack ther is a Jill.\n Sup off, my bucks, an\u2019 divn\u2019t spill,\n An\u2019 maay Ah win her garter O.\n\n Neea prude is Nance; tha saay sha\u2019s maad,\n High doon a derry O,\n Her brahdal bands ov gowden braad,\n High doon a derry O.\n Noo fer a ribbon Ah weean\u2019t run,\n It gi\u2019es neea luck, an\u2019 stops wer fun,\n Sike nimmy nammy waays \u2019ez sum;\n Cum drink ti t\u2019 brahdal garter O.\n\n Here \u2019s health an\u2019 luck ti t\u2019 brahd \u2019at darr,\n High doon a derry O,\n Her brahdal bands baith stitch an\u2019 wear,\n High doon a derry O;\n Ti them \u2019at ho\u2019ds a ribbon up\n Neean on uz here\u2019ll draan a cup,\n Sike healths wa \u2019evn\u2019t tahm ti sup,\n Ov slipshod, undarned stockings O.\n\n T\u2019 brahd \u2019at darn\u2019t her skets pull up,\n High doon a derry O,\n Maist leykly is a mucky slut,\n High doon a derry O.\n Yan best can tell a lass\u2019s waays\n Byv what sha wears, \u2019an what sha saays;\n A ribbon gi\u2019en o\u2019 wedding days\n Screens mucky undarned stockings O.\n\n Maay ivvery bonny blushing brahd,\n High doon a derry O,\n \u2018Ev nowther muck ner hoals ti hide,\n High doon a derry O,\n An\u2019 maay sha on her brahdal daay\n Pull up her skets, an\u2019 smiling saay,\n \u2018Mah garter\u2019s thahn, tak it, Ah praay,\n An\u2019 gi\u2019e \u2019t ti thi true lovey O.\u2019\n\n Afoor wa pairt fill up each glass,\n High doon a derry O,\n Let each yan drink tiv his awn lass,\n High doon a derry O,\n Ti Bessy, Sally, Sue, an\u2019 Peg,\n Ti Martha, Mary, Maud, an\u2019 Meg;\n An\u2019 here\u2019s ti ivvery shap\u2019ly leg\n Roond which a brahdal band diz go.\n\nOriginally the ceremony of removing the bridal garter was, as has been\nsaid, carried out in a perfectly decorous manner; in time, however, it\ndegenerated into actually stealing the garter by force. This unseemly\nproceeding possibly arose from the strong opposition and resentment\nwhich was felt, and for long demonstrated, whenever the ribbon\nsupplanted the garter.\n\nWhy, as recently as 1820, Lady \u2014\u2014 [18], a great stickler after old\ncustoms, on stepping from her bridal coach, inquired who had won the\nrace. \u2018Ah did, my lady,\u2019 answered one of the stable lads. Ascending the\nsteps, her ladyship stepped half over the threshold, calling out to\nthe lad, \u2018Come, Tom, and claim your prize,\u2019 adding, as she raised her\nsilken gown, \u2018I intend to be properly married and have the luck I am\nentitled to.\u2019 Then turning to the young fellow, smiling, she added,\n\u2018Take it off, Tom, and give it to your sweetheart, and may it bring\nluck to both of you.\u2019\n\nIn Great Ayton the ribbon seems to have supplanted the garter in\nthe early part of this century. In fact it is only the old folks\nwho remember, and can tell you anything concerning the gay and\nfestive doings of those days. But the older custom held its own\nfor long afterwards, and that, too, within a very few miles. But\nintercommunication between villages has never been a strong feature.\nEven to-day there is a species of rivalry existing between Stokesley\nand Great Ayton people, but this is common to all adjacent villages.\n\nIt only adds one more proof in support of what has already been said,\nthat the customs, superstitions, and dialect of any given locality, or\neven that of a whole dale, cannot, and must not, be taken as being that\nof the whole of the North Riding, much less of Yorkshire.\n\nA case in point may here be mentioned. In days past it was usual\nin Great Ayton to discharge firearms over the bridal party as they\nprocessed both _to and from the church_. This, however, was by no\nmeans the custom throughout Cleveland[19]. Neither was the firing of\nthe stithy, which I am told was never omitted; i.e. a charge of powder\npoured into a hole in the anvil, upon which a heavy weight was laid;\nthis, when fired, went off with the report of a cannon. In many places\nthe latter was only resorted to when either objectionable people were\nunited or in the case of a forced marriage. In Great Ayton it was done\nin honour of the occasion.\n\nMuch variation exists as to the exact time when the ribbon is to be run\nfor. In some places it is the custom for the racers to stand at the\nchurch door, and start off on a signal being given that the ring has\nbeen slipped on the bride\u2019s finger. In other localities the race takes\nplace the moment the bride and bridegroom leave the church porch, the\none arriving first at the bride\u2019s door being the winner.\n\nIn other localities it does not take place until after the wedding\nfeast, and again, often not until evening.\n\nIn many places it is customary for the bride to stand as the winning\npost, holding the ribbon in her hand, the winner not only claiming the\nprize, but a kiss also. It may be mentioned here that the best man\ngenerally claims the first kiss at the conclusion of the ceremony. At\nGreat Ayton and many other places sixty years ago, before the bride\nleft the altar steps the sexton removed her shoe, which was ransomed\nby the bridegroom. It was, and is still, considered most lucky to rub\nshoulders with the bridegroom. And until somewhat recently the parson\nofficiating was always expected to kiss the bride. Before railways\nwere so general, and when, as often happened, the honeymoon had to be\nspent amongst friends within driving distance, or at the bride\u2019s home,\n\u2018throwing the stocking\u2019 at the bride and bridegroom after they had\nretired to rest was never omitted.\n\nIt is a bad omen should the bridal party meet a coffin, or should a\ncripple cross their path. Had they to pass over a stream, it was usual\nfor both to throw something over their shoulder into the stream,\nsaying as they did so, \u2018Bad luck cleave to you,\u2019 being very careful\nnot to set eyes on the object again. On an occasion of this kind,\nshould the man wish to be master in his own house, he had better see\nthat he cross the centre of the bridge a little in advance of his\nbride, or that lady will gain an advantage she will be careful not\nto undervalue\u2014the husband will have to do the wife\u2019s bidding. It is\nalso considered unlucky to remove the wedding ring before the birth\nof the first child. Should a bride unfortunately do so, be sure it is\nthe husband who replaces it; on no account must she let another man\ndo so, unless she wishes speedily to become a widow. Before the bride\nand bridegroom left for their own home, it was common for a kettleful\nof boiling water to be poured on the front step, upon which the bride\nstepped, being careful to wet both her shoes. The due observance of\nthis custom ensured another happy marriage being arranged amongst the\ncompany there assembled.\n\nWhen the time arrives for the happy couple to take their departure,\neither for their own home or the honeymoon, great care must be observed\nthat the husband steps over the threshold in front of his bride,\notherwise she will take the lead in all things through life. It would\nbe a great advantage to a lot of men if the wife did step a little in\nadvance. They must also be very careful not to make their exit with the\nback and front door open at the same time; and on entering their new\nhome, a man must receive them, never a woman, neither must they enter\nan empty house, as it would result in a lack of friends. The belief\nin open doors, &c., applies to all occasions when leaving or returning\nhome after having spent the night under a strange roof. As the bride\nleaves the paternal roof, some swain will endeavour to seize her foot.\nThis doubtless is a surviving relic of the time when it was deemed a\npost of honour to assist the bride into the saddle. It ensures little\nseparation through life if the happy pair, on rising from their bridal\ncouch, take each other by the hand, and slip out of bed, so that their\nfeet touch the floor together; then, still keeping hold of hands, they\nmust cross the room and step outside, as equally as possible.\n\nWhilst the immediate friends enjoyed themselves as guests at the\nbride\u2019s house, many of their well-wishers adjourned to the nearest\nhostel and drank their healths with many a glass and catch-song.\n\nOne, a kind of catch-verse, was very common a few years ago. Each time\nit was sung the glasses were drained, some one else being called upon\nto repeat the song. This had to be done at once, and in the reverse way\nto the former vocalist, i.e. if the last singer toasted the bridegroom,\nthe next must commence with the bride; did he make a mistake, he had to\npay for glasses round.\n\n _The Verse._\n\n The brahdgroom\u2019s health we all will sing,\n In spite of Turk or Spanish king,\n The brahd\u2019s good health we will not pass,\n But put them both into one glass.\n See, see, see that he drink it all,\n See, see, see that he let none fall,\n For if he do, he shall drink two,\n And so shall the rest of the company do.\n\nAnother catch-rhyme must have resulted in innumerable glasses having to\nbe paid for each time it was sung. It was quite an action song, each\ntaking a line in turn, every glass being raised at the commencement of\neach line, and then replaced, forming a ring round the bride\u2019s garter,\nwhich lay in the centre of the table, or a borrowed one doing duty for\nthe time. As each glass had to be lifted on the word DRINK, and tapped\nagainst that of its right and left hand neighbour at CHINK, then set\non the table again without spilling, some one would have to pay for\nglasses round. The verse ran:\u2014\n\n Wa lift each glass ti t\u2019 brahdgroom\u2019s health,\n DRINK, DRINK, DRINK.\n T\u2019 yan \u2019at slaps pays fer t\u2019 next roond,\n CHINK, CHINK, CHINK.\n An\u2019 here\u2019s ti t\u2019 brahd, good luck ti t\u2019 lass,\n Drink, Drink, Drink.\n Wa thruff her band noo pass each glass[20],\n Wink, Wink, Wink.\n Wer liquor will all t\u2019 better seeam,\n Chink, Chink, Chink,\n When wa call ti mahnd wheer it hez been,\n Drink, Drink, Drink.\n Bud him \u2019at trimm\u2019ls, smiles, or slaps (spills),\n Chink, Chink, Chink,\n Pays fer wer glasses gahin ti t\u2019 taps,\n Drink, Drink, Drink.\n\nQuite a collection of these catch-songs might be made; they are all\nquaint, and if they point to days when things were a trifle different,\nwe must bear in mind that a hundred years hence we shall be pretty\nseverely criticized.\n\n\n _Birth._\n\nThe future of a child greatly depends upon which day it is born.\n\n A Munday\u2019s bairn will grow up fair,\n A Tuesday\u2019s yan i\u2019 grace thruff prayer,\n A Wednesday\u2019s bairn \u2019ez monny a paain,\n A Tho\u2019sday\u2019s bairn weean\u2019t bahd at heeam.\n A Friday\u2019s bairn is good an\u2019 sweet,\n A Settherday\u2019s warks frea morn ti neet,\n Bud a Sunday\u2019s bairn thruff leyfe is blist\n An\u2019 seear i\u2019 t\u2019 end wi\u2019 t\u2019 Saints ti rist.\n\nFrom the day of its birth to that of its baptism, pepper cake, cheese\nand wine, or some other cordial, are offered to all those who cross the\nthreshold. No one would think of refusing to \u2019tak a bite an\u2019 sup,\u2019 to\nwish the little stranger all the happiness and good luck possible. In\nmany places, the doctor cuts the cake and cheese immediately after the\nhappy event is over, giving a piece to every one present; neither cake\nnor cheese must have been previously cut into, and what is cut must be\ndivided into just so many pieces as there are friends present, neither\nmore nor less. Should it unfortunately happen the pieces exceed in\nnumber that of the guests, it would portend that troubles in this life\nwill be too many to contend against; but should there be not enough\npieces to go all round, then the child in after years will lack many of\nthose comforts, the possession of which make life a blessing.\n\nWhen possible, a new arrival, before being laid by its mother\u2019s side,\nor even touched by her, is placed in the arms of a maiden. To a boy,\nthis early contact, with our highest ideal of earthly purity, gives\nto him a nobleness of character which in after years will help the\nworld to be better, whilst in the case of a girl she will grow up to be\nmodest and pure in all things. The idea is pretty.\n\nIn Cleveland, and some of the dales westward, the notion still prevails\nthat a child should always go up in the world before it goes down; so\nwhen it happens that a child is born in the topmost story, in which\ncase it is impossible to carry it into a higher room, the nurse will\nstand upon the bed with the child in her arms, holding it above the\nmother, that being a higher position than it held at its birth. After\nthis ceremony it may be safely taken to the lower regions. Were this\nrite omitted, and the child allowed to descend before it had gone up,\nfailure in life would most likely be the lot of such a one\u2014the tendency\nof such always being downhill. These little ceremonies, anyway, point a\nsplendid moral. One cannot begin to be good and diligent too early in\nlife.\n\nWhen a child is born with a mask or caul over its head, good luck\nwill follow it all the days of its life, always provided the caul is\nproperly preserved. There is some rite in the preservation of such,\nthe details of which I have not been able to obtain. Speaking to one\nold dame, she said to me that she did not rightly know what they did\nin such cases, none of her children having been fortunate enough to\nbe so distinguished at their birth. This much, however, she did know,\nthat some just dried such a covering by laying it between two layers\nof muslin, but\u2014and to give her own words\u2014\u2018Ther\u2019s other some \u2019at \u2019ev a\nstraange carrying on wi\u2019 sike leyke; they lap it roond t\u2019 Bahble an\u2019\ndeea summat, bud Ah deean\u2019t knaw what, bud Ah can git ti knaw foor\nya.\u2019 That cannot be now; she has crossed the borderland. That such\ncauls or masks were held in high esteem at one time, is proved by the\nhigh prices paid for them, not because they had belonged to people of\nnote or high degree, but because they possessed the power to ward off\nmany evils which might assail the possessor. Sailors even to-day set\ngreat store by them: they act as a charm, saving the possessor from\ndrowning in case of a wreck. These veils were much prized by witches,\nand great was the evil they could work should such ever come into their\npossession, hence the necessity of using all precautions against their\nloss.\n\nAn old body, Ann Caygill by name\u2014I think she was a native of\nBedale\u2014told me the following story. She was seventy-five years of age,\nand the event took place some twenty years before she was born, but\nas the individual affected told the story to Ann herself, I have it\npretty much from its original source. Jane Herd at her birth had a mask\ncovering both head and face, which, as quite natural in those days, her\nmother carefully preserved. It turned out to be one of extraordinary\npower. If Jane laid it on the Bible and wished to see any one, they\nwere bound to put in an appearance. And many other wonders she could\nwork with her caul. Jane, it seems, was a pious girl, and never used\nit for an evil purpose, though, said my informant, she might have done\nhad she been so minded. One day when Jane was using her mask for some\nrightful purpose, a puff of wind blew it through the open window.\nJane of course rushed into the street to recover her treasure, but it\nwas gone, and could not be found; being of such an exceedingly light\nnature, the wind had carried it no one knew whither.\n\nAnd from that day Jane\u2019s life became a burden. Her lover grew cold\u2014the\nwedding day had been arranged, but he declined to carry out his\npromise\u2014a nasty lump came on her neck, and a fearful pain and swelling\nattacked her right knee, which made her walk very lame, and indeed\nshe became a perfect wreck. At last things got into such a parlous\nstate with her, that people began to suspect some evil-minded person\nhad found her mask, and was working her evil with it. It was then\nremembered, when Jane had rushed into the street to recover her lost\ntreasure, that the only person visible at the time was one Molly\nCass[21], a witch of considerable local repute in those days. But Molly\nat the time had been so far distant from Jane\u2019s cottage, that she was\nnot even questioned. In the end, Jane had resort to the wise man, or\nrather men, of that day\u2014Master Sadler and Thomas Spence[22], both of\nBedale. These two worthies, after many questions, made a sign round\nthe lump as well as round her knee, telling Jane to collect certain\nthings\u2014what these were could not be called to mind\u2014and bring them\nnext day near midnight. These several things having been collected\nand duly delivered to the charmers, were mixed together, with other\ningredients, and the whole boiled on a wickenwood fire, and stirred\nby Jane with a wickenwood stick; near the end of this boiling, a great\nsmoke arose from the pan, which Jane was told to inhale. She did so,\nbut it nearly choked her, still she kept on swallowing mouthful after\nmouthful, until she had done so nine times; she was then told to cease\nstirring, but to retain the stick in one hand, the other being laid\non the Bible. She had then to repeat the following question: \u2018Has \u2014\u2014 \u2019\n(here mentioning the name of anyone she suspected) \u2018gotten mah caul?\u2019\nThen Master Sadler, after a moment\u2019s pause, said, \u2018No, she is free.\u2019\nMaster Spence then joined in with \u2018By the power of the Holy Writ and\nthe charm of Hagothet and Arcon[23], mention the name of some other\nperson thou doubtest.\u2019 This formula was gone through until the name of\nMolly Cass was mentioned. Even as the witch\u2019s name was uttered, the\npan boiled over, filling the room with such a fearful stench, that all\nthree had to hurry into the yard. So quickly was this accomplished,\nthat they surprised the old witch scrambling off a settle, upon which\nshe had been standing to enable her to peep through a small hole in the\nshutters. She was instantly seized and thrust into the room, and kept\nthere until so nearly suffocated, that she confessed she had the caul\non her person, and promised then and there to deliver it up. On being\nbrought out of the room more dead than alive, she further confessed\nthat she had been forced to run all the way from Leeming\u2014the current\nbelief, however, was that she had come astride of a besom\u2014the moment\nthey had put the pan on the wickenwood fire. She begged to be forgiven,\nbut as a punishment she was locked up in a stable, a wicken peg having\nbeen driven into the door to prevent her from escaping; and next day,\nfor the diversion of the Bedale inhabitants, she was hurried to the\nmill dam and duly ducked nine times.\n\n\n \u2018A FRAGMENT,\u2019\n\n ON THE WITCH MOLLY CASS.\n\n * * * * *\n\n Foor seear sha war a queer au\u2019d lass,\n Ez meean ez muck, ez bou\u2019d ez brass;\n Ah meean t\u2019 au\u2019d witch, au\u2019d Molly Cass,\n \u2018At lived nigh t\u2019 mill at Leeming.\n Noo fooak will clack, Ah\u2019ve heeard \u2019em saay\n At t\u2019 dark o\u2019 neet, when pass\u2019t that waay,\n Tha fan\u2019 it ommaist leet ez daay,\n Sike leets war awlus gleaming;\n An\u2019 sum held ti \u2019t \u2019at mair \u2019an yance\n Wiv her feet fra t\u2019 grund they\u2019d seean her prance,\n Loup hoos heigh up, wi\u2019 t\u2019 Divil dance.\n\n * * * * *\n\nThe above would, I believe, be written about the year 1810 by one who\nwrote under the signature of R. H.[24] At that time Molly must have\nbeen dead some twenty years, but her deeds would still be remembered by\nmany. Mr. W. Hird, from whom I had the above fragment, told me he used\nto know the whole piece, which was of considerable length.\n\nBut to return to recent times, still keeping to Bedale. I remember a\nshopkeeper\u2019s wife saying to me, \u2018That girl has been lucky, but then\nshe had a veil on when she was born, so one need not wonder.\u2019\n\nThe case is a simple one, I know, but a straw shows which way the wind\nblows, and here was the belief still flourishing in the potency of\nthe caul. This happened about twenty years ago. One has no need to go\nthat far back; so recently as four years ago, a man, a native of Great\nAyton, said to me, pointing to a girl, \u2018Ah\u2019ve putten that lass\u2019s muther\nintiv a straange stew. Ah\u2019ve stown\u2019 (stolen) t\u2019 lass\u2019s mask, an\u2019 her\nmuther\u2019s ommaist to\u2019n\u2019d t\u2019 hoos upsahd doon latin\u2019 on \u2019t, bud Ah s\u2019all\nlet her \u2019ev \u2019t back agaan; Ah wadn\u2019t keep \u2019t foor nowt;\u2019 and then he\nadded, \u2018An\u2019 Ah wadn\u2019t wark neeabody onny ill wi\u2019 \u2018t.\u2019 Here again you\nhave the old belief showing itself as strongly as in days past.\n\nBut to return to the baby. The baby\u2019s nails must not be cut during\ninfancy; should they grow inconveniently long, they may be bitten\noff by the mother, for if they were cut, the child would grow up\nlight-fingered, i.e. a thief. When the child has celebrated its first\nbirthday, they may be properly cut; but here again certain days must be\navoided\u2014Fridays and Sundays are considered to be very unlucky. It is a\ncommon saying\u2014\n\n Better t\u2019 baan \u2019ed ne\u2019er been born,\n \u2018An cut its naals on a Sunday morn.\n\nThere is no virtue attached to the pieces of the nails when cut, but\nthe first pieces bitten off should be carefully preserved, until\nthere is a scrap from every nail on both hands; these must be wrapped\ntogether and buried under an ash-tree, and the child, if not freed\nfrom the diseases incident to the young, will only have them in a\nslight degree.\n\nThe old rhyme says\u2014\n\n Cut \u2019em o\u2019 Munday, cut \u2019em foor health;\n Cut \u2019em o\u2019 Tuesday, cut \u2019em foor wealth;\n Cut \u2019em o\u2019 Wednesday, cut \u2019em foor news;\n Cut \u2019em o\u2019 Thorsday, ya cut foor new shoes;\n Cut \u2019em o\u2019 Friday, ya cut \u2019em foor sorrow;\n Cut \u2019em o\u2019 Seterday, t\u2019 bairn nivver need borrow;\n Cut \u2019em o\u2019 Sunday, \u2019t \u2019ed better be deead,\n Foor ill-luck an\u2019 evil \u2019ll lig on its heead.\n\nAgain:\u2014\n\n Sunday clipt, Sunday shorn,\n Better t\u2019 bairn \u2019ed nivver been born.\n\nBefore the baby is nine days old it is wise to decide upon its name,\nand once having done this, _so let it be_. If either parent should\nhappen to say, \u2018We will call it So-and-so,\u2019 do not alter after having\nso declared, for if so the child will grow up a liar, and probably\nhave to assume several aliases before death. But the worst of all is\nto decide upon a name before the child is born, and then afterwards\nchange to some other. Singular to say, in Cleveland you are told that\nsuch a proceeding \u2019can end i\u2019 nowt bud harm\u2019; but you are not informed\neither precisely what form the harm will take, or why. There is a\nlegend lingering still in Wensleydale, to the effect that once a soul\nwas permitted to view the body it would shortly tenant. The mother\nhappened to say whilst the soul was near, \u2018When my baby is born, if\na boy, we shall have him christened \u2014\u2014,\u2019 mentioning the name they had\ndecided upon. The soul knew it would be a boy, and on its return to\nspirit-land gave a full description of the body it was going to have\nfor its companion on earth, mentioning at the same time the name by\nwhich it would be known. What then was its dismay to discover, on being\ncarried to the font, that it was being christened by some other name.\nFor a time it was sorely troubled. What must it do? What could it do?\nIn the end it felt there was only one way open: it must hurry back to\nsoul-land and clear itself from an apparent untruth, but in order to do\nthis it must free itself from the body; but if ever the soul and body\npart company they never meet again. So the baby died, and the soul went\nback to spirit-land.\n\nThe above was given to me years ago by an old Yorkshire dame, who\nduring her girlhood, if not a native, lived for many years in the\nvillage of West Burton. In the dales of Cleveland and Wensleydale,\nto guard her babe from the influence of evil spirits and bad wishes,\nthe mother used to place a Bible under the pillow of the sleeping\nchild, until such time as the infant had been christened, that being\nconsidered sufficient protection against all evil spirits. And in the\ndays of witchcraft, in many houses where the first cradle would shortly\nbe tenanted, it was most carefully kept wrong side up until the child\nwas laid in it. This was done so that no other living thing in that\nhouse should sleep in it before the coming owner. Otherwise the cradle\nwould be forestalled, and in after years the occupant might have reason\nto doubt the fidelity of his wife, or vice versa.\n\nIn such fear was this forestalling of the cradle held, that one was\nrarely purchased until absolutely needed. A cradle should always be\npaid for before it crosses the threshold. It is said that the child\nwho sleeps in an unpaid-for cradle will end its days lacking the means\nto pay for its own coffin, or, as others put it, be too poor to pay\nfor its lodgings on the earth or in it. Should the baby when grown\nolder say \u2018Papa\u2019 before he or she utters \u2018Mamma,\u2019 then be assured the\nnext little stranger will be a boy; however, should it say \u2018Mamma\u2019\nfirst, then it will be a girl; and should it say \u2018Papa\u2019 and a girl is\nborn, then be quite sure that it said \u2018Mamma\u2019 some little time before,\nwhen no one was near. This last bit is mine; I like to help even a\nsuperstition out of a difficulty.\n\nIf baby\u2019s first tooth appears in the upper jaw, it is not considered\na good sign; there is a fear of the child dying in infancy. Sometimes\nthey don\u2019t.\n\nShould the baby be born with a mole on its chin, success is strongly\nforeshadowed; the same on the left thigh is considered quite the\nreverse. One on the right temple gives wealth and high position, and\none placed at the outside corner of either eye denotes a sudden death.\nWhilst\n\n A dimple on the chin brings a fortune in,\n A dimple on the cheek leaves the fortune for to seek.\n\nNo woman ever dreamt of crossing any threshold but her own until after\nshe had been churched, as in doing so she carried ill-luck into every\nhouse she entered.\n\nAt the baptism, should a boy and a girl be presented at the same time,\nthe boy must always be christened first, as otherwise he will play\nsecond fiddle to his wife, and when come to man\u2019s estate be for ever\nbeardless and effeminate; and worse than this, the baby girl when\ngrown up will assuredly possess more hair on her face than is usually\nconsidered needful, and more than beauty demands. She will also be\nmanly and masculine in her ways and habits.\n\nWhen the new baby is taken round for inspection, the lady of the house,\nafter passing various eulogiums on and over the small being, pins to\nits garments a small packet to help the future Lord Chancellor on his\nway through life. This packet contains three things\u2014an egg, a silver\ncoin, and a pinch of salt: the salt, so that it may never lack the\nsavour of life, whatever that may be; the egg assures it food, raiment,\nand a roof over its head; and the coin starts it off with a banking\naccount. If these well-wishers were to add a fourth gift, in the form\nof a small cane, sufficiently hypnotized so that the young mother\nwould be compelled to use it when needed, what a lot of really fine\nbairns there would be. Unfortunately superstition has never been run on\npractical lines.\n\n\n _Death._\n\nA lack of the needful may compel the parties concerned to wed without\nthe smallest attempt at rural ostentation, but not so in the case of a\nfuneral. Every sacrifice is made to honour the dead. They like it to be\nsaid that their loved ones were decently buried. They themselves feel\nproud to say, \u2018Aye, he\u2019s geean; wa\u2019ve gitten him sahded by\u2019 (buried),\n\u2018an\u2019 it war a beautiful funeral; Ah will say that.\u2019\n\nIn these days one can scarcely conceive the needless waste of money,\nand by those too who can ill afford it, which is so lavishly squandered\non funeral folly. It was even worse a few years ago.\n\nHad it been possible for the moment to put on one side the solemn fact\nthat some dearly loved one was being borne to his or her last long\nrest, funerals, as I remember them years ago in Ripon, were more like\ncircus processions than anything else. Happily many of the old notions\nare being laid aside by the rising generation. Yet often to-day in\ncountry places, as far as circumstances will admit, the old order of\nthings is most rigidly observed.\n\nTwo years ago I witnessed a country funeral, almost in all the pristine\nglory of my youthful days. One thing it lacked, the hearse and horses\nwith their sombre nodding plumes. This, be it remembered, was the\nfuneral of a widow\u2019s son, her finances at the time being in anything\nbut a flourishing condition. Two mutes stood guarding the open door. A\nsilk scarf about three yards long was given to each bearer and mourner\nto fasten round his hat, and a pair of black kid gloves to every one\nbidden. I cannot say how much port wine was drunk, what it cost per\nbottle, or the weight of finger biscuits consumed, but as these were\nfreely handed to every one assembled inside and outside the house, who\ncould roll a pocket handkerchief into a ball, and assume a funereal\naspect of countenance, considerable expense must have been incurred\nwith these two items alone. After the return from the graveside, there\nwas the funeral feast. Those who have never seen what provision is\nmade for an affair of this kind can form but a very poor idea of the\nactual amount of food provided for and consumed by those who follow\nas mourners to the graveside. Refreshment is necessary for those who\nhave driven, it may be, a long distance to pay their last respect to\nthe departed one, but in the case of those who live near by, surely\nit does not need a moment\u2019s thought for them to decide upon the more\nseemly course to pursue. The old days of the funeral arvel, when almost\nthe whole countryside were bidden, not only to the funeral, but to the\nfuneral feast, have passed away, or nearly so. Even to-day, in many of\nour dales, the neighbours are still bidden. This bidding, and the very\nname of it, are both of Scandinavian origin. The order of men carrying\nmen, and women women, is still observed. The same also with the sex of\nthe young; only, in the case of a young maiden, the girls who act as\nbearers are dressed in white, and the carrying of a garland in front\nof the coffin is not even yet extinct. At one time these garlands[25]\nwere after the funeral hung up in the church, and I believe in some of\nour dale churches in Cleveland these emblems of purity are to be seen\nhanging yet.\n\nIn the case of women who died in childbirth, a white sheet was thrown\nover the coffin. The bearing of the coffin either by towels (staves\nare things of the past now) or on the shoulders is equally common in\nvarious parts of the riding.\n\nShould the family of the departed one possess a hive, the announcement\nof a death must at once be made to the bees, and the hive be draped in\nblack. The bees must also have given to them a portion of everything,\nto the minutest detail, which is offered to the bidden guests,\nincluding wine, spirits, tobacco, and pipes; nothing must be omitted,\nfor in some undefined way bees watch over the welfare of those to\nwhom they belong, and it would be unwise to offend them. It is held\nthat if the first swarm following a death, no matter how long the\ninterval, is easy to hive, success is guaranteed for the next business\ntransaction, but should the swarm settle on a dead bough, it foretells\ndeath to another of the family in the near future; while should the\nswarm fly away and be lost, then great care must be exercised in all\nundertakings, until such times as a swarm has been successfully hived.\n\nIt is not so very long ago since every funeral at Guisborough[26] was\nheaded by the sexton singing a hymn from the house to the church gates,\nbut this singing by friends is common to-day.\n\nThe superstitions connected with the dying and the dead are many and\nvaried. Few country people doubt the existence of a power by which the\nliving can (as they put it) hold back the dying. It is not an uncommon\nthing to hear some one say, \u2018Sha wad \u2019a\u2019e deed last neet, nobbut Mary\nwadn\u2019t let her gan,\u2019 or \u2018Mary wadn\u2019t gi\u2019e her up,\u2019 or \u2018Mary ho\u2019ds on\ntiv her seea.\u2019 It is, as it were, the last link of the chain connecting\nlife with the earthly side of eternity, the snapping of which would\nfor ever free the soul, but which the dying person is unable to break,\nbecause some one refuses to be reconciled; they cannot bear to part\nwith them, and in this way hold them back. Again, the soul cannot free\nitself if the dying person has been laid on a bed containing pigeon\nfeathers, or the feathers of wild birds even. Instances are on record\nof pigeon feathers having been placed in a small bag, and thrust under\ndying persons to hold them back, until the arrival of some loved one;\nbut the meeting having taken place, the feathers were withdrawn, and\ndeath allowed to enter.\n\nOn the other hand, when something unaccountable has seemed to prevent a\nperson _in extremis_ from passing into the other world, pigeon feathers\nhave often been suspected. Under such circumstances the invalid has\nbeen lifted out of bed, and either laid upon another one, or seated in\na chair. And as a rule death speedily followed either treatment, the\npatient passing away in an incredibly short space of time, which of\ncourse clearly proved that such feathers had inadvertently been mixed\nwith those in the bed.\n\nWhen the signs of death are observed the windows and door are thrown\nwide open, and a silence as still as death itself is maintained, so\nthat nothing shall either hinder the dark angel from setting his seal\non their loved one, or impede the soul\u2019s flight over the borderland\ninto that of the great unknown.\n\nMuch of what is done may be rooted in the rankest superstition, or\nin many cases long-forgotten pagan rites, and one feels inclined to\nsmile; but, after a moment\u2019s consideration, one is forcibly reminded\nthat it is equally deeply rooted in the old belief, which embraces\nin its faith a devil, a fiery hell, Jonah, whale, and everything. As\nthings go nowadays, theorists are not leaving us much to believe or be\nsuperstitious about.\n\nThe death-watch, with its \u2019tick-a-tick,\u2019 has blanched the cheek of\nmany an otherwise brave Yorkshire man and woman. Tell them it is only\nthe head of a small beetle called _Atropos_ tapping against the wood\nas it eats its way out, and they will jeer at you. They know, as their\nfore-elders did before them, that it is the sign of death; if not for\nsome one in that house, assuredly so for some one in the village, and\nby-and-by some one dies, and wise heads are shaken\u2014they knew.\n\nEvery care is taken that nothing animate shall pass over the corpse. I\nnever heard of any domestic pet having been killed which so offended,\nthough such at one time would have been the case a little further north.\n\nThe belief still lingers that the passing bell possesses the power to\ndrive away all evil spirits, and so prevent them from troubling the\nsoul in its upward flight, for even to-day a sexton, on being asked to\n\u2018put the bell in,\u2019 is also often urged to do so as speedily as possible.\n\nIt is looked upon as a kindly action, when standing by the corpse of\nsome dear one, if the visitor gently touch the same. In some undefined\nway, this solemn contact of the living with the dead, makes known to\nthe sorrowing ones that nothing but sympathy is felt. By this act all\npast injuries or misunderstandings, if such existed, are blotted out,\nforgiven, forgotten.\n\nSo soon as the vital spark has left its earthly house, the fire, if\nsuch be burning in the room, is immediately extinguished[27], and it\nis not an uncommon thing for the looking-glass to be either draped\nentirely, turned with its face to the wall, or removed from the room.\nThe omens denoting the near approach of death are many\u2014a white dove\nfluttering near the window, the rapid flight of birds over the house,\nand in some instances the actual appearance, to some dearly loved one,\nof the wraith of the person about to die. Many instances of the latter\ncould be given.\n\nI cannot say when or where the Lyke Wake dirge was sung for the last\ntime in the North Riding, but I remember once talking to an old chap\nwho remembered it being sung over the corpse of a distant relation\nof his, a native of Kildale. This would be about 1800, and he told\nme that Lyke Wakes were of rare occurrence then, and only heard of\nin out-of-the-way places. Doubtless this was so, but a superstition\nclosely connected with the Lyke Wake is still with us. Old people will\ntell you that after death the soul passes over Whinny Moor, a place\nfull of whins and brambles; and according as the soul when a tenant of\nthe body administered to the wants of others, so would its passage over\nthe dreaded moor be made easy. It seems, according to the old belief,\nevery one ought to give at least one pair of new shoes to some poor\nperson, and as often as means would allow, feed and clothe the needy.\nWhether these rules were faithfully carried out or not, the soul on\napproaching Whinny Moor would be met by an old man carrying a huge\nbundle of boots; and if amongst these could be found a pair which the\nbare-footed soul had given away during life, the old man gave them to\nthe soul to protect its feet whilst crossing the thorny moor.\n\n\n THE LYKE WAKE DIRGE.\n\n This yah neet, this yah neet,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl (all),\n Fire an\u2019 fleet an\u2019 cann\u2019l leet,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n When thoo fra hither gans awaay,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl,\n Ti Whinny Moor thoo cum\u2019st at last,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n If ivver thoo gav\u2019 owther hosen or shoon,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl,\n Clap tha doon an\u2019 put \u2019em on,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n Bud if hosen or shoon thoo nivver ga\u2019 neean,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl,\n T\u2019 whinnies \u2019ll prick tha sair ti t\u2019 beean,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n Fra Whinny Moor that thoo mayst pass,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl,\n Ti t\u2019 Brigg o\u2019 Dreead thoo\u2019ll cum at last,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n If ivver thoo gav\u2019 o\u2019 thi siller an\u2019 gawd,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl,\n At t\u2019 Brigg o\u2019 Dreead thoo\u2019ll finnd footho\u2019d,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n Bud if o\u2019 siller an\u2019 gawd thoo nivver ga\u2019 neean,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl,\n Thoo\u2019ll doon, doon tumm\u2019l tiwards Hell fleeams,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n Fra t\u2019 Brigg o\u2019 Dreead \u2019at thoo mayst pass,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl,\n Ti t\u2019 fleeams o\u2019 Hell thoo\u2019ll cum at last,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n If ivver thoo gav\u2019 owther bite or sup,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl,\n T\u2019 fleeams \u2019ll nivver catch tha up,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n Bud if bite or sup thoo nivver ga\u2019 neean,\n Ivvery neet an\u2019 awl,\n T\u2019 fleeams \u2019ll bo\u2019n tha sair ti t\u2019 beean,\n An\u2019 Christ tak up thi sowl.\n\n\nAlthough there is a place called Whinny Moor, as used in the Lyke\nWake song it is mythical, simply representing a wearying hindersome\ntract of land through which the soul must perforce pass, the ease or\ndifficulty of such passage being lesser or greater according to the\ngood deeds done and alms bestowed during life. There are other versions\nof the song; the one here given is as it was dictated to me. How the\noriginal from which it was taken was worded, I cannot say. There is\nanother version in the North Riding which seems to have been written\naccording to the tenets of Rome; at least I imagine so, as purgatory\ntakes the place of hellish flames, as given above. It may be mentioned\nthat the influence of the Reformation never reached many of the dales\nin Cleveland and those further westward. Hence the more commonly known\nversion is in the phraseology of the predominant belief of that time.\n\nEvidently the version given is one of a much later date, and must have\nbeen sung by a Protestant.\n\nAs to the \u2018Brigg o\u2019 Dreead,\u2019 I dare say but little; \u2018Fools only rush\ngaily in where angels fear to tread.\u2019 However, I may venture this far;\njust as Whinny Moor had to be passed, so the \u2018Brigg o\u2019 Dreead\u2019 had to\nbe crossed. Upon one point all authorities agree. Wherever it was, or\nwhatever its form, the Brigg was the real crux. Whether we incline to\nthe theory that it was as narrow as a thread, shaky as an aspen leaf,\nor slippery as a glacier side, it had to be crossed. This accomplished,\nthe soul was fairly safe. But did it slip or stumble whilst crossing,\nthen the length of time occupied in its fearful descent, the depth\nto which it fell, together with all the concomitant evils belonging\nthereto, depended solely upon the amount of good and evil with which it\nhad been accredited during its earthly pilgrimage.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER VIII\n\n OMENS, CHARMS, RECIPES\n\n\nQuite a volume might be written on the above; their number and variety\nis legion. Therefore in brief only will it be possible to treat many of\nour omens, &c. To some few of the more striking a few details will be\ngiven.\n\nMany of the omens, charms, &c., quoted are in no sense peculiar either\nto our riding or county. They are with us, they are duly observed, and\nthe belief in them is not wholly dead yet.\n\nTo break a looking-glass foreshadows an early death, or great evil in\nthe near future, and for any one (if they have not previously seen or\nspoken to the person that day) to look over his or her shoulder, so\nthat their reflection is seen in the glass, foretells an untimely death\nto one or both. Should a hen crow, the reward for its exhibiting such\nmarvellous vocal powers would be immediate death. The old song says\n(date, the early seventies)\u2014\n\n\n Than awn a crawing hen,\n Ah seeaner wad t\u2019 au\u2019d divil meet,\n Hickity O, pickity O, pompolorum jig,\n Or breed a whistling lass,\n Ah seeaner wad t\u2019 au\u2019d divil treeat,\n Hickity O, pickity O, pompolorum jig.\n Nowt bud ill-luck \u2019ll fester wheear\n Ther craws an\u2019 whistles sike a pair;\n Maay hens an\u2019 wimin breed neea mair,\n Pompolorum jig.\n\n\nA dog howling under your window three nights in succession portends\nevil or death in the near future. A picture falling, if the glass be\nbroken, speaks clearly of a death in the family at no very distant\ndate; the glass being intact, implies that misfortune of some kind is\nhanging overhead, but possibly everything may come right in the end.\n\nA strange cat coming to your house, if black, should never be driven\naway; if you do so, you simply drive luck from your door.\n\nIf you are unmarried, be very careful to keep in mind the fact that,\nhaving attended three funerals, you must at least be present during\npart of a wedding service before standing at the graveside of a fourth,\nor you will die single, unless you are exceedingly rash, and get\nmarried in spite of everything.\n\nIf you accidentally break anything, it is a good plan to let two other\narticles of little or no value slip from your hand. This will save you\nfrom breaking two other things of value, because you are bound to smash\nthree, and it is really an advantage to be allowed to choose two of\nthem yourself.\n\nYes, things go by threes. If one death takes place in a street, it\nwon\u2019t be long ere the bell tolls for two others\u2014so say they.\n\nIf the youngest daughter in a family is married first, the eldest\nhad better unravel one of her garters, knitting the same, mixed with\nother wool, into something a man can wear. This she must present to\nthe one she has a special regard for, and it most likely will incline\nhis heart towards her. Garters, by-the-way, are rather out of it\nnow; they once were articles in great request, to work charms and\nspells with, but that was in the days when either a long band with a\nbuckle, or a knitted affair about an inch wide and a yard long, was\nuniversally worn. In these days of patent things and other inventions,\nsome of which do not encircle the leg at all, the girls are debarred\nfrom resorting to many of the old-time spells. In days past, so long\nas a fellow wore one of his lady love\u2019s garters round his neck, he\nwas bound to be true to her and she to him. Did a fellow try the same\nthing now, he would strangle himself. The old-time garters, by-the-way,\nhad other uses; the Bible, a key, and a garter often playing the part\nof a private detective, or infallibly making known to some doubting\nmaiden the name of the man she would marry. The _modus operandi_ was as\nfollows:\u2014In the case of an undetected thief, a key was placed within\nthe Bible; this was bound securely within by winding a garter round it,\nthe whole being suspended from a nail. The name of the supposed thief\nwas now mentioned three times\u2014in some districts seven\u2014and if the key\nturned round, the thief was discovered.\n\nVery similar were the rites used for the discovery of a future husband.\nIn this case, however, the maiden wishing to know her fate, had to use\none of her own garters, and it was also needful that the Bible should\nbe opened at Ruth i. 16, 17. Some part of the key resting on the verses\nnamed, the Bible was then closed, and the key as before bound fast with\nthe garter. The questioner and some other person now seated themselves\nopposite each other, each placing an elbow on a table and resting the\nopen part of the key on their index fingers. All being thus arranged,\nthe names of several of their male acquaintances were mentioned, the\nkey turning on the name of the future husband being uttered. Not long\nago the writer helped a maiden through the ceremony. The above, and the\ntwo following, are still commonly resorted to.\n\nThere is no difficulty in obtaining information touching the time you\nwill be married. Simply let an anxious maiden take a looking-glass,\nand an apron which she has never worn or held between herself and the\nlight, into the garden when the moon is at full; she must be careful\nnot to look upon the queen of night until the rites are concluded.\nKeeping her back, then, to the moon, let her stand upon something she\nhas never stood upon before\u2014a newspaper, an old box, anything\u2014and\ndrawing the apron over the glass, hold it so that the moon shines upon\nit; let her now count the number of moons she sees reflected through\nthe apron, and so many years will it be before the happy day arrives.\nI may mention, if such a one is in any violent hurry to get married,\nit is best to choose the apron of some light material, and to draw it\ntightly over the glass; careful attention to these small details has a\nmarvellous tendency to lessen the number of moons.\n\nThroughout Cleveland the maidens have recourse to the following method\nof divination for the discovery whether they are to be married or die\nold maids. From a stream running southward a maiden fills a clean\nglass with water, and having borrowed an old wedding ring, or one\nworn by a widow\u2014the ring must grace maternity\u2014she suspends it over\nthe glass of water hanging by a single hair drawn from her own head,\nher elbow resting on the table and the hair being laid over the ball\nof the thumb. Should the ring hit the side of the glass, her fate is\nsealed\u2014she will die an old maid; if, however, it spins round quickly,\nshe will have to wait a year; if slowly, she will be wedded more than\nonce.\n\nIt is commonly held that if you can find a four-leaved clover, and\nthen walk backward upstairs to bed, sleeping with the leaf under your\npillow, you will dream of the man you will marry.\n\nIt is considered most unlucky to see the new moon for the first time\nthrough glass. To break the spell cast upon you by such an unfortunate\noccurrence, make the sign of the cross on the doorstep, and jump\nbackwards over it into the house.\n\nShould a hairy worm cross your path, pick it up, throw it over your\nshoulder, and wish.\n\nIf you tread on an ordinary road beetle, rain will presently fall.\n\nWhenever you hear a cuckoo, turn the money over in your pocket for luck.\n\nTo see a single magpie is very unlucky; two together is the reverse.\n\nTo see a single owl is also unlucky; but to hear one hoot, and then\nsee it, foretells that you will have timely warning of some impending\nevil.\n\nWet your finger and cross your left shoe and wish every time you see a\npiebald horse.\n\nShould two persons utter the same words at the same time, they must\nlink their little fingers together and wish, keeping their wish secret.\n\nThe deciduous teeth of a male child, which have not touched the ground,\nif kept about the person are a specific against all manner of evil.\n\nTo ensure the child having a good and sound set of teeth, those which\nfall out of themselves, or which the child itself pulls out, should be\ndipped in salt and thrown into the fire.\n\nA tooth found in a churchyard is believed to charm away the toothache\nif rubbed on the cheek.\n\nAnd lastly, children\u2019s teeth must either be carefully preserved or\nutterly destroyed by fire with salt, as should one accidentally be\nswept away and fall into the ground, or be buried by some evil-minded\nperson, the child will not live long, the first rites of ashes to ashes\nhaving been consummated.\n\nNo luck will follow a declaration of love if made on St. Dunstan\u2019s Day.\n\nTo be wed on St. Thomas\u2019s Day makes a bride a widow ere long.\n\nA young woman, a native of Great Ayton, assured me the following was\na certain charm for obtaining a sight of one\u2019s future spouse. The\nindividual desirous of obtaining such a vision must make a cake of\nthe following ingredients:\u2014flour, a small pinch of graveyard mould\ntaken from nine different graves, sufficient water from nine distinct\nsources, a pinch of salt, and a drop or two of blood from her third\nfinger. The resulting dough had to be baked at midnight on the eve\nbefore that of St. Agnes, and whilst warm placed under the pillow; if\nfound whole in the morning, well and good; if not, the charm could not\nbe carried to its conclusion until the following year. The cake, if\nwhole, had to be carried on the eve of St. Agnes and laid where four\ncross roads meet. All being accomplished, just before midnight the\nfuture husband or wife would come along, halt, look at the cake, and\nthen vanish. Although the night might be pitch-dark, the apparition, it\nseems, would be quite visible. Immediately the spirit form vanished,\nthe watcher must regain possession of the cake at once, or the water\nelves would seize it and work all manner of evil. These water elves\nkeep cropping up, but little of their doings and nothing of their\nappearance seems to be known amongst our people. It is a bit of lost\nmyth.\n\nDuring harvest time you may easily discover how long you are destined\nto wait before being led to the altar. When the moon is at full, pluck\nthree ripe ears of barley, which must be carefully wrapped up together\nwith something belonging to him you love best. The parcel must be laid\nunder your pillow, and on arising in the morning, open it, and if all\nthe grains have remained _in situ_, then you will be wed that year; but\nif any have broken away, count how many\u2014they tell how many years you\nwill remain single.\n\nIf a young fellow is in love, and the girl\u2019s heart does not incline\ntowards him, there is a charm which will cast a spell about her from\nwhich she cannot escape. There is a difficulty, and rather a grave one,\nbut love surmounts all things, so they say. He must cut off a willow\nknot and chew it. So far, it is quite a simple affair; given time, a\nlove-lorn swain might manage to masticate the whole tree. But now comes\nthe difficulty\u2014having chewed the said knot, he must secrete the same in\nthe bed of the girl he loves. Once she falls asleep with that chewed\nknot as her companion, she will be bound to yield to his importunities.\nShould, however, the knot be so placed that it causes the fair sleeper\nsuch inconvenience that she is compelled to find the cause, and having\ndone so, throws it away, that young man may consider his case as\nhopeless.\n\nIf you can, within three days after becoming engaged, seize a snail\nby its horns and throw it over your left shoulder, you will to a very\nconsiderable extent reduce the roughness of the road which true love is\nsaid to journey along.\n\nAnd remember it is unlucky to say good-night three times to the girl\nyou love, without returning to the house and starting the whole thing\nover again, but one doesn\u2019t mind that. When parting with friends for\nany length of time, never say goodbye without adding that you hope to\nsee them again, and never watch the parting ones out of sight\u2014it is\nmost unlucky.\n\nThe various nostrums administered, and the methods employed in days\npast for the cure of all the diseases man is heir to, one cannot help\nbut think, if carefully observed, would usually have terminated in a\nfuneral feast. The rank filth our forefathers had prepared for them,\nand doubtless were induced to swallow, has left behind the unsolvable\nmystery of accounting for the fact that specimens of the Anglo-Saxon\nrace are still extant. Putting on one side for the moment the wretched\nstuff they had to swallow, let us turn to a few things usually employed\nto effect a cure.\n\nIf any one was seized with a colic, and colic water was not handy, all\nthat was necessary was for some one to slip out and catch either a carp\nor a pike, slit the fish open whilst alive, and clap it on the stomach\nof the sufferer\u2014and lo! a cure. This sounds all very nice, but it has\noften taken me three days to catch a pike, and carp, by-the-way, are\nnot very widely distributed; and as colic water required for the making\nthereof nearly every flower which blooms in our woods and gardens, and\nof two or three others which never do so in \u2019perfidious Albion\u2019\u2014and\nwhen actually all things had been obtained, it could not be properly\nprepared under nine months\u2014possibly there may have been some other\nremedy I have not heard of, and which could be applied during the time\nthe pike was being captured, otherwise the patient would often have a\nlengthy squirm of it.\n\nFor pains in the joints, a toad tied belly downwards over the affected\npart would enable the patient to walk as well as ever. Now this is\nsomething sensible; just you find a poor body suffering from pains\nin the joints, and then produce a toad, and you will work a miracle.\nLong before you can tie it belly downwards anywhere, the patient, if\na female, will be beating her best running record; if a male, his\njoints will be right in an instant, and you will have to take the toad\noutside, minus dignity.\n\nAn old lady tells me she has known a drink made from the following\ningredients do a power of good in case of fever:\u2014a handful of\ndandelion, agrimony, verjuice, rue, powdered crab\u2019s eyes and claws, and\nyarrow from off a grave. These had to be boiled for some hours, and\ntaken when the moon was on the wane. Doubtless there was another recipe\nequally efficacious for those who unfortunately were struck down with\nfever when the moon was on the rise.\n\nThe tongue of a still-born calf, if dried and worn so that it touched\nthe spine, would prevent fits of almost any kind.\n\nWart-charmers are not defunct yet. I know several who, after\npronouncing an inaudible incantation, rub the wart with a special\nstone, and then you are assured the wart or warts will die. Frog spit\nrubbed on a wart is said to be a certain cure. If you rub your wart\nwith a black snail, sticking the snail on a thorn where you will never\nsee it again, the wart, as the snail dies, will disappear. If you\nyearn to afflict any one with warts, let them wash in water in which\neggs have been boiled. This belief is quite common to-day. A plate of\nsalt, upon which a dead man\u2019s hand has rested overnight, used to be\nconsidered good for chilblains.\n\nMaster Sadler of Bedale, in the year 1773, undertook the cure of ague\nin quite a simple way. After the patient had answered a few searching\nquestions touching his past private life\u2014which information doubtless\nhe would much rather have kept to himself\u2014his name was chalked at the\nback of the hob, an incantation pronounced, and he went home whole. I\nam inclined to the belief that many in these days would have to take\nthe ague back with them. The ague is bad enough, but for a fellow to\nsystematically trot out one\u2019s past doings would be infinitely worse.\nThat was a hundred years ago; but only the other day I was told that if\na field-mouse was skinned and made into a small pie and eaten, and the\nwarm skin bound hair-side against the throat, and kept there for nine\ndays, the worst whooping cough \u2019\u2019at ivver was\u2019 would be cured.\n\nSpeaking of whooping cough, I remember a lady at Guisborough, only a\nfew years ago, taking both her boys to the gasworks for them to inhale\nthe fumes from the gas-tank. It nearly poisoned the whole three, but\nthe cough survived it nicely. However, that and the field-mouse were\ninfinitely preferable to the recipe I had from an old dame, who assured\nme \u2019no cough o\u2019 no kind whatsoever could stan\u2019 agaan it.\u2019 It was this:\nequal quantities of hare\u2019s dung and owl\u2019s pellets\u2014the latter are the\ndisgorged remains of feathers, bones, &c., which the owl objects\nto digest. Well, having carefully mixed these two ingredients with\ndill-water, clay, and the blood of a white duck, the resulting filth\nhad to be made into pills the size of a nut, three of which had to\nbe taken fasting on going to bed. This was to be continued until the\ncough was cured or the patient buried. A much simpler method is to\ncatch a frog, open its mouth and cough into it three times, throw the\npoor brute over your left shoulder, and the patient will be cured\nat once. If not, depend upon it there is some very good reason why\nthe charm has failed. One woman I knew, used to take her little girl\nand hold her over an old well when a bad fit of coughing seized the\nchild. She declared, if at the time either a frog or a toad happened\nto be at the bottom of the well with its mouth open, the child would\nbe cured instantly. I offered to catch her a frog and open its mouth\nfor the child to cough into; this she objected to, because, as she\nsaid, the frog might spit at it and injure it for life. This belief\nin the poisonous and spitting power of frogs is still retained by the\ngood people of Great Ayton, and also of many other places. I remember\nan old angler once saying to me, \u2018Ya see, the Lord gav\u2019 t\u2019 fishes\nunderstan\u2019ing; tha knaw \u2019at frogs is venomous, an\u2019 tha\u2019re a gran\u2019 bait\nfoor pike, bud neea pike\u2019ll tak ho\u2019d if ya deean\u2019t run t\u2019 heuk thruff\nbaith ther lips, seea ez tha can\u2019t spit at \u2019em.\u2019 \u2018But,\u2019 said I, \u2018how do\nthe pike catch them when they are swimming in a natural state?\u2019 \u2018Easy\neneeaf,\u2019 answered he; \u2018tha tak hodden \u2019em fra behint, an\u2019 tha can\u2019t\nspit backkards waay ower ther heeads, ya knaw.\u2019\n\nStill another plan may be tried to ease the little sufferers. If they\nbe passed nine times under the belly and over the back of either a\npiebald pony or an ass (the latter preferred), the cough will be\nimmediately charmed away, whilst a touch on the larynx from the hand\nof a seventh son of a seventh son is held to be a certain cure. And a\nhairy caterpillar or small wood-lizard tied round the child\u2019s neck,\nhaving been stitched in a small bag, was, and I believe is yet, looked\nupon as a sovereign remedy.\n\nSnail soup is drunk even to-day for the cure of consumption. And the\nskin of an eel (if skinned when alive), placed in a silken bag and worn\nso as to rest on the chest, is believed to cut phlegm when nothing else\nwill.\n\nTo cure the \u2018water-springs,\u2019 an old name for acidity or heartburn, old\npeople tell me the following is an infallible cure if taken in time\u2014a\nvery wise proviso\u2014burnt oyster, cockle, and mussel shells ground to\npowder, equal parts, and mixed in worm-water. This latter was prepared\nby gathering a handful of worms from the churchyard and boiling them.\nThe burnt shells might do good; ordinary water and chalk would have\nbeen equally efficacious, had they but known it.\n\nBut nearly every disease or complaint had its cure in days past, and,\nin a more or less degree, all were nasty.\n\nFor the moment let us return to wart-charmers. There is room here for\nboth speculation and research. They did cure warts, of that there is\nnot the least shadow of a doubt. The amount of evidence on record is\nsuch that contradiction and disbelief amounts to crass folly, and\nshows an ignorance of well-authenticated facts. A man I know, whose\nhand was covered with warts\u2014warts which simply jeered at caustic and\nall such applications\u2014at last went to the charmer. What did the man\ndo? He simply asked the old chap if he believed he could remove them.\nHaving answered in the affirmative, the charmer just rubbed his hand\nover the whole lot, muttered some words, and told the warty one to go\nhome\u2014in a fortnight\u2019s time he was wartless. Hundreds of cases could\nbe given. Absolute faith that they would disappear, may have exercised\nsome mental action over the physical, and the trick was done. In this\nway, if we admit some hypnotic power which they unconsciously used, we\nmay account for many of the wonders which these charmers and wise men\nworked in days past, often bringing about results at which possibly no\none was more surprised than the wise men themselves; but they, like\nmany of to-day, had the sense to hold their peace, and that has often\ndressed many a conjuring trick with all trappings of philosophy.\n\nIt is held to-day, when any one is bitten by a dog, that the only\ncertain remedy against hydrophobia is to have the brute killed at once.\nFor, say they, should the dog in years to come go mad, all those bitten\nby it will go mad at the same time.\n\nThe wearing of silver rings made from a single coin presented at Holy\nCommunion, was once held as a sovereign remedy and preventive against\nepileptic fits.\n\nThe cures for children and others afflicted with worms are many and\ncurious. A few of the more striking will be noticed. A bunch of fine\nyarrow, gathered from off a maiden\u2019s grave, had to be boiled in water,\nand a wineglassful of the liquor, with the addition of as much finely\npowdered glass as would lie on a groat, had to be taken fasting for\nsix alternate mornings, bearing in mind that each morning the patient\nwas not fattening himself on corpse yarrow and broken window-panes; he\nhad also to swallow a stiff glass of salts and senna, which not only\nmade every kind of worm quit its hold of his inside, but left him in a\ncondition almost, if not quite, ready for the worms to commence their\nattack from the outside. Worms, however, are seized with such a sudden\nfear when a live trout is brought near them, that they die right off.\nHence it is not an uncommon thing for a father to procure a live trout,\nand lay the same on the stomach of a wormy one. And then, what with the\nfish kicking and the bairn screaming, the poor worms have no chance,\nand they know it, and throw up the sponge accordingly.\n\nIn days past cramp seems to have awakened people three or four times\na week. But sleeping with your stockings on, with a piece of sulphur\nin each, or the skin of a mole bound round the left thigh, or even\ncrossing your shoes on retiring to rest, would drive the cramp away.\nCramp, it would seem, was formerly looked upon as having a very close\nconnexion with the devil, and was often the result of an evil wish,\nspell, or witch-work. In cases when it arose from any of the latter,\nsomething more potent than sulphur and the crossing of shoes had to\nbe resorted to. A silken thread which had been passed round a coffin,\ncare having been taken to thread the silk through the handles, would,\nif worn round the leg, just below the knee-joint, securely guard the\nwearer against wicked spells of that nature.\n\nThe skin of an eel, if tied round the leg, prevents cramp whilst\nbathing.\n\nRings fashioned from any metal accidentally turned up whilst digging a\ngrave, were until quite recently in great repute, especial virtue being\nattached to one made from a coffin handle. Such rings acted as a charm\nagainst almost every kind of evil spell.\n\nYears ago it was commonly believed that there was some kind of sympathy\nexisting between the cause and the injury itself. An illustration of\nthis has been given in the case of a dog-bite, but it had a much wider\napplication; e.g. should any one be injured by a nail, or anything\nelse, the nail, &c., was carefully cleaned, polished, wrapped up, and\nput away each time after dressing the wound.\n\nI remember a case in point within the last ten years. A plough lad was\nhurt by the colter, the cutting iron of the plough; the ploughing was\nstopped, the colter removed, and sent to the blacksmith, with orders to\nremove all dirt and rust, and to polish all parts to which blood was\nadhering; and during the recovery, each time the wound was dressed, the\ncolter was cleaned and polished with equal care.\n\nFlint arrow-heads were for ages looked upon as elf-stones, and\nare to-day worn as charms against unseen evils. They also possess\nhealing power in certain diseases. So, too, do the belemnites\u2014a\nfossilized portion of an extinct cuttle-fish. These, in the hand of a\nskilled person, work wonders in the case of sore eyes and ringworm.\nUnfortunately, though belemnites are common enough, the skilled hands\nare rare, and so their virtue in thousands of instances lies dormant.\nThese belemnites are supposed to fall from the clouds during a\nthunderstorm; the same is said of rounded pieces of quartz or flints,\none and all being called thunder-bolts, or \u2019thunner-steeans.\u2019\n\nWhen a boy, I was an ardent archaeologist. I remember on one occasion\nhaving been told that chipped flints were to be found in a field\nnear Blois Hall[28]. Hurrying thither the first whole holiday, I was\nfortunate enough on that occasion to find a flint arrow-head\u2014the only\none I ever did find. This I showed to an old fellow who was hedging;\nwithout hesitation he pronounced it to be an elf-stone, declaring that\nthe elves were evil spirits, who in days past used to throw them at the\nkie\u2014I had up to that time always been told they were shot at cattle\u2014but\nmy informant stuck to throwing. I well remember that he also said the\nelves got them out of whirlpools, where they were originally made by\nthe water spirits, but he could not say what the water spirits used\nthem for, though he knew of several instances in which both cattle\nand horses had been injured by the elves throwing their elf-stones at\nthem. He further informed me that when the elves got them from the\nwhirlpools, they had much longer shanks than was on the one I had\nfound: this was so that better aim might be taken with them. \u2018But,\u2019\nsaid he, \u2018tha\u2019re nivver fund wi\u2019 lang shanks on, acoz t\u2019 fairies awlus\nbrak \u2019em off, seea ez t\u2019 elves wadn\u2019t be yabble ti potch \u2019em at t\u2019\nbeasts neea mair;\u2019 and he had been told that fairies often wore them\nas ornaments. Sore eyes could be cured by the touch from an elf-stone,\nif a fairy had ever worn it, and they were also a potent love-charm if\nworn so that they rested near the heart.\n\nSpeaking of fairies, I know an old lady who still fully believes in\ntheir existence. She assures me they have most beautiful houses at a\ngreat depth below the surface. It seems no one ever finds them, because\nthe little folk possess the magical power of transporting them to a\ndistance in an instant, should there be the least likelihood of their\nbeing disturbed; owing to this, \u2018Nobody nivver cums across \u2019em when\nwell-sinking, mining, or owt o\u2019 that soart.\u2019\n\nThe old body told me the following story:\u2014\n\nIn the days when tailors went out to work, she remembered one who came\nto work for her aunt being lost for a long time in a big field, and\nunable to find his way out, and all because he had said, \u2018If ever he\nsaw a fairy he would catch her, and take her home, and put her in a\nbottle and keep her there.\u2019 So it happened, when he left the house to\ngo home, and just when he entered the long pasture, he dropped his\nscissors, and for long he could not find them, and when he did place\nhis hand on them, his sleeve-board was snatched from him. He heard it\ndrop quite close to him, but when he stooped to pick it up, a pork pie\nwhich the farmer\u2019s wife had given him mysteriously disappeared; how,\nhe did not know. However, a little way off, he saw a most beautiful\ndamsel carrying a light; he implored her to come to his aid, and as the\ndamsel and the light would not come to him, like Mahomet he went after\nthem. This proved a most bootless errand, for the damsel and light led\nhim on and on, hither and thither, now shining quite close at hand,\nthen disappearing, and at last vanishing altogether, leaving the tailor\nutterly lost; and for long the poor fellow wandered about, until his\ncries for help were fortunately heard, \u2018bud nut afoor he\u2019d bed aboon\ntweea hours on \u2019t.\u2019\n\nThat he had been under a fairy charm, and that she (the fairy) had been\nmaking sport of him, was evident to all. Never again did that man say\nhe would bottle a fairy\u2014at least, I imagine so. When a sleeve-board, a\npair of scissors, and a pork pie are snatched from you, and you see a\nbeautiful damsel carrying a light of some kind, which she snuffs out\nevery time she is going to be caught, only to light up again some yards\nahead, and then finally disappear altogether\u2014well! even a tailor can\ndraw his own conclusions after a game of that kind.\n\nThe other day I met an old lady in the train\u2014a Mrs. Peary, of Sand\nHill Farm, near Picton. Although the old lady told me she was turned\nseventy-three, she was as active as a woman of forty, and boasted she\ncould do the work of two lasses yet. I soon discovered she possessed\na fund of both witch and other lore. Next day I paid a visit to Sand\nHill, and had a couple of hours\u2019 chat, or rather, I asked a few leading\nquestions, and then made notes as quickly as I could.\n\nFor many years she lived in Bilsdale, her native place. Now, the dale\nin question is only a few miles distant from the borders of Cleveland,\nand yet she had never heard of many of the customs so common to that\ndivision of the North Riding. \u2018Mell suppers,\u2019 she told me, were kept\nup in Bilsdale in all their pristine glory so lately as twenty years\nago\u2014guisers, mell doll, and everything. She did not know the word\n\u2018spurrings,\u2019 meaning putting the banns in. The common expression in\nher part was, and still is, \u2018So-and-so \u2019ev tumm\u2019l\u2019d ower t\u2019 bauk an\u2019\nbrokken ther legs.\u2019 I fail to see the application.\n\nAgain, though it was the custom for the bridesmaids to undress the\nbride, and see her comfortably into bed, she never remembered a case\nof stocking throwing, though she had heard of it, or of any attempt to\nkeep the bridegroom amongst the revellers all night. Running for the\nbride\u2019s garter was common in her mother\u2019s time, but mostly a ribbon in\nher own. She had never heard of the custom of letting a child go up\nbefore it went down, or that it was unlucky to mention what name the\nchild should be christened before its birth.\n\nI mention these facts because it bears out a previous statement, that\nit is inadvisable to draw conclusions as to the non-existence of\ncustoms or superstitions on evidence of a purely local character.\n\nAlthough much of what the old lady told me was general throughout the\nriding, the following was new to me.\n\nFor whooping cough I was assured that nothing was better than to walk\nalong a road until you found nine frogs; these had to be carried home\nand made into soup. The patient on no account must see the frogs, or be\ntold of what the soup was composed\u2014a most wise precaution\u2014but on his or\nher finishing the whole nine, soup and all, they would be found to be\nquite recovered. It\u2019s marvellous!\n\nThose who suffered from a weak bladder had a remedy at hand: they\nsimply had to stand astride at the head of an open grave, after the\ncoffin had been lowered, but before being filled in, and then walk\nbackwards to the foot of the same. It seems simple enough, but when you\ncome to look at it, nine people out of ten, in endeavouring to perform\nthe feat, would assuredly have surprised the onlookers by turning a\nsomersault and landing flat on their backs upon the coffin below.\n\nAgain, count your warts, then unknown to any one take a small pebble\nfrom as many different graves, put the lot in a small bag, throw it\nover your left shoulder, and the warts will all disappear in a few\ndays. My old friend would not commence or conclude any business on a\nFriday, and to break a clock-face was equally as unlucky as breaking a\nlooking-glass. Neither did she ever allow a candle to die out; to do\nsuch a thing was, to her way of thinking, equal to passing sentence of\ndeath on some one of the household. The cutting of the pepper-cake by\nthe doctor, on the birth of each grandchild, is still rigidly adhered\nto by the old lady. Being farmers, one ceremony they still observed,\nwhich was quite new to me. On the birth of a calf it was always carried\nrear first to the stall in which it was to lie, a little salt and\nwater was given it to drink, and no one ever allowed to stride over\nit, as that would mean death or ill-luck to it; but generally \u2019an\nower-stridden cauf deed,\u2019 said she[29].\n\nIt is a bad sign, when starting on a journey, should the first person\nyou meet be a woman. In such fear was this held until quite recently,\nthat the fishermen near Staithes would not have gone to sea that day;\nneither was it a good omen for a four-footed animal to cross their path\nwhen going to their boat, or at any time.\n\nIf whilst a fisherman was baiting his nets any one mentioned anything\nin connexion with a pig, or Dakky, as it was called, the worst of luck\nwould be looked for, and in many cases the fisherman would have ceased\nto bait his lines for a time.\n\nAgain, no fisherwife would dream of winding wool by candle-light\u2014to\ndo such a wicked thing would be tantamount to winding the husband\noverboard.\n\nSome years ago a young fisherman paid a visit to some relations inland;\nduring his stay he fell in love with a maiden whom in time he took\nhome as his bride. She, new to their ways and beliefs, simply laughed\nat their superstitions. It happened one night, when her husband was\naway on a voyage, that a fisherwife looked in for a bit of friendly\ngossip, and discovered the young wife by candle-light about to wind\nsome wool. She implored her not to do so, telling her of the dreadful\nand sure result of such wicked folly; others, too, who had also dropped\nin, joined in declaring what a fearful and certain risk she ran, but\nit was all of no avail. With a laugh at such nonsense the winder laid\nthe wool over a chair-back, daring them to wait and watch her wind\nit; but not a woman would stay in the house\u2014they dare not. They fled,\nand the wool was wound. Three times did the ball slip from her hand.\nWhen the good wives heard of it, they shook their heads\u2014it was a bad\nomen, so said they. When the husband returned hearty and well from his\nvoyage, the young wife laughed at them more than ever, but they shook\ntheir heads. The ball had slipped from her hand thrice; he might go and\nreturn again, it was the third journey they feared. When he was told\nwhat his wife had done, his face blanched\u2014if she had no fear, he had.\nHe had been taught the belief all his life, she only, in a way, for\nfive minutes. One more voyage would he make, and then the sea should\nknow him no more; he would not, dare not chance a third voyage. Again\nhe returned safely to his wife, but, as he had said, that was his last\nvoyage. The two set up a little shop, and for three or four years all\nwent well. Then there came a great storm. Volunteers were needed for\nthe lifeboat\u2014few able-bodied men were in the village at the time. For\nthe moment everything was forgotten; Jack jumped in, and off they went,\nthe women helping to launch the brave crew. The wrecked ones were\nsaved, but in getting the last half-drowned wretch into the boat, Jack\noverbalanced and fell into the foaming sea; nothing could save him, and\nhis body was found lying peacefully on the beach next morning. And then\nthey remembered. Aye, and so should we, had we been taught the same\nbelief when round our mother\u2019s knee. The neighbours were kind\u2014they were\nmore than that, they gave to the sorrowing one all their sympathy\u2014but,\nin spite of their kindness, the widow felt that they held her guilty of\nher husband\u2019s death. So the little shop was closed, and she went forth\nfrom amongst them, and the village knew her no more.\n\nThere is a superstition in Cleveland that you must not eat a \u2019cock\u2019s\negg,\u2019 i.e. a small egg, the last one a hen lays before sitting. When\nsuch are found, the contents are blown from the shell and burnt\u2014the\nmerest speck of the contents even adhering to the clothes has a baneful\ninfluence. The devil is said to superintend the laying of this last egg.\n\nIt is considered advisable that a new broom should sweep something into\nthe house before it is used in the contrary direction, otherwise you\nsweep good luck away from your threshold.\n\nI am told years ago it was considered \u2019a ventersome thing ti deea\u2019\nfor any one to speak disparagingly of their broom; the reason given\nbeing that no one was ever certain as to whether or no it had been\nwitch-ridden. For should it have happened that a passing witch had one\nnight borrowed their broom for a ride, it became witch-ridden, and was\never afterwards jealously watched over by the witch, and any indignity\noffered to her steed was sure to be resented.\n\nIt is looked upon as a most unwise thing for any one to give salt out\nof the house. In days past it was supposed to give witches power over\nthe giver. Cases could be mentioned in which the work of the wise man\nwas totally frustrated by such a proceeding.\n\nIt is most unlucky to give any one either a knife or any sharp\ninstrument: such folly severs love, and breeds suspicion in the breasts\nof those who hitherto have held you in sincere regard. You may buy\nsuch a present by giving something in return for it, and such payment\nmay be of the most trivial kind\u2014a pin, a bit of paper, or anything.\n\nWhen you discover your shoe-lace is loose, walk nine paces before tying\nit, otherwise you will tie ill-luck to you for that day.\n\nShould a mouse run across the room, throw something at it, or, anyway,\nin the direction in which it ran. It may happen to have escaped from a\nwitch\u2019s cat, and you will please either the cat or the witch, or both,\nby making some kind of pretence to stop it.\n\nIt is lucky, and acts as a charm, if you spit on, or place in your\nmouth, the first money you receive each day. This is common to-day, but\nI doubt if those who do so know its origin.\n\nYears ago witches were supposed to watch over or, as my informant put\nit, \u2018eye-spell\u2019 the first money paid, and often used to spirit it away.\nThis they were unable to do after it had been placed in the mouth. It\nhas now degenerated into what is vulgarly called \u2019spitting on \u2019t fer\nluck.\u2019 It is quite commonly done in our markets to-day.\n\nA weasel crossing your path is most unlucky: it speaks of treachery.\nThis evil omen may be counteracted by the performance of a very mean\ntrick: drop a coin on the road where you saw the weasel cross, and the\nevil which was yours by right, will cling to those who are unlucky\nenough to find it. If there is a tramp behind you, when you see a coin\nlying, leave it for him; he won\u2019t mind about the ill-luck.\n\nAlways pass an old shoe so as to have it on your right hand; and don\u2019t\nmove it, lest you should help some unknown person on in the world,\nwhich would only be done to the detriment of yourself, for just as much\nas you advanced them, to that extent you would be the loser. An old hat\nyou may kick about as much as you have a mind, always being careful to\nsee some one has not placed a big stone underneath it\u2014in that case it\nis always unlucky to kick a hat.\n\nWhen a child was born, and it proved either unhealthy or deformed, it\nwas generally supposed some evil-disposed person must have pricked its\nname with pins on a pincushion. When such a discovery was made by an\nexpectant wife, nothing was said to the person working the evil, but\nthe cushion was stolen, the pins withdrawn one by one, and stuck into\nthe heart of a calf. This had to be buried in the churchyard, care\nbeing taken to bury it sufficiently deep, so that the dogs would not\nscratch it up. All this had to be done before the child was born, and\nby the mother. Such a discovery was made, and a heart stuck with pins\nand buried, within the last twenty years.\n\nSores or other evil diseases caused by witchcraft could be speedily\ncured if attended to when the moon was on the wane. I do not know in\nwhat form the application was used, but here are the ingredients as\ngiven to me by an old fellow who, though he had never used it, had\nheard \u2019\u2019at nowt cud cum up tiv it.\u2019\n\n\n Tak\u2019 tweea \u2019at\u2019s red an\u2019 yan \u2019at\u2019s blake (yellow)\n O\u2019 poison berries three,\n Three fresh-cull\u2019d blooms o\u2019 Devil\u2019s glut,\n An\u2019 a sprig o\u2019 rosemary;\n Tak\u2019 henbane, bullace, bumm\u2019lkite,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 fluff frev a deead bulrush;\n Nahn berries shak\u2019 fra t\u2019 rowan-tree,\n An\u2019 nahn fra botterey bush.\n\n\nTo this day there are fisher lasses who wear their chemises wrong\nside out when their sailor lads are away at sea, and stormy weather\nthreatens.\n\nA friend of mine within the last five years heard a fisher lass say to\na group of her friends, \u2018Ah deeant leyke t\u2019 leeak o\u2019 yon cloods, an\u2019 t\u2019\nwinds gittin up; let\u2019s gan yam an\u2019 to\u2019n wer sarks,\u2019 and every one of\nthose who had a loved one on the water promptly did so.\n\nAgain, does a maiden fear that her lover is growing cold, she turns\nher chemise, so as to win back his cooling affections. This, like most\nother old beliefs, is dying out now. It is rather an undertaking, as\nfashion goes, for a lass to undress and dress again nowadays.\n\n\n ... Her Jack war on t\u2019 sea,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 tuckkins marked her swelling breast,\n Fer her sark war to\u2019n\u2019d aboot.\n\n * * * * *\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER IX\n\n WITCHCRAFT\n\n\nWitch-lore runs so very much in the same groove, that one fairly good\nexample throws light on many points of interest. It was either the evil\neye, or the working of some spell, injury to cattle, or surreptitiously\nriding horses during the midnight hour, an amusement which it would\nseem witches were very prone to indulge in. Then followed a visit to\nthe wise man, during which he did something, usually winding up on his\npart with an incantation, or the working of some anti-witch spell by\nthe injured ones on their own account at home.\n\nThese charms for destroying the power of witches were numerous; in\nfact a careless inquirer would be led to the conclusion that every\ndale of any size possessed its own peculiar charm, but after a little\ncareful research and comparison, such an opinion will be found to be\nuntenable. The difference exists only in detail, nearly all springing\nfrom one or two common roots. When and how it came about these varied\nalterations crept in, is somewhat of a mystery, because one would\nnaturally suppose, where such a vital point was at issue, every word\nand detail as to manipulation would be most carefully handed down. The\nonly solution I can offer\u2014and I do so in all humility\u2014is that these\ncharms had their birth in remote ages. Afterwards local circumstances\nmay have placed almost insuperable difficulties in the way of certain\ndetails being carried out; others would then be substituted as nearly\napproaching to the original as possible, probably by order of the\npriest or wise man. Add to this the fact that a fable told through\nlong ages in different districts always unconsciously takes a local\ncolouring, and you have a partial solution. Still, if the details\ndiffer, they do not run on widely diverging lines; in general they\nmanage to keep fairly parallel, the main essentials being always kept\nwell in sight. Whether animate or inanimate, the _thing_ had to be\ninjured, and then something burnt; midnight was always the time chosen\nfor the final part of the ceremony, seclusion, as far as possible, and\nabsolute silence being necessary. Many of these rites and ceremonies,\nespecially in connexion with witchcraft, consisting as they do of\nblood, death, and burning by fire, seem to be all that is left us of\nwhat may have been in remote ages a propitiatory sacrifice to some\npagan god.\n\nChatting with an old mother one day, she remarked, \u2018Aye, things is\naltered noo. T\u2019 young uns to\u2019n up ther neeases\u2019 (noses) \u2019at ommaist\nivvery thing \u2019at yan yance thowt an\u2019 did; tha deea nowt bud mak gam\no\u2019 yan if yan diz tell \u2019em owt, seea Ah nivver tells \u2019em nowt.\u2019 This\nstatement explains much; the old people nowadays do keep their mouths\nshut. It often happens that after an hour\u2019s chat with some grey-headed\noccupant of the big armchair, you gain more information about the\ndoings of days past than the rest of the household could have given\nyou, were they even willing to do so, because in many cases they have\nlittle interest in things which \u2019happen\u2019d afoor their tahm.\u2019 But,\nbear in mind, the unsealing of aged lips can only be accomplished\nwhen properly approached, and a bond of mutual sympathy has been\nestablished; then the lips and hearts will pour forth such a wealth of\nbygone lore, that you will hardly be able to jot down your notes fast\nenough.\n\nBut to return to my old lady. \u2018Why,\u2019 said I, \u2018when you were a girl\nthere would be witches, or was that before your time?\u2019 For the benefit\nof my readers I will give the rest of the story literally, but in\nstandard English. \u2018No,\u2019 said she, \u2018that it is not. There was one Dolly\nMakin; I once saw her myself, but she will be dead now, for she was\nover a hundred then; but my aunt once had a strange bout with her.\u2019\n\u2018And where did Dolly live?\u2019 I asked, for I had years before heard of\nthis same Dolly Makin. \u2018Nay, that\u2019s mair \u2019an Ah can tell ya,\u2019 said\nshe. \u2018And what did she do to your aunt?\u2019 I inquired. \u2018Nothing; she\nonly tried to. It was like this. There was one Tom Pickles wanted to\nkeep company with my aunt, but he found out that she had a liking\nfor one William Purkis. It was always thought, when Tommy found this\nout, that he went to the witch and gave her something to work a spell\non my aunt. Anyhow, one night when she had just finished milking, a\nfortune-teller came up and took hold of her hand, and told her a long\nstory about the carryings-on of William Purkis and another lass, and\nshe advised my aunt to take up with Tommy, telling her that things\nlooked very black for her if she did anything else. But my aunt said\nthat she would wed who she liked, and it would not be Tommy. At that\nthe fortune-teller struck the cow with her stick; the cow lashed out\nand knocked the milk-pail over; my aunt flung the milk-stool at the\nfortune-teller\u2019s head, but she ducked, and it missed her, and next\nmoment they were one grappling with the other like all that. My aunt,\nhowever, was a well-built, strong lass, and after they had fought for\na long time, neither gaining an advantage, the fortune-teller screamed\nout that my aunt had something about her that belonged to the unburied\ndead, or otherwise she would have mastered her, and had her in her\npower for ever. \u201cBut,\u201d said she, as she walked away, \u201cI have not done\nwith you yet;\u201d and then my aunt saw it was the old witch. My aunt did\nnot know what the witch meant by saying she had something about her\nthat belonged to the unburied dead; but news came next morning that her\nuncle had died the day before, and it happened that a brooch she was\nwearing had a bit of his hair in it. It was that which had saved her.\nIt would have been useless trying to overtake the witch when she left\nher, even on horseback, for she once went from the top of Ingleborough\nto the top of Whernside at one stride.\u2019 \u2018But,\u2019 I ventured to say, \u2018it\nis a long way, that.\u2019 I was not quite sure of the distance, but I knew\nI was within bounds when I added, \u2018It will be quite nine miles.\u2019 For a\nmoment the old lady hesitated; even to her, after making all allowance\nfor the witch\u2019s marvellous power, it did seem a prodigious stride.\n\u2018Well,\u2019 she said, with a sigh of relief, as an idea struck her, \u2018maybe\nI am wrong; it would be a leap;\u2019 or, as she put it, \u2018mebbe Ah\u2019s wrang;\nsha wad loup it.\u2019 Again I pointed out that it was an enormous leap.\n\u2018Deean\u2019t ya want her ti \u2019a\u2019e deean\u2019t?\u2019 (i.e. \u2018Don\u2019t you want her to\nhave done it?\u2019) she questioned, losing her temper. And then I had to\nsmooth her ruffled feelings. I knew I was precious near treading on\nher pet corn, but I wished to see how, as I knew, she would explain\naway the difficulty. \u2018Whya, noo, ez you saay it\u2019s a gertish loup,\u2019 she\nadmitted, and then added, \u2018maist leykly sha wad deea \u2019t iv a hitch,\nstrhad, an\u2019 a jump; onny road, sha did it.\u2019 That being settled, I asked\nwhat took place when she herself saw the witch. \u2018Nowt, bud summat might\n\u2018 deean.\u2019 And then she explained that one evening, a few months before\nshe was married, she and her sweetheart were walking to Feetham Holme\nwhen they saw an old lady sitting on a great stone. It seems she looked\n_that sackless_, that her sweetheart burst out laughing. The moment he\ndid that, the old lady sprang to her feet, and almost shrieked, \u2018Ya\naren\u2019t wed yet,\u2019 and then disappeared. A moment afterwards, however,\na black cat sprang across their path, which was a most unlucky omen.\nMy informant could not say what it was, but something told her that\nthe black cat was none other than the old witch. She mentioned none of\nher fears to her future husband, but the next day she paid a visit to\nthe wise man of Reeth. To him she unburdened herself of all her fears,\ninquiring what would have to be done to break any spell Dolly might\nwork to prevent her marriage. It seems there were only two things the\nwise man knew of equal to the occasion. One was to tear a piece of\ncloth from the garment of a man hanging from a gibbet, cut it into nine\npieces, and burn them at dead of night, with every door and window not\nonly closed but securely fastened. This she had declared to be quite\nimpossible. Her next chance was to hear the last words of a man just\nbefore he was hanged, write the same on nine pieces of paper, stick\na pin through each piece, and then burn them at midnight, doors and\nwindows as before. This she thought might be managed. From a copy of\nthe _Yorkshire Gazette_ which came into the dale every week, she learnt\nthat a man was to be hanged at York; so to Settle she went, and thence\nby the carrier to her destination. She had a cousin living in York,\nwith whom she stayed until after the eventful day. She managed to hear\nthe last words, and carried out all other injunctions, and so, as\nshe said, \u2018Dolly nivver c\u2019u\u2019d deea nowt nowther ti me ner onny o\u2019 my\nbairns.\u2019\n\nIt is a well-known fact that witches have a decided aversion to a\nstone with a hole through it. So one hanging in the house goes a long\nway towards keeping them outside; and an old horse-shoe, which has\nbeen picked up and nailed on the door, has even greater power. Again,\nany girl, whilst a maiden, who was so fortunate as to find three\nhorse-shoes in one year, if she threw them over her left shoulder, and\nwalked round them three times, being careful to preserve all three, not\nonly she, but when married her children, could never be witch-held.\nThis, be it observed, only protected the person, it did not extend to\nproperty of any kind.\n\nDolly Ayre, the Carthorpe witch, died within the ken of many now\nliving. Richard Kirby, an old inhabitant of Carthorpe, gave me the\nfollowing only a short time ago. I must really give it in his words.\nFilling his pipe, he began, \u2018Aye! Ah ken\u2019d her weel; she yance witched\nsum coos ov au\u2019d Tommy\u2019s, an\u2019 sha wadn\u2019t tak \u2019t off.\u2019 I inquired\nwhat it was she would not take off, and was promptly informed it was\n\u2018summat sha\u2019d deean tiv \u2019em: a spell o\u2019 sum soart \u2019at sha\u2019d warked on\n\u2019em.\u2019 Old Tommy, it seems, hurried off to the wise man, Sammy Banks o\u2019\nMickly, who, after Tommy\u2019s story had been told, \u2018did summat, an\u2019 Tommy\ndid summat, an\u2019 atween \u2019em tha baith did summat else \u2019at completely\nflustrated Au\u2019d Dolly intiv a cocked hat, bud nut afoor sha\u2019d mannished\nti spell t\u2019 leyfe oot o\u2019 yan o\u2019 t\u2019 coos\u2014ya see, iv a waay, sha \u2019ed t\u2019\nfost ho\u2019d.\u2019 On asking what they had done to master Dolly, he replied,\nwith a shake of his head, \u2018Naay, noo, Ah deean\u2019t knaw; that war kept a\ndark secret. All \u2019at ivver war knawn, war \u2019at Tommy \u2019ed driven a peg\no\u2019 wickenwood inti summat, an\u2019 \u2018at he\u2019d thrussen summat thruff t\u2019 au\u2019d\nwitch\u2019s latch slit, but what it war no man nivver knew, bud it mun \u2019a\u2019e\nbeen summat varra larl, or else he c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e thrussen \u2019t thruff,\nan\u2019 he bo\u2019nt\u2019 (burnt) \u2018summat at midneet \u2019at stank warse \u2019an nowt. Aye!\nan\u2019 noo ther war yance a queer thing happen\u2019d at Ness, near Pickhill.\u2019\nA man, it seems, took a farm over the head of the then tenant. The man\nwho had been so shabbily treated had once done a great kindness to\nDolly, though, according to my informant, it was a most risky thing\nto offer a kindness to a witch, as they might take offence even at\nthat. However, in the case mentioned, the kindness had been graciously\naccepted. When the new-comers arrived with their goods and chattels,\nthey found written in blood-red writing on every door and shutter,\nthese words, BAD LUCK; there was also something written underneath,\nwhich no man could make out. \u2018Aye,\u2019 said the old man, in words which\nthere was no gainsaying, \u2018an\u2019 afoor they\u2019d gitten hauf ther sticks in,\ndoon cam a lahtle bit ov a shelf they\u2019d putten sum pans on, an\u2019 it\ntumm\u2019l\u2019d reet on t\u2019 top o\u2019 yan o\u2019 ther bairns, an\u2019 killed it wheer it\nstood, an\u2019 ther\u2019s neea gitting ower that; noo, is theer?\u2019\n\nIn this same Carthorpe, years ago, one of the houses was suspected of\nbeing witch-held, and everything about the place witch-stricken, and\nfor some time neither land nor beast throve. It happened that one who\npossessed the power of smelling witches slept for a night under this\nparticular roof. In the morning he said they were quite mistaken in\nsupposing the house was witch-held, declaring that it was haunted. He\nadvised them to prevail upon the parson to shout it down. The then\nRector of Burneston, having been seen, kindly undertook the shouting\ndown of the said spirit. To this end he partook of a good meal, rested\nfor an hour, and then betook himself to the farmer\u2019s well. There he\nread something out of the Prayer Book, which \u2018incanted t\u2019 spirit up ti\nt\u2019 wellsahd,\u2019 and then the parson called out, \u2018For ever and for ay,\u2019\nto which the spirit replied, \u2018For a year and a day.\u2019 Then the parson at\nit again, and the spirit did the same, \u2018and they baith went at it leyke\nall that foor ower tweea hoors, bud t\u2019 parson gat t\u2019 last wo\u2019d acoz t\u2019\nspirit c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t ho\u2019d oot neea langer, an\u2019 seea t\u2019 parson wan t\u2019 battle\ni\u2019 t\u2019 end, an\u2019 cungled it doon; an\u2019 seea that spirit nivver na mair, at\nnoa tahm, ivver agaan c\u2019u\u2019d cum oot o\u2019 t\u2019 bad pleeace ti wark ill agaan\nneeabody[30].\u2019\n\nFor some unexplained reason, witches held in great aversion posthumous\nchildren, more especially male children. In fact their malevolence\nwas often made manifest prior to the child\u2019s birth. An old dame gave\nme the following as having occurred years ago at Kirby Hill, near\nBoroughbridge. A young couple, recently married, met the witch (Sally\nCarey) near the Devil\u2019s Arrows. What they had done to gain Sally\u2019s\ndispleasure, legend does not say, but as they passed the old lady she\nshook her stick, and almost screamed, \u2018Ya want a lad, bud Ah\u2019ll mak it\na lass\u2019; and sure enough, when the baby arrived, it was a girl. They\nhad hoped it would be a boy, for much future fortune depended upon\ntheir having a son and heir. Still they hoped, should they be blest\nwith a further addition, that the next arrival would be a boy. Three or\nfour months after the birth of their daughter, the husband was thrown\noff his horse and killed.\n\nSome time after the sad event, and late in the evening, Sally knocked\nat the widow\u2019s door; on its being opened, the old hag screamed,\nbrandishing her stick in the widow\u2019s face, \u2018It shan\u2019t be a lad this\ntahm, nowther.\u2019 So terrified was her victim that she fainted, and\nwas found some time afterwards in a doubled-up position and unable to\nrise. By-and-by, when sufficiently recovered, her friends strongly\nurged her to pay a visit to the wise man of Aldborough. At last she was\nprevailed upon to do so, when a supreme effort on his part was made to\nbreak the witch\u2019s power. Much of what the wise man did, the old lady\nhad forgotten. All she remembered was that at midnight, with closed\ndoors and windows, a black cat and a black cock bird were roasted\nto a cinder, on a fire made from boughs of the rowan-tree; a long\nincantation was also pronounced, of which she could not call to mind a\nsingle word, for as she put it, \u2018wa war all ti freetened.\u2019 The \u2019all\u2019\nconsisted of the widow, my informant\u2014then a maiden\u2014and a mother of\nseven sons, the trio being necessary for the working of the charm. When\nthe baby was born, it was a boy, but a cripple. Once again the wise\nman was visited. This time the almost heart-broken mother was assured\nthat, if she remained unwedded for seven years, her son would outlive\nhis weakness, his back would grow straight, and all would be well. This\ndemand was readily complied with. \u2018But,\u2019 added the old dame, \u2018t\u2019 au\u2019d\nwitch tried all maks an\u2019 manders o\u2019 waays ti git her ti wed. Ah nivver\nknaw\u2019d a lass seea pesthered wi\u2019 chaps iv all mah leyfe. Sha\u2019 (the\nwitch) \u2018war awlus sending some good leyke leeaking chap for ti \u2019tice\nher, bud sha kept single, and bested t\u2019 au\u2019d witch i\u2019 t\u2019 end, fer t\u2019\nbairn grew up ti be ez straight an\u2019 strang a chap ez yan need wish ti\nclap yan\u2019s e\u2019es on. Ah mahnd him weel, an\u2019 ther\u2019s nowt aboot that.\u2019\n\nOnly the other day I met an old fellow who firmly believed not only\nin the power of witches, but that they existed at the present day.\nHe held that the evil eye accounted for many mishaps, which \u2018fooak\nc\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t account for nooadays neea road at all.\u2019 Of witches he had\nknown several, but of fairies he could only speak from hearsay. \u2018Nobbut\nsum fooak,\u2019 explained he, \u2018war yabble ti see t\u2019 fairies\u2019; he had never\npossessed that power; but he continued, \u2018Ah\u2019ve knawn fooak \u2019at \u2019ez\nseean \u2019em monny a tahm, bud that\u2019s years sen noo.\u2019 He had come to the\nconclusion that as people had got so into the way of saying there were\nno such things, \u2018tha \u2019ed all ta\u2019en t\u2019 hig, an\u2019 takken thersens fo\u2019ther\nup t\u2019 dale; bud tha cum back sumtahms ti t\u2019 au\u2019d spots, acoz yan offens\nsees t\u2019 rings wheear tha\u2019ve danced owerneet. Onnybody can see t\u2019 rings\nfer thersens if tha nobbut tak ther een aboot wiv \u2019em; bud,\u2019 said he,\nemphatically, \u2018Ah think \u2019at tha mun awlus keep ther heead-gear on noo.\u2019\nI was given to understand that so long as a fairy kept its cap or\nbonnet on it was invisible, but this, I think, is a bit of lore gone\nwrong; he ought to have said, so long as they keep their invisible caps\non, &c. This old chap gave me a bit of lore which was quite new to me.\n\nWe all know that witches kept a black cat, and as a rule it was a\nThomas cat; but if, to work something especially evil, a witch took to\nkeeping a black tabby, she was, by some higher power, compelled to keep\nthat tabby until it had kittens. When this interesting event was about\nto come off, the said tabby was securely locked up and guarded until\nthe expected increase arrived; immediately this happened, the whole\nlot were drowned. The reason for this hurried departure of mother cat\nand kitten babies from the land of the living was made quite clear.\nFor had the witch a son when the kittens were born, and any person\nmanaged to steal one of the said kittens, the witch from that moment\nbecame a \u2019bustard,\u2019 being bereft of all power to work evil; but if up\nto that time she had only given birth to girls, she remained a bustard\nonly until a son was born; then all power was restored to her. My\ninformant remembers a witch who was made a bustard of, and who never\nagain regained power to work evil, being too old at the time to dream\nof having a son.\n\nPerhaps the most widely adopted anti-witch charm was that of sticking\na beast\u2019s heart full of pins and roasting the same at midnight, being\ncareful to observe the rule of closed doors and windows, absolute\nsilence, and the refusal to admit any one during the performance of the\nrite; this, however, will be referred to by-and-by.\n\nI think it must be put on record that witches sometimes did good even\nif they committed evil to bring it about. To do this, I shall have to\nstep just over the boundary of the North into the West Riding. There\nwas a widow residing in the village of Aldfield, whose son, her only\nsupport, lay at death\u2019s door: he, so I was informed, was afflicted with\na disease which was consuming his vitals. After the matter had been\nfully discussed by the neighbours, the consuming of his vitals was\npronounced to be the result of a bad wish, the evil eye, or a witch\nspell, and, according to their verdict, one Nanny Appleby was suspected\nof being the spell-worker. Nanny lived somewhere on the other side\nof Dalla Moor. This must have been before the days of the wise man of\nMickley, or assuredly thither the widow would have gone. It seems that\nthe poor mother screwed up courage to seek Nanny out herself, hoping to\nappease her\u2014an almost hopeless task. Anyway, early one morning off she\nset; fortunately she met the old witch before she had completed half\nher journey.\n\nOn being questioned, Nanny swore she was innocent, but declared she\nknew what ailed the lad, and offered to go back with her and cure him.\nIn much fear and trembling, the widow returned with Nanny, to the\nastonishment of the whole village. After having been left alone with\nthe young fellow for some little time, Nanny told the weeping mother\nthat her lad was possessed of a devil, which she promised to drive out.\nBy what means she managed to induce the devil to let go his hold \u2019of\nthe vitals\u2019 is not known; but a terrific fight took place, furniture\nwas smashed and pots were broken, amidst yells Satanic, and Nanny came\noff victorious. Having got the devil out of the young fellow, the next\nthing was, what must be done with the little imp? Nanny, however, seems\nto have been equal to the occasion. Of course such a doubtful customer\ncould not be allowed to roam about at his own sweet will; oh dear no,\nNanny would not grant a favour of that kind. The spirit was commanded\nto enter the body of a certain Tom Moss. Probably she had a spite\nagainst Tom; anyway the order seems to have been most promptly obeyed,\nfor within a month Tom was found drowned in Grantley Lake. The invalid\nrecovered, and so there is no doubt about anything.\n\nThe following witch story unfortunately is wanting in one or two points\nof interest. I am unable to give the witch\u2019s name, or with certainty\nher dwelling-place. One or two things, however, tend to the belief that\nshe was the Ayton witch, who flourished about 1750-80. If in this I am\ncorrect, she was known as Au\u2019d Nanny; and though a native of Stokesley,\nshe lived for many years in a tumble-down old cottage in the far corner\nof the green near the mill at Great Ayton.\n\nThough doubtless a terror in her day, nearly all her deeds, like\nherself, have passed away. Two or three stories are yet told concerning\nAu\u2019d Nanny, but they are unauthenticated and of doubtful origin. They\nseem to me most like latter-day ghost stories told to terrify children,\nwith Nanny\u2019s name tacked on to them. They preserve her memory and\nchristian name, and that is all.\n\nOne story, however, I had from an old lady whose grandmother once had\nan encounter with Au\u2019d Nanny. As the story was told to me in that\nmatter-of-fact way which leaves small room for imagination to exploit\nitself, I have no doubt it was repeated, for my benefit, as her mother\nor grandmother had told it her years before. The main interest of the\nstory lies in the fact that it contains a witch\u2019s curse, and sets forth\nthe proposition that a witch had the power not only of assuming the\nform of one recently dead, but could even inhabit the body itself.\n\nTo divest the story of much repetition and redundancy, it will be\nbetter to keep mainly to ordinary English.\n\nIt seems that her grandmother lived at Stokesley, and had a cousin\nliving at Kildale, to whom she was deeply attached. This cousin\u2019s name\nwas Martha Sokeld. One day Martha was taken very ill, and sent for\nher cousin Mary Langstaff to come at once and nurse her. Mary sent\nword back she would be along directly; so after she had cleaned up and\n\u2018putten things ti reets,\u2019 she put on her hood and shawl and set off to\nwalk to Kildale\u2014\u2018an\u2019 it\u2019s a goodish step an\u2019 all, Ah can tell ya; an\u2019\nther\u2019s nowt aboot that.\u2019 Well, when Mary had walked above halfway, she\nsaw an old woman \u2019hoppling alang t\u2019 road.\u2019 It seems there was something\nabout the old lady which struck Mary as curious\u2014\u2018sha didn\u2019t leyke t\u2019\nleeak on her.\u2019 What it was which made her feel certain the old body\napproaching was none other than \u2019t\u2019 au\u2019d witch[31],\u2019 she never could\ntell, but such became her conviction. So, to avoid the necessity of\nspeaking to her, she stooped down and commenced to cull flowers from\nthe hedge side. But on the old witch drawing near, she called out in a\ncreaking voice, \u2018Thoo\u2019s neea call ti hing thi heead doon i\u2019 that waay.\nAh ken tha, Mary Langstaff, reet weel; aye, ez weel ez if thoo ow\u2019d ma\nsummat. Noo, \u2019t wadn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e cossen[32] tha mich ti \u2019a\u2019e passed t\u2019 tahm\no\u2019 daay wi\u2019 ma; bud sitha, Ah s\u2018an\u2019t forgit ti-daay, an\u2019 Ah knaw all\n\u2019at thoo off\u2019ns sez aboot ma an\u2019 all; but Ah\u2019ll paay tha oot for \u2019t,\nAh\u2019ll paay tha oot for \u2019t.\u2019 She then banged the ground three times with\nher stick, and when my informant\u2019s grandmother looked up, the witch had\ndisappeared. The reason why the witch did not do her an injury at that\ntime was easily accounted for\u2014she happened to be wearing in her bosom a\nbunch of wicken-tree, i.e. mountain ash, berries.\n\nOn arriving at her cousin\u2019s, she found her almost recovered. She stayed\nwith her a few days and then returned to Stokesley\u2014this was on a Monday\nafternoon. Much to her surprise, who should walk in on Wednesday\nevening but Martha Sokeld. Martha told her she had had another bad\nbout, and felt she was not going to last long, but before she died she\nwould like to see her sister who lived at Northallerton. She had got a\nride so far on the way that afternoon, and then, after a night\u2019s rest,\nshe thought she would be able to go by the carrier to Northallerton.\nJust then she felt very tired, and thought if Mary would go over to\nHannah\u2019s and get her to put some things together which she wished to\nsend to her sister, she could manage to get a nap lying on the settle.\nShe was most pressing that Mary should not hurry back, but stop a good\nhour, giving as an excuse\u2014she did not wish to be \u2018wakken\u2019d efter sha\n\u2019ed yance gitten ti sleep.\u2019 Mary went to Hannah\u2019s, but there was a\nsomething that made her feel very uneasy\u2014she did not know what it was;\n\u2018an\u2019 i\u2019 t\u2019 end it gat sike a grip on her, \u2018at sha left an\u2019 set off yam\nagaan.\u2019 So that she should not awaken her cousin if she had fallen\nasleep, she approached the house very quietly; and peeping between the\nshutters (they did not fit very closely), she beheld a sight which\nmade her \u2019oppen wide baith e\u2019es\u2019\u2014her cousin, instead of being asleep,\nwas sitting in front of a blazing fire, dropping things into a pan \u2018an\u2019\nsaying ower an\u2019 up agaain\u2019\u2014\n\n\n Fire cum,\n Fire gan,\n Curling smeeak\n Keep oot o\u2019 t\u2019 pan.\n Here\u2019s a teead, theer\u2019s a frog,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 heart frev a crimson ask;\n Here\u2019s a teeath fra t\u2019 heead\n O\u2019 yan at\u2019s deead,\n \u2018At nivver gat thruff his task[33];\n Here\u2019s pricked i\u2019 blood a maiden\u2019s prayer\n \u2018At t\u2019 e\u2019e o\u2019 man maunt see;\n It\u2019s pricked reet thruff a yet warm mask,\n Lapt aboot a breet green ask,\n An\u2019 it\u2019s all foor him an\u2019 thee.\n It boils, thoo\u2019ll drink,\n He\u2019ll speeak, tho\u2019ll think,\n It boils, thoo\u2019ll see,\n He\u2019ll speeak, thoo\u2019ll dee.\n\n\nSomething seemed to say to Mary, \u2018Sha\u2019s working a curse on thee an\u2019\nTom\u2019 (Tom was her sweetheart). \u2018Thoo mun deea summat, or sha\u2019ll mak\nmischief atween ya.\u2019 So Mary opened the door and walked boldly in. She\nthen told the witch\u2014for by this time she had no doubt her visitor was\nsuch\u2014that she had heard all she had said, and seen all she had done.\nShe then took hold of the Bible, and said, \u2018Ya mun deea yer warst; Ah\nho\u2019d byv this,\u2019 meaning the Bible. No sooner had she said that she\nhad heard and seen all, and declared that she held by the Bible, and\ndared her to do her worst, than the witch turned the pan wrong side\nup on the fire, and shrieking out, \u2018Thoo\u2019s \u2019scaped ma this tahm, bud\nAh\u2019ll mell on tha yet,\u2019 disappeared. Early next morning a man rode\nover from Kildale, with the news that Martha Sokeld was nowhere to be\nfound, and it was not until three days afterwards that her dead body\nwas discovered on the moor head. The conclusion come to at that time\n(and which my informant thought most probable) was that the witch had\nlured Martha on to the moor and then spelled the soul out of her,\ntaking possession of the body herself, and so deceived her grandmother.\nHowever, her grandmother lived until she was eighty-five, having\nbrought up a large family; and so, as the old lady put it, \u2018Efter that\nt\u2019 au\u2019d witch \u2019ed nivver been yabble ti deea owt tiv her; sha aiblins\noff\u2019ns aim\u2019d ti deea, bud it seeams \u2019at it nivver cam tiv a heead.\u2019\n\nThe following further information regarding Molly Cass, the Leeming\nwitch, of whom mention has been made, was given to me by Abe\nBraithwaite, a noted character of Bedale twenty-five years ago. Molly,\nalthough a native of Exelby, lived for many years in a cottage close\nto Leeming Mill: some declare in a disused part of the mill itself.\nBe that as it may, one night whilst the miller, two others, and Abe\u2019s\ngrandfather were playing cards in the mill, George Winterfield (one\nof the players) had the nine of hearts dealt to him eight times in\nsuccession. As the ninth deal was proceeding, one of the players laid\na guinea on the table, offering to wager Winterfield that amount to a\nshilling, that the nine of hearts did not fall to his hand that deal.\n\u2018Put thi brass i\u2019 thi pocket,\u2019 said Au\u2019d Molly, popping her head just\ninside the door; \u2018thi brass is nut foor him, an\u2019 his brass is nut\nfoor thee. Put thi brass i\u2019 thi pocket, an\u2019 leeak sharp aboot it.\u2019 So\nterrified was the owner of the guinea of gaining the ill-will of Molly,\nthat he pocketed his guinea at once. When the last card of the deal\nfell, and whilst the cards still lay on the table, Molly said, \u2018Thoo\u2019s\ngitten \u2019t again, George; tak thi han\u2019 up and see,\u2019 and such turned out\nto be the case. \u2018Aye, thoo\u2019s gitten it hard eneeaf, an\u2019 thoo\u2019s had it\neight times alriddy; t\u2019 au\u2019d un\u2019s[34] i\u2019 tha noo, an\u2019 he\u2019ll nut leeav\ntha whahl he\u2019s gitten tha altogither. Thoo hed thi chance, an\u2019 thoo\nwadn\u2019t tak\u2019t, seea Ah\u2019ve potched it inti t\u2019 Swale\u2019 (the name of the\nriver hard by), \u2018an\u2019 thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti gan theer ti late it. T\u2019 Swale\u2019s\nwaiting ti be thi brahdal bed. Thoo\u2019d better gan noo; think on t\u2019\nlanger thoo waits, an\u2019 t\u2019 langer thoo\u2019ll stay[35].\u2019 On hearing this,\nGeorge, turning as white as chalk, arose, saying, \u2018Ah\u2019ll wed her; Ah\u2019ll\nmak an honest woman on her, if thoo\u2019ll nobbut gi\u2019e ma anuther chance;\nAh\u2019ve rewd all \u2019at Ah\u2019ve deean.\u2019 To which Molly replied, \u2018Ah\u2019s nut\noff\u2019ns i\u2019 t\u2019 mahnd o\u2019 gi\u2019ing onnybody yah chance, let aleean tweea;\nthoo sez \u2019at thoo\u2019ll tak her ti thi bed, Ah\u2019ve sed \u2019at thoo s\u2019all gan\ntiv hers. Noo, then, gan thi waays; thi brahd\u2019s waiting foor tha, sha\u2019s\nligging asleep on a bed o\u2019 bulls an\u2019 segs. Oh, what a brahdal bed! Oh,\nwhat a brahdal bed!\u2019 she screamed, banging to the door.\n\nWinterfield left the company, saying he would go at once to his old\nsweetheart and promise to marry her. The night was intensely dark, and\nwhether he missed his way and slipped into the beck, which was much\nswollen at the time, and his body drifted into the Swale, or whether\nit was as Molly shouted to him as he left, \u2018Good-neet, George, all\nroads leead ti t\u2019 Swale ti-neet,\u2019 it is impossible to say. One thing,\nhowever, is certain\u2014though he joined his old sweetheart, he never saw\nher again. It was as a corpse the current carried him along, and left\nhis body late that night by the side of her, who, only a few hours\nbefore, in a fit of desperation and despair, had confided to the\nsilent waters the whole of her sin and shame. Both bodies were found\nquite close together, tightly held by the \u2018bulls and segs,\u2019 in the\nbackwater where the beck joins the Swale. I well remember, when fishing\nnear the spot late in the evening for eels, an old lady remarking on\nwhat she considered my temerity, for she fully believed that any one\nwho ventured near at midnight would see the dead body of a girl, and\npresently that of a man, float by, both being quite visible until they\njoined each other in the high seaves and bulrushes.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER X\n\n WITCHCRAFT\u2014_continued_\n\n\nSo far as we have gone, it will be evident to those who read a\nlittle between the lines, that mixed up with fact, imagination, and\nexaggeration, there exists a very considerable amount of respectable\nmyth. But to which of the ancient myths we owe many of the stories\ntold in connexion with our local witches, is often somewhat difficult\nto determine; but certain it is that nearly all of them possessed the\npower, so common to those of an earlier date, of changing themselves\ninto some animal, the hare and cat being the favourite forms which\nthey assumed when hard pressed. Very similar stories exhibiting\nthis power are told of the following well-known local witches, all\nof whom flourished during the present century:\u2014 Peggy Flaunders, of\nMarske-by-the-Sea; Bessy Slack, of West Burton, Wensleydale; Nanny\nPearson, of Goathland; the Guisborough witch, Ann Grear; Nan Hardwicke,\nof Spittal Houses; Au\u2019d Nanny, of Great Ayton; Nanny Howe, of Kildale;\nand Nanny Newgill, of Broughton and Stokesley. Then there was Dolly\nMakin and Au\u2019d Mother Stebbins, who seem to have had no regular place\nof abode, but tramped the country with a few small wares.\n\nOf these and others, pretty much the same stories are told, differing\nonly in slight details. These also bear a very strong resemblance to\nothers current in different parts of Europe, but of much earlier times.\nThen, too, we have their malicious attacks on the dairy, either in\nthe form of spoiling or purloining the produce, or in surreptitiously\nmilking the cows, though the latter was more prevalent further north,\nand often practised by the German witches. But in the exercise of the\nevil eye, and in the committal of all manner of evil acts, our North\nRiding witches held a position second to none.\n\nAgain, the methods used to overcome their power and break their spells,\nas has been said, runs very much on the same lines throughout Europe.\n\nPeggy Flaunders died in 1835, at the age of eighty-five, and was buried\nin the churchyard at Marske-by-the-Sea.\n\nMany old people have a lively remembrance of Peggy, with her tall hat\nand red cloak; and the stories which are told to-day of the pranks\nshe played and the wonders she worked, make us open our eyes with\namazement, because we are not listening to the marvellous deeds of\nsome person who lived in mediaeval times, but of one who lived amongst\nthose now living. Do you wish to hear of her doings from one who knew\nher? then find your way to Boyes Wetherell\u2019s cottage, and have a chat\nwith the old worthy, and you will have such an outpouring of ancient\ncustoms, rites, lore, smuggling stories, and the doings of days gone\nby, together with touches of his own eventful life, as will stock your\nmind with information such as it is only possible to obtain from an\noriginal source[36].\n\nBut of Peggy and her doings.\n\nOn one occasion Peggy is said to have cast a spell against one Tom\nPearson (who lived on a farm near Marske), and every head of cattle\nhe possessed died. Whether this ruined him or not, is not known, but\nhe left the farm, and his cousin took it. As this cousin crossed the\nthreshold for the first time, Peggy passed by. (This cousin, it seems,\nhad once befriended Peggy.) She called out to him as she passed, \u2018Thoo\n\u2019ez mah good wishes,\u2019 and with that she turned three times round, threw\nher cloak on the ground, jumped over it, mumbled something, and walked\naway, and from that day everything prospered \u2019awlus wiv him.\u2019\n\nFor three weeks in succession, Hannah Rothwell\u2019s butter didn\u2019t come\nrightly, churn as long as she might; and at the same time Mary Parker,\nher next-door neighbour, began to get very little milk from her cow.\nThese two old worthies having talked the matter over, decided they\nwould pay a visit to Jonathan Westcott of Upleatham, a wise man of that\nday[37]. Jonathan, on hearing what they had to say, declared it was\nall owing to Peggy\u2019s malice. So far as Mrs. Rothwell was concerned,\nshe was told to return home, scald her churn out three times, first\nwith boiling water, in which a handful of salt had been dissolved;\nsecondly, with boiling water in which a handful of wicken-tree berries\nhad been thrown; and, thirdly, with a large amount of plain boiling\nwater. She had also to get two small wickenwood pegs and drive them\ninto each end of the churn, and whilst turning the churn with the last\nfilling of water, she had to repeat, as she pretended to look if the\nbutter was coming,\u2014\n\n This tahm it\u2019s thahn,\n T\u2019 next tahm it\u2019s mahn,\n An\u2019 mahn foor ivver mair.\n\nThis had to be repeated nine times, giving nine turns before repeating\nthe lines, when the churn would be found to be all right. At least\nit would be quite clean, and that is needful for the making of good\nbutter. The milk case was a much more difficult one to tackle. However,\nafter Jonathan had consulted his almanack, and seen what direction and\nposition the heavenly bodies were in\u2014he was great on the planetary\nworld\u2014he advised the following: first, a good drench[38] must be\ngiven the cow, followed by gentle exercise; secondly, it was not to\nbe milked to its full yield for nine days, but on the tenth, before\nseating herself to milk, Mary had to whisper in the cow\u2019s ear, \u2018Ah\u2019s\nmilking tha foor Peggy Flaunders.\u2019 The cow would then yield its proper\nquantity. This pious fraud of deliberately whispering tarradiddles into\nthe cow\u2019s ear had to be continued indefinitely. On the other hand, if\nafter having so whispered Mary drew no more milk than usual, Jonathan\ndeclared Peggy had nothing to do with the case, that she would be free\nfrom all suspicion of milking the cow at home by magic art, and that\nit was nothing \u2019neea warse \u2019an that t\u2019 au\u2019d coo war a larl bit oot o\u2019\nfettle, an\u2019 wad mebbins cum roond iv a bit; if nut, sha mud git shut\non\u2019t sumhoo.\u2019\n\nOn one occasion some sportsmen, coursing in the old close field at\nthe top end of Marske, put up a hare, which was recognized as one the\ndogs had often tried unsuccessfully to capture. Peggy\u2019s son was one\nof the company. The lad, it seems, had heard his mother say no hare\ncould escape their black bitch, but he was to be very careful not to\nmention the fact, and never to slip it at one without her consent. In\nthe excitement the lad disregarded his mother\u2019s commands, and repeated\nwhat she had said. The black bitch was slipped, and, after an exciting\nchase, seized the hare by the haunch just as it was trying to enter\nPeggy\u2019s worral hole[39]. On Peggy being examined, teeth-marks were\nfound on a corresponding part of her body.\n\nThe Guisborough witch, Jane Grear, was perhaps more widely known than\nPeggy. She, like Peggy, was bitten by a dog, and bore the marks until\nthe day of her death. She received her injuries when trying to jump\nthrough her own key-hole: it must have been either a very small hare\nshe had turned herself into, or she must have owned an abnormally\nlarge key-hole; but this is a matter of detail. Whatever Jane may have\nbeen like in the decline of her life, in her youthful days she must\nhave been quite a good-looking girl. There are two old rhymes still\nremembered, one of which tells of her various charms, perhaps a little\ntoo freely. So much into detail does it go, that only a few lines can\npossibly be given. The second recounts a mighty hunt which once took\nplace.\n\n * * * * *\n\n Plump ez a suker[40] war Jinny when young,\n Wi\u2019 t\u2019 waast an\u2019 t\u2019 bust[41] ov a queen;\n T\u2019 gallants an\u2019 t\u2019 bucks did all on \u2019em sweear\n Sha beeat owt \u2019at ivver tha\u2019d seen.\n Her hair it war black ez an au\u2019d raven wing,\n An\u2019 breet war t\u2019 glint ov her een;\n Neea kerchief hauf hid sike an _ivory breast_[41],\n Whahl her throat wad \u2019a\u2019e deean foor a queen;\n An\u2019 larl war her feet, an\u2019 trim war her waast,\n An\u2019 reead ez a roaze war her lips,\n Whahl her cheeks egg\u2019d yan on for ti steeal a sly kiss,\n An\u2019 shaply an\u2019 roond war her hips.\n\n * * * * *\n\n An\u2019 when, tripping ti music, sha pulled up her goon,\n Tweea feet war nivver mair nim (nimble);\n Her ankles an\u2019 buckles fair \u2019wildered yan\u2019s seet,\n An\u2019 seea, mun, did t\u2019 shap ov each limb.\n Bud noo \u2019at Ah\u2019s au\u2019d, Ah finnd \u2019at sha\u2019s t\u2019 seeam.\n Her charms \u2019ev all swithered awaay;\n Sha \u2019s ugly ez muck, wi\u2019 black blood iv her heart.\n Au\u2019d Scrat\u2019s[42] bowt her sowl, seea tha saay.\n\n * * * * *\n\nIt would seem that Jane, like Peggy, occasionally afforded sportsmen\na good run; at least, so the following would lead us to believe.\nBut here, again, much has had to be suppressed, being unfit for\npublication. The lines, however, which are given are valuable, showing\nas they do that several old customs were quite common at the time\u2014about\n1820, I should imagine.\n\n\n * * * * *\n\n Fra t\u2019 Applegarth, ti Slapewath slack,\n Wi\u2019oot a rist i\u2019 seet all t\u2019 waay,\n Sha (the hare) teeak uz roond byv t\u2019 alum warks\n Ti Aisdale gaate, an\u2019 gat awaay.\n\n * * * * *\n\n Wa knocked at Tom\u2019s, bud he warn\u2019t up;\n Bud then, it\u2019s t\u2019 seeam wiv all. Besahd,\n Yan may loup up ti cauv a coo,\n Bud finnd t\u2019 bed pull ti leeave a brahd.\n\n * * * * *\n\n Wa drank ther healths at Jack\u2019s belaw,\n Wa wished em weel, an\u2019 soup\u2019d wer beer,\n All hoaping when tha did git up\n Tha wad tigither loup on t\u2019 fleear[43].\n\n * * * * *\n\n Jack leeaked bit dazed, an\u2019 hauf asleep;\n Bud then, he\u2019s a fair Tyke wi\u2019 t\u2019 lasses.\n He cuddles, kisses, drinks wiv all;\n Neea hot pot ivver by him passes.\n\n * * * * *\n\n T\u2019 race he\u2019d won, an\u2019 t\u2019 brahd he\u2019d kissed,\n On t\u2019 thresho\u2019d knelt, her garter gitten,\n Fra snowy breasts ther kerchiefs stown,\n Then wi\u2019 ther budding charms war smitten.\n\n * * * * *\n\nAgain they put up the hare, and the old dog gave chase.\n\n Fra Scaling dyke ti Wapley end,\n Thruff Tommy[44] geese an\u2019 Mary[44] stee,\n Alang t\u2019 au\u2019d to\u2019npike, here then theer\n That witched hare alang did flee.\n Neea cleeaser did wa ivver git,\n Neea gerter leead it ivver teeak;\n Ten yards i\u2019 front o\u2019 Billy bitch\u2014\n Fra t\u2019 fost it seeam\u2019d a narrer squeeak.\n At last \u2019mang heather, brackken, whin,\n Lang stanghow bru\u2019, wi\u2019 hosses blawn,\n An\u2019 Billy bitch wi\u2019 tongue loll\u2019d oot,\n Fair beeaten it war fain ti awn.\n Just when, wi\u2019 yah gert loup, t\u2019 bitch thowt\n Ti grab t\u2019 hare haunch, t\u2019 poor spent au\u2019d bitch\n Fan nowt ti snap at; t\u2019 hare \u2019ed geean.\n An\u2019 then wa kenn\u2019d wa\u2019d hunted t\u2019 witch[45].\n\nI know a very similar set of verses exist, telling of a wonderful run\nafter a hare in connexion with Bilsdale and that district. But the\nlanguage, in fact the whole tone of the rhyme, is much too loose for\nthe publication of any part of it.\n\nA word here explaining what is meant by witches milking cows may not be\nout of place. It has been mentioned that Peggy Flaunders was thought to\nhave drawn the milk from one Mary Parker\u2019s cow. How or by what means,\ndeponent sayeth not, but one Ann Allan, of Ugthorpe, who kept pigs, was\nalmost caught in the act. This was about 1780, and as Ann\u2019s procedure\nwas run on much the same lines as the most respectable witches used\nsome hundreds of years before her time, we may take hers as a typical\nexample.\n\nNot one, but three or four Ugthorpe cows ceased to give their usual\nquantity of milk. Of course the villagers talked, and at last the\npriest was visited; but a hundred years ago many of the clergy, both\nof Rome and the Church of England, so far as learning was concerned,\nwould have been knocked into a cocked hat by a Primitive Methodist\nlocal brother of these days. So it will be readily conceived the visit\nto the priest resulted in very little good. He declared the devil had\ngot hold of the defaulting cows by the tail, and this made them hold\ntheir milk back; he further assured them the only way to get the devil\nto let go was to say three pater nosters and Ave Marias over their\nmilk-pails, and to subscribe a certain sum, which had to be paid to\nhim, to celebrate a mass to Saint somebody, who would send a holy\nangel to frighten the devil away. Now, I know nothing about doctoring\ncows, but I am inclined to the belief that old Jonathan Westcott,\nof Upleatham, was much nearer effecting a cure, when he ordered an\naperient draught, to be followed by gentle exercise, than prayers\nmuttered inside any number of milk-cans.\n\nI believe the good people of that day would have fallen in with the\nprayers, but they drew a hard and fast line when the collection box\nobtruded itself. They returned home dissatisfied. They were losing\ntheir milk\u2014that they could not help; but they could prevent their\npockets being dipped into, and they did. Another meeting was held, and\na watch was set on Ann, but nothing came of it. At last a neighbour\u2019s\ncow dried up altogether. At this the good man was so exasperated, that\nhe went to Ann\u2019s and boldly accused her of milking the cows. Words\nran high, till in the end he seized a three-legged stool, intending\nto hurl it at Ann\u2019s head, when, lo! a curious thing happened\u2014as\nhe gripped the leg of the stool, a stream of milk ran from it. The\nneighbours, who by this time had flocked round the door, cried out\nwith one voice: \u2018Thoo\u2019s gitten \u2019t; that\u2019s what sha milks wer coos\nwi\u2019.\u2019 And sure enough such was found to be the case. On the name of\nany neighbour\u2019s cow being mentioned, and a leg of the stool handled as\nin milking, a fine stream of milk came from it, and the bag of that\nindividual\u2019s cow was found on examination to have shrunk. No wonder\nshe had fat pigs, when she could give them new milk in any quantity\nand from any one\u2019s cow she liked to name. Such a stool was not a fit\npiece of furniture for any one to possess, so it was publicly burnt\non the moor just beyond the high end of the village, near to where\nthe windmill stands. Ann was ordered to walk three times from one end\nof the village to the other, clothed in nothing but her sark[46],\ni.e. chemise. The Godivan rule, which compelled every one to keep\nwithin doors during the time of penance, seems (so far as Ugthorpe was\nconcerned) to have been absolutely reversed\u2014they were all there, even\ndown to the babies in arms. From all accounts, Ugthorpe has never had\nquite such a lively time since. Before judging the people and the ways\nof that time as altogether too idiotic, indecent, and unjust, it is as\nwell to bear in mind that every age has its curious idiosyncrasies. In\n1898 affiliation cases are heard in open court; a man may nearly kick\nthe life out of his wife with a pair of clogs at a small outlay of\nabout seven-and-six; but stealing a turnip necessitates a low form of\ndiet, and enforced seclusion for three months. These masterpieces of\nour time will bring a smile to faces yet unborn.\n\nNan Hardwicke\u2019s fame at one time was great, and her name and deeds\nstill live in many of the Cleveland dales. I remember once being\ndriven to Westerdale by an old chap, who gave me the following story.\nI think the circumstance occurred to his father, and not himself\u2014on\nthis point my notes are silent, anyway. Either his mother or his wife\nwas expecting the advent of a new baby, and the expectant mother\u2019s\nsister had to be sent for, to some place about five miles distant.\nThat afternoon Nan Hardwicke called as she was passing (she must have\nbeen some miles from home), and asked for \u2019a shive o\u2019 breead an\u2019 a pot\no\u2019 beer,\u2019 which were given her. Nan let them know she was aware of\nall that was about to transpire. Finishing her food, she opened the\ndoor of the room where the wife was lying, and poking her head inside,\nsaid, \u2018Ah wish ya weell; ya\u2019ll \u2019ev a lad afoor morning, an\u2019 ya\u2019ll call\nhim Tommy, weean\u2019t ya?\u2019 \u2018Whya, wa \u2019a\u2019e made up wer mahnds ti call him\nJohn,\u2019 replied the wife. \u2018Aye, mebbe, bud ya\u2019d best call him Tommy; an\u2019\nthanking ya, Ah\u2019ll be saying good-daay ti ya.\u2019 And with that she closed\nthe door and departed. The husband, on being made acquainted with the\nwitch\u2019s request, declared that nothing of the sort should happen\u2014John\nthey had decided to call the bairn, and John it should be\u2014he dare not\nrun the risk of changing its name then. About six o\u2019clock that evening\nthe husband put his horse in the gig, or whatever he had, and drove\naway to bring back the sister-in-law. About three miles on the journey,\nhe had to cross a small bridge, but when within twenty or thirty yards\nof it, the horse stopped, and could not be persuaded to move a step\nfurther. The good man at last decided to get out and lead the mare\nover, but in this he was wrong. Much to his amazement, he discovered he\ncould not leave his seat\u2014he was \u2018ez fast ez owt.\u2019 Vainly did he strive,\nbut it was of no use. At last he came to the conclusion that a spell\nwas on them both, so he called out, \u2018Noo, Nan, what\u2019s ti eftther? this\nis thi wark.\u2019 Immediately he heard Nan commence to laugh, and then she\nshouted, but he did not know where the voice came from, \u2018Thoo\u2019ll call\nt\u2019 bairn Tommy, weean\u2019t ta?\u2019 The husband was desperately bold for those\ndays, for he shouted, \u2018Neea, Ah weean\u2019t, nowther foor thoo na all t\u2019\nNan divils i\u2019 t\u2019 country.\u2019 \u2018Then thoo\u2019ll bahd wheer thoo is, whahl t\u2019\nbairn\u2019s born an\u2019 t\u2019 muther dees,\u2019 croaked Nan. This, in its way, was a\nbit of a clincher, to sit stuck fast in a gig, neither able to proceed\nnor get out, at a time too when all speed was necessary; add to this\na sinister threat of immediate death of the one he most loved, unless\nhe consented to christen an unborn child Tommy, when he had decided\nto name it Johnny, and with a feeling at the bottom of his heart that\nthere was a margin for uncertainty, and that after all it might happen\nto be a girl. Taking all these things into consideration, was it to be\nwondered that he gave way, and swore the child, if a boy, should be\nchristened Tom? Having made this promise, he was allowed to proceed on\nhis way.\n\nBut Nan did not always have her own way. She had a habit of hiding\nherself amongst the whins and brackens, which grew in abundance near\nher humble roof. The young men used to collect all the hounds together\nand put them on the scent of Au\u2019d Nan. According to legend, they had\nmany a good run, \u2018bud tha nivver catch\u2019d her.\u2019 One other unrecorded\nstory of Nan[47].\n\nNan had a relation living at Lowna Bridge, to whom she occasionally\npaid a visit. This relation, I believe, only looked forward with\npleasure to Nan\u2019s departure. On this point, however, Nan seems to\nhave been pretty thick-skinned. It is a mystery how this journey was\naccomplished. Some thought she turned herself into a hare and ran the\ndistance of twenty miles easily in that form; anyway, the fact remains\nthat now and again Au\u2019d Nan turned up at Lowna Bridge. It may, _en\npassant_, be mentioned that human nature was very much the same in the\nearly part of this century as it is to-day. I mean, poor relations\nare never welcome; their presence, or anything which calls them to\nmind, makes one feel we ought to do something which we had very much\nrather not do\u2014their presence digs the spur into one\u2019s conscience, you\nknow! But to return to Nan and her Lowna relations. I believe the\nfollowing occurred on her last visit: she arrived just after the bridal\nprocession of the daughter of the house had returned from church.\nBy-and-by the question arose\u2014where could Au\u2019d Nan sleep? On this\nparticular occasion every bed had more than one claimant already. The\nmatter was solved by a kindly bridesmaid offering to take Nan home and\nshare her bed with her, and then bring her back when the guests had\ndeparted. Unfortunately, the bride, not knowing that Nan was near, said\nto her friend, \u2018Relation though the old thing is, I would not sleep\nwith her for anything.\u2019 At this Nan turned round and, before the whole\ncompany, exclaimed, \u2018Neea, bud thoo wad sleep wi\u2019 him,\u2019 pointing to the\nbridegroom; and then she added, shaking her stick,\u2014\n\n Ah\u2019ve let tha be wedded,\n Bud Ah\u2019ll stop tha being bedded;\n\nand so saying, turned about and left the house. Good cheer and bonny\nbridesmaids soon banished any gloom the old lady\u2019s words for the moment\nhad cast over the party.\n\nLate that evening, after the bride had retired to rest, one of the\nbridesmaids, sister of the bridegroom, whispered to him, that it would\nbe useless trying to join his bride by way of the stairs, as there\nwas a plot on foot to keep him with the revellers the night long\u2014not\nan uncommon thing in those days\u2014it often needing all the scheming of\nbride and bridesmaids, to outwit the well-laid plots of the bucks of\nthose gay old times. The plan which the bridesmaids had arranged for\nthe bridegroom\u2019s escape, was that a game of blindman\u2019s-buff should\nbe played, and on a given signal a maiden was to call out, \u2018Kiss the\ngirl you love in the dark\u2019; on this being said, every candle was to\nbe blown out, and the bridegroom had to seize the opportunity to\nescape. A ladder had been placed underneath the bride\u2019s window, and\nalthough it was a little short, the bridesmaids had tied a long towel\nto the window-sash, by which he could pull himself through the window.\nEverything worked splendidly until he was just going to pull himself\nup by the towel, when some half-intoxicated idiot discovered he was\nescaping, and pulled the ladder from underneath him, bringing him to\nthe ground with an awful bang. The poor fellow, on being carried into\nthe house, was found to have broken his leg. The old lady was right\nafter all. It seems they did have their little excitements in the good\nold days of yore\u2014in these days it is a shower of rice[48] and an old\nshoe.\n\nWrightson, the wise man of Stokesley, although he died about seventy\nyears ago, has left such a record behind as few men in his position\never build up to their credit[49]. He was known as the wise man of\nStokesley. He was the seventh son of a seventh daughter; and whether\nsuch a concatenation of circumstances lift a man out of the ordinary\nrut, I am not in a position to say. But judging Wrightson from the\nlips of those who knew him\u2014they are all about gone now\u2014or from those\nwho have heard of him from their parents, one cannot but come to the\nconclusion, that he was undoubtedly a man endowed with marvellous\npsychic power, and with the smallest amount of charlatanry possible.\nIn fact, all agree in testifying to the fact that he claimed nothing\nbeyond the power which belonged to all such as are born under similar\ncircumstances; and that sort of thing was fully believed in then, and,\nI might add, is yet, for the matter of that.\n\nIn dealing with such a celebrity\u2014for such he was, his fame extending\nfar beyond the boundary of the North Riding\u2014one cannot be too\nparticular as to the source from whence information is obtained.\nFortunately, years ago, I knew an old Yorkshireman, already alluded\nto\u2014William Scorer, a native of Basedale, but who for some years kept\nan inn at Fearby above Masham. During the time I knew him, he was the\nlandlord of the Fleece, Bedale. He personally knew Wrightson.\n\nTake the following as examples of the man\u2019s marvellous power. A friend\nof Scorer[50] had bought several head of cattle at Northallerton fair.\nThese had to be driven to Stokesley; to this end they were given in\ncharge of an old drover who was driving a lot to the same place for\nanother buyer. The drover, arriving late at night, put the two droves\ninto a field about a quarter of a mile on the other side of Stokesley,\nbut in the morning two of Scorer\u2019s beasts were missing; the drover\ndeclared they were all there when he gated them the night before. A\nsuspicion somehow arose that the old chap had sold them on the way, and\npocketed the money. At that time they were altogether without any proof\nthat he had done anything of the kind.\n\nThe only way to discover if their surmises were correct, was to visit\nWrightson. But to put the wise man\u2019s power to the test, they decided to\nsay it was a horse they had lost; arguing, if he really knew anything\nthat could help them, he would find out the trick which was being\nplayed upon him. On entering his cottage, and before they could speak,\nWrightson shouted from the scullery, where he was washing himself, \u2018Noo\nthen, if you chaps is sharp eneaaf, an\u2019 ez that mich off\u2019 (i.e. know\nthat much) \u2018\u2019at ya can manish ti to\u2019n tweea coos intiv a hoss, it\u2019s\nneea ewse cumin\u2019 ti me, foor Ah can\u2019t to\u2019n a hoss back inti tweea coos,\nan\u2019 seea ya\u2019d better mak yersens scarce. Ah\u2019ve nowt ti saay ti ya.\u2019\nAnd for some time the wise man was past all persuasion. In the end he\nshouted, without leaving the scullery, \u2018Tha\u2019re baith i\u2019 t\u2019 beck, an\u2019\ntha\u2019ve been theer sen yester neet.\u2019 And sure enough both their bodies\nwere found a good mile below the bridge; evidently they had missed the\nbridge when being driven over late the night before, and had both been\ndrowned in the Leven, which was much swollen by recent rain. Here, as\nin many other stories told of the marvellous man, was an evidence of\nforeknowledge; and many of them rest upon what must be admitted to be\nvery reliable testimony, and vouched for by most respectable people\nof that time[51]. Now for the other story, which occurred some years\nafterwards.\n\nOne Nathan Agar, for security, hid a stocking-foot (in which he had\nwrapped five golden guineas) under a portion of the thatch. One\nday, intending to add another golden one to his store, he found the\nstocking-foot, guineas and all, had vanished. Nathan said nothing\nto any one, but just went straight to Wrightson. \u2018Thoo\u2019ll knaw what\nAh\u2019ve cum\u2019d aboot,\u2019 said Nathan. Wrightson at once twitted the old\nman, touching some previous conversation they had held as to the\nadvisability of Nathan, who was about sixty years of age, marrying a\ngirl not quite nineteen. But the combined wisdom and unhappy future\nwhich had been foretold by Wrightson, had not been sufficient to\novercome the old fool\u2019s idiotic passion for the buxom lass. In the end\nhe was told to go home, and when no one was in the house, he had to\nlift up the flag in front of the doorstep, and place a certain leaf\nof the Bible underneath, and carefully watch who stumbled over the\nthreshold as they entered. This, Nathan most carefully carried out. The\nfirst who entered was their young lodger, and he stumbled; after awhile\nin came the wife, and she stumbled. I don\u2019t know if the flag tilted,\nor whether the next person would have stumbled also, because Nathan\ndidn\u2019t wait to test the result of a third entry, but hurried off to\nWrightson, to whom he made known the result. Wrightson told him that\nhis property was hidden in a certain part of a pig-sty, together with\nan old watch, which up to that time Nathan had not missed. Other and\nmore serious charges were made, which for ever destroyed Nathan\u2019s hope\nof future happiness. Wrightson\u2019s advice was that he should return home,\nsecure his watch, give them the five guineas, and send them about their\nbusiness. This was promptly carried out, and I believe is the quickest\nand cheapest divorce proceeding on record. One other story has just\ncome into my mind, which, if true, proves to what a wonderful degree\nhe must have possessed a clairvoyant power.\n\nA lady residing in some part of South Durham was likely to die from a\nlump in her throat\u2014possibly a quinsy. Nothing that was done gave her\nease; at last some one suggested the wise man of Stokesley. A man on\nhorseback was dispatched\u2014I believe the son of the lady. On approaching\nWrightson\u2019s house, even before he got to the door, the wise man looked\nout, saying, as the young man came up, \u2018Bait thi hoss, git summat ti\neat, an\u2019 git thisen back agaan; t\u2019 bleb\u2019s brussen; sha\u2019s all reet now;\u2019\ni.e. \u2018Bait your horse, get some refreshment, and return home again; the\nlump has burst; she is all right now.\u2019\n\nI have just had the following story given me by Old Willie Bradley of\nGreat Ayton. His father, who was a quarryman, had some tools stolen,\nand, like every one else in those days, he went to Wrightson. \u2018Noo,\nthen,\u2019 said that worthy, on Willie\u2019s father entering, \u2019thoo\u2019s cum\u2019d\naboot thi teeals, bud Ah can deea nowt fur tha, ez they\u2019ve been hugg\u2019d\naccross watter; bud Ah can let tha see wheear tha\u2019re liggin.\u2019 Wrightson\nthen put him in front of a seeing-glass (looking-glass) in a darkened\nroom, and told him to keep looking at the glass, telling him if he\ntook his eyes off something awful would happen, but my informant\ncannot remember what. Anyway, his father never was so terrified in\nall his life, and wished he had never bothered about the lost tools.\nIn a little while, however, he saw them quite plainly, lying amongst\nsome bracken in a wood\u2014the place he recognized quite easily. On\ntelling Wrightson what he had seen, he was cautioned not to touch\nthem. Wrightson said he must bring him a live magpie. This he tried to\nobtain, but failed; he could not catch one, neither, for some reason,\nwould any boy who had one part with his pet; so, after a week, he\nhad to tell the wise man that the task was impossible. \u2018Then,\u2019 said\nWrightson, \u2018Ah caan\u2019t wark him onny harm, an\u2019 thoo\u2019ll \u2018 ti loss the\nteeals[52].\u2019\n\nOther stories of this man\u2019s foreknowledge could be given almost ad lib.\nMany of his methods suggested and adopted were of the heart-frizzling,\npin-sticking, wickenwood, and bottery-tree order. His rites and\nceremonies, too, occasionally savoured of the time in which he lived;\nand, after all, there is not much to wonder at.\n\nWe are most of us very much influenced by the environments of our\nown day; and after seeing a few of my own sex in Town, I can forgive\nWrightson much. Like many another clever man, he played to suit his\naudience, and sang the songs of the day. There was, if all is true, no\nneed that he should have done so, and possibly he knew it\u2014who knows?\n\nNanny Pearson was held in great fear by the good people of Goathland,\nand that, too, a good way into the present century. As a witch of\nthe old school, Nanny\u2019s fame was not confined to that locality. Many\nstories are still told of her and her doings, two of which I will\ngive, as they afford a bit of new information, i.e. the power which\nholy water had over witches. I believe in her younger days she was a\ncommunicant of the Roman Catholic faith; be that as it may, she was\nneither better nor worse than her sister witches of any other faith, or\nno faith at all. It seems that a Mrs. Webster had a goose, which, as\nwas the custom of the time, was sitting on a cletch of eggs near the\nfireside. Now, Nanny came daily to Mrs. Webster\u2019s for milk, bringing an\nempty jug, which she left, taking a full one away with her. The goose\nwas set one morning, and remained dutifully on her nest until evening;\nbut as Nanny approached the house, off flew the goose in a great state\nof agitation, breaking two eggs, and could not be pacified until Nanny\nwas well off the premises. The same thing occurred each time Nanny came\nfor her milk, until some one, who was going to Scarborough, called upon\nthe wise man and asked his advice. He told them to get a little holy\nwater, put it in the jug with Nanny\u2019s milk, and her power would be\nbroken\u2014I suppose that meant her power over the goose, for she worked a\nvast deal of ill after that. This was done; the jug with the holy water\nand milk in due course was handed to Nanny, and just as she took hold\nof it, the goose plucked up courage and flew at her, knocking it out of\nher hand. It was broken in the fall, the contents splashing over her\nfeet and gown; with a shriek she fled, and from that day the goose was\nnever disturbed again.\n\nYears ago, the Squire of Goathland had a very beautiful daughter.\nSome old chap with any amount of money, and quite ugly, wished to\nwed her, and for some unknown reason the Squire favoured his suit;\nbut, as is often the case, the damsel had given her heart to a young\nfarmer in the neighbourhood. The elder lover got it into his head\nthe couple would elope, so he sought the aid of Nanny; and the old\nhag helped him with a vengeance, inasmuch as she so sorely afflicted\nthe damsel that she could not rise from her bed, and her legs began\nto die\u2014I don\u2019t quite know what that means; anyway, her limbs became\nuseless. Her father told her that one of the female saints was greatly\ndispleased with her obduracy, and would not restore power to her limbs\nuntil she consented to marry the man of his choice. This she flatly\nrefused to do, choosing rather to die outright. The younger lover was\ndistracted; he could not gain any reliable information, and a personal\ninterview was impossible. So he did as every one else did in those\ndays\u2014he paid a visit to the wise man of Scarborough. The wise man,\nafter a considerable performance of his own, placed a seeing-glass in\nfront of the young fellow, desiring him to gaze steadily thereon, and\nto tell him if he saw the likeness of any one appear. Presently the\nyoung chap swore he had seen the face of Nanny Pearson. The wise man,\non hearing this, declared that she was the origin of all the evil,\nand told him to return home, procure by some means a drop of Nanny\u2019s\nblood, and steal a few drops of holy water; these had to be mixed in a\ncup of milk drawn from a red cow, and rubbed by him on the soles and\ncalves of his lady-love, when all would be well. This was a strongish\norder, and well-nigh staggered the young chap. Firstly, how was he to\nprocure a drop of Nanny\u2019s blood? Stealing the holy water was a simple\naffair, as also was the red cow\u2019s milk; but how to gain admission to\nhis lady-love\u2019s chamber, and apply the remedies when obtained, was not\nonly a task of difficulty, but of danger. Bear in mind this was in the\ndays of dogs and horsewhips, which were often freely used; but then, as\nnow, love laughs at difficulties. Once let him become possessed of a\ndrop of Nanny\u2019s blood, and he would overcome all the other obstacles.\nOn making his trouble known to an old dame in the village, one Janet\nHaswell, she told him something he already knew in part, i.e. that in\na certain field a hare nightly sat, which neither dog could catch nor\nman shoot; this hare, declared the old lady, was none other than Nanny\nherself. She further assured him that if he melted some silver and made\nshot of it, he would be able to hit the hare, and perhaps he might\nfind some blades of grass stained with blood. Most carefully the young\nfellow carried out the old dame\u2019s advice. He was successful; he hit the\nhare, and found several blades of grass spotted with blood, which he\ncarefully gathered. Next day Nanny was confined to bed, and for some\nweeks after. At the time, he alone knew the cause. Having procured a\nladder, he invaded his love\u2019s room, and applied the remedy, when she\nrecovered instantly; he then retired. The damsel, rising and dressing\nherself, descended the ladder, and was conveyed to a place of safety,\nwhere she remained until they were wedded. This, by-the-way, I believe\nis the first recorded case of massage.\n\nA curious belief still clings to Gribdale Gate. Any one who dares to\nstand near the said gate on New Year\u2019s Eve, will see an old man open\nit, pass through, and then vanish. This takes place just as the new\nyear is born. There is one man still living in Great Ayton who has seen\nthe old chap thus herald in the new year. Again, old people of Great\nAyton still aver that on a certain night a once noted witch, Nanny\nHowe, may be seen riding astride on a broomstick over Howe Wood just at\nmidnight. This witch, so mounted, is said once to have chased the devil\nfor miles\u2014on this occasion the two must have fallen out; perhaps at\nthat time honest folk got their due. Howe Wood is near Kildale.\n\nAiler Wood, her real name being Alice, was a witch of considerable note\nthroughout the Bilsdale district fifty years ago. In the form of a cat\nor hare, she seems to have cared little either what kind or colour the\nhounds were which chased her. She never was caught, but then she had a\nlittle way of making herself invisible when too hard pressed; but in\nthis she was not alone, a case in point having already being mentioned.\nInnumerable times was she fired at, \u2018bud nivver nobody could hit her.\u2019\nOn one occasion a damsel named Annie Wilson felt sure the old thing\nhad bewitched her sweetheart. The reason for such a supposition lay in\nthe fact that the young fellow had transferred his affections to some\nother fair charmer. My idea is that the other girl had bewitched him;\nthat, however, was not Annie\u2019s notion. She, like many another maiden\nof her time, went with the sorrow of her aching heart to the wise man\nof those parts, one Henry Wilson, who, after carefully listening to\nAnnie\u2019s woeful story, told her how she could discover if it was the\nwitch who had cast a spell on her lover. She was to return home, turn\nthe cricket[53] wrong side uppermost, pushing pretty close together\nand very securely into the wood nine pins, saying, as she pushed in\nthe last one, \u2018There\u2019s nine for him and her and the witch\u2019; in another\nplace she had to push in another nine, repeating at the ninth, \u2018There\u2019s\nnine for the witch and her and him\u2019; and lastly, in another place,\nanother nine, concluding at the ninth by saying, \u2018And there is nine\nmore for all three of them, wi\u2019 her in t\u2019 middle.\u2019 By this arrangement,\nthe vile creature who had stolen her lover, was always mentioned so\nthat she occupied a place nearest the witch. All this having been\naccomplished, the stool had to be set on its feet, and, under some\npretext or other, Ailer was to be induced to seat herself thereon. On\ndoing so, she would be unable to get up again until she truly answered\nany questions Annie asked her. Everything was carried out as ordered by\nWilson: Ailer was called in, and offered a cup of tea, the stool having\nbeen pushed toward her; she was invited to seat herself, and have her\nbite and sup comfortably. Now, was ever a maiden nearer finding out\njust why her lover had deserted her? The stool was even put in front\nof the fire, and Ailer again invited to seat herself; but no, the\nwitch quietly replied, it would not be possible for her to enjoy the\ngood things they had given her, seated on the back of a \u2018pricky-back\notch\u2019n[54].\u2019 Ailer by some means had found out what had been done, and\nso escaped the charm which had been prepared for her.\n\nNo doubt exists in the minds of many people now, that hedgehogs milk\nthe cows[55]. It seems they creep up to them whilst they are resting,\nand draw their milk from them. My old friend told me they always killed\na hedgehog whenever they saw one, for that reason.\n\nOne Nancy Newgill, a Broughton witch, used to set hedgehogs to milk the\ncows of those she had a spite against, and it was commonly believed\nthat at times she used to turn herself into one, and then \u2018neeabody\u2019s\ncoos had onny chance\u2019; anyway, there was one hedgehog which could run\nas fast as a hare, and never was catched, \u2018ner killed ner nowt.\u2019 This\nNancy Newgill cast a spell on a certain Martha Brittain, from which\nshe could obtain no ease, no matter what she took; so off to the wise\nman[56] Martha went. She was told to go to Stokesley, and buy a new\nfire-shovel, upon which she had to chalk Nancy\u2019s name[57]; then to make\na cake\u2014the ingredients need not be given\u2014and, after closing her doors\nand window, the cake was to be baked upon the shovel resting on the\nfire. This was done at four o\u2019clock in the afternoon[58]. Now, at the\ntime this cake was being baked, Nancy Newgill was \u2019luking\u2019 weeds in a\nfield a mile away, and standing quite close to her was my informant,\nMrs. Peary. Suddenly Nancy clapped her hand on her stomach, crying out,\n\u2018Ah mun gan yam! Ah mun gan yam!\u2019 She left the field, and was ill for\ndays after; but Martha Brittain began to mend straight away, and was as\nright as ever she could be.\n\nThis, however, is a small affair, compared with the case of a man who\nlived at Broughton, and had a spell cast on him, by whom he did not\nknow; at least, he was divided in his doubts. He suspected first Nancy,\nand also a man with an evil eye at Nunthorpe, but he could not really\nsay which of them had cast the spell; so he went to the wise man, but\nin this he got little comfort. The wise man told him, before he could\ndo anything he must be quite certain who had cast the spell, because if\nhe worked a counter-charm on any one, and they were innocent, what he\ndid would fall upon the complainant, in addition to what he was already\nsuffering. He advised him to \u2018plump[59]\u2019 both Nancy and the Nunthorpe\nman with it. On accusing Nancy, she was so indignant, and looked him\nso straight in the face, and swore such a fearful oath, that he felt\ncertain she for once was innocent; in such contrast was the behaviour\nof the evil-eyed one of Nunthorpe, that he was equally satisfied that\nhe was the man. So sure was he, that he told the wise man he would\nchance it; so they set to work. A fire of wickenwood having been\nlighted close on midnight, a ball of clay was beaten flat with the back\nof an old Bible; on this a rude figure was scooped out in the shape of\na man. Into this rough mould was poured a mixture of pitch, beeswax,\nhog\u2019s lard, bullock\u2019s blood, and a small portion of the fat from a\nbullock\u2019s heart. The whole having been melted and well stirred on the\nwickenwood fire, what remained of the mixture after filling the mould\nwas divided; one-half was thrown into water, worked into a ball, and\nthrown away; the remaining portion was poured on to the fire, causing\na most tremendous blaze; when this died out, the ashes were buried in\nthe churchyard. The figure having been removed from its mould, and two\nsmall holes made to represent the eyes, a pin was thrust into one of\nthese eyes, an incantation pronounced, and the spell was concluded.\nThe pain left the man as he was returning home, and that very night\nthe evil-eyed Nunthorpian was seized with a fearful pain, and before\nmorning was blind of an eye\u2014the eye corresponding to the one through\nwhich the pin had been thrust in the wax figure. I had the above from\none who well knew the trio. My informant is still living.\n\nMatthew Appleton, of Busby, for many years ruled the planets\u2014it seems\nhe ruled them so well that he found a pot of gold. This was ruling the\nplanets to some purpose, and it is a great pity astronomers don\u2019t work\nthis seemingly dead science up a bit.\n\nIn connexion with the witch-lore of the riding, it strikes one as\nsingular, that whilst many of the stories told of local witches closely\nresemble those of other countries, yet other stories, equally common,\nboth abroad and a little further north, so far as I have investigated,\nare with us conspicuous by their absence. Of witches turning their\nvictims into horses by throwing a bridle over their heads and riding\nthem the night through, or of a witch having been outwitted and treated\nin like manner, even in some instances casting a shoe, and of being\nreshod during the night, the shoe remaining nailed to the hand on\nregaining their natural form\u2014of such stories, I repeat, not a vestige\nremains amongst us. Thorpe\u2019s _Mythology_ and the Wilkie MS. give many\ninstances; and though some of the stories are dated almost in recent\ntimes, doubtless their radicals are to be found in the myth of times\nremote.\n\nAgain, whilst we retain the belief in the efficacy of the dead hand in\nthe curing of certain diseases, one never hears mention of the \u2018hand of\nglory[60].\u2019 There are old people to-day who tell you of its marvellous\npower, but their knowledge is that gained from hearsay. I have never\nmet a single person who knew of an instance of its having been used in\nthe North Riding; and if ever such was the case, it must have been long\nago, for many of the old folk know absolutely nothing about it.\n\nSilver shot was a deadly charge, because, in some way not explained,\nit was charmed. Jane Wood, who was accounted a witch about seventy\nyears ago in the Basedale district, gave little heed either to dogs\nor guns; when she assumed the form of a hare, she escaped from the\nformer quite easily, and the latter never could hit her. At last one\nsportsman, acting on the advice of a wise man, melted some silver\ncoins in an iron ladle smeared with the blood of a hare. This was done\nat the blacksmith\u2019s forge, the same being plentifully supplied with\nwickenwood. The melted silver was poured into a basin of water, which\ndivided it into fine particles; suitable pieces were collected, the gun\ncharged, and next evening the venturesome hare was fired at. Though it\nescaped, it was evidently badly hit. Suspicion had for some time rested\non Jane. Her cottage was visited; she declared she was too ill to rise\nand open the door, having, as she said, accidentally turned a beehive\nover and got severely stung. This statement did not satisfy those\noutside. The door was burst open, and Jane pulled out of bed; over one\npart of her body she was found to be covered with small sores, which\nthere was no doubt had been caused by the silver shot. Anyway, that\nventuresome hare was never seen again, so no further proof was required.\n\nThere is one point which requires a few words of explanation, at least\nso far as it can be explained. We have heard of witches who allowed\nthemselves to be chased as hares, some of which, if not caught, were\nbitten just as they were entering their own homes; on examination,\nteeth-marks were found on a corresponding part of their body. The\nsame may be said of the injuries inflicted by the silver shot. The\ntelling of these stories leaves no doubt in one\u2019s mind that the witches\nin the cases mentioned are supposed to have turned themselves into\nhares. This, however, was not always the case, as the following story\nwill show. There was a woman on whom grave suspicion rested; for\nsome reason or other she was never openly charged with being a witch,\nbut old heads were ominously shaken when her name was mentioned. In\nthe district in which she lived, there was a notorious hare, which\nsimply jeered at dogs and guns alike. At length some one suggested\nsilver shot; this was duly made, and the hare shot dead. Afterwards,\non comparing the times, it was found that Mrs.\u2014\u2014 had thrown up her\narms the very moment when the hare was shot, ejaculating, \u2018They have\nkilled my familiar spirit\u2019; uttering these words, she fell dead on her\nkitchen floor. Now Mrs.\u2014\u2014 had not been out that day\u2014there were plenty\nof witnesses to testify that\u2014so it would seem it was not always a case\nof transformation, but a familiar spirit which was chased, whilst the\nindividual herself was at home attending to her household duties. Of\ncourse all such were subject to the ills which might befall their\nfamiliars.\n\nThere seems to be a very close connexion between a hare being shot and\ncorresponding wounds being found on the person of those who had so\ntransformed themselves, and the stories told of the witch mares being\nshod and the shoes remaining fixed to their hands when their original\nform was resumed.\n\n\n _Hobmen._\n\nAt one time the family of Oughtred, who lived on a farm near Hob Hill,\nUpleatham, were greatly assisted in their various occupations by the\nhobman, who lived in the Hob Hill. These hobmen are heard of now and\nagain in the North Riding. The hobman[61] with us seems to hold the\nsame place as the brownies of the north, and the pixies of Devonshire.\nAnyway, the hobman still did his work as recently as 1820; for the\nOughtreds had their hay turned, their cattle brought home and driven\nback again, their corn and other grain winnowed, their turnips topped\nand tailed, and I do not know what all. What they did to offend the\nhobman, is not known. But it is thought that a man hung his coat on\nthe winnowing machine, and forgot to remove it when his day\u2019s work was\ndone. The hobman possibly thought, when he entered late at night, that\nit had been left for him; and no offence, it seems, could be greater\nthan to offer a hobman clothes of any kind, so he went away, and has\nnever been heard of since. It seems at the very time they unfortunately\ndispleased their friend the hobman, they also incurred the ill-will\nof Peggy Flaunders; for about this time, late one evening, a fearful\nknocking came at the back door. The maid, on opening it, saw a fearful\nthing like a blazing pig standing on the step; with one wild shriek\nshe fled, crying out to her master and mistress that the devil had\ncome, and was standing on the back doorstep. They at once asked, had\nshe closed the back door? On being told that she was too frightened\nto do anything else but flee from such a monster, they both sank back\nin dismay, well knowing the evil spirit had been given a chance to\nenter, which they rightly feared it would not fail to avail itself\nof. They rushed to the back door, but nothing was there; still they\nhad their misgivings\u2014they were terribly apprehensive. And sure enough\nit turned out not without cause\u2014crockery was smashed, machinery was\nbroken, cattle died; in fact things got into such a parlous state, that\nthey decided to leave. On the day when they were preparing to flit, a\nfriend looked in, and asked Oughtred if he really meant shifting. As he\nasked the question, a queer little head popped out over the top of the\npress, and a voice squeaked out, \u2018Aye, we\u2019re gahin ti flit ti morn\u2019; on\nhearing which, Oughtred said, \u2018Whya, if thoo\u2019s gahin wiv uz, it\u2019s teea\nneea ewse gahin; wa mud ez weel stop[62].\u2019 The wise man was eventually\nconsulted. Legend sayeth not where he lived; but under his directions a\nlive black cock bird was pierced with pins, and roasted alive at dead\nof night, with every door, window, and cranny and crevice stuffed up.\nBy these means Peggy\u2019s power and the imp were overcome.\n\nYears ago, when the old church at Marske-by-the-Sea was condemned,\nand a new one about to be built, it was decided to pull down the old\nstructure and use the stone for building the new. This bit of vandalism\nwas duly commenced; part of the old building was razed, and the stone\ncarted to the new site[63]\u2014so far, so good. The old people murmured,\nfor they objected greatly to the demolition of the edifice in which\nthey and their fore-elders had worshipped; but they were powerless\u2014they\ncould only stand by and watch with aching hearts stone after stone\nbeing carted away. And so the first day\u2019s work came to an end, which\nto them was work of desecration, and they returned home sad at heart.\nBut if they were powerless, they had a champion, and one whom they\nhad never dreamt of taking up their cause. Next morning, when the men\nreturned to their work, what was their surprise, and the amazement of\nevery one else, to find the old church whole again, without a stone\ndisplaced or a mark of the previous day\u2019s work to be found anywhere.\nEvery stone had been brought back again and replaced _in situ_, and the\nmortar which had been used to reset the displaced stones was as hard\nand set as that of hundreds of years before.\n\nThis marvellous occurrence was duly reported at head-quarters. What\nthe officials thought or imagined, is not recorded; they ordered the\nwork to proceed, and even set on more men to pull the old place down,\nso that on the second day a considerable portion was carted away and\nstacked on the new site; but next morning the old church was found to\nhave been fully repaired during the night, every stone having once\nagain been brought back and placed in its original position. Things\nwere now looking a bit serious. On the third day, however, work was\nresumed, a portion again pulled down and carted away, but this time\nmen were set to watch the stones and find out who came for them. Now,\nwhether these watchers fell asleep\u2014they declared they did not\u2014or\nwhether in the darkness the stones were all stolen away so quietly that\nthey never heard or saw anything of what was transpiring, cannot be\nstated; one thing is only known\u2014when daylight appeared, every stone had\nvanished, and again the old church was found to have been restored, so\nperfectly that no one could tell that ever a stone had been removed.\nThose in authority were bound to admit that it was useless to contend\nfurther against such a powerful and invisible opponent. For long it\nwas not generally known by what means the work of replacement had been\nwrought; but there were those who knew, and in time every one did. It\nwas the hobman, assisted by others of his friends. In those days it\nwas simply the essence of folly for architects and bricklayers to pit\nthemselves against a hobman, just the same it would be to-day, if the\nhobmen took it into their heads to undertake a job\u2014but they don\u2019t now.\n\nThere was a hobman once had his home in a hill near to Hob Garth,\nand no doubt in his day performed many acts which are now forgotten;\nhowever, I had one related to me years ago by an old chap who at that\ntime was working on the Mulgrave estate. His grandfather, Thomas\nStonehouse, lived at Hob Garth for many years. I think he had a small\nholding; anyway, he kept sheep. It seems that some misunderstanding\narose between him and one Matthew Bland, of Great Fryup. Bland was of a\nvindictive nature\u2014at least, if the supposition was true that he broke\nTommy\u2019s hedge down late one night, drove the sheep out, and left them\nto wander whither they liked. And wander they did to some purpose,\nfor at the close of the day following, Stonehouse had only managed to\nfind five out of forty. Next morning, what was his surprise not only\nto find his sheep back in the field, but the hedge repaired with new\nposts and rails. The neighbours knew that he could not have done the\nrepairing, for he had caught a severe cold, having been wet to the skin\nsearching for the lost sheep the day previous. Next night, however,\nevery head of cattle belonging to Bland was turned loose. \u2018And great\ndeed there was lating on \u2019em; it war ower a fo\u2019tnit afoor they war all\ngitten tigither again.\u2019 That Stonehouse was quite innocent of this bit\nof retaliation was clear even to Bland, as it was well known he was too\nill to stir out of doors. But when Bland had recovered all his lost\ncattle, Stonehouse\u2019s were set loose again, and the damage done was even\ngreater this time; and as the poor fellow was still too ill to turn out\nto find them, the neighbours did what they could. This time, however,\neven fewer were found, but again on the following morning all but four\nwere safely back in the field, and all damage repaired; subsequently\nthe four were found dead, having fallen into a disused quarry. People\ntalked, as naturally they would, and the bringing back of the lost\nsheep and repairing of the rails was put down to the hobman. When this\nconclusion was come to, heads were shaken in an ominous manner, for\nevidently if Tommy was befriended by the hobman, Matthew would have to\nmind what he did. As soon as Tommy could, he set off to see his sheep.\nIt happened to be rather late when he paid the first visit after his\nillness, owing to the fact that a neighbour was driving past where\nthe sheep were, and as he was returning presently, he offered to put\nStonehouse down and pick him up again as he returned. Tommy counted his\nsheep, and after cutting some hay for them\u2014it was wintertime\u2014he sat\nby the gate waiting for the return of his neighbour. Presently an old\nman accosted him, and begged him not to fret about the lost sheep, as\nthey would be more than compensated for when lambing time came. The\nold chap told him that Bland had on both occasions been guilty, but\nthat he had not to mind. Just then his friend drove up. Tommy bade his\nnew acquaintance good-night, thanked him, and got into the cart. No\nsooner was he seated, than the good neighbour asked him what he meant\nby saying good-night and thanking nobody at all. It transpired that the\nowner of the cart had not noticed any one speaking to Tommy. In the\nend he thought the old chap \u2019war a bit waak an rafflin.\u2019 Anyway, when\nlambing time came, though the weather was very severe, and every one\nelse, and more particularly Bland, lost many lambs, Stonehouse never\nlost one. Ewes, during Tommy\u2019s absence, were found safely delivered of\ntheir lambs, and mostly had two, and never a black one amongst them.\n\u2018An\u2019 noo that war a larl bit sing\u2019lar, warn\u2019t it? Bud then, ya knaw,\ni\u2019 them daays when t\u2019 hobman did tak ti yan, ya war yal reet i\u2019 t\u2019\nlang-run; an\u2019 ivvery wo\u2019d \u2019at Ah\u2019ve tell\u2019d ya\u2019s trew, \u2019coz Ah\u2019ve heeard\nmah gran\u2019father tell t\u2019 taal ower an\u2019 up agaan; bud it\u2019s a gay bit\nsen noo,\u2019 wound up my informant. The hobman was described as a little\nold fellow, with very long hair, large feet, eyes, mouth, and hands,\nstooping much as he walked, and carrying a long holly stick. The date\nof the story would be about 1760.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XI\n\n SOME CHARACTERISTIC YORKSHIRE SAYINGS\n\n Kindly contributed by the Rev. M. C. F. MORRIS, B.C.L., M.A., Author\n of _Yorkshire Folk-Talk_.\n\n\nThere is a saying current among us in the East Riding that \u2018it takes\na Yorkshireman to talk Yorkshire\u2019; the very form of the expression\nsmacks of the county; and if this be true, as true it is, of the\nmere pronunciation of the dialect, it is no less true with regard to\nthose other linguistic features\u2014the idioms, phraseology, and way of\nputting things, which in this, as in every other folk-speech, go to a\ngreat extent to make up the vernacular. We might even advance a step\nbeyond the statement just quoted, for by no means the majority even\nof those who have lived in the county all their lives can tongue the\nspeech aright, and many not at all. It is far from uncommon to hear\nan accurate pronunciation of the dialect from the lips of those who\nare supposed to speak it well, and to find at the same time that the\nspeaker wholly lacks an appreciation of those modes of thought, those\nturns and peculiarities of expression in which the Yorkshire dialect is\npeculiarly rich, and without which it sounds by comparison only tame\nand feeble. As between dog-Latin and the well-turned and polished,\nthough often long-winded, sentences of Cicero, so is it in some sort\nbetween the two styles of dialectical Yorkshire to which I refer. The\none grates upon the ear, while the other rings true. Over and above\nidiomatic usages strictly so called, there are many sayings more or\nless familiar which, though they cannot be brought under any rules of\nspeech, like those of grammar, yet seem to possess a certain raciness\nall their own, and at the same time bring before us something of the\nYorkshireman\u2019s force and character. To some of these I will here direct\nattention, though it must be understood that what are here cited are\nbut a few disconnected specimens of many more which might be given.\n\nWe are most of us, no doubt, aware that in all his dealings and matters\nof business the Yorkshireman is pre-eminently of a strongly practical\nturn of mind. We \u2018reckon nowt\u2019 of a man who is not that.\n\nIt would be untrue to say that sentiment is a state of mind absolutely\nunknown to his nature; but its presence is so rare, and its hold upon\nhim so feeble, that it need hardly be taken into account in considering\nhis character. There may, no doubt, be times when such feelings are\nbrought into play, but the strange thing is that when we might most\nreasonably look for them, we look in vain.\n\nThose attractive personal charms of the gentler sex which with ordinary\nmortals are generally supposed to have their effect at times when a\nyoung man is seeking a partner for life, weigh but little for the most\npart with the matter-of-fact Yorkshireman who regards his intended\nfrom a severely practical point of view. What, we may ask, would the\nsentimentalist of the highly strung poetical temperament think of this\npiece of advice which was once given to a youth at an interesting\nperiod of his life? \u2018Leeak at a lass\u2019s han\u2019s when thoo\u2019s laatin\u2019 a\nweyfe; deean\u2019t be daffled wiv \u2019er feeace!\u2019 It was said in the olden\ndays that the lass who churned \u2018wi\u2019 buckles on her shoon\u2019 was to be\nlightly esteemed, but for sheer practicality the manual test could\nhardly be surpassed. I well remember, many years ago, the case of a man\nwho was twice married. His first wife proved herself an excellent one\nin every way, and the couple lived happily together. When she died,\nand he proceeded to look out for a successor, his choice fell on one\nwho also turned out a no less industrious and tidy woman, though her\npersonal attractiveness was not of a specially pronounced character. On\nbeing asked by a neighbour what led him to make his selection in the\nway he did, he made answer to the effect that his sole reason for doing\nso was because his second wife\u2019s \u2019carcase\u2019 reminded him so strongly of\nthat of his first; she was a lithe, active woman, and he thought, no\ndoubt, that she looked like work.\n\nDespite these purely utilitarian considerations in matters matrimonial,\nthe saying we have heard that the \u2018sweetness of a posy mainly hings\non fra wheear yan gits it,\u2019 indicates that some at least of our\ncountry-folk, under certain favouring conditions, can say pretty\nthings, though it must be confessed such elegancies are few and far\nbetween. The ordinary village gossip who neglects her household\nduties for the sake of \u2018having a crack\u2019 with her neighbours, has from\n\u2018prehistoric times,\u2019 no doubt, come in for much plain-speaking, of\nwhich this may be given as an example: \u2018T\u2019 weyfe \u2019at can ho\u2019d her au\u2019d\nman up wi\u2019 t\u2019 news oot o\u2019 t\u2019 toon, meeastlins bakes bo\u2019nt breead.\u2019\nSuch wives as these are not the ones to pay much heed to principles of\ndomestic economy. Nevertheless, considerations of this kind are as a\nrule carefully thought out by our country-folk, if not scientifically,\nat least in a way that makes a shilling go as far as possible. It may\nbe said, indeed, speaking generally, that domestic affairs receive, on\nthe part of the Yorkshire wife, an amount of attention that is highly\ncommendable, and adds not a little to the happiness of the family, and\nin no part of England do the people understand the meaning of the word\n\u2018comfort\u2019 better than they do in Yorkshire.\n\nCleanliness is a virtue for which our people have long been\nconspicuous, though even here extremes will sometimes meet, and\nexcessive scrupulousness in this respect will at times be something of\na burden to the household rather than a joy.\n\nIt was once said of a \u2018gudewife\u2019 whose washings, scrubbings,\npolishings, and brushings were performed with more than ordinary\nfrequency and vigour, \u2018Sha scrats an\u2019 tews fra morn whahl neet; sha\nwerrits an\u2019 natters an\u2019 grummels t\u2019 daay lang.... There\u2019s neea comfort\ni\u2019 t\u2019 hoos; an\u2019 ther nivver is wheear t\u2019 kettle\u2019s breet all ower.\u2019\n\nIn days gone by it used to be said that a \u2019calling\u2019 wife and a dusty\nspinning-wheel were commonly associated together, and the saying,\n\u2018A mucky moos-trap shoots\u2019 (shouts) \u2018for t\u2019 cat,\u2019 was one of those\nstanding rebukes to a slatternly _mater familias_ which is tellingly\nput, while the following doggerel might well find a place on the walls\nof every kitchen:\u2014\n\n\n A cobweb i\u2019 t\u2019 kitchen\n An\u2019 feeat-marks on t\u2019 step\n Finnd neea wood i\u2019 t\u2019 yewn\n An\u2019 neea cooals i\u2019 t\u2019 skep.\n\n\nNo theme is more frequently harped upon by our old folks, when\ncontrasting present manners and customs with those of a generation or\ntwo ago, than the change that has come over the community in the matter\nof dress, and there is a moral which they commonly draw therefrom.\n\u2018There\u2019s sadly owermich prahd noo,\u2019 say they; while the money that many\nof the young people spend upon their dress passes the understanding\nof their elders, who in their younger days were content with fustian\njackets and print gowns. It was said, for instance, by one who held\nthat a hood was a suitable head-covering for a woman, that \u2018she is a\nfeeal \u2019at hugs a geease\u2019 (i.e. the price of a goose) \u2018on t\u2019 top of her\nheead.\u2019 In consequence of extravagancies of this nature, it is doubtful\nif, in spite of increased wages and cheapness of living, our farm lads\nand lasses save as much money as they did in the olden days. With corn\nat the high price it was, say, fifty years ago, the people were early\ninured to thrifty ways, and the absolute necessity for carefulness in\nall things was frequently insisted upon. Thus, for instance, a child\nwould be told that \u2018a beean thrawn away at t\u2019 fore-end is a dinner lost\nat t\u2019 back-end.\u2019 Few of those living now would credit with what hard\nfare their grandfathers had often to be content, and yet the physique\nof the men which those times produced was probably not inferior, in\npoint of endurance and capacity for work, to that at the present time.\n\nMost of us, I dare say, remember the schoolgirl\u2019s reply when asked\nto define scandal, namely, \u2018When no one does nothing to nobody, and\nsome one else goes and tells\u2019; and although we cannot perhaps surpass\neven in Yorkshire that happy explanation of the term, yet we do own to\ncertain sayings with reference to the unruly member, some of which may\nnot be unworthy of being placed on record. There is one, for instance,\nwhich savours somewhat of the schoolgirl\u2019s definition just mentioned,\nand there are probably many similar ones; it runs thus: \u2018Them \u2019at says\nthey deean\u2019t leyke saayin\u2019 nowt aboot nowt ti neeabody, meeastlins pass\ntahm by saayin\u2019 summat aboot summat ti somebody.\u2019\n\nAgain, the following rhyme aptly hits off what, it is to be feared, is\na not altogether uncommon failing in Yorkshire as elsewhere:\u2014\n\n\n Them \u2019at says they weean\u2019t, an\u2019 diz it still,\n Dizn\u2019t deea it when they saay they will.\n\n\nWe all know what to expect from a \u2018slaap un\u2019; he or she can never be\ndepended on for anything. It was said of a female whose tongue could\nnot be trusted, or, as we say in the East Riding, whom we could not\n\u2018talk after\u2019: \u2018Ah reckon nowt o\u2019 what sha says.... Praise frev a slaap\ntongue is nae better wo\u2019th \u2019an rain i\u2019 haay tahm.\u2019\n\nThat the idler is ever ready to make excuses for his idleness, and that\nhalf the \u2018loafers\u2019 who infest the countryside are as capable of doing\na day\u2019s work as any one else in the community, we are well aware. We\nknow, too, how any slight ailment is by many used as a plea for having\nan \u2018off-day\u2019; it is to such \u2018ne\u2019er-do-weels\u2019 as these that the saying\napplies: \u2018Yan\u2019s nivver ower waak to wark when yan\u2019s yabble ti bunch an\nau\u2019d hat ower t\u2019 green.\u2019\n\nIt is remarkable how few of the well-known English proverbs are in\ncommon use among our country folk in the form in which they have been\nhanded down to us. They are for the most part either supplanted by\ncorresponding ones of more or less local growth or by extemporized\nexpressions which do duty for the same and are of scarcely less\nforce. Thus, for example, it was said of one who had been addicted to\nintemperate habits, and had at length given them up, but, alas! only to\nfall immediately into the wily snares of horse-racing and betting: \u2018Ah\ndeean\u2019t think \u2019at he\u2019s mended hissen mich: they saay \u2019at he\u2019s signed t\u2019\npledge, bud started ti hoss-race; t\u2019 rabbit dizn\u2019t fare na betther \u2019at\n\u2019scapes fra t\u2019 fox an\u2019 meets wi\u2019 t\u2019 rezzil.\u2019\n\nThe well-worn saying that \u2018prevention is better than cure,\u2019 is one\nwhich none of us will care to gainsay, and we are for the most part\nminded so to word the truism; the ancient statement is, however, apt to\ntake a different turn when uttered by Yorkshire lips. On one occasion\na Yorkshireman remarked to another countryman, with reference to a\ncertain fire in a house in the neighbourhood, \u2018He sleck\u2019d t\u2019 fire\noot afoor mich damage wer deean\u2019; whereto the reply came, \u2018\u2019T may be\nclivver ti stop a bull, bud it\u2019s wiser ti loup t\u2019 yat.\u2019\n\nAn instance is recorded, and we fear it is by no means a solitary one,\nof a certain would-be fine lady in one of our Yorkshire villages who\ndressed herself up in a manner singularly unbecoming for one in her\nstation in life, and withal gave herself highly ridiculous airs. This\nkind of parade, as may be supposed, gave no little offence in certain\nquarters, while others of her sex, though not able or willing to adorn\ntheir persons to the same absurd degree of finery, were in no wise\ninferior in real worth to this flaunty and gaily bedecked female. As\n\u2018my lady\u2019 sailed down the \u2018town street\u2019 on one occasion, a critical\nobserver of her ways was heard to remark, \u2018Sha gans wiv her heead up as\nthoff yan wer nowt bud muck; bud Ah\u2019ll tell ya what, Ah\u2019s as good as\nsha is, if Ah\u2019s nut sa weel putten on\u2014black fleeace or white fleeace,\nt\u2019 mutton\u2019s t\u2019 seeam.\u2019 It would be difficult to say whether such a one\nwere the more deserving of all the severe things that were heaped upon\nher or another of whom we have heard\u2014Bessie by name. Her \u2018pleeanin\u2019\u2019\nways were thus described: \u2018It\u2019s awlus ower fine or ower wet for oor\nBessie, bud sum folks is that grum\u2019ly, that they awlus \u2019ev a steean i\u2019\nther shoon.\u2019\n\nThe ordinary infirmities of the flesh are no doubt the inheritance of\nthe Yorkshireman equally with the rest of mankind; we can claim for him\nno immunity from these. He is \u2018hurt with the same weapons, subject to\nthe same diseases, healed by the same means,\u2019 even as others. Fools\nare perhaps rather less frequently met with in this than in some other\ncounties, and if there is one bump more clearly developed upon the\nYorkshireman\u2019s cranium than another, it is that of caution. Those\nwho happen to be deficient in that particular quality come in for no\nunfrequent reproofs and warnings from their more \u2018gaumish\u2019 fellows.\nThus to one who was always being taken in by people of whom he knew\nnothing, this piece of advice was given: \u2018Afoor yan claps a stthrange\ndog uppo t\u2019 heead, yan s\u2019u\u2019d awlus leeak \u2019at it teeal;\u2019 while of\nanother, whose propensity to spend money was in excess of that usually\nfound among those who dwell between the Humber and the Tees, it was\nsaid, \u2018Aw deear, what a feeal he\u2019s been! bud Ah\u2019ve telled him mair \u2019an\nyance \u2019at money ta\u2019en oot o\u2019 t\u2019 pocket\u2019s mair \u2019an hauf spent.\u2019 Again,\nwe have a Yorkshireman\u2019s equivalent of the brief injunction, \u2018look\nbefore you leap,\u2019 expressed as follows: \u2018Nivver loup a stell widoot ya\nknaw what sooart of a footho\u2019d you\u2019ll leet on.\u2019\n\nTo the same effect as the foregoing is a small bit of admonition that\ncomes down to us from the days of the old tinder-box; and for lack of\nits due observance, many a small trouble has been experienced. The\nword of warning shapes itself thus: \u2018Afoor yan flints tundther, knaw\nwheear t\u2019 rush-leet is.\u2019 A few old formulas of this kind may even still\noccasionally be heard. It was not long ago that I was told of one from\nthe borders of Durham and Yorkshire which struck me as having an\nantiquated flavour, but yet, withal, one of a picturesque kind. The\nreason for its use was to reprove a child for displaying a certain\ngreediness at table. It would sound strangely in modern ears to hear\nit said to a child in such a case: \u2018Thoo\u2019s \u2019greed wi\u2019 sham an\u2019 gi\u2019en\nmense a grot\u2019 (you have made an agreement with shame, and given decent\nbehaviour a groat).\n\nThere is no little truth as well as force in the old expression which\nsays, \u2018Them \u2019at crack o\u2019 thersens awlus to\u2019n\u2019 (turn) \u2018oot blawn\neggs\u2019; and those who have risen in the world, especially if it be by\nquestionable means, may well take a lesson from the saying, \u2018Him \u2019at\u2019s\ngitten ti t\u2019 top o\u2019 t\u2019 stee, dhrops farest when he falls.\u2019\n\nIn Yorkshire, as elsewhere, those who thus \u2018crack o\u2019 thersens,\u2019 besides\nbeing unpopular with their fellows, are, generally speaking, more\neasily daunted than those who are not given to blow their own trumpets.\n\nThat was a truly good specimen of our dialectical usages which had\nreference to one who was in the habit of sounding his own praises in no\nmeasured terms. \u2018Whya,\u2019 said a countryman, who took a fairly accurate\nmeasure of this vain boaster\u2019s ways, \u2018Ah deean\u2019t knaw; he\u2019ll mebbe nut\ndeea sa mich when all cums ti all; Ah\u2019ve heeard folk saay \u2019at a bragger\ntaks a lang stthrahd when t\u2019 teeap\u2019 (the ram) \u2018grunds it heeaf\u2019 (stamps\nthe ground with its hoof).\n\nThe most trifling and homely incidents frequently give occasion to a\nYorkshireman for bringing out some of his flashes of wit and raciness\nof expression. I remember not long ago hearing of a native of the\nNorth Riding who, one day in the fore-part of \u2018sheep-clipping time,\u2019\naccompanied an old shepherd in order to have some sheep washed. They\nhad to wait near the appointed place until another flock had gone\nthrough the well-known process of cleansing, and as they were whiling\naway the time, the vicar\u2019s mother and sister drove by. Seeing what\nwas going on, they pulled up and entered into conversation with the\nold shepherd, who, like every Yorkshireman, was a bit of a character.\n\u2018We do so like the smell of sheep,\u2019 they said; to which the old man\nreplied, \u2018Yis, mum, an\u2019 seea deea Ah; bud Ah leykes t\u2019 teeast on \u2019em\nbetther!\u2019\n\nIn the few examples I have here given, it will perhaps be seen how that\nthe Yorkshireman has a way of expressing himself which seems to be\npeculiarly his own, and how his utterances generally strike a stranger\nby their originality and quaintness. Refreshing is it to hear these\nwhen spoken with all the naturalness and force with which some of the\nolder folk tongue them. They come upon us like whiffs of sea air laden\nwith ozone, which put new life into us and make us walk with a lighter\nstep.\n\nI will bring my short chapter to a close by a characteristic little\nstory which forcibly illustrates how strong the Yorkshireman\u2019s ruling\npassion\u2014I mean, of course, his love of horseflesh\u2014is in death.\n\nI was told quite recently of a farmer who, at the time of the\ntransaction to be related, was laid up with a dangerous illness;\nindeed, it proved to be his last. At this time he was possessed of\na thoroughbred mare, which he was anxious to sell. A dealer in the\nneighbourhood had had his eye on the mare, and wanted at once to\nbuy it. Accordingly he called on the farmer, and was shown into his\nbedroom. The bargain was not struck during the visit, though the\ndifference between the two was only a matter of a sovereign or so.\n\nA few days, however, after this interview, the dealer again presented\nhimself at the house, not knowing that in the meantime the farmer had\ndied. On entering the yard, the horse-dealer inquired of the man in the\nstables, how the master was. \u2018Oh! he\u2019s deead,\u2019 said the man; \u2018he deed\nlast Tho\u2019sda, bud afoor he deed he said \u2019at thoo was ti \u2019ev t\u2019 meer!\u2019\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XII\n\n IDIOMS AND THE PECULIAR USE OF CERTAIN WORDS\n\n\nThe folk-speech of our county abounds in idioms, and possesses many\nforms of curious phraseology.\n\nIt is these and other peculiarities which add much to its forcefulness,\nand form one of its main features.\n\nIt will be the object of this short chapter to explain some of these\nusages and idioms.\n\nIn writing such a chapter there is one difficulty presents itself\u2014where\nto commence. There is too much material. As a starting-point, let us\ntake the following remark, which was made to me the other day by an old\ndame:\u2014\n\n \u2018Them lads weean\u2019t deea ez tha\u2019re tell\u2019d; Ah may shoot at \u2019em ez oft\n ez Ah leyke, tha deean\u2019t _mend ther waays_. Ah wadn\u2019t mahnd if tha war\n _onny bit leyke_;\u2019 i.e. \u2018Those boys will not do as they are told; I\n may shout at _\u2019em_ as often as I may, they do not mend their ways. I\n would not mind if they were any way reasonable.\u2019\n\nOne word with reference to \u2018\u2019em.\u2019 Writers on Yorkshire mark \u2018them,\u2019 so\nwritten, with an elision point (\u2019em).\n\nIs this correct? I offer an opinion for what it is worth. The\nvocabulary of our people dates back to a very remote period; the same\nmay be said of many of the rules which govern their speech. May not\nthis \u2018em\u2019 be a case in point; and instead of being a contraction of\n\u2018them,\u2019 only the plural form \u2018hem,\u2019 which they have retained along with\nmany other old-time words?\n\nWicliff, in the parable of the Prodigal Son, translates as\nfollows:\u2014\u2018And the younger of hem;\u2019 and a few lines below, we find, \u2018and\nhe departed\u2019 (divided) \u2018to hem.\u2019 Although our people have not retained\nin their vocabulary the word \u2018departed,\u2019 they have held on to another\nequally archaic, i.e. parting, \u2018partinge,\u2019 to divide. I leave this for\nothers better able than I to decide.\n\nIn the old dame\u2019s statement it was said that the lads would not mend\ntheir ways. \u2018To mend our ways\u2019 is equivalent to saying, \u2018improve,\u2019 \u2018to\ngrow better\u2019; and to be \u2018onny bit leyke\u2019 = being reasonable.\n\nIn the sentence \u2018Yon\u2019s nowt ti mahn,\u2019 the word \u2018yon\u2019 signifies \u2018that\nor those over there.\u2019 \u2018Yon chap\u2019 is \u2018that man over there\u2019; or \u2018yon\ncoos,\u2019 \u2018those cows over there.\u2019 \u2018That chap\u2019 points out a man near at\nhand; \u2018yon chap,\u2019 one who is a greater or less distance removed from\nthe speakers. Hence, \u2018Yon is nothing to mine\u2019 tells that the thing\nspoken of was some distance away. \u2018To,\u2019 in the statement \u2018to mine,\u2019\nis equivalent to \u2018compared with,\u2019 i.e. \u2018That (one) is nothing when\ncompared with mine.\u2019\n\n\u2018To\u2019 also = \u2018for,\u2019 e.g. \u2018good ti nowt,\u2019 \u2018good for nothing.\u2019 Again,\n\u2018to\u2019 = \u2018this.\u2019 And although to some it sounds odd to hear a farmer say,\n\u2018Wa s\u2019all \u2019ev a good crop ti year,\u2019 \u2018we shall have a good crop to\u2019\n(this) \u2018year,\u2019 it only sounds peculiar because it is unfamiliar. The\nsame individual who would smile at such usage, would perhaps a moment\nafterwards ask, \u2018what have we _to_ dinner _to_-day?\u2019 i.e. \u2018What have\nwe for dinner this day?\u2019 The usage of the negative in the double,\ntreble, or quadruple form is not infrequent. \u2018Ah nivver at neea tahm\nsed nowt aboot nowt ti neeabody neeaways; Ah\u2019d nivver neea call teea,\u2019\nliterally, reads thus: \u2018I never at no time said nothing about nothing\nto nobody no way; I had never no reason to;\u2019 or, \u2018I never said a\nword to any one; I had no reason to.\u2019 \u2018Ah\u2019d nivver neea call teea.\u2019\n\u2018Call\u2019 = \u2018reason.\u2019 \u2018Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e him a good calling when he cums in; bud\nhe wants his jacket lacing weel t\u2019 maist ov owt.\u2019 \u2018To call\u2019 here = \u2018to\nscold.\u2019\n\n\u2018Sha called ma leyke all that; aye! ivverything \u2019at sha c\u2019u\u2019d lig her\ntung teea.\u2019 In this instance, \u2018called\u2019 means more than a scolding; it\nmeans, \u2018to defame,\u2019 \u2018to have said of the person shameful things,\u2019 \u2018to\nillify[64],\u2019 \u2018to speak evil of.\u2019 \u2018To lace any one\u2019s jacket,\u2019 is \u2018to\nadminister a sound thrashing\u2019; and to say \u2018ivverything \u2019at one can lay\nthe tongue to,\u2019 is to heap upon a person all the opprobrious epithets\nwe can remember or invent. We should not say to a child, \u2018What is your\nname?\u2019 Possibly did we do so, we should be met with a blank stare of\namazement. The correct form would be, \u2018What do they call you?\u2019 and you\nwould have an answer at once.\n\nWe should not say \u2018Shout to John,\u2019 but \u2018Call of John\u2019; or \u2018Thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e\nti shoot on him looder na that, if thoo aims ti mak him hear,\u2019 i.e.\n\u2018you will have to shout to him louder than that, if you intend to make\nhim hear.\u2019 This word \u2018call\u2019 caused considerable bewilderment to one who\nhad to make a complaint to a mother of her son. Being a stranger, the\nmother replied to him in her best English, but although she managed\nto divest her speech of much of its usual vocabulary, idiom and the\npeculiar use of certain words were not so easily laid on one side. She\nbegan, \u2018It\u2019s ti little ewse, bud Ah\u2019ll call on him, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll call him\nwell when he cums; bud it\u2019s ti no good my calling him when he does cum,\nfoor Ah\u2019ve called him many a tahm afoor.\u2019\n\nNow, why the good lady should promise to call for him when he had\ncome, and to assure the gentleman it was of no use calling him when\nhe arrived, because she had done so many a time before, didn\u2019t leave\nthings as clear as they might have been. What she really meant to say\nwas, \u2018I will shout for him, and give him a scolding when he comes; but\nreally scolding is of little use, as I have done so many a time before.\u2019\n\nA little way back the word \u2018aim\u2019 was used\u2014\u2018if thoo aims ti mak him\nhear.\u2019\n\n\u2018Aim\u2019 = \u2018to intend,\u2019 \u2018to hope,\u2019 \u2018to think,\u2019 \u2018to go.\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah aim ti git deean ti-day\u2019 = I intend to get done to-day; or, I hope\n to get done to-day.\n\n \u2018Ah aim \u2019at sha\u2019ll git better\u2019 = I think that she will get better.\n\n \u2018Ah aim \u2019at he\u2019s a better talker \u2019an t\u2019 parson\u2019 = I think that he is a\n better speaker than the parson.\n\n \u2018He\u2019s aiming t\u2019 wrang road\u2019 = He\u2019s going in the wrong direction.\n\n \u2018Ah aim \u2019at it\u2019s _good_ eneeaf ti deea\u2019 = I think that it is easy\n enough to do.\n\nThe word \u2018good\u2019 = \u2018easy,\u2019 also \u2018considerable.\u2019\n\n \u2018Ther war a good lot o\u2019 sheep an\u2019 a goodish few pigs,\u2019 i.e. There were\n a considerable number of sheep, and equally so of pigs.\n\n\u2018Good\u2019 also = \u2018well.\u2019\n\n \u2018Thoo mud ez good cum ti morn ez t\u2019 daay eftther\u2019 = You may as well\n come in the morning as the day after.\n\n\u2018To lap up a thing\u2019 is \u2018to conclude,\u2019 \u2018finish,\u2019 \u2018overcome.\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah s\u2019all lap it up iv a minit\u2019 = I shall be done in a minute.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019ll seean lap yon job up\u2019 = I will soon end that affair.\n\n \u2018If Ah caan\u2019t lap yon chap up, Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e ower\u2019 = If I cannot overcome\n (thrash) yon man, I will give over; literally, I will admit my\n incapacity to do anything.\n\n\u2018To gi\u2019e ower\u2019 = \u2018to cease.\u2019\n\n \u2018Noo, bairns! gi\u2019e ower potching steeans at t\u2019 ducks; ya\u2019ll be\n laamin\u2019 sum on \u2019em, an\u2019 then sum on ya\u2019ll be gitting ta\u2019en afoor yer\n betters\u2019 = Now, children, cease throwing stones at the ducks; you will\n be hurting some of them, and then some of you will be getting taken\n before your betters.\n\n\u2018To be taken\u2019 or \u2018having to appear before one\u2019s betters\u2019 = \u2018appearing\nbefore the justices.\u2019\n\n\u2018Bunch\u2019 and \u2018punch\u2019 are two words over which mistakes are often made.\n\u2018Bunch\u2019 is to kick with the foot or knee, \u2018punch\u2019 is to hit with the\nhand.\n\n \u2018He bunched, an\u2019 Ah punched, an\u2019 wa baith toupled inti t\u2019 beck\n tigither.\u2019\n\n \u2018Mrs. Ridge, will ya mak your Sally gi\u2019e ower? sha\u2019s bunching ma.\u2019\n\n \u2018Nobbut when thoo lugs (my hair), Ah deean\u2019t bunch nobbut when thoo\n lugs, an\u2019 ivvery tahm \u2019at thoo lugs, Ah\u2019ll bunch. If it\u2019s gahin to be\n lug foor bunch, it s\u2019all be bunch foor lug,\u2019 shouted Sally.\n\nThe very common occurrence of changing the past participle passive\ninto the infinitive active, with \u2018be,\u2019 is somewhat curious. Instead of\nsaying, \u2018it will have to be seen to,\u2019 we should say, \u2018it\u2019ll be ti leeak\nteea\u2019; or, \u2018the dog is dead, it will have to be buried,\u2019 would become,\n\u2018t\u2019 dog\u2019s deead, it\u2019ll be ti sahd by.\u2019 \u2018To sahd by\u2019 is \u2018to bury,\u2019 and\n\u2018to put out of the road\u2019 is \u2018to kill.\u2019 \u2018Wa\u2019ve \u2019ed ti put t\u2019 au\u2019d meer\noot o\u2019 t\u2019 road.\u2019\n\nAs the following bit of information introduces many of our idioms, I\nwill give it as uttered.\n\n\u2018Thoo maunt _let on_ aboot it, bud oor Tom\u2019s _keeping company_ wi\u2019\nHannah, Mary\u2019s lass; _an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tell tha what_, she diz _git hersen up_\nwhen they gan oot. _Ah nivver thowt foor_ oor Tom ti keep company wi\u2019\nher; sha\u2019s _far an\u2019 awaay_ t\u2019 best leeaking ov onny on \u2019em. Aye! _byv\na lang waay_; bud he\u2019s gitten weel in wi\u2019 _t\u2019 au\u2019d woman_, an\u2019 he can\ngan an\u2019 _hing his hat up_ onny tahm he \u2019ez a mahnd teea. Ah\u2019ve gi\u2019en\nhim _an inklin\u2019_ \u2019at he mun allus _mak hissen mensful_, an\u2019 ti _think\non_ nivver ti _let wit_ owt aboot Nancy. They \u2019ed a _few wo\u2019ds_ t\u2019other\ndaay aboot her; it war _all alang of_ summat \u2019at Jack let slip; an\u2019,\nmah wo\u2019d, bud Tom did _ramp an\u2019 rahve_ when he gat ti knaw. Sha sed\n\u2019at sha wadn\u2019t be played _fast an\u2019 loose_ wi\u2019; bud Ah tell\u2019t him ti\n_feeace it oot_, an\u2019 nut git oot o\u2019 heart, an\u2019 _fall oot_ t\u2019 ane wi\u2019 t\u2019\nither ower a _larl matter_ leyke that. Bud he sed \u2019at sha war _grieved\nan\u2019 vexed an\u2019 putten aboot_; an\u2019 _moreover \u2019an that_, Ah tell\u2019d him nut\nti _tak t\u2019 hig_, bud ti tak neea _\u2018count on_ what fau\u2019k sed, bud ti\ndeea his best ti _hit it off_, an\u2019 _gi\u2019e ower_ acting leyke ez if he\u2019d\ngitten _a slaate off_, an\u2019 nut ti _fetch things up_, or else sha\u2019d be\ngi\u2019ing him t\u2019 _cau\u2019d shou\u2019der_, an\u2019 mebbe _gi\u2019ing him t\u2019 sack_ if he\n_gat her back up_; onny road, tha\u2019ve _gitten things straighten\u2019d up_ a\nbit noo, seea lang ez it lasts.\u2019\n\n \u2018To let on\u2019 = to tell, to divulge.\n\n \u2018Keeping company\u2019 = to be engaged.\n\n \u2018An\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tell tha what\u2019 = I assure you.\n\n \u2018To get oneself up\u2019 is to pay great attention to one\u2019s appearance.\n\n \u2018Ah nivver thowt foor\u2019 = expected.\n\n \u2018Far an\u2019 awaay\u2019 = much.\n\n \u2018Byv a lang waay\u2019 = much.\n\n \u2018T\u2019 au\u2019d woman\u2019 = either wife or mother.\n\n \u2018To hing one\u2019s hat up\u2019 = to be on very friendly terms.\n\n \u2018An inklin\u2019 = a hint.\n\n \u2018To mak oneself mensful\u2019 = to put on one\u2019s best.\n\n \u2018To think on\u2019 = to bear in mind.\n\n \u2018To let wit\u2019 = to divulge.\n\n \u2018Few wo\u2019ds\u2019 = a slight disagreement.\n\n \u2018All alang of\u2019 = owing to.\n\n \u2018Ramp an\u2019 rahve\u2019 = a violent passion.\n\n \u2018Fast an\u2019 loose\u2019 = first one way and then another.\n\n \u2018Feeace it out\u2019 = to meet an accusation boldly.\n\n \u2018To fall out with\u2019 = to quarrel with.\n\n \u2018Larl matter\u2019 = of small moment.\n\n \u2018Grieved an\u2019 vexed an\u2019 putten aboot\u2019 = to be annoyed.\n\n \u2018Moreover \u2019an that\u2019 = besides.\n\n \u2018Tak t\u2019 hig\u2019 = to take offence.\n\n \u2018Count on\u2019 = notice.\n\n \u2018To hit it off\u2019 = to agree.\n\n \u2018Gi\u2019e ower\u2019 = cease.\n\n \u2018A slaate off:\u2019 to have a slate off = to be an idiot.\n\n \u2018Fetch things up\u2019 = to mention bygones.\n\n \u2018To get the cau\u2019d shou\u2019der\u2019 = to be treated coolly.\n\n \u2018To give or get the sack\u2019 = to dismiss, to lose a situation.\n\n \u2018To get one\u2019s back up\u2019 = to be provoked to anger.\n\n \u2018To get things straightened up\u2019 = to arrange things in proper order, to\n settle matters in dispute.\n\n\nTo the above list may be added a few others which are equally common:\u2014\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019ll mak sewer o\u2019 that, hooivver.\u2019 \u2018To make sure\u2019 is to put a thing\n in a safe place.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019ll mak an end on \u2019t.\u2019 \u2018To make an end of\u2019 is to destroy, or\n conclude a matter once for all.\n\n \u2018Recollect\u2019 is generally used instead of \u2018remember,\u2019 but \u2018beear i\u2019\n mahnd\u2019 is most commonly used.\n\n \u2018Ah nobbut want nobbut yan.\u2019 \u2018Nobbut yan\u2019 is \u2018only one.\u2019 I only want\n one.\n\n \u2018Hard eneeaf\u2019 = without doubt. \u2018He\u2019ll deea \u2019t hard eneeaf.\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah put it all waays.\u2019 To put things all ways = explaining a thing in\n every conceivable manner.\n\n \u2018Ah feel _nobbut midlin\u2019_ = only moderately well.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019s _neycely_ noo.\u2019 \u2018Nicely\u2019 is equal to almost quite well.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019s _better_\u2019 does not imply that the patient has recovered, but is\n recovering.\n\n \u2018It\u2019s nowt bud a _misfit_, onny road ya tak \u2019t\u2019 = it is nothing but a\n bad fit (answers badly), or altogether out of place.\n\n \u2018Ah s\u2019u\u2019d be all reet if \u2019twarn\u2019t for this _naggin\u2019 pain_\u2019 = toothache.\n\n \u2018Nighest ov onny\u2019 = nearest of any. \u2018Ah gat nighest tiv him ov onny on\n \u2019em.\u2019\n\n \u2018Not suited\u2019 = not pleased. \u2018Ah war neean seea suited at what sha sed.\u2019\n\n \u2018_Naay, what!_ wa s\u2019all be _forced_ ti gan.\u2019 \u2018Forced\u2019 is to be\n obliged. \u2018Naay, what!\u2019 implies either surprise or disappointment.\n\n \u2018Whya, yan sees him _noos an\u2019 thens_.\u2019 \u2018Noos and thens\u2019 = occasionally.\n\n \u2018It won\u2019t be _lang fo\u2019st_\u2019 = it won\u2019t be long before.\n\n \u2018Whya, Ah\u2019ll tell tha what; if thoo nobbut _taks_ it this road, tho\u2019ll\n mebbe change thi mahnd.\u2019 To take = to consider.\n\n \u2018Ah _thowt for ti cum_, bud Tommy wadn\u2019t.\u2019 \u2018Thowt for ti cum\u2019 = almost\n decided to, intended.\n\n \u2018Ah caan\u2019t say hoo, bud _wa\u2019ve gitten oot wiv_ \u2019em.\u2019 To get out with,\n or fall out with = to be at variance.\n\n \u2018_Wa\u2019re kind_ agaan noo; Ah\u2019ve _\u2019ed it ower wiv him_.\u2019 To be kind is\n to be friendly; and to have it over with is to have given and received\n a full explanation.\n\n \u2018It war that _pick dark_ \u2019at Ah couldn\u2019t see t\u2019 hoss\u2019s heead.\u2019 \u2018Pick\n dark\u2019 = absolutely dark.\n\n \u2018He\u2019s sthrangely _setten up_ wi\u2019 t\u2019 thing.\u2019 \u2018Setten up\u2019 = very pleased.\n\n \u2018Ah mun be gahin\u2019; Ah \u2019ev ti ride on _shank\u2019s gallowaay ti neet_,\u2019\n i.e. to walk.\n\n \u2018He\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti mahnd an\u2019 _treead his teeas streight_, or he\u2019ll be\n gitting t\u2019 sack.\u2019 To tread one\u2019s toes straight is to be careful to do\n right in all things.\n\n \u2018Ah caan\u2019t gan up Roseberry leyke Ah yance c\u2019u\u2019d, Ah git seea _oot\n o\u2019 puff_ noo.\u2019 \u2018Oot o\u2019 puff,\u2019 and \u2018sho\u2019t o\u2019 puff,\u2019 is to be out of\n breath, and short of breath.\n\n \u2018Whya, Ah thowt \u2019at ther war nobbut varra _slack deed_,\u2019 i.e. dull,\n nothing doing.\n\n \u2018Ah nivver war oot i\u2019 sike a _steeping rain_ afoor,\u2019 i.e. pouring down.\n\n \u2018Ah _laid it oot_ tiv him _all roads_,\u2019 i.e. explained. I explained it\n to him every way.\n\n \u2018Thoo can saay what thoo leykes, bud Ah _reckon nowt on_ him,\u2019 i.e.\n have a very poor opinion of him.\n\n \u2018Ah warn\u2019t _satisfied_ aboot it, efter Ah\u2019d seed it,\u2019 i.e. certain.\n\n \u2018Ah _start_ ti morn; Bob dizn\u2019t want t\u2019 meer whahl t\u2019 daay efter, he\u2019s\n nut gahin\u2019 ti _start_ whahl then,\u2019 i.e. begin.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019s nut _thruff wi\u2019_ \u2019t yet\u2019 = finished.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019s be _agate_ ti morn.\u2019 \u2018Agate\u2019 is \u2018to commence.\u2019\n\n \u2018He nivver did a _hand to\u2019n_ all t\u2019 tahm \u2019at he war here,\u2019 i.e. a\n single thing, or stroke of work.\n\n \u2018Ah maad fahve on \u2019em _hand running_,\u2019 i.e. without interruption, or\n without ceasing to work.\n\n \u2018\u2018Ez \u2019t _kessen up_ yet?\u2019 = has it been found?\n\n \u2018Tho\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti _knuckle down_,\u2019 i.e. humble oneself.\n\n \u2018Sha\u2019s a bad un, sha\u2019s allus _setting_ things aboot.\u2019 \u2018To set about\u2019\n is to spread reports.\n\n \u2018It gans weel wi\u2019 them \u2019at weel gans wi\u2019\u2019 = it goes well with those\n that well goes with, i.e. nothing succeeds like success.\n\n \u2018Tha\u2019re gahin\u2019 ti \u2019ev _grand deed_; sha\u2019s ti be _sahded by_ o\u2019\n Tho\u2019sday.\u2019 \u2018Grand deed,\u2019 something out of the ordinary; \u2018sahded by,\u2019\n buried.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019ve _wrought hard_ all t\u2019 day, bud Ah\u2019ve _brokken its heart_\n noo.\u2019 \u2018Wrought hard,\u2019 is to work hard; and \u2018to break the heart of an\n undertaking,\u2019 is to get the upper hand of it.\n\n \u2018Neea, Ah\u2019s a bit ta\u2019en in; it _show\u2019d_ ti be a good un, bud it\u2019s\n warse \u2019an _a nahn wi\u2019 t\u2019 taal cut off_.\u2019 \u2018To show\u2019 = to appear, and a\n nine with its tail cut off stands a cypher.\n\n \u2018It didn\u2019t _fetch_ what Ah _reckon\u2019d_ it wad.\u2019 \u2018Fetch\u2019 = realize,\n \u2018reckoned\u2019 = thought.\n\n \u2018Ah war _hard an\u2019 fast asleep_ when \u2018Liza cam,\u2019 i.e. sound asleep.\n\n \u2018Martha sez \u2019at sha\u2019s _cumin\u2019 roond_ neycely,\u2019 i.e. improving.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019ll a\u2019e neea mair o\u2019 that; Ah\u2019ll seean _steck t\u2019 yat_ o\u2019 that gam.\u2019\n \u2018To steck the gate\u2019 = to put a stop to, i.e. to close.\n\n \u2018Ah caan\u2019t forgit what he did ti ma; it\u2019s _stuck i\u2019 mah gizzard_ ivver\n sen,\u2019 i.e. taken a thing very much to heart, something which can\n neither be forgotten nor forgiven.\n\n \u2018He\u2019ll be _dropping in_ for \u2019t yet; bud Ah\u2019ve tell\u2019d him _ower an\u2019\n up agaan_, bud it\u2019s _teea neea good_.\u2019 \u2018To drop in\u2019 has several\n meanings: (1) To look in\u2014\u2018Ah\u2019ll drop in an\u2019 see tha tineet;\u2019 (2)\n punishment\u2014\u2018Tho\u2019ll drop in for \u2019t when ta gans yam,\u2019 i.e. you will\n either be thrashed, scolded, or punished in some form when you go\n home. \u2018Ower an\u2019 up agaan\u2019 is a redundancy for \u2018many a time\u2019; \u2018to neea\n good,\u2019 of no use, useless. \u2018It\u2019s teea neea good gahin\u2019, \u2019coz he\u2019s nut\n at yam\u2019 = it is useless going, because he is not at home.\n\n\u2018If it _fairs up_ thoo maay _pop ower_ ti Jane, bud thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti\n_mahnd thisen_ an\u2019 see \u2019at t\u2019 cau\u2019d dizn\u2019t _sattle o\u2019 thi chist_;\nthoo\u2019s a _larl piece better_ \u2019an what thoo \u2019ez been, an\u2019 _ther\u2019s nowt\naboot that_; but thoo\u2019ll \u2018 ti _hap thisen up_, thoo seeams a bit\n_closed up_ ez it is; an\u2019 Ah seear thoo diz _leeak a bad leeak_, bud\nthoo\u2019ll _cum on_ neycely if thoo nobbut taks care.\u2019\n\n \u2018To fair up\u2019 = to cease raining, to become fine.\n\n \u2018To pop ower\u2019 = to run, to go quickly to.\n\n \u2018To mahnd thisen\u2019 = to take care of oneself.\n\n \u2018To sattle o\u2019 thi chist\u2019 i.e. for the cold to attack the lungs.\n\n \u2018A larl piece better\u2019 = a little better.\n\n \u2018Ther\u2019s nowt aboot that\u2019 = no doubt of that.\n\n \u2018To hap up\u2019 = to wrap up.\n\n \u2018To be closed up\u2019 = difficulty in breathing.\n\n \u2018To leeak a bad leeak\u2019 = to look ill.\n\n \u2018To cum on\u2019 = to improve.\n\n\u2018Sha\u2019s cuming on neycely noo, sha\u2019s gitten a to\u2019n foor t\u2019 better, bud\nAh thowt it war gahin ti be all _owered wiv_ her _yance ower_.\u2019\n\n \u2018To be owered with\u2019 = to cease, to be the last end of.\n\n \u2018Yance ower\u2019 = once over, once.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019s gahin\u2019 ower[65] ti Bessy\u2019s; t\u2019 rest on ya mun stop wheer ya are,\n ther\u2019s ower[66] monny on ya ti cum wi\u2019 ma.\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah war _hard set_ ti git it deean byv t\u2019 tahm.\u2019\n\n \u2018To be hard set\u2019 = to be much bothered, to find a thing difficult to do.\n\n\u2018He _sidled aboot_ t\u2019 Squire whahl he gat his rent sattled.\u2019\n\n\u2018He\u2019s awlus _skewing aboot_ t\u2019 doctor\u2019s; Ah aim \u2019at he\u2019s efter yan o\u2019\nt\u2019 lasses.\u2019\n\n \u2018To sidle about a person\u2019 = being obsequious.\n\n \u2018To gan _skewing about_ a place\u2019 = to look or go about slily. \u2018To skew\n about\u2019 = to walk like a fool.\n\n\u2018If thoo\u2019s gahin ti _be agate_, Ah\u2019ll _get agate_, an\u2019 _set agate_\nMatther.\u2019\n\n \u2018Be agate\u2019 = to be astir.\n\n \u2018Get agate\u2019 = to commence work; and \u2018to set agate,\u2019 to set another to\n work, or to start oneself. \u2018If you are going to be astir, I will\n commence (the job), and set Matthew to work (also).\u2019\n\n\u2018_To hang in the bell ropes_\u2019 is either the time occurring between the\nfirst publishing of the banns, or that during which a wedding may be\npostponed.\n\n\u2018_To let oneself down_\u2019 = to perform some action which lowers us in the\nestimation of others.\n\n\u2018He\u2019s gitten neea _heart i\u2019 t\u2019 job_, nivver neeabody \u2019ez when tha\u2019re\n_rahding t\u2019 deead hoss_.\u2019\n\n \u2018To ride the dead horse\u2019 is to do work for which payment has been made\n beforehand; hence, a man shews no energy in such work.\n\n\u2018It\u2019s a fine daay, ther\u2019s nowt aboot that; bud Ah\u2019s \u2019fraid it\u2019s nowt\nbud a _weather breeder_.\u2019\n\n This is often said specially of fine weather when inappropriate to the\n season.\n\n\u2018To _look hard_ at anything\u2019 is to do so earnestly.\n\n \u2018Noo _leeak hard at it_, that\u2019s \u201cC,\u201d nut \u201cO\u201d; noo leeak hard, an\u2019 bear\n it i\u2019 mahnd,\u2019 said an old country schoolmaster.\n\n\u2018_Ho\u2019d on a bit_, thoo\u2019s nut gahin\u2019 _ti rahd rough-shod_ ower me.\u2019\n\u2018Ho\u2019d on a bit,\u2019 spoken in an ordinary tone, means simply \u2018wait,\u2019\n\u2018stay a moment.\u2019 But in case of an argument, its utterance conveys\nthe information that the tongue of one of the disputants is wagging a\nlittle too freely, or it may imply, \u2018cease speaking altogether.\u2019 E.g. I\nheard a man say the other day to a fellow workman: \u2018Thoo ho\u2019d on a bit,\nwa\u2019ve \u2019ed eneaf o\u2019 thi blather,\u2019 i.e. \u2018you cease speaking (hold your\nnoise), we have had enough of your silly talk.\u2019 The tone of the \u2018thoo\u2019\ngave such an emphasis, that there could be no mistaking the command\nwhich it implied. On the other hand, \u2018Here, Ah saay, ho\u2019d on a bit,\u2019\ncarries no greater weight than \u2018That will do for the present.\u2019\n\n\u2018To ride rough-shod over any one\u2019 = utterly ignoring or treating with\ncontempt their desires and wishes.\n\n\u2018Wa\u2019ve been tul him, an\u2019 wa\u2019ve tell\u2019t him ez plaan ez wa c\u2019u\u2019d what wa\nwanted an\u2019 what wa meant ti \u2019ev, an\u2019 wa didn\u2019t _minsh matters_ nowther;\nan\u2019 when wa\u2019d deean, he just to\u2019n\u2019d roond, an\u2019 tell\u2019d uz \u2019at wa mud\n_jump up_ all t\u2019 lot on uz for owt \u2019at he cared; he s\u2019u\u2019d _gan his awn\ngate_, neea matter what wa sed or did. Ah tell ya what, chaps\u2014it seeams\nti me ez if he meant ti rahd rough-shod ower t\u2019 lot on uz.\u2019\n\n \u2018Minsh matters\u2019 = not speaking in a straightforward way; another form\n of the same expression is, \u2018nut ti be ower neyce,\u2019 not over-nice,\n careless as to expressions or the method employed.\n\n To tell a person he may \u2018jump up,\u2019 means he may just do as he likes.\n\n \u2018To gan one\u2019s awn gate\u2019 = going our own way, i.e. acting as we think\n best.\n\n\u2018Ah deean\u2019t _reckon_ mich on him\u2014he diz ivverything by _fits an\u2019\nstarts_, an\u2019 ya caan\u2019t _lay onny store byv_ owt he sez he\u2019s at t\u2019 _beck\nan\u2019 call_ ov ivverybody; an\u2019 he\u2019s _fo\u2019st this road an\u2019 then that_,\nwhahl yan caan\u2019t pleeace neea dependence on owt \u2019at he owther sez or\ndiz.\u2019\n\n \u2018Reckon\u2019 = think.\n\n \u2018Fits an\u2019 starts\u2019 = erratically and at odd times.\n\n \u2018To lay store by\u2019 = to value, to believe in, trust.\n\n \u2018Beck an\u2019 call\u2019 = to be the servant of any one who beckons or calls.\n\n \u2018Fo\u2019st this road an\u2019 then that\u2019 = first one way and then another,\n unstable.\n\nThe following are also commonly heard:\u2014\n\n \u2018To give oneself airs,\u2019 i.e. to ape manners, &c., above one\u2019s station\n in life.\n\n \u2018To be despert thrang,\u2019 i.e. being very busy.\n\n \u2018Almost any day\u2019 = at any time.\n\n \u2018Might as well be hung for a sheep as a lamb,\u2019 i.e. might as well be\n punished for committing a big fault as a little one.\n\n \u2018As good luck would have it\u2019 = as good fortune happened.\n\n \u2018Away\u2019 = continue. \u2018He may knock away, I shan\u2019t go to the door,\u2019 i.e.\n he may continue knocking.\n\n \u2018To fancy oneself\u2019 is to be conceited.\n\n \u2018As matters stand\u2019 = as things are.\n\n \u2018At all events\u2019 = in any case.\n\n \u2018From the bottom of the heart,\u2019 i.e. wholly, absolutely. Ex. \u2018I\n believe what you say from the bottom of my heart.\u2019\n\n \u2018Cut an\u2019 come again\u2019 = help yourself; when you have eaten that, have\n more.\n\n \u2018Dragged by wild horses,\u2019 torture in any form. \u2018I wadn\u2019t \u2018 tell\u2019d owt;\n neea, Ah\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e been dragged aboot wi\u2019 wild hosses fost;\u2019 i.e. I would\n have been put to torture first.\n\n \u2018To follow like a shadow\u2019 is to keep close to.\n\n \u2018For my own part\u2019 = to my way of thinking.\n\n \u2018As far as in one lies\u2019 = to the best of one\u2019s ability.\n\n \u2018Not to allow the grass to grow under one\u2019s feet\u2019 is to be very\n energetic, diligent in business.\n\n \u2018To be hand and glove with any one,\u2019 is to be very intimately\n associated with them.\n\n \u2018For once in a way\u2019 = this time, just once.\n\n \u2018To scrape one\u2019s tongue\u2019 = to talk affectedly.\n\n \u2018To be over head and ears in anything\u2019 = to be completely so\u2014over head\n and ears in debt, in love, &c.\n\n \u2018To hang heavy on one\u2019s hands\u2019 = to be difficult to dispose of.\n\n \u2018Not to know whether one is on his head or his heels\u2019 is to be\n absolutely bewildered.\n\n \u2018On that score\u2019 = on that account.\n\n \u2018Over and above (ower an\u2019 aboon)\u2019 = more than. Ex. \u2018An\u2019 ower an\u2019 aboon\n that he sed\u2014\u2014,\u2019 and more than that he said\u2014\u2014.\n\n \u2018To pour into one\u2019s ears\u2019 = giving information with great unction.\n\n \u2018To quake in one\u2019s shoes (ti quake in yan\u2019s shoon)\u2019 = to be in great\n fear.\n\n \u2018Spoil the ship for a happorth of tar\u2019 = penny wise and pound foolish.\n\n \u2018To stir up strife\u2019 = making mischief.\n\n \u2018Stir your stumps,\u2019 or \u2018cut your sticks\u2019 = off you go.\n\n \u2018To the top of one\u2019s bent\u2019 = to fully carry out our inclination.\n\n \u2018That\u2019s telling,\u2019 often said after a question has been asked, and\n implies, \u2018You would like to know, but I shall not tell you.\u2019\n\n \u2018Up to Dick\u2019 = just as it should be, perfection.\n\n \u2018To be wrang i\u2019 t\u2019 heead\u2019 = being out of one\u2019s mind.\n\n \u2018Not to be worth one\u2019s salt\u2019 = useless.\n\n \u2018To sleep like a top\u2019 = to sleep soundly.\n\nTo conclude. It was said of one, who was somewhat inclined to be a fop,\n\n\n \u2018He puts on airs, scrapes his tongue, skews aboot, an\u2019 fancies hissel\u2019\n that mich, whahl he\u2019s mair leyke yan \u2019at\u2019s nicked i\u2019 t\u2019 heead, an\u2019\n clean daft, \u2019an owt else; he maay aim \u2019at he\u2019s up ti Dick, bud Ah aim\n \u2019at he\u2019s nut wo\u2019th his sau\u2019t, an\u2019 Ah\u2019s reet.\u2019\n\n\nI am certain of one thing\u2014a Yorkshireman, no matter what his position\nmay be, never quite leaves his Yorkshire behind him. I was standing one\nday waiting for the steamer which was to bring me once again to old\nEngland, when a gentleman quite close to me said to his lady companion,\n\u2018It\u2019s a beautiful sight, is the sea[67].\u2019 I turned to him, and raising\nmy hat, remarked, \u2018Ah\u2019s a Yorkshireman an\u2019 all.\u2019 That was enough, we\nwere friends the whole of the voyage. No, we Yorkshire people cannot,\nif we would, leave our county behind us. And thank the gods for that.\n\n\n * * * * *\n When cultured speech in tones refined\n Lead us to dream all others blind,\n \u2018Tis well that we should bear in mind,\n Though we may leave all else behind,\n Our idiom goes with us.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XIII\n\n SIMILES, PROVERBS, AND SAYINGS\n\n\nThe North Riding is very prolific in similes and quaint sayings. I\nhave by me a collection of some hundreds, varying in degree of point\nand humour, but all worthy of being preserved. Many of them take us\nback to the time of our grandfathers, speaking of things and pointing\nto customs of other days. Still, they hang on the lips of the older\npeople now; but to those who know nothing of their past, their sayings\nseem pointless and out of place. Nevertheless, \u2018Ez useless ez damp\ntunder\u2019 (tinder) would be as forceful in their day as our saying, \u2018As\nuseless as a damp match.\u2019 In the days when many a pulpit was supplied\nwith an hourglass\u2014like a huge egg-boiler\u2014to let the preacher know\nwhen to wind up his \u2018thirdly,\u2019 the old saying applied to those who\nwere somewhat importunate, \u2018They hint ez plaan ez t\u2019 hoorglass,\u2019 and\n\u2018Sha\u2019s leyke t\u2019 hoorglass\u2014sha uses t\u2019 same thing ower an\u2019 up agaan,\u2019 or\n\u2018Sha\u2019s ez careful ez a sandglass,\u2019 which never wastes a grain, were in\ntheir day as pointed as any in use at the present time. A few remarks\nto elucidate the meaning of those in the following list which may be\nsomewhat obscure to any lacking knowledge on certain points, will be\nfound on page 243.\n\nThose marked thus ([+]) are in daily use throughout the riding. Thus\n(*), explanatory remarks will be found at the end.\n\n 1. Ez wise ez t\u2019 ullot.\n\n [+] 2. Ez hungry ez a dog.\n\n [+] 3. Ez patient ez a cat.\n\n [+] 4. Ez whisht ez a cat.\n\n [+] 5. Ez still ez a moose.\n\n * 6. Ez friendly ez a bram\u2019l bush.\n\n *[+] 7. Ez walsh ez pump-watter.\n\n 8. Ez poor ez pauper soup.\n\n *[+] 9. Ez thick ez inkle-weavers.\n\n [+] 10. Ez reglar ez clockwark.\n\n [+] 11. Ez sartin ez t\u2019 cess\n getherer.\n\n 12. Ez scarce ez guineas.\n\n 13. Ez noisy ez a tinker.\n\n * 14. Ez common ez a deear-snek. Any one handles it.\n\n [+] 15. Ez strang ez a steeple.\n\n [+] 16. Ez hoarse ez a raven.\n\n [+] 17. Ez soft ez pap, i.e. child\u2019s food.\n\n [+] 18. Ez stiff ez buckram.\n\n [+] 19. Ez deead ez a mauky ratten.\n\n 20. Ez sour ez a sloe.\n\n [+] 21. Ez deead ez a hammer.\n\n [+] 22. Ez deeaf ez a post.\n\n [+] 23. Ez fit ez a fiddle.\n\n 24. Ez graspin\u2019 ez a toll-bar.\n\n 25. Ez tall ez a mill chim\u2019ly.\n\n [+] 26. Ez brant ez a hoos end.\n\n [+] 27. Ez red ez a cherry.\n\n [+] 28. Ez tough ez leather.\n\n 29. Ez seeaf ez a pig ring.\n\n * 30. Ez soft-hearted ez a rezzil.\n\n * 31. Ez slape ez a greeasy powl.\n\n [+] 32. Ez rotten ez touch-wood.\n\n 33. Ez cruel ez a spider.\n\n [+] 34. Ez red ez rud.\n\n [+] 35. Ez lish ez a squirrel. Lish = active.\n\n [+] 36. Ez friendly ez yan\u2019s shadder.\n\n [+] 37. Ez hardy ez ling.\n\n [+] 38. Ez impudent ez a cock sparrer.\n\n [+] 39. Ez boddensome ez debt.\n\n [+] 40. Ez bliew ez a whetstone.\n\n [+] 41. Ez saut ez sea watter.\n\n [+] 42. Ez strang ez an onion.\n\n [+] 43. Ez common ez weeds.\n\n [+] 44. Ez sweet ez t\u2019 floors i\u2019 May.\n\n [+] 45. Ez sweet ez a posey.\n\n [+] 46. Ez sour ez a crab-apple.\n\n *[+] 47. Ez femmur ez a musweb.\n\n [+] 48. Ez cracked ez a brokken pot.\n\n [+] 49. Ez polite ez t\u2019 divil.\n\n [+] 50. Ez pricky ez a pricky-back otch\u2019n.\n\n 51. Ez soft ez a geease-down pillow.\n\n [+] 52. Ez common ez brack\u2019ns.\n\n 53. Ez cheap ez promises.\n\n [+] 54. Ez cau\u2019d ez Kessamas.\n\n [+] 55. Ez thrang ez bees iv a sugar cask.\n\n [+] 56. Ez busy ez bees on t\u2019 moor.\n\n [+] 57. Ez straight ez a bulrush. Also \u2018as tall as,\u2019 &c.\n\n [+] 58. Ez cheeap ez muck.\n\n [+] 59. Ez soft ez muck. Also \u2018Ez soft ez a wesh-leather.\u2019\n\n [+] 60. Ez common ez muck.\n\n [+] 61. Ez laam ez a three-legg\u2019d dog.\n\n [+] 62. Ez fast ez a rivet.\n\n [+] 63. Ez lazy ez a stee. A ladder generally leans against a wall.\n\n [+] 64. Ez whisht ez yan\u2019s shadder. As quiet as one\u2019s shadow.\n\n [+] 65. Ez true ez a die.\n\n [+] 66. Ez mild ez a May morn.\n\n [+]* 67. Ez tight ez a damp cleeas-line.\n\n 68. Ez slow ez a stutterer. Also \u2018Ez slow ez a snahl.\u2019\n\n [+] 69. Ez wick ez a lop-flea.\n\n [+]* 70. Ez fond ez a yat.\n\n [+] 71. Ez kittle ez a moose-trap.\n\n [+] 72. Ez wet ez a dishclout.\n\n [+] 73. Ez tired ez a dog.\n\n [+] 74. Ez savage ez a wasp.\n\n [+] 75. Ez black ez midneet.\n\n [+] 76. Ez black ez sin.\n\n [+] 77. Ez hard ez a steean.\n\n [+] 78. Ez soond ez a bell.\n\n [+] 79. Ez creeak\u2019d ez a dog\u2019s hind leg.\n\n [+] 80. Ez wet ez sump.\n\n [+] 81. Ez wet ez thack.\n\n [+] 82. Ez mucky ez a pig-sty.\n\n [+] 83. Ez waak ez a kitten.\n\n [+] 84. Ez oppen ez a skep.\n\n [+] 85. Ez bold ez brass.\n\n [+] 86. Ez lively ez a cricket.\n\n [+] 87. Ez green ez grass.\n\n [+] 88. Ez soft ez putty.\n\n [+] 89. Ez deead ez a teead skin.\n\n [+]* 90. Ez plaan ez a pike-staff.\n\n [+]* 91. Ez plaan ez a yat-stoup.\n\n [+] 92. Ez full ez an egg.\n\n [+] 93. Ez dusty ez a flour pooak.\n\n [+] 94. Ez white ez flour.\n\n [+] 95. Ez mucky ez a duck pond.\n\n [+] 96. Ez larl ez a flea-bite.\n\n [+] 97. Ez still ez a finger-post.\n\n [+] 98. Ez lonely ez a mile-steean.\n\n [+] 99. Ez slape ez an eel.\n\n [+]* 100. Ez good-natur\u2019d ez a pump.\n\n [+] 101. Ez pure ez spring-watter.\n\n [+] 102. Ez reight ez a trivet.\n\n [+] 103. Ez thin ez a bubble skin.\n\n [+] 104. Ez sticky ez glue.\n\n [+]* 105. Ez meean ez bo\u2019d-lahm (birdlime).\n\n [+] 106. Ez hard ez a nail.\n\n [+] 107. Ez cau\u2019d ez ice.\n\n [+]* 108. Ez deep ez a well.\n\n [+] 109. Ez strang ez a hoss.\n\n [+] 110. Ez wet ez a mill-wheel.\n\n [+] 111. Ez fond ez a goose nick\u2019t i\u2019 t\u2019 heead.\n\n [+] 112. Ez lang ez a parson\u2019s coat.\n\n * 113. Ez sartin ez t\u2019 thorn-bush.\n\n * 114. Ez waffly ez a mill-sail.\n\n * 115. Ez soft ez butter.\n\n 116. Ez empty ez a blawn egg.\n\n [+] 117. Ez rank ez nettles.\n\n [+] 118. Ez blinnd ez a bat i\u2019 daayleet.\n\n [+] 119. Ez damp ez a cellar, or \u2018t\u2019 graav.\u2019\n\n [+] 120. Ez breet ez a new-made pin, or \u2018ez sunleet.\u2019\n\n [+] 121. Ez fond ez a brush.\n\n [+] 122. Ez greedy ez a rake.\n\n [+] 123. Ez dhry ez a sarmon.\n\n 124. Ez tho\u2019sty[68] ez a sponge.\n\n [+] 125. Ez solemn ez a coo.\n\n [+] 126. Ez breet ez a bald heead.\n\n [+] 127. Ez bare ez a bald heead.\n\n [+] 128. Ez roond ez a bullet.\n\n [+] 129. Ez straight ez trewth (truth).\n\n [+] 130. Ez mad ez a bull at a yat.\n\n [+] 131. Ez phrood ez a banty cock.\n\n [+] 132. Ez flat ez an iron.\n\n [+] 133. Ez poor ez moorland.\n\n [+] 134. Ez hard ez t\u2019 to\u2019npike.\n\n [+] 135. Ez nak\u2019t ez a graav-steean.\n\n [+]* 136. Ez strang ez a teeagle chaan.\n\n [+]* 137. Ez tough ez a swipple.\n\n [+] 138. Ez strang ez an oak.\n\n [+]* 139. Ez warm ez a sheep-net.\n\n [+]* 140. Ez catching ez t\u2019 scab.\n\n [+]* 141. Ez bonny ez a sheep-cade. In ridicule.\n\n [+] 142. Ez drunk ez a fiddler.\n\n * 143. Ez thrang ez a cobbler\u2019s Monday.\n\n 144. Ez meean ez a cuckoo. The cuckoo lays its eggs in other birds\u2019\n nests.\n\n [+] 145. Ez welcome ez t\u2019 floors i\u2019 May.\n\n 146. Ez larl wanted ez rain i\u2019 hay-tahm.\n\n [+] 147. Ez hungry ez a dog.\n\n 148. Ez glib ez a leear\u2019s tongue.\n\n [+] 149. Ez wo\u2019thless ez an au\u2019d shoe.\n\n 150. Ez larl value ez an au\u2019d hat.\n\n [+] 151. Ez tough ez pin-wire.\n\n * 152. Ez neyce ez an otter[69].\n\n [+]* 153. Ez greedy ez an otter[69].\n\n 154. Ez fat ez a tailor\u2019s goose. (The \u2018goose\u2019 is a tailor\u2019s iron.)\n\n [+]* 155. Ez sweet ez a kern.\n\n [+]* 156. Ez greedy ez a fox iv a hen-roost.\n\n [+]* 157. Ez meean ez a cat wiv a moose.\n\n [+] 158. Ez leyke ez tweea peas.\n\n [+] 159. Ez bitter ez gall.\n\n [+] 160. Ez big ez bull beef.\n\n [+] 161. Ez leet ez a midge.\n\n [+] 162. Ez limp ez a dishclout.\n\n [+]* 163. Ez scraped ez a bath-brick.\n\n * 164. Ez badly used ez a peggy-tub boddum.\n\n [+]* 165. Ez gam ez a cockroach.\n\n [+] 166. Ez wet ez new pent (paint).\n\n [+] 167. Ez sick ez a dog.\n\n [+] 168. Ez flat ez a pancake.\n\n * 169. Ez deead ez a red lobster.\n\n [+] 170. Ez au\u2019d ez my grandfather hat.\n\n [+] 171. Ez merry ez a May-pole dance.\n\n [+] 172. Ez white ez a sheet.\n\n [+] 173. Ez catching ez t\u2019 mezzles (measles).\n\n [+] 174. Ez bad tempered ez a nettle.\n\n [+] 175. Awlus t\u2019 saam way leyke a bottle-jack\n (ironical, as a bottle-jack turns both ways).\n\n [+] 176. Ez smooth ez a cat\u2019s back.\n\n [+] 177. Ez rosy ez an apple.\n\n [+] 178. Ez rotten ez (a bad) to\u2019nip (turnip).\n\n [+] 179. Ez bent ez a sickle.\n\n [+] 180. Ez red ez raw beef, or \u2018ez a brick.\u2019\n\n [+] 181. Ez thrang ez a woman\u2019s tongue.\n\n [+] 182. Ez brazend ez a sunflower.\n\n [+] 183. Ez fresh ez new pent.\n\n [+] 184. Ez breet ez a seeing-glass.\n\n [+] 185. Ez wick ez an eel.\n\n [+] 186. Ez slim ez a barber\u2019s powl.\n\n No. 6. _As friendly as a bramble bush._ The way in which the bramble\n catches hold and clings to one is well known to all those who have had\n to force a passage where they grow.\n\n 7. _As walsh as pump-water_, or containing as little sustenance.\n\n 9. _As thick as inkle-weavers._ In the weaving of inkle, a kind of\n tape, the weavers had to sit quite close together.\n\n 14. _As common as a door-sneck._ This implies that a sneck is liable\n to be pressed or used by any one; the simile is one of an opprobrious\n nature.\n\n 30. _As soft-hearted as a weasel_, implies absolute cruelty, the\n weasel lacking the smallest spark of generosity in its nature.\n\n 31. _As slape as a greasy pole._ It is common at village feasts to\n erect a pole daubed thickly with grease, upon the top of which a ham,\n a leg of mutton, or a kettle is fixed; he who can climb to the top,\n which is a most difficult task, claims the prize.\n\n 47. _As femmur as a musweb._ \u2018Femmur\u2019 is slight, light, slender.\n \u2018Musweb,\u2019 a spider\u2019s web.\n\n 49. _As polite as the devil._ His Satanic majesty is said to be\n willing to shake hands with any one.\n\n 67. _As tight as a damp clothes-line._ A clothes-line, when left out\n in wet weather, becomes very tightly stretched between its two hooks.\n\n 70. _As fond as a gate._ The folly of a gate is admitted on all hands;\n does it not without any reason bang itself against the gate-post?\n\n 90. _As plain as a pike-staff_; and 91, _As plain as a gate-post_,\n denote both plainness of appearance, and a thing not difficult to\n understand. A pike-staff was just a bare pole, and a gate-post is\n usually lacking of all ornamentation; and both are fairly conspicuous\n objects.\n\n 100. _As good-natured as a pump._ A pump never grumbles, no matter how\n often or by whom it is handled.\n\n 105. _As mean as birdlime._ It deceives those who rest upon it.\n\n 108. _As deep as a well._ \u2018Deep\u2019 is used in the sense of \u2018to hide\n from,\u2019 \u2018to be difficult to get at the bottom of.\u2019 In a modified sense,\n \u2018cunning.\u2019\n\n 113. _Ez sartin ez t\u2019 thorn-bush._ It was the custom for the parson to\n collect the tithe by placing a branch of thorn in every tenth stook,\n he choosing the stooks, and sending his cart along for them.\n\n 114. _As waffly as a mill-sail._ \u2018Waffly\u2019 here implies \u2018unstable\u2019; the\n mill-sail is turned about by every wind which blows.\n\n 136. _As strong as a teagle chain._ These chains are used to drag very\n heavy timber.\n\n 137. _As tough as a swipple._ The swipple is the short bar of the\n flail, used to thresh corn with\u2014by hand\u2014and was always made of the\n toughest wood.\n\n 139. _As warm as a sheep-net._ Used derisively; there is no shelter or\n warmth in a sheep-net.\n\n 140. _As catching as the scab._ The scab is a very infectious disease\n which sheep are liable to.\n\n 141. _As bonny as a sheep-cade._ The cade is a disgusting looking\n sheep-louse; hence the simile is used ironically.\n\n 143. _As busy as a cobbler\u2019s Monday._ It is generally supposed that a\n cobbler has to rest over Monday to work off his week\u2019s-end debauch;\n hence the simile is one of ridicule.\n\n 152. _As nice as an otter._ \u2018Nice,\u2019 in this case, means dainty,\n particular, eating as it does only the very best part of the fish it\n kills, leaving the rest untouched on the bank.\n\n 153. See 152.\n\n 155. _As sweet as a churn._ A churn, of all things, must be sweet and\n clean; hence anything which may be truly said to be as sweet as a\n churn, must excel in cleanliness.\n\n 156. _As greedy as a fox in a hen-roost._ The fox, having gained an\n entrance, not only kills the bird he intends to carry away for food,\n but any he can lay hold of; then, picking out the best, leaves the\n rest.\n\n 157. _Ez meean ez a cat wiv a moose._ \u2018Mean\u2019 is used in the sense of\n cruel. The way a cat plays with its victim before killing it, is the\n very essence of cruelty.\n\n 163. A bath-brick must be scraped each time it is used. Hence a person\n who has slipped down an incline, and so become bruised, will use the\n simile.\n\n 164. _As badly used as a peggy-tub bottom._ Surely whilst in use\n nothing receives more thumps than the bottom of the peggy-tub.\n\n 165. _As game as a cockroach._ No insect perhaps is so pugnacious as\n the common roach or black clock. The encounters which take place on\n our hearths after we have retired to rest are many and deadly.\n\n 169. _As dead as a red lobster._ As the lobster must be boiled for\n some time before assuming the red colour, we may with some certainty\n conclude the crustacean has ceased to exist ere it dons its red jacket.\n\n\nIf many of the sayings which fall from the lips of our country folk\nwere only dressed in classic language, they would rank amongst the\nwisest saws ever uttered.\n\nTake a few illustrations picked from a considerable number which I have\njotted down as they have been uttered\u2014I may say the circumstances which\ncalled each forth were as varied as they well could be. Some, I have\nlittle doubt, were impromptu, but in the main they belong to another\nage. It will perhaps add interest if the illustrations are given as\nuttered, followed by a literal translation, adding explanatory remarks\nwhen needful.\n\n _A raffle tung an\u2019 a race-hoss gan t\u2019 faster t\u2019 leeter wight tha hug._\n A foolish tongue and a race-horse go the faster the lighter weight\n they carry; there will be more foolish talk, the lighter the weight of\n brains carried.\n\n _Them \u2019at grumm\u2019ls sae mich aboot what tha \u2019evn\u2019t gitten, are maistly\n oot o\u2019 love wi\u2019 t\u2019 things \u2019at tha \u2019ev._ Those who grumble so much\n about what they do not possess, are mostly out of love with the things\n they have.\n\n _Them \u2019at nivver diz nowt thersens, awlus \u2019magines \u2019at ther\u2019s nowt i\u2019\n t\u2019 wo\u2019lld \u2019at\u2019s hard ti deea._ Those who never do nothing (anything)\n themselves, always imagine that there is nothing in the world which is\n hard to do.\n\n _Him \u2019at\u2019s gitten his heead screwed on t\u2019 reet road i\u2019 larl matters,\n weean\u2019t be leykly ti shut yah e\u2019e when he\u2019s owt gert on hand._ He who\n has his head screwed on the right way in little matters, will not be\n likely to close one eye when he has anything great on the way.\n\n _Impatience is t\u2019 hoss fau\u2019k saddle and gallop on ti meet their\n troubles._ Impatience is the horse people saddle and gallop on to meet\n their troubles.\n\n _It\u2019s easier wark feighting sin \u2019an nursin\u2019 \u2018t._ It is easier work\n fighting sin than nursing it.\n\n _Religion is offens mair laamed byv those whau attend tul \u2019t, \u2019an them\n \u2019at feight shy on \u2019t._ Religion is often more injured by those who\n profess, than by those who are careless. There is another: \u2018No sinners\n are so intolerant as those just turned saints.\u2019\n\n _Yan awlus \u2019ez ti paay a seet mair foor repentance \u2019an yan c\u2019u\u2019d \u2018\n bowt a vast o\u2019 common sense wi\u2019._ One always has to pay a great deal\n more for repentance than one could have bought a great amount of\n common sense with.\n\n _If wa wad lig i\u2019 peace an\u2019 rest,\n Wa mun see an\u2019 hear an\u2019 saay what\u2019s t\u2019 best._\n If we would lie in peace and rest,\n We must see and hear and say what\u2019s the best.\n\n _\u2018T\u2019ll save ya neea larl trouble,\n If when talking ya tak care\n Ov whaum ya speeak, ti whaum ya speeak,\n An\u2019 hoo, an\u2019 when, an\u2019 wheer._\n\n It will save you no small trouble,\n If when talking you take care\n Of whom you speak, to whom you speak,\n And how, and when, and where.\n\n _Closed lips an\u2019 oppen een save yan fra monny a fratch._ Closed lips\n and open eyes save one from many a quarrel (trouble).\n\n _Advising yan \u2019at\u2019s iv a passion\u2019s dafter \u2019an scrattin\u2019 a tup head._\n Advising one that is in a passion is sillier than scratching a tup\u2019s\n head, i.e. giving advice to one who is in a passion, is equal in\n folly to that of scratching a tup on the head, as there is no surer\n way of inducing it to attack you than by following such a course.\n\n _Him \u2019at\u2019s meead up his mahnd \u2019at he caan\u2019t deea a thing, maistly maks\n up his mahnd afoorhand \u2019at he weean\u2019t try._ He that has made up his\n mind that he cannot accomplish an undertaking, mostly makes up his\n mind beforehand that he will not try.\n\n _Maist fau\u2019k can see t\u2019 wrang they\u2019ve deean, bud nut t\u2019 wrang they\u2019re\n deeaing._ Most people can see the wrong they have done, but not the\n wrong they are doing.\n\n _Varra off\u2019ns when a chap sez \u2019at he\u2019s deeaing nowt, he\u2019s deeaing\n summat he s\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t; an\u2019 when he aims ti mak ya think \u2019at he\u2019s deeaing\n summat \u2019at he s\u2019u\u2019d, he\u2019s off\u2019ns deeaing nowt._ Very often when a\n person says that he is doing nothing, he is doing something that\n he should not; and when he tries to make you believe he is doing\n something that he should, he is often idling his time away.\n\n _Daftness nivver builds owght wo\u2019th leaving up._ Daftness never builds\n anything worth leaving up. \u2018Leaving up\u2019 means \u2018allowing it to stand.\u2019\n The saying might be put this way: folly never accomplishes anything\n worthy of being handed on to posterity.\n\n _Fame is a lump ov nowt putten insahd ov a bubble, which bo\u2019sts,\n an\u2019 it\u2019s all owered wiv it._ Fame is a lump of nothing put inside a\n bubble, which bursts, and then it is all over with it. To \u2018be overed\n with a thing,\u2019 is for it to be absolutely annihilated.\n\n _Good luck gi\u2019es ti sum mair \u2019an what tha owt ti \u2019ev, bud nivver mair\n \u2019an what tha want._ Good luck gives to some more than what they ought\n to have, but never more than what they want.\n\n _Cussing an\u2019 low-lived talk ther\u2019s nivver neea call for; ther\u2019s nowt\n can hap it up, an\u2019 ther\u2019s nowt gitten byv it._ Cursing and low-lived\n talk there is never no need for; there is nothing can cover it up, and\n there is nothing got by it.\n\n _Him \u2019at diz ez he owt ti deea when young, \u2019ll be yabble ti deea ez\n he wants ti deea when his working days is owered._ He who does as he\n ought to do when young, will be able to do as he wants to do when his\n working days are over, i.e. he who diligently works when young, will\n be enabled to take his ease when old age overtakes him.\n\n _Them \u2019at weds wheer they deean\u2019t love, maistly love wheer they\n deean\u2019t wed._\n\n _It\u2019s a poor hedge \u2019at hezn\u2019t a bit of shelter._\n\n _Be friendly wi\u2019 all, bud familiar wi\u2019 few._\n\n _It saves neea end o\u2019 loss if ya sleck t\u2019 fire wi\u2019 yah bucket o\u2019\n watter. Luke t\u2019 weeds afoor tha seed; an\u2019 let t\u2019 tap-reeat o\u2019 folly\n gan ez deep ez it leykes._ It saves no end of harm if you put out\n the fire with one bucket of water. Pull up the weeds before they\n seed; and allow the tap-root of folly to go as deep as it may. A fire\n cannot have done much damage if it can be quenched with one bucket of\n water. \u2018Luke\u2019 is \u2018to pull up.\u2019 Many methods are adopted to prevent the\n tap-root from growing deep into the ground; should such precautions\n not be taken, the root descends to where the ground is cold, and no\n fruit is borne. Hence the reason for desiring the \u2018tap-root of folly\u2019\n to be allowed to grow deep into the ground.\n\n _Good behav\u2019o\u2019r nivver needs a drain-pipe_; also, _good behav\u2019o\u2019r\n nivver needs pruning_.\n\n _He\u2019s nobbut hauf rocked \u2019at believes ivverything, bud he\u2019s cleean\n oot ov his heead \u2019at believes nowt._ He is only a silly fellow who\n gives credence to everything he hears, but he is a hopeless idiot who\n believes in nothing.\n\n _Laziness ruins mair lasses \u2019an love, fancying thersens mair an\u2019\n laziness; an\u2019 swallering ivverything \u2019at a chap sez tiv \u2019em, mair \u2019an\n baith putten tigither._ Laziness ruins more girls than love, vanity\n more than laziness; and believing all that men flatteringly say, more\n than both put together.\n\n _Him \u2019at \u2019ez larl an\u2019 could mannish wi\u2019 less, is better off \u2019an him\n \u2019at \u2019ez mich an\u2019 caan\u2019t mak it fet._ He that has little and could\n manage with less, is better off\u2014richer\u2014than he who has much and cannot\n make it serve.\n\n _Nivver judge a blade byv t\u2019 heft._ Never judge a blade or knife by\n the handle; or, never judge a person\u2019s character by his clothes.\n\n _Ya\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e t\u2019 crack t\u2019 shells afoor ya can coont t\u2019 kon\u2019ls._ You will\n have to crack the shells before you can count the kernels; or, you\n must do your work before you can count your wages.\n\n _Sho\u2019t ez yan\u2019s tahm is, it\u2019s lang eneeaf foor sum ti ruin ther\n characters, ther constitutions, an\u2019 gan thruff all \u2019at tha \u2019ed at\n startin\u2019._ Short as one\u2019s life is, it is long enough for some to ruin\n their characters, their constitutions, and \u2019gan thruff,\u2019 i.e. spend,\n all they had to commence with.\n\n _T\u2019 furrows o\u2019 repentance are ploughed i\u2019 youth, and sow\u2019d wi\u2019 t\u2019\n seeds o\u2019 pleasure, bud t\u2019 harvest \u2019ez ti be reaped wiv a blunt sickle\n when yan\u2019s back is bent an\u2019 yan\u2019s gitten past wark._ The furrows\n of repentance are ploughed during youth, and sowed with the seeds\n of pleasure, but the harvest has to be cut with a blunt sickle and\n gathered in when old age has made it impossible to repair the errors\n of youth.\n\n _Fooak \u2019at feight ower t\u2019 reet road ti heaven, off\u2019ns finnd oot \u2019at\n t\u2019 far end \u2019at they\u2019ve deean t\u2019 maist o\u2019 ther jo\u2019ney i\u2019 t\u2019 hedge\n boddums._ People who quarrel over creeds and forms discover, when life\n is drawing to a close, that often they have foolishly left the narrow\n but sure path, to stumble and struggle amongst the thorns and briars\n which overhang the ditch by the wayside.\n\n _T\u2019 loodist shooters i\u2019 t\u2019 fair off\u2019ns \u2019ez bud larl o\u2019 ther stalls._\n The loudest criers in the fair often have the least on their stalls;\n i.e. those who make the most noise in the world generally display the\n least common sense.\n\n _Muschief is a fruit \u2019at nobbut needs a sho\u2019t summer ti repen \u2019t_,\n i.e. Mischief speedily comes to a head.\n\n _Ti stop lennin\u2019, start borrerin\u2019_, i.e. To prevent borrowers coming\n to you, try to borrow from them.\n\n _It\u2019s better \u2019at fau\u2019k s\u2019u\u2019d laugh at ya foor knowing larl aboot owt,\n \u2019an ya s\u2019u\u2019d loss yer brass byv pretending ti knaw owermich._ It is\n better that people should laugh at your knowing little about anything,\n than you should lose your money by pretending to know too much.\n\n _When hooap dees, fear\u2019s born._ When hope dies, fear is born.\n\n _Yan\u2019s nivver afeeard o\u2019 stepping oot o\u2019 t\u2019 waay ti deea a good to\u2019n,\n if yan\u2019s on t\u2019 reet waay foor deeaing on \u2019t._ One is never afraid of\n stepping out of the way to do a kindness, if one is in the right way\n for doing it; i.e. we are never unwilling to step out of our way to do\n a kindness, if we are sufficiently Christian to do what is right.\n\n\nSince quite a boy I have jotted down any apt saying which I have heard.\nMany such, however, are so common, that they daily pass the lips of our\ncountry folk. These characteristic Yorkshire sayings, as already shown,\nare worthy of greater consideration than they have hitherto obtained.\nWhy, I once heard an old Basedale man give a temperance lecture in a\nfew words; he put the whole thing into a nutshell. What he said was\nterse, brief, full of sound common sense, and decidedly smart. _We took\nit all away with us._ And just because it was what it was, we never\nforgot it\u2014we never wished to forget it\u2014whilst often we have no desire\nto remember the one-sided, long-winded, intemperate drivel we have to\nlisten to nowadays. Said he, \u2018Drink, if nobbut weel followed up, awlus\ndiz yan o\u2019 tweea things. If ya \u2019a\u2019e gitten plenty o\u2019 brass, it\u2019ll kill\nya; if nut, it\u2019ll beggar ya\u2019; i.e. drink, if only well followed up,\nalways does one of two things. If you have plenty of money, it will\nkill you; if not, it will beggar you.\n\n\u2018Some fau\u2019k knaw better \u2019an ti swing on ther awn yat,\u2019 was said of\none, who was an inveterate borrower of certain articles, which it was\nsupposed he well could afford to buy for himself.\n\n\u2018Sha nivver will larn \u2019at yan s\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t hug tweea eggs i\u2019 yah han\u2019,\u2019 was\nsaid of one who generally spoilt what she was doing by having too many\nirons in the fire at one time.\n\n\u2018Neeabody tries if a trap\u2019s kittle wi\u2019 ther finger.\u2019 The application is\nobvious.\n\nTo one who was in the habit of returning at a late hour from the weekly\nmarket, and sometimes not quite sober, it was remarked, \u2018Late yam fra\nt\u2019 market off\u2019n spoils a good bargain,\u2019 implying that that which had\nbeen gained by the day\u2019s bargaining had been foolishly spent in the\npublic-house.\n\n\u2018He\u2019s yan o\u2019 them \u2019at nivver hauf diz owt, bud then Ah\u2019ve notished \u2019at\nthem \u2019at leeavs t\u2019 hoos deear oppen, maistly foorgit ti steck t\u2019 yat.\u2019\n\n \u2018Mair kindness, less lip,\n Mair corn, less whip,\u2019\n\nmight well be hung up in every stable to-day, for certainly if our poor\ndumb servants were treated a little more kindly, they would need less\nshouting and bawling at, and when properly fed, the whip becomes but an\nornament.\n\n\u2018Onny shufflin\u2019 taal diz ti shak off a needy relation, bud it dizn\u2019t\nmak \u2019t reet foor \u2019em ti squander brass ti greease thersens wi\u2019,\u2019 said\nan old body who had asked assistance from a well-to-do sister, but who\nhad been sent empty away with a most frivolous excuse. It seems her\nsister had shortly afterwards given a handsome donation at the laying\nof a foundation-stone upon which her name had been carved. \u2018Shufflin\u2019\ntaal\u2019 is equal to \u2019half a lie,\u2019 or, to put it in a milder form, \u2018a poor\nexcuse.\u2019 \u2018To shak off\u2019 is \u2019to refuse\u2019; and \u2019to grease yersen\u2019 is \u2019to\nplease oneself,\u2019 \u2018to satisfy one\u2019s vanity.\u2019 The saying might be put\nthis way: \u2018By the rich, any poor excuse is considered good enough to\nrefuse help to a needy relation, but it is never just, whilst such are\nin want, to spend money in tickling their own vanity.\u2019\n\n\u2018T\u2019 week \u2019ez tweea Mundaays foor t\u2019 hoss \u2019at ligs ower Sundaay,\u2019\nimplies that a Sunday\u2019s rest gives greater energy.\n\n\u2018Nivver tackle what ya caan\u2019t deea, bud allus deea what ya tackle,\u2019\nis certainly an aphorism we should all do well to mark; the caution\nand advice which it contains, if acted upon, spells success in golden\ncharacters. \u2018Do not undertake anything beyond either your capabilities\nor resources, but whatever you once set your hand to, carry it through.\u2019\n\nAt a funeral feast where one individual was rather too ready in handing\nthe cake and wine round, one old body was overheard to say, \u2018He mebbe\nwadn\u2019t \u2018 been seea riddy wi\u2019 t\u2019 plate an\u2019 bottle \u2019ed he been iv his\nawn hoos, bud it maistly happens \u2019at them \u2019at\u2019s seea free wiv uther\nfau\u2019k\u2019s hay, are varra skinny wi\u2019 ther awn corn.\u2019 That many people are\nexceedingly generous in dispensing the charity of others, and very\ncareful in parting with anything of their own, is a fact too patent to\ndispute.\n\n\u2018T\u2019 chap \u2019at fishes for his breccus off\u2019ns \u2019ez ti wait foor his\ndinner,\u2019 and \u2018A blinnd chap owt nivver ti lake wiv a crab whahl it\u2019s\nboil\u2019d,\u2019 point their own moral.\n\nAt Great Ayton two neighbours were discussing one who had not long been\na resident. \u2018Sha\u2019s gitten a pianer noo, an\u2019 it\u2019s nobbut t\u2019 other daay\n\u2019at sha bowt hersen new shades\u2019 (blinds) \u2018foor ivvery windther i\u2019 t\u2019\nhoos. Wheer sha gits t\u2019 brass ti pay foor all t\u2019 new-fengl\u2019d things \u2019at\ncum up, Ah deean\u2019t knaw, bud sha queerly cam, an\u2019 sha\u2019ll queerly gan;\nan\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tell tha what, a hoos gitten tigither by habs an\u2019 nabs, an\u2019\nyan\u2019s sticks paid foor afoor they\u2019re fetched in, is comfortabler \u2019an\nyan filled wi\u2019 flee-by-neet stuff;\u2019 i.e. furniture, &c., got together\nat odd times and in odd ways, and paid for at the time, affords more\ncomfort than possessing a houseful of things which possibly will have\nto be removed during the night to escape the landlord.\n\n\u2018T\u2019 yard\u2019s weel swept wiv a lent bizzum;\u2019 or, one does not fail to get\nthe most out of any article which another has lent us. The following\ndoggerel gives a phase of human nature common to all mankind:\u2014\n\n\n Yan nivver thinks \u2019at t\u2019 egg\u2019s new laid\n Yan\u2019s nahbor kindly lent yan,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 cream fra borr\u2019ed milk is thin\u2014\n Deean\u2019t len\u2019, if you\u2019d content yan.\n\n\n\u2018Sha allus drives ivverything whahl t\u2019 last bat. Ya caan\u2019t insense it\nintiv her \u2019at them \u2019at git ther traps tigither iv a hugger-mugger,\nallus foorgits t\u2019 main thing \u2019at tha\u2019ll want.\u2019 This is a truism the\nworld over. If we leave our packing to the last moment, we shall\nprobably discover the very thing we mostly need has been left behind.\nEqually apt was the saying of one discussing a doubtful proceeding of\nsome comrade: \u2018He\u2019ll deea \u2019t whahl they catch him. It\u2019s a mistak at\nonny tahm ti sneeaf t\u2019 cann\u2019l ti cleease ti t\u2019 wick.\u2019 It is a mistake\nto snuff the candle too close to the wick, for in so doing you may\nextinguish the light; i.e. it is unwise to tempt Providence.\n\n\u2018They\u2019ve baith pulled yah road; he\u2019s raxed an\u2019 wrought, an\u2019 sha\u2019s\nscratted an\u2019 tew\u2019d; what yan thowt t\u2019 other did, whahl i\u2019 t\u2019 end tha\nwant foor nowt. Bud a breet shool an\u2019 a well-worn thimm\u2019l allus mak a\nmenseful hoos,\u2019 \u2018Raxed\u2019 and \u2018wrought\u2019 are synonymous of working hard,\nand to \u2018scrat and tew\u2019 is to be careful and ever toiling. \u2018What one\nthought the other did\u2019 only strengthens the opening statement that\n\u2018they both pulled one way.\u2019 To \u2018want for nothing\u2019 is to possess all one\nneeds; and \u2018a bright shovel and a well-worn thimble\u2019 clearly show that\nneither are allowed a lengthy rest.\n\n\u2018It taks mair ti keep a pack o\u2019 hounds \u2019an t\u2019 damage t\u2019 fox diz,\u2019 can\nbe, and is, applied so variously that explanation is needless.\n\n\n Deean\u2019t be ti pawky.\n Think on, thoo mun knaw\n If thoo starts wiv a chirp\n Thoo mud end wiv a craw,\n Bud if thoo\u2019s seea feealish\n Ez ti be pawky an\u2019 pert,\n Maist leyke thoo\u2019ll start wiv a craw\n An\u2019 end up wiv a chirp.\n\n\nThe Yorkshireman is not one who believes in luck. Hard work, toil from\nearly morn till night, is the daily lot of thousands. \u2018Luck!\u2019 said one;\n\u2018ther is neea sike thing ez luck; what cums ti yan, \u2019ez ti be fetched.\nGood luck\u2019s t\u2019 best gitten at wiv a wet sark,\u2019 i.e. with a shirt wet\nwith perspiration through working hard. But hard work, if not applied\nin a proper and sensible manner, will result in failure: brute force\nis not everything. \u2018T\u2019 thickness gans for nowt if t\u2019 roape isn\u2019t lang\neneeaf;\u2019 i.e. the strength of a rope goes for nothing if it is too\nshort.\n\nCan better advice be given than is couched in the old saying of\n\u2018Deean\u2019t saay nowt on t\u2019 deearstan at\u2019ll rax ya ti preeave ower t\u2019\nthresho\u2019d\u2019? It is only one stride from the doorstep over the threshold,\ntherefore it will be wise at all times to say nothing which will cause\nyou infinite trouble to prove immediately afterwards.\n\nThe old saying, \u2018Buckles borrow, brussen tag-holes beg,\u2019 clearly points\nthat our fore-elders had a pretty correct notion of human nature in\ntheir day. The short saying embodies much. If the status of those who\nneeded assistance was such that they could afford to wear nice buckles\non their shoes, such obtained help under the head of borrowing; but of\nthose whose lace-holes were burst, and buckles altogether wanting, it\nwas said they begged. Appearance goes a long way towards giving a name\nto our actions.\n\nAgain, \u2018Pull t\u2019 bobbin wi\u2019 joy, bud knock wi\u2019 sorrow,\u2019 and \u2018Ill news is\nshooted ti t\u2019 reeaks, bud good news is whispered ti snahls[70],\u2019 both\ntell the same story. In olden days a bobbin, attached by a string to\nthe sneck within, hung outside every door. The saying urges us to haste\nwith all speed to pull the bobbin and enter if we have good news, but\nwith sorrow we are to be careful as to how we make it known. Again, an\nevil report, it would seem, has ever been urged on its hurtful career.\nThe rook is a bird which is not only noisy, but flies far afield,\nwhilst, as every one knows, the snail is silent and slow; but the\ntruth of the old saying that \u2018Evil news is shouted to the rooks, whilst\ngood tidings is only whispered to the snails,\u2019 is, we fear, as true\nto-day as when first uttered ages ago.\n\nI will close this chapter with a few truisms, which fail to be hidden\nin the doggerel:\u2014\n\n\n IF.\n\n \u2018Twar a varra neyce wo\u2019lld \u2019at wa live in,\n An\u2019 bonny it still mud be maad,\n If prahd an\u2019 au\u2019d Harry wad give in,\n An\u2019 pafty fooak putten i\u2019 t\u2019 shaad.\n If t\u2019 pawky war nobbut all maastthered,\n An\u2019 swaimish fooak nut ower green,\n Sum neeams wadn\u2019t then be seea plaastered,\n An\u2019 things wad be mair what tha seeam.\n If scann\u2019l war shun\u2019d leyke a hag-wo\u2019m,\n An\u2019 fooak awlus thowt, \u2018foor tha spak,\n Wa s\u2019u\u2019d aim ti deea all a good to\u2019n,\n Whahl ill-will wad tak off iv a crack.\n If ti illify, spite an\u2019 sike uthers\n C\u2019u\u2019d be deng\u2019d cleean off t\u2019 feeace o\u2019 t\u2019 yeth,\n Wa sud live mair leyke sisters an\u2019 bruthers,\n An\u2019 \u2018ev mair ov innocent mirth.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XIV\n\n CHILDREN\u2018S LORE\n\n\nThe North Riding is peculiarly rich in children\u2019s lore. I remember when\na lad it was considered unlucky to hold a third place whilst crossing a\nstream. To overcome the difficulty, two would walk abreast, rather than\ncross last as third boy. A boy was not considered a true grammarian[71]\nuntil he had been subjected to the orthodox rule of bumping; and any\nboy appearing in a new garment had to submit to \u2019nips for new,\u2019 each\none giving him a nip to \u2018handsel\u2019 the new garment. I remember, too,\nit was considered unlucky to write one\u2019s name in a new book with a\nborrowed pen. And whilst any one had hold of wood, and cried \u2018Queenie,\u2019\nor wet his finger, calling out \u2018I\u2019m wet,\u2019 such for the time being was\nsecure from receiving the last tig (bat or touch) on parting for the\nnight\u2014a most desirable point of vantage to gain in those days. But, be\nit remembered, this last tig had to be given on the skin, not on the\njacket, or the boy would call out, \u2018I wasn\u2019t born with my clothes on.\u2019\n\nTo possess a white ally-taw was considered most lucky, a considerable\nnumber of marbles always being offered in exchange, though it was\nonly dire poverty which would render such a transaction possible. One\nhears the same words and terms used now which thirty years ago came so\nglibly from our own lips, and how long before that, goodness knows;\nbut old men tell us that they played the same games with the same\nterms and laws which govern them now. I remember seeing the look of\nastonishment which came into a South-country man\u2019s face as some boys\nrushed out of school to their usual ground, shouting at the top of\ntheir voices, \u2018Bags Ah fuggy, bags Ah seggy, thoddy thoddy\u2019; and from\nanother, \u2018Fowrt! fowrt! fowrt!\u2019 whilst a small scrap of a mortal yelled\nat the top of his voice, \u2018An\u2019 Ah bags laggy, Ah bags laggy.\u2019 Then it\nwas demanded, \u2018What\u2019s t\u2019 steeak?\u2019 \u2018Tweea a go,\u2019 was the response, after\nwhich the game commenced, only to be followed by such expressions\nas\u2014\u2018Backs neea flies;\u2019 \u2018Ah bags brush;\u2019 \u2018Ah sed neea brush;\u2019 \u2018Noo,\nthen, neea fullocking;\u2019 \u2018Here, thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti gan ower agaan, thoo\nramm\u2019d.\u2019 And then up crept a bully of a boy, who screamed \u2018Brulley,\u2019\nsnatching every taw out of the ring and running off with them. And\nreally, after all, one need not be very much surprised if a southern\nvisitor does fail to understand what the boys are talking about. But\nthen our lads would be equally at sea, and find it just as difficult to\nunderstand such a sentence as the following:\u2014\u2018Oi\u2019ll ketch yer one on\nyer blooming bouko, if yer deoun\u2019t \u2019old yer bally reow.\u2019 One is north,\nthe other south, that is all\u2014at least, nearly all.\n\nFor what untold ages our children\u2019s methods of counting-out have\nexisted, it would be difficult to say. Some owe their birth to the\ntimes of the Reformation, when with a truly Christian spirit all\nthings Romish were consistently or otherwise jeered at[72]; others to\nstill earlier days, and a few to times remote. Take as an example the\nfollowing:\u2014\u2018Ena, tena, tethra, pethra, pimps; sarfra, larfra, ofra,\ndofra, dix; ena dix, tena dix, tethra dix, pethra dix, bumpit; ena\nbumpit, tena bumpit, tethra bumpit, pethra bumpit, sigit\u2014you\u2019re out.\u2019\nAgain it is repeated till another is out, and so on until only two\nremain, and then the last one is counted out.\n\nThe above is not very common, but still it lives; it is perhaps one of\nthe oldest methods which has survived. Doubtless, during the centuries\nthrough which it has lived, as might be expected, many of the words\nhave lost their original sound. It would seem to date from those days\nwhen a mixed race had for some time lived peaceably together, if ever\nsuch a thing did happen. The children know it, and that is all. Let us\ntake the first ten words; I will leave my readers to form their own\nconclusions.\n\n\n FROM ONE TO TEN IN VARIOUS LANGUAGES.\n\n SIMILARITIES ONLY GIVEN.\n\n _The\n Children\u2019s _Welsh._ _Anglo-Saxon._ _Old High _Modern _Gothic._\n Form._ German._ German._\n 1. Ena ... ... Ein ... ...\n 2. Tena(1) ... Tu ... ... ...\n 3. Tethra Tair ... ... ... ...\n 4. Pethra Pedwar ... ... ... ...\n 5. Pimps Pump ... Finfe Funf ...\n 6. Sarfra ... ... ... ... Saihs\n 7. Larfra ... ... ... ... ...\n 8. Ofra ... ... Ohto ... ...\n 9. Dofra ... ... ... ... ...\n 10. Dix Deg ... ... ... ...\n\n 1: Probably this is the old form of two ones, for twice, hence _tuena_\n or _tena_.\n\n\nThe comparative study of children\u2019s lore proves, perhaps more\nconclusively than that of anything else, how local circumstances in all\nthings compel both alteration and modification. Our American cousins\nhave retained with commendable accuracy most of the lore belonging to\nthe old country; but as in some cases the nasal twang has altered the\nsound of words, so local and national peculiarities have influenced and\nmodified them in others; it must, however, be admitted not to any vital\nextent. As an example of what I mean, take the following.\n\nThere is a very common girls\u2019 game not only in the North Riding, but in\nmost parts of England, called \u2018Jennie o\u2019 Jones.\u2019 It is a singing game.\nOne verse runs:\u2014\n\n\n Red is for the soldiers,\n For soldiers, for soldiers;\n Red is for the soldiers,\n And that will never do.\n\n\nNow, the American soldiers are not dressed in red coats, but some years\nago their firemen were; this fact enabled the American girls (God bless\n\u2019em!) to shape the song so as to meet their case. So, without any other\nalteration worth noticing, they sing and act the song through just\nthe same as our English bairns, until they come to this verse, and\nthen, from one end of America to the other, where the Anglo-Saxon race\npredominates, they sing\u2014\n\n\n Red is for the firemen,\n For firemen, for firemen;\n Red is for the firemen,\n And that will never do.\n\n\nBut to return to our counting-out games, some of which, by-the-way,\noriginally were curses and anathemas, but as now sung by our children\nthe original is lost in a meaningless jargon, often being devoid of\nrhyme, but always possessing rhythm. Many such are undoubtedly little\nelse than so much gibberish, but in a few cases the rhythm is hoary\nwith age, and possibly in the long past was listened to with awe and\ntrembling. A very old and widely spread counting-out rhyme runs as\nfollows:\u2014\n\n\n Eary, ory, hickory, on,\n Philson, Valson, Dickson, John,\n Squeaby, Squaby, Irishman,\n Stiggerum, staggerum, buck[73].\n\n\nThe above is the North Riding version.\n\nThe American children sing:\u2014\n\n\n One-ery, two-ery, ickery, Ann,\n Fillisey, fallisey, Nicholas, Jan;\n Quiver, quaver, English Knave-a[74],\n Stringleum, strangleum, Jericho Buck.\n\n\nOne other:\u2014\n\n\n Ena, mena, mina, mo,\n Catch a beggar by the toe;\n If he squeals, let him go,\n Ena, mena, mina, mo.\n\n\nAgain notice the difference local circumstances give. The American\nchildren sing:\u2014\n\n\n Ana, mana, mina, mo,\n Catch a nigger by the toe;\n When he hollers, let him go,\n Ana, mana, mina, mo.\n\n\nOf children\u2019s games no further notice can be taken, interesting though\nthey be. To nursery stories, however, a short space must be devoted.\n\nIt is difficult now to discover in many of them any trace of religion,\nstories of the gods, or witchcraft, but the roots from which many of\nthem spring were in existence thousands of years ago, and flourished in\nfar-off lands. The similarity these stories bear to the myths of other\ncountries greatly help in tracing that connecting link which shows the\nrelationship of one race to another, when nearly all other landmarks\nand finger-posts have vanished[75].\n\nAdmitting the difficulty of assigning to every story its myth-root, it\nis easy enough in most cases to see the moral.\n\n\n THE LITTLE CROOKED OLD WOMAN AND THE PIG.\n\n A little crooked woman had a little crooked broom,\n She found a crooked sixpence when sweeping her little crooked room.\n She set her off to market, which was a crooked mile,\n Along a crooked pathway with a little crooked style;\n With her little crooked sixpence a little pig she bought,\n And with a band tied to its crooked leg, her homeward way she\n sought[76].\n\n\nAll went well until she came to the bridge quite near to her own little\ncottage, but this the pig refused to cross. At that moment a stick\ncame by, and the little old woman called out, \u2018Stick, stick, beat the\npig; for the pig won\u2019t go over the bridge, and I shall never get home\nto get my old man his supper ready.\u2019 The stick declined to help her,\nleaning itself against the bridge end. Then came by a dog. To it she\ncried, \u2018Dog, dog, bite the stick; for the stick won\u2019t beat the pig,\nthe pig won\u2019t go over the bridge, and I shall never get home to get my\nold man his supper ready.\u2019 But the dog refused to do any such thing,\nsitting down near by the stick. Just then a bull came along. \u2018Bull,\nbull,\u2019 she shouted, \u2019toss the dog; for the dog won\u2019t bite the stick,\nand the stick won\u2019t beat the pig, and the pig won\u2019t go over the bridge,\nand I shall never get home to get my old man his supper ready.\u2019 But the\nbull refused to give her any help, placing himself near to the dog.\nFrom a butcher\u2019s boy passing at the moment, she begged assistance,\nurging him to kill the bull, telling him how the bull, dog, and stick\nhad all refused to help her to induce the pig to cross the bridge,\nwinding up with the sad assurance, that \u2019she would never get home to\nget her old man his supper ready\u2019; but the lad only laughed at her,\nhe taking his stand by the side of the bull, waiting to see how she\nwould manage. Next came along a horse, which she besought to kick the\nboy, as the boy would not kill the bull, and the bull would not toss\nthe dog, &c.; but still she fared no better, the horse standing by the\nside of the boy. Next a fire sprang up in the hedge bottom; this she\nimplored to burn the horse, as the horse would not kick the boy, and\nthe boy would not kill the bull, &c. The fire, like the rest, refused\nall help, quietly burning where it was. Then she begged of the stream\nto sleck the fire, as the fire would not burn the horse, &c.; but the\nwater ran peacefully on, heeding not her prayers. Then she heard in the\ndistance the sound of a mighty wind; to this she prayed, \u2018O wind, dry\nup the brook; the brook won\u2019t sleck the fire, the fire won\u2019t burn the\nhorse, the horse won\u2019t kick the boy, the boy won\u2019t kill the bull, the\nbull won\u2019t toss the dog, the dog won\u2019t bite the stick, the stick won\u2019t\nbeat the pig, the pig won\u2019t go over the bridge, and I shall never get\nhome to get my old man his supper ready.\u2019 Then came a voice amongst the\ntrembling leaves as the coming wind sighed through them, \u2018I will dry up\nthe brook.\u2019 Then said the brook, \u2018Before I\u2019ll be dried up I\u2019ll quench\nthe fire.\u2019 The fire at once cried out, \u2018Before I\u2019ll be quenched I\u2019ll\nburn the horse.\u2019 The horse neighed, \u2018I\u2019ll kick the boy before I\u2019ll be\nburnt.\u2019 The boy declared, \u2018Before I\u2019ll be kicked I\u2019ll kill the bull.\u2019\nThe bull said, \u2018Before I\u2019ll be killed I\u2019ll toss the dog.\u2019 The dog\ndeclared, before it would be tossed it would bite the stick. The stick\nat once offered to beat the pig, at which resolution on the stick\u2019s\npart the pig said, \u2018Before I\u2019ll be beaten I\u2019ll go over the bridge\u2019; and\nso it did, and the old woman got home and made her old man his supper.\n\nIt was not until the old lady besought the aid of Woden, that her\npetition was granted. Little doubt can exist that, as told in the\nnorth, the approaching storm-wind represents that god[77].\n\nThe next story, under various garbs, is told to the little folks in\nnearly every corner of the earth. The connexions between the various\nforms and alterations (which different local peculiarities have\ndemanded) are not difficult to trace, as the connecting links are all\nthere. Possibly its root originated in the far East. Though our version\ncomes from the Scandinavian race, they learnt it from some other\nnation, probably Germany.\n\n\n NORTH RIDING VERSION OF THE BOY AND HIS WAGES.\n\n A boy once had a very cruel step-mother; so cruel was she, that the\n lad determined to run away. In the end he did so, and hired himself to\n a farmer. Now when a year had passed, the kind farmer gave the lad for\n his wages an ass which dropped gold. Off home went the boy, driving\n his ass in front of him. On coming to a wayside inn, the landlord\n asked him why he did not ride such a fine-looking ass. The lad in\n reply foolishly told Boniface that his ass was much too valuable a one\n to ride; adding, \u2018Would you ride an ass that dropped gold?\u2019 To this\n the man asked him to make it drop gold where it stood. The boy wisely\n explained that it was only when nature\u2019s call had to be obeyed that\n it did so, and quite beyond his power to command it. Whilst the boy\n was having refreshment, the ass was put in the stable, the landlord\n keeping his eye on it; before the lad had eaten and rested, evidence\n was given that he had spoken nothing but the truth. It happened the\n landlord had a very fine ass of his own; this he fetched from the\n field, and whilst the lad slept he groomed it, trimmed its ears and\n tail, and blacked its hoofs, till in the end it exactly resembled\n the gold-dropping one. This he took away and hid, putting his own\n ass in its place. The boy never noticed it was a changeling which\n he was driving home. On his arrival he told his step-mother what a\n treasure he had brought her. Hearing such good news, she received\n him kindly, giving him a supper of fried eggs and bacon. For three\n days he was, as she told him, treated like a prince; but the third\n morning, instead of his breakfast, she gave him a worse thrashing than\n ever, and turned him to the door, calling him all the names she could\n lay her tongue to. He returned to his master, who kindly received\n him, and on the completion of his second year\u2019s labour, gave him for\n his wages a hamper, which every day, on the command being given to\n fill itself, would be found packed with choicest food, sufficient\n to feed a large household. Again he stopped at the inn on his way\n home; calling for a glass of beer, he ordered the hamper to fill. On\n beholding such a wonderful hamper, the landlord determined to steal\n that also, so whilst the lad slept, he took it away, replacing it\n with one of his own exactly similar. To the lad\u2019s discomfiture, the\n fraud was discovered the moment he returned home. Once again he was\n severely beaten and turned adrift. Again his kind master took him in,\n and at the end of his third year gave him a bag containing a thick\n stick, which on the command being given, \u2018Come out, stick, and bend\n yourself,\u2019 would immediately leap out and unmercifully thrash the\n individual who at the time was holding the bag. On his way home, the\n landlord spied him approaching, and with smiles and kind words asked\n him in. \u2018And, pray, what does your bag contain?\u2019 asked he, as soon\n as the lad was seated. \u2018The most wonderful thing you ever saw,\u2019 said\n he; \u2018but let me have a good dinner, and then I will show you.\u2019 The\n landlord, thinking to have another good haul, served him with the best\n of everything, going even so far as to give him a glass of wine. All\n impatience, he waited until the repast was finished. \u2018Now,\u2019 said the\n youth, smacking his lips, as he swallowed the last bite, \u2018stand in the\n middle of the room and hold the bag in your hand, and I\u2019ll promise\n you the biggest surprise you ever had in your life. That bag is just\n wonderful.\u2019 Before the lad had finished speaking, the landlord had\n taken his place in the middle of the floor, holding the bag in his\n hand. \u2018Now open it,\u2019 said the boy\u2014which Boniface did. \u2018Why,\u2019 said\n he, in a tone of great disappointment, \u2018it is only a stick.\u2019 \u2018Yes,\u2019\n replied the boy, \u2018but it is a wonderful stick. Now just watch what it\n can do;\u2019 and then he shouted, \u2018Come out, stick, and bend yourself.\u2019\n Immediately the stick jumped out of the bag, and bent itself about\n the back of the landlord until he howled with pain. Do what he would,\n go where he might, the stick leapt after and beat him, till at last,\n almost dead, he cried out, \u2018Put it in the bag again; I will return\n thee thy ass and hamper,\u2019 which he did. On nearing home, the lad saw\n his cruel step-mother waiting for him with a thick stick in her hand.\n \u2018Wait a while,\u2019 he called, \u2018until you see what I have brought you in\n my bag.\u2019 Thinking it would be wiser to wait, she laid down her stick,\n and let him enter. \u2018Now, before I show to you what I have in my bag,\n give me a good tea; you can thrash me afterwards quite as well as\n now,\u2019 said he. After his tea, he asked the cruel old dame to take hold\n of the bag and open it. This she readily did, little dreaming of what\n was to follow. Again he shouted, \u2018Come out, stick, and bend yourself\u2019;\n and for once the old hag knew what a stick laid across the back meant.\n She begged, she implored, she promised she would be good and kind to\n him, if he would only call off the stick. At last, when he considered\n she had been sufficiently punished, he ordered the stick back into the\n bag. And from that day she behaved herself in a decent manner.\n\n\nAs has been said, there are many forms of this story. This one differs\nslightly from that told in the West Riding, and considerably from that\nof other countries, but one and all contain the same mythological\nessentials.\n\nThe kind master is the all-ruling God. The ass is typical of spring,\nyielding that which gives all good things. And the hamper undoubtedly\nrepresents the earth, which is full of all things necessary for\nour happiness and existence. But there comes a time when the gods,\ndispleased with our ungratefulness or other sins, permit evil spirits\nto either steal or withhold the good blessings from us; then follows\na chastising of the evil spirits, who are driven away, and the earth\nbecomes once again plentiful.\n\nThe gold-dropping ass, and in some collateral form the hamper, bag, and\nstick, are old friends in Eastern tales, which were told when the world\nwas very young. Possibly their radicals, if ever discovered, will be\nfound in some early religious creed.\n\nPerhaps some student will work out the meaning and application of the\nfollowing; it is beyond me. An old servant of ours was taught it by her\ngrandmother:\u2014\n\n\n There was a man who lived in Leeds,\n He set his garden full of seeds,\n And when the seeds began to grow,\n It was like a garden full of snow;\n But when the snow began to melt,\n It was like a ship without a belt;\n And when the ship began to sail,\n It was like a bird without a tail;\n And when the bird began to fly,\n It was like an eagle in the sky;\n And when the sky began to roar,\n It was like a lion at my door;\n And when my door began to crack,\n It was like a penknife at my back;\n And when my back began to bleed,\n I was dead, dead, dead in_deed_.\n\n\nI remember, when this doggerel was repeated, we all sat round the\nkitchen fire, the maid sitting by the table with her hand near the\nlighted candle; towards the last few lines her voice would drop,\nuntil, on repeating the last line, it almost became a whisper. With\nears strained, and eyes nearly out of our heads, we awaited the\ndramatic _d\u00e9nouement_, which most of us well knew; but in those days\nthe excitement never waned, always the same intensity of feeling was\nduly worked up, as she repeated in a hoarse whisper, \u2018dead, dead, dead\nin_deed_,\u2019 extinguishing the light, as she uttered the last syllable\nwith a fearful shriek, whilst we all yelled in one mighty chorus.\nHouses in those days were built, not held together by the tacks in the\ncarpets and the paper on the wall; such a yell as we gave would have\nshaken the ornaments from off every bracket nailed to the walls of a\nwhole row of modern blown-together domiciles.\n\n\n THE STORY OF THE POOR OLD COBBLER AND THE WICKED KNIGHT.\n\n There was once a poor old cobbler had twelve children, all girls. He\n was quite broken down with the hard work of finding food and clothes\n for them. One night, when he was working very late, he suddenly heard\n a laugh, and on looking up, saw the queerest little man his eyes had\n ever beheld sitting by the stove door. \u2018And who may you be?\u2019 inquired\n the cobbler, resting from his work. But the queer little man did\n nothing but laugh and shake his head. After a while, however, he said,\n \u2018I have a bit of news for you.\u2019 \u2018Good, I hope,\u2019 said the cobbler,\n waxing a thread. \u2018You won\u2019t think so; there is another daughter\n going to be added to your little family,\u2019 chuckled the old chap. On\n hearing this, the poor old cobbler fainted; the shock was too much\n for him. He had hoped it would be a boy, who would in time grow up\n and help him; but a girl! it was too much. However, when he came to\n himself, the baby was born, and sure enough the queer little old man\n had been right. It was a sweet babe, and when three years old the wee\n thing showed promise of growing up to be a most beautiful maiden.\n One day, whilst the little lass was playing about the shop door, a\n knight rode by; seeing the child, he was struck with her marvellous\n beauty. Never before had he seen such beauty and shapeliness of limb\n in one so young. As he rode along, he consulted his book of fate, for\n he was a wicked wizard knight, and discovered the child was fated\n to be the bride of his own son. This he determined should not be.\n Turning his horse about, he returned to the cobbler\u2019s shop, and after\n some conversation offered him a sum of money, and promised to take\n the child along with him, adopt her, and leave her all his wealth.\n To this the poor old man agreed, and away rode the knight with the\n lovely child in his arms. Now, he dare not kill the child himself,\n because the book of fate told him if any one did so before she had\n been kissed by the man she would wed, the same should die that day.\n So he determined her death should be an accident. Riding to the banks\n of the Ouse, he jumped his horse off the bank, leaving hold of the\n little lass as he did so. As they sank beneath the flood, she was\n washed away, and the wicked wizard left her to her fate. Her clothes,\n however, buoyed her up, and as she floated along, she heard a voice\n call her by name, and a queer little old man, who was fishing, threw\n his line over her, and dragged her to shore. Taking her to a cottage\n near by, he gave her in charge of the good wife and her husband,\n begging them to take great care of her until he came that way again;\n placing a large sum of money on the table to pay for her keep, he\n departed on his way. So she lived with these kind people, until she\n was eighteen. At this time her many charms of form and face had\n become the talk amongst the courtiers at York. To such an extent was\n her wondrous beauty famed abroad, that she was even toasted in the\n castle. A certain wizard knight, hearing her so extolled, rode out one\n day to where she lived. Seeing her standing by the door, he passed\n on, and again consulted his book of fate, and discovered she was the\n very maiden he had looked upon as drowned years ago. Turning back,\n he offered the good woman a large sum of money if she would permit\n the maiden to carry a note to his brother who lived at Scarborough\n Castle. The dame said it was too far for the maiden to walk; however,\n just then a queer little old man drove by with an ass yoked to a cart,\n and offered to give the maiden a lift most of the way, so she was\n permitted to go. When the queer little old man and the maiden rested\n for the night, he stole into her bedroom, and removed the note, which\n she had pinned within her chemise for security; so gently was this\n accomplished, that she never awoke. He broke the seal and read, \u2018Let\n the bearer see my son, command him to kiss her, and then cast her\n into a dungeon, and let her starve to death.\u2019 \u2018I knew,\u2019 muttered the\n old man. Returning to the sleeping maiden, he gently pinned within\n her chemise another note, with just the same seal on, and written in\n exactly the same writing. But written in this note was a command that\n the brother should at once marry his nephew to the bearer. In the\n morning, when the girl arose, she found the ass, cart, and little old\n man had left very early; however, she was quite near to Scarborough,\n for never had an ass trotted like the queer little old man\u2019s had done.\n On arriving at the castle, she was speedily married to the wizard\n knight\u2019s son, and they were as happy as they could be. Two months\n afterwards, the father-in-law came to stay at the castle. No sooner\n did he behold the bride, than he saw that he had been baulked again,\n but he held his peace. Early next day he met his daughter-in-law in\n a wood: she had been seeing her husband off on a hawking expedition.\n The wicked knight asked her to walk with him along the shore, and\n when they came to a lonely place, he told her she must prepare to\n die. Plunging his sword into the sand, he scratched a mark on the\n beach, telling her that when its shadow reached that mark, he would\n draw it from the sand and run it through her heart. So eloquently did\n she plead, and her beauty was so great, that he relented so far as to\n offer her her freedom if she would swear to go away and never see his\n son again, until she wore upon her finger the ring which he held in\n his hand. She swore she would do as he wished if he would only spare\n her life. He then by magic art threw the ring into the very middle of\n the sea, where it sank.\n\n Broken-hearted, she left her cruel father-in-law, and wandered far\n away, feeling that she would never see her husband again. For more\n than a year she travelled from place to place. At last the poor young\n wife was engaged as cook by a great baron\u2019s lady. Some time afterwards\n her father-in-law and her husband came to stay at the castle. The\n very day they arrived, the queer little old man and his cart drew up\n at the servants\u2019 door, offering fish for sale. The cook purchased a\n large turbot, and on opening it, she found inside it the very ring\n which her wicked father-in-law had thrown into the middle of the sea.\n She cooked the dinner so well, that the guests begged to see the cook;\n to this end she dressed herself in her best gown, put the ring on her\n finger, and appeared before them. The wicked knight recognized her at\n once, and rushed forward to slay her with his uplifted sword. But the\n delighted husband folded her in his arms, so that his father must have\n slain both had he dared to strike. Freeing herself from her husband\u2019s\n loving embrace, she held up her hand. The knight saw the ring. He then\n knew she was guarded beyond the reach of any machinations of his; so\n he gave them his blessing, and they all lived happily ever afterwards.\n\nAlthough in another form the same story is told by Grimm, and is known\nto-day in every country in Europe, originally it was two separate\nstories, which have grown into each other. The first part is closely\nrelated to a Swedish and Norwegian story, whilst the second is from a\ndifferent root, which is common to many others. One having a strong\nresemblance is that of \u2018Magelon\u00e9,\u2019 and of mythological signification.\nRegarding the story itself, I dare not venture an opinion. But the\nguardian spirit, in the form of the little old man, comes out much\nmore strongly in the North Riding version than in that of any other.\nAgain, the act of throwing the ring into the sea, which was followed by\ntotal darkness being cast over two lives, may be typical of the sun[78]\nsinking into the middle of the universe. And the fish bringing it to\nlight may be symbolical of its rising again; anyway, the act brought\nlight, life, and hope for the future. I leave it with you\u2014I have only\nsuggested, not laid my ideas before you as the opinion of one able to\ngive an _opinion_ on a question of this kind.\n\nThe story of the \u2018Golden Ball\u2019 and others are common with us; but they\nmust be passed by, as space only remains for one other.\n\n\nTHE CRUEL STEP-MOTHER AND HER LITTLE DAUGHTER.\n\n Once upon a time, years and years ago, when animals possessed the\n power of speech, a cruel woman lived with a son of her own, and a\n little step-daughter of her husband\u2019s whom she hated\u2014but then she was\n a wicked step-mother. This poor little girl never knew what it was to\n have a kind word spoken to her, though she tried in all things to win\n her step-mother\u2019s love, but it was a hopeless task. One day she was\n sent to the neighbouring village for some candles, her step-mother\n giving her a silver piece, telling her to be sure and bring the change\n back. On returning home, she had a stile to climb, and it was such an\n awkward stile. There was no other way but to push the candles under\n the lowest bar, and then climb over; this she attempted to do, but\n when on the topmost rail, a black dog snatched up the candles and ran\n off. In great trouble she returned to the grocer\u2019s, and with some of\n the remaining money bought another pound of candles; but this time,\n when she came to the stile, a white dog ran away with them. Again she\n went to the grocer\u2019s, and found she had just sufficient money left\n to purchase a third pound. This time she was wiser, and balanced the\n candles on the topmost rail; but just as she did so, a great black\n bird swooped down and flew away with them. On her return home she told\n her cruel step-mother all that had happened. Instead of scolding and\n beating her, she told the child to come and rest her head on her knee\n whilst she combed her hair; and the cruel woman\u2019s heart was filled\n with envy and hatred when she saw the wealth of golden hair which fell\n about the child, hiding her from view. \u2018Your head tires my knee,\u2019 said\n she; \u2018fetch in the stick-block, and rest your head upon it whilst I\n comb out the cotters[79].\u2019 There really wasn\u2019t a cotter in her hair,\n it was only a wicked excuse. Whilst the child was gone for the wooden\n block, she took a sharp axe from its nail and hid it under her apron.\n \u2018Put your head on the block, my dear,\u2019 said she\u2014oh, so kindly\u2014and the\n little child, never dreaming what her cruel step-mother contemplated,\n laid her head upon the block. Then the cruel woman brought out the\n bright sharp axe, and with one blow severed the head from the body.\n This wicked step-mother then tore the child\u2019s heart from her little\n breast, put it in a pan, and set it upon the fire to boil, whilst\n she buried the body. On the father\u2019s return home, she said that his\n daughter was chopping sticks. She then offered the father some of the\n broth she had made from his own dear child\u2019s heart. He tasted it, but\n said he did not like the flavour, and would not drink any more; her\n own son refused even to taste it. Next evening, when the father asked\n for his little daughter, the woman lied again. She made the excuse\n that she had sent her with the carrier to stay with her grandmother, a\n great way off, declaring that she would not return for a whole year.\n\n In a short time, on the very spot where she had buried the child,\n there sprang up a most wonderful rose-tree, which bore one large\n bud; this presently bloomed into a lovely white rose, when lo! from\n its petals, there flew forth a little bird as white as the purest\n snow. The bird did not stay in the garden, but flew into the town,\n and alighting on the window-sill of a toy-maker, at once commenced\n to sing more sweetly than he had ever heard a bird sing before. So\n charmed was he that he begged of it to sing again. \u2018I will,\u2019 said the\n bird, \u2018if you will give me the best toy sword you have,\u2019 which he\n gladly promised to do. So the bird sang again, and flew away with the\n sword to the door of a watchmaker. Here again it sang: this time it\n received a gold watch and chain. With this and the sword it flew to\n where some stone-masons were working; to them it promised to repeat\n its song if they would tie to its neck a large round stone which they\n had just finished making. This they readily did, and away it flew,\n alighting on the chimney of its former home. After resting awhile, it\n rattled the stone against the chimney side, which sounded in the house\n like thunder. \u2018It thunders down the chimney,\u2019 said the mother; so\n the little boy thrust his head under the chimney, to hear better. No\n sooner had he done so, than the bird let the sword drop, the leather\n belt falling round his neck. \u2018See,\u2019 cried the lad, \u2018what the thunder\n has sent me,\u2019 jumping about with joy. Again the bird rattled the\n stone against the brickwork. \u2018It thunders again,\u2019 said the father,\n thrusting his head into the chimney, when round his neck fell a gold\n chain with a beautiful watch attached. \u2018And see what the thunder has\n sent me,\u2019 said the father, removing the chain from his neck, and\n admiring his present. A third time the stone was shaken against the\n chimney side. Pushing the other two aside, the cruel step-mother\n cried, \u2018It is my turn this time.\u2019 So saying, she thrust her head up\n the chimney, when the bird let the stone ball drop, which falling on\n her head crushed her skull, and she fell back dead on to the kitchen\n floor. Such was the sad end of the cruel step-mother.\n\n\nThe variety of forms which this story has taken, and its wide\ndistribution over perhaps the greatest area of any of our early-life\nstories, gives it a prominence and distinction second to none. In\nmany of the stories of other places, the stone ball is described as a\nmillstone. Possibly this is nearest to the original, as in many early\nfables the millstone figures as thunder. But to the eminently practical\nmind of the Yorkshire folk, it has been discarded, owing possibly to\nthe unlikelihood of finding a chimney big enough to admit of its being\ndropped down. If its mythological root is somewhat obscure, its close\nrelationship to other stories hoary with age is as clear as the noonday\nsun.\n\nPassing on to other branches of childhood\u2019s lore, we call to mind the\nmany charms of our youthful days. Were we stung with a nettle, we at\nonce searched for a dock-leaf, and rubbing the part stung, repeated\nwith all due solemnity:\u2014\n\n\n Docken in drahve t\u2019 nettle oot,\n Just leyke an au\u2019d dishcloot;\n\n\nor,\n\n\n In docken, oot nettle,\n Deean\u2019t let t\u2019 warm blood sattle.\n\n\nThe snail-charm is as follows:\u2014\n\n\n Sneeal[80], sneeal, shut oot yer horn,\n Or Ah\u2019ll kill yer feyther an\u2019 muther ti morn;\n\n\nor,\n\n Snahl[80], snahl, cum oot o\u2019 yer shell,\n Or Ah\u2019ll bray yer flat wiv a wooden mell.\n\n\nThe crow-charm, as sung by the bairns, is:\u2014\n\n\n Craw, craw, flee oot o\u2019 seet,\n Or else Ah\u2019ll eat yer liver an\u2019 leet.\n\n\nThe rain charm is:\u2014\n\n\n Raan, raan, go away,\n Cum agaan anuther daay;\n\n\nor,\n\n\n Raan, raan faster,\n T\u2019 bull\u2019s in t\u2019 pastur.\n\n\nIt is curious how spitting has come to play such a prominent part as\nit has. In certain games of catching, a boy may be quite securely\ncaught, so far as actual grip is concerned; but until he has been hit\nthree times on the back, and the operation of spitting over his head\nduly carried out, the capture is not fully concluded. Again, when two\nboys quarrel, one will be asked if he dare give the other \u2018his buff.\u2019\nThis is a slight blow, struck on any part of the opponent\u2019s person.\nVirtually, it is a challenge. Up to this point, however, the actual\nfight may or may not come off. The opponents, if left to themselves,\nare still open to arrange matters amicably. But if some boy hold his\nfinger under the chin of one of them, and ask him \u2018if he dare spit\nover,\u2019 and some lad make the same demand of the other, and both spit\nover, then utter disgrace and obloquy would for ever cling to the boy\nwho, after the performance of such a sacred rite, dare refuse to do\nbattle.\n\nWhat boy does not yet fully believe that a horsehair, either pushed up\nthe cane or held in the hand, will split it, so as to render it useless\nas a means of correction? And which of us in our younger days did not\naccept in full faith the belief that horse-hairs steeped in water\nturned to eels. Why, I can well remember the time that every man jack\nof us, when we passed Sharrow Cross, always touched the old stone and\nwished, and many a pin have I dropped into St. Helen\u2019s Well and done\nthe same.\n\n\n Rob a Robin,\n Go a-sobbing,\n\n\nso we used to say, and for that reason we never stole their eggs\u2014that\nis, we did not actually take them out of the nest with our fingers. No,\nto save ourselves from sobbing, we poked one out with a stick, and then\npicked it up\u2014under such conditions, we found it lying outside. Don\u2019t\nsmile, please. Grown-up people nowadays round the corners of their\nconsciences in quite as barefaced a manner, and with fewer qualms.\n\nOther children\u2019s lore must with reluctance be omitted. May what has\nbeen written be acceptable to them.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XV\n\n ODD SCRAPS OF OLD YORKSHIRE, ETC.\n\n\n SONG. [_Published at Bedale, 1800-1815._]\n\n When Ah war a wee lahtle tottering bairn,\n An\u2019 \u2018ed nobbut just gitten sho\u2019t frocks,\n When ti gan[81] Ah at fo\u2019st war beginnin\u2019 ti larn,\n O\u2019 mah bru[82] Ah gat monny hard knocks;\n Foor sae waak an\u2019 sae silly an\u2019 helpless war Ah,\n Ah war awlus a tumm\u2019ling doon then,\n Whahl mah muther wad twattle ma gently, an\u2019 cry,\n \u2018Honey, Jenny, tak care o\u2019 thisen.\u2019\n\n Bud when Ah grew bigger an\u2019 gat ti be strang,\n \u2018At Ah cannily toddled aboot\n Byv mysen wheer Ah leyked, then Ah awlus mud gan\n Wivoot being tell\u2019d aboot owt.\n When hooivver Ah cam ti be sixteen year au\u2019d,\n An\u2019 rattl\u2019d an\u2019 ramp\u2019d amang t\u2019 men,\n Mah mother wad call o\u2019 ma in, an\u2019 wad scaud,\n An\u2019 cry\u2014\u2018Huzzy! tak care o\u2019 thisen.\u2019\n\n Ah\u2019ve a sweetheart cums noo upo\u2019 Seterdaay neets,\n An\u2019 he sweears \u2019at he\u2019ll mak ma his weyfe;\n Mah mam graws seea stingy, sha scauds an\u2019 sha fleets,\n An\u2019 twitters ma oot o\u2019 mah leyfe.\n Bud sha may leeak soor, an\u2019 consate hersen wise,\n An\u2019 preeach ageean leyking young men\u2014\n Sen Ah\u2019s a woman, her clack Ah\u2019ll dispise,\n An\u2019 Ah s\u2019 marry! tak care o\u2019 mysen!\n\n\n A DIALOGUE BETWEEN TWO YORKSHIRE FARMERS, ON THE INDECENCY OF DRESS\n ADOPTED BY FASHIONABLE LADIES.\n [_Date about 1800-15. Published at Bedale._]\n\n\n _Simon._\n\n Good morrow, Johnny, hoo d\u2019ye deea?\n If ya\u2019re ganning mah road, Ah\u2019ll gan wi\u2019 ya.\n Hoo cau\u2019d this mornin\u2019 t\u2019 wind diz blaw\u2014\n Ah think wa seean s\u2019all \u2019a\u2019e sum snaw.\n\n\n _Johnny._\n\n Aye, Simon, seea wa s\u2019all ere lang.\n Ah \u2019s Bedale wards; Ah wish ya\u2019d gan,\n Foor Ah\u2019ve a dowter leeatly deead\u2014\n Ah\u2019s boon ti git her coffin meead.\n\n\n _Simon._\n\n Heigh! Johnny! deead? Wha, seear, thoo\u2019s wrang,\n Foor sha war wiv uz e\u2019er seea lang.\n An\u2019 oft wiv her i\u2019 yonder booer\n Ah\u2019ve joked and laugh\u2019d full monny an hoor.\n Bud fo\u2019st, good Johnny, tell ma this,\n What maad her dee? what\u2019s been amiss?\n\n\n _Johnny._\n\n Ti tell tha, Simon, noo Ah\u2019s boon.\n Thoo sees, Ah sent her ti yon toon\n Ti skeeal, an\u2019 next ti larn a traad\n Byv which sha war ti arn her breead.\n Bud when sha fo\u2019st cam yam ti me,\n Sha \u2019ed neea petticoats, ya see.\n Ah fan sha\u2019d larl on bud her smock,\n An\u2019 ower that a tawdry frock.\n Sike wark ez that, it raised my passion,\n An\u2019 then sha telt ma it war t\u2019 feshion.\n\n * * * * *\n\n Her hat sa fine to\u2019n\u2019d up afoor,\n It made her leeak just leyke\u2014Oh lor!\n\n\n _Simon._\n\n Wha, Johnny, stop, thoo\u2019s oot o\u2019 breeath.\n Bud hoo cam sha ti git her death?\n\n\n _Johnny._\n\n Whya, ho\u2019d a bit, an\u2019 thoo s\u2019all heear.\n I\u2019 t\u2019 next pleeace, mun, her breasts war bare;\n Her naaked airms, teea, sha mun show,\n E\u2019en when t\u2019 cau\u2019d bitter wind did blaw.\n Her clock\u2019d hose, ez ower t\u2019 street\n Sha tripp\u2019d, sha show\u2019d, a sham\u2019ful seet.\n An\u2019 when Ah spak aboot it, then\n (Ya see, Ah\u2019s awlus by mysen)\n Her muther maistly leean\u2019d her waay\u2014\n It matter\u2019d nowt what Ah\u2019d ti seeay.\n Ah tell\u2019d mah deeam hoo it wad be,\n An\u2019 seea sha caan\u2019t lig t\u2019 blaam o\u2019 me:\n Sez Ah, \u2018Afoor sha\u2019s twice ten au\u2019d,\n Sha\u2019s seear ti git her deeath o\u2019 cau\u2019d.\u2019\n\n * * * * *\n\n Ah\u2019s seear it\u2019s all t\u2019 gert fau\u2019ks\u2019 pursuit\n Ti \u2019ev, like Eve, a birthday suit.\n\n\n _Simon._\n\n Thoo\u2019s reet good, Johnny; reet, Ah saay.\n That Ah\u2019ve obsarved afoor ti-daay;\n Foor t\u2019 maist o\u2019 wimmin nooadaays\n Nobbut put on ther goon an\u2019 staays.\n An\u2019 noo i\u2019 t\u2019 toon, ez each yan passes,\n Ya caan\u2019t ken deeams fra sarvint lasses.\n\n * * * * *\n\n\n _Johnny._\n\n Aye, Simon, thoo sez reet, Ah sweear;\n Bud noo, ez Bedale\u2019s drawing near,\n Deean\u2019t let on wiv owt Ah\u2019ve sed\n Aboot mah dowter ligging deead.\n\n * * * * *\n\n\n _Simon._\n\n Neea, that Ah weean\u2019t; but whahl Ah\u2019ve breeath,\n Ah\u2019ll nobbut saay \u2019sha starved ti deeath.\u2019\n\nNOTE. Much of the above has had to be suppressed.\n\n\n SONG.\n\n T\u2019 LASS FRA LUNNON.\n\n\n Yan nivver \u2019ed seean sike a yan\n Foor dhriss an\u2019 feathers spik an\u2019 span;\n Sha war maistly t\u2019 match foor onny man,\n War t\u2019 lass fra Lunnon.\n Sha c\u2019u\u2019d raffle on, an\u2019 tell a taal\n \u2018At put i\u2019 t\u2019 shaad Jonah an\u2019 t\u2019 whaal;\n Bud sha wadn\u2019t hug a hauf-filled paal,\n That lass fra Lunnon.\n\n Sha c\u2019u\u2019d slather oot a bit o\u2019 Frinch,\n An\u2019 sit an\u2019 swing her legs on t\u2019 binch;\n Sha warn\u2019t partic\u2019ler tiv a pinch,\n Warn\u2019t t\u2019 lass fra Lunnon.\n Sha c\u2019u\u2019d sing yan comic songs byv t\u2019 year\u2014\n Sike songs yan dizn\u2019t offens hear\u2014\n Bud sha wadn\u2019t scrub a kitchen fleear,\n That lass fra Lunnon.\n\n A bisittle sha\u2019d larnt ti rahd;\n When dancing, wha, sha seeamed ti glahd;\n A chap sha wad \u2019ev byv her sahd,\n Wad t\u2019 lass fra Lunnon.\n Her waist war nobbut bud a span;\n Sha c\u2019u\u2019d ommaist cum roond onny man,\n Bud sha wadn\u2019t cleean a pot or pan,\n That lass fra Lunnon.\n\n Sha c\u2019u\u2019d plaay t\u2019 pianner, sing an\u2019 all;\n Sha\u2019d read all t\u2019 luv taals gert an\u2019 small;\n Sha war sharp eneeaf foor yan an\u2019 all,\n War t\u2019 lass fra Lunnon.\n A leet daay\u2019s wark sha wadn\u2019t start,\n Ti muck hersen sha \u2019edn\u2019t heart,\n An\u2019 sha c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t bake a leeaf or tart,\n That lass fra Lunnon.\n\n Sha\u2019d lig back iv a basket cheear,\n An\u2019 fairly cap yan wiv her hair\u2014\n Ah\u2019ve seen mah missus stan\u2019 an\u2019 stare\n At t\u2019 lass fra Lunnon.\n Sha wad laak at crickets leyke a lad,\n An\u2019 carry on leyke yan \u2019at\u2019s mad,\n Bud sha wadn\u2019t mend a thing sha \u2019ed,\n That lass fra Lunnon.\n\n Ah\u2019ve seean her smeeak a larl cigar,\n An\u2019 sha didn\u2019t seeam a bit the war,\n Bud then sha war a mo\u2019tal star,\n War t\u2019 lass fra Lunnon.\n Her shoon war oppen doon ti t\u2019 teeas,\n Her hat stuck on all macks o\u2019 waays,\n Bud sha wadn\u2019t wesh her mucky cleeas,\n That lass fra Lunnon.\n\n Sha\u2019d row on t\u2019 pond just leyke a chap,\n An\u2019 iv a net sha\u2019d tak a nap\u2014\n Sha didn\u2019t seeam ti mahnd a rap,\n That lass fra Lunnon.\n Foor fun an\u2019 gam sha seeam\u2019d fair rife,\n Bud wark sha wadn\u2019t thruff her leyfe\u2014\n Sha\u2019d nivver mak a poor man\u2019s weyfe,\n Wad t\u2019 lass fra Lunnon.\n\n B\u2014\u2014.\n\n\n THA\u2018RE KITTLISH THINGS TI DEEA.\n\n\n Deean\u2019t aim ti stop a bull by t\u2019 e\u2019e,\n Deean\u2019t gan far up a rotten stee,\n Deean\u2019t ho\u2019d i\u2019 t\u2019 han\u2019 a bumm\u2019l bee\u2014\n Tha\u2019re kittlish things ti deea.\n\n Deean\u2019t tak a straange dog byv its taal,\n Deean\u2019t mak yer naabor\u2019s pigs ti squeeal,\n Deean\u2019t call yer maaster\u2019s lad a feeal\u2014\n Tha\u2019re kittlish things ti deea.\n\n Deean\u2019t aim ti alter wimmin\u2019s waays,\n Deean\u2019t conterdict what t\u2019 maaster saays,\n Deean\u2019t hark him back tiv uther daays\u2014\n Tha\u2019re kittlish things ti deea.\n\n Deean\u2019t saay ti t\u2019 muther t\u2019 babby\u2019s plaan,\n Deean\u2019t tell a chap his lass is t\u2019 saam,\n An\u2019 nivver saay \u2019at t\u2019 weyfe\u2019s ti blaam\u2014\n Tha\u2019re kittlish things ti deea.\n\n Deean\u2019t drahve a lent hoss ower fast,\n An\u2019 when ya\u2019ve wo\u2019ds, deean\u2019t try foor t\u2019 last\n Wi t\u2019 weyfe, or else sha\u2019ll ommaist brast\u2014\n Tha\u2019re kittlish things ti deea.\n\n Deean\u2019t gicken when yer betters slip,\n Deean\u2019t be ti pawky wi\u2019 yer lip,\n An\u2019 frev anuther\u2019s glass deean\u2019t sip\u2014\n Tha\u2019re kittlish things ti deea.\n\n B\u2014\u2014.\n\n\n SONG.\n\n A BLIGHTED YOUNG MAN.\n\n\n Noo stan\u2019s afoor ya a blighted young man\n Wheeas leyfe is fast slithering awaay;\n Ah\u2019s dowly an\u2019 dwining, an\u2019, deea what Ah mud,\n Ah caan\u2019t lig mah troubles awaay.\n\n\n _Chorus._\n\n Yance Ah war happy, leetsome, an\u2019 gaay;\n Bud Ah gat wed, an\u2019, varra sad ti saay,\n Ah seean fan t\u2019 mistak oot, an\u2019 noo ivvery daay\n Ah wish Ah war a sing\u2019l young man.\n\n Ah offens calls ti mahnd noo when Ah war a lad\n T\u2019 fussack Ah rade on ti skeeal;\n Ah nivver thowt i\u2019 them daays \u2019at woman sae coy\n C\u2019u\u2019d ivver mak a man sike a feeal.\n\n _Chorus._\n\n Aa, bud Ah\u2019s dowly an\u2019 stalled o\u2019 mah leyfe,\n Ther\u2019s nowt noo bud waiting for t\u2019 end,\n Ah \u2019livvers up my wages Ah arns ivvery week,\n An\u2019 fow\u2019pence sha gi\u2019es me ti spend.\n\n _Chorus._\n\n Ah weshes all t\u2019 taters, Ah maks all wer beds,\n Ah fetches all t\u2019 coals in, an\u2019 t\u2019 hearth Ah cleans up;\n Ah peeals ivvery onion, an\u2019 monny a tear Ah sheds\n Ez Ah sups fra leyfe\u2019s bitter cup.\n\n _Chorus._\n\n Ah diz all t\u2019 possing, Ah hings oot all t\u2019 cleeas,\n Ah hugs in all t\u2019 watter, an\u2019, ez ya maay suppose,\n Ah meng\u2019ls, Ah irons, Ah diz all \u2019at Ah can,\n Bud Ah\u2019s nowt na mair ner a poor wedded man.\n\n _Chorus._\n\n When Ah went a-courting, sha seeam\u2019d ti be\n Ez meek an\u2019 ez mild ez meek an\u2019 mild can be;\n Bud ther\u2019s tweea sahds tiv a woman\u2014deea what ya can,\n T\u2019 Missus will be t\u2019 maastther of a poor married man.\n\n B\u2014\u2014.\n\n\n NOWT BUD LUV COULD BE.\n\n\n T\u2019 meean war leeaking doon on t\u2019 yeth\n Leyke a silver ball yah neet,\n An\u2019 stars war twinkling ivver seea,\n Whahl t\u2019 sky war all aleet\n Wi\u2019 t\u2019 gems ov Heaven up aboon.\n Seea gran\u2019 tha leak\u2019d ti t\u2019 e\u2019e,\n Yan felt fair capp\u2019d ti think doon there\n \u2018At owt bud luv c\u2019u\u2019d be;\n Foor t\u2019 beetles hum\u2019d ez round tha swirl\u2019d,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 crake call\u2019d foor its maate,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 bleeat o\u2019 monny lambs yan heeard,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 moths can oot ti late\n Ther suppers fra some neetly bloom,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 wo\u2019lld war fair ti see,\n Whahl sumhoo yan felt bet ti knaw\n Hoo owt bud luv c\u2019u\u2019d be.\n A twittering noos an\u2019 thens yan heeard\n Fra t\u2019 larl bo\u2019ds i\u2019 ther nist,\n Ez croodled under t\u2019 muther wing\n Tha teeak ther neetly rist.\n T\u2019 noisy creeaks \u2019ed geean ti reeast,\n Ther war nowt yan c\u2019u\u2019d see\n Ti mak it hard upon this yeth\n Foor owt bud luv ti be.\n Bud whahl yan tried ti mak it oot,\n A flittermoose fligg\u2019d by,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 ullot\u2019s shadow darken\u2019d t\u2019 grund,\n An t\u2019 neet-jar gav its cry,\n An t\u2019 fox yapp\u2019d wiv its neease ti t\u2019 grund,\n Whahl t\u2019 rezzel slank alang,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 rabbit\u2019s squeeal tell\u2019d plaan eneeaf\n O\u2019 parlous deed amang\n T\u2019 weeak critters, whahl yan \u2019s forced ti awn\n It\u2019s seeam amang wersels\u2014\n I\u2019 t\u2019 heart, wheer nowt bud luv s\u2019u\u2019d be,\n Unkindness offen dwells.\n\n B\u2014\u2014.\n\n\n * * * * *\n\n Yan better wed when t\u2019 glamour\u2019s on\n Ez wait whahl t\u2019 heart graws cau\u2019d;\n It\u2019s better deean i\u2019 t\u2019 spring o\u2019 leyfe\n Ez when yan\u2019s grawing au\u2019d.\n Yan better wed foor luv ez brass,\n Just when oor een is breet;\n Yan better wed when toilsome wark\n Upon yan\u2019s rig ligs leet.\n Yan better fetch wer baans all up,\n Whahl ivvery gam tha plaay;\n Baith them an\u2019 uz can laak ti t\u2019 end\u2014\n It\u2019s better mich that waay.\n Yan owt ti be just gahin\u2019 doon t\u2019 hill\n Ez tha tak frev uz t\u2019 pleeaf,\n An\u2019 if thruff leyfe yan\u2019s deean yan\u2019s best,\n Yan\u2019s awlus deean eneeaf.\n\n B\u2014\u2014.\n\n\n * * * * *\n\n Nivver belder at yer bairns,\n Whisht wo\u2019ds is awlus t\u2019 best;\n An\u2019 nivver let a tear-drop damp\n Ther een when gahin ti rist.\n Deean\u2019t let \u2019em doot yer larlest wo\u2019d,\n Bud let \u2019em ho\u2019d ti be\n Nowt else bud t\u2019 trewth iv all ya saay,\n An\u2019 let \u2019em awlus see\n \u2018At ivverything ya daily deea\n Thersels mud pattern tak\u2014\n I\u2019 deeaing this, ya\u2019re deeaing mich\n Bonny bairns ti mak.\n\n B\u2014\u2014.\n\n\n THE BALLOON.\n\n _From the Author\u2019s series of Yorkshire Sketches._\n\n\n \u2018What is \u2019t, mun?\u2019\n\n \u2018It\u2019s t\u2019 b\u2019loon.\u2019\n\n \u2018Is \u2019t t\u2019 thing \u2019at tha gan up inti t\u2019 sky wiv?\u2019\n\n \u2018Aye.\u2019\n\n \u2018Hoo deea tha mannish \u2019t?\u2019\n\n \u2018Naay, that licks ma; bud it gans up leyke all that.\u2019\n\n \u2018What\u2019s ho\u2019ding \u2019t up noo?\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah deean\u2019t reetlings knaw. Ah ax\u2019d t\u2019 chap \u2019at awns \u2019t, an\u2019 he tell\u2019d\n ma \u2019at it war thrussen up wi\u2019 gas.\u2019\n\n \u2018Aye, an\u2019 what did thoo saay ti that?\u2019\n\n \u2018Whya, Ah tell\u2019d him \u2019at Ah\u2019d cutten my back teeth.\u2019\n\n \u2018An\u2019 what did he saay then?\u2019\n\n \u2018Nowt; he nobbut ax\u2019d ma if Ah\u2019d leyke ti gan up wiv him, an\u2019 Ah\n tell\u2019d him \u2019at he wadn\u2019t catch me sailing thruff t\u2019 cloods sitting on\n t\u2019 top ov a gert blether, an\u2019 he did nowt bud laugh at ma.\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah didn\u2019t knaw \u2019at tha sat on t\u2019 top; Ah awlus thowt \u2019at tha gat\n insahd t\u2019 b\u2019loon. Bud Ah deean\u2019t see hoo tha\u2019d git inteea \u2019t. Ah\u2019s t\u2019\n maist capped ti knaw what ho\u2019ds \u2019t up.\u2019\n\n \u2018Aye, bud what diz ta mak on \u2019t gahin up byv itsen, when tha let it\n off?\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah deean\u2019t knaw, that\u2019s a capper. An\u2019 thoo sez \u2019at it gans up leyke\n all that?\u2019\n\n \u2018Seea fau\u2019k saay. Think on, Ah\u2019ve nivver seen yan git awaay wiv itsen.\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah saay, efter tha\u2019ve gitten \u2019t up, hoo deea tha mannish ti fetch \u2019t\n doon agaan?\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah nivver thowt o\u2019 that. Ah wunner hoo tha deea deea \u2019t. Bud Ah s\u2019u\u2019d\n think \u2019at tha mebbe fling a roap oot an\u2019 swarm doon \u2019t.\u2019\n\n \u2018Mebbe, bud Ah\u2019s leathered ti knaw what ho\u2019ds \u2019t up.\u2019\n\n \u2018Whya, Ah s\u2019u\u2019d think \u2019at ther\u2019s mebbe a chap insahd ho\u2019ding it up wiv\n a powl\u2019 (pole).\n\n \u2018Aye, mebbe seea; Ah nivver thowt o\u2019 that. What\u2019s that thing; is \u2019t a\n bee-skep?\u2019\n\n \u2018It leeaks despert leyke yan.\u2019\n\n \u2018It\u2019s a varra gert un. Mah wo\u2019d, what a swarm it wad ho\u2019d.\u2019\n\n \u2018Sitha, mun! if tha ar\u2019n\u2019t tying t\u2019 bee-skep ti t\u2019 b\u2019loon; an\u2019 ther\u2019s\n a lass gitting insahd.\u2019\n\n \u2018Ther is, hooivver. Ah nivver seed sike a thing i\u2019 mah leyfe; it\n waggles aboot sairly.\u2019\n\n \u2018Leeaks, ta! Ther\u2019s a chap gitting in noo; depend on \u2019t, tha\u2019re foor\n off.\u2019\n\n \u2018Tha\u2019re larl better \u2019an tweea feeals. Ah wadn\u2019t leeave t\u2019 grund tied\n tiv a thing leyke that; neea, nut foor a ransom.\u2019\n\n \u2018Whativver are tha efter noo?\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah caan\u2019t mak oot.\u2019\n\n \u2018Bless mah leyfe, tha\u2019re lowsing t\u2019 thing.\u2019\n\n \u2018Tha are, hooivver. Tha\u2019re gahin\u2019 ti let it off.\u2019\n\n \u2018Ther\u2019s na doot aboot it.\u2019\n\n \u2018Well, ov all t\u2019 crack-brained undertakkings \u2019at ivver Ah\u2019ve clap\u2019d\n mah een on, this carrying on licks au\u2019d Mother Shipton.\u2019\n\n \u2018T\u2019 Queen owtn\u2019t ti \u2019low this.\u2019\n\n \u2018Sitha, tha\u2019re gahin\u2019 up.\u2019\n\n \u2018Sha owtn\u2019t. It\u2019s nut reet, a-gahin\u2019 on leyke this; neeabody \u2019ez onny\n reet ti start foor heaven, owther insahd or ootsahd a b\u2019loon, wivoot\n tha\u2019ve deed fo\u2019st. It\u2019s warse \u2019an t\u2019 tooer o\u2019 Babel.\u2019\n\n \u2018It seeams ti gan stiddy, Ah will saay that.\u2019\n\n \u2018That\u2019s nowt; tha\u2019re nut i\u2019 t\u2019 reet on \u2019t.\u2019\n\n \u2018Tha\u2019ll \u2019ev a gran view, onny road.\u2019\n\n \u2018Thoo dizn\u2019t meean ti saay, John, \u2019at thoo\u2019d leyke ti gan, diz ta?\u2019\n\n \u2018Whya, mebbe Ah wad! sha\u2019s a neycish leeaking lass.\u2019\n\n \u2018Whya, then, Ah\u2019ll tell tha what, if ivver Ah catch thee gahin\u2019 inti\n t\u2019 cloods, dengling belaw a b\u2019loon iv a bee-skep wiv a straange lass,\n thoo\u2019d better stop up wiv her altigither, foor thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e larl peace\n if thoo ivver darr\u2019s ti cum doon agaan. Beear i\u2019 mahnd, noo, when thoo\n leeaves ma for t\u2019 cloods, it\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti be ez an angel, or thoo\u2019ll rue\n \u2019t.\u2019\n\n\n _Mrs. Waddleton travels by train for the first time to see her\n daughter, residing at Whitby, to whom she gives a full description of\n her journey._\n\n Whya, noo, Ah\u2019ll tell tha all aboot it reet away fra t\u2019 starting. Thoo\n knaws Ah went ti what they call t\u2019 station, an\u2019 Ah seed a young chap\n stannin\u2019 at t\u2019 back ov a thing leyke a ratten trap, an\u2019 Ah sez tiv\n him, \u2018Noo, then, what\u2019s thoo been efter ti git thisen stuckken theer\n foor?\u2019 An\u2019 he sez, \u2018Naay, nowt; Ah\u2019s nobbut here ti sell t\u2019 tickets,\n that\u2019s all.\u2019 \u2018Oh, whya,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018if that\u2019s all, let\u2019s be \u2019evving\n ho\u2019d o\u2019 yan.\u2019 An\u2019 he sez ti me, \u2018All reet, wheear are ya gahin\u2019?\u2019\n \u2018Stop a bit,\u2019 sez Ah; \u2019that\u2019s neea business o\u2019 thahn.\u2019 \u2018Whya,\u2019 sez he,\n \u2018Ah caan\u2019t gi\u2019e ya a ticket if ya deean\u2019t tell uz wheear ya gahin\u2019\n tul.\u2019 \u2018Well,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018Ah s\u2019all deea nowt o\u2019 t\u2019 sort; an\u2019 if Ah\u2019ve\n onny mair o\u2019 thi impidence, Ah\u2019ll tak tha byv t\u2019 hair o\u2019 thi heead\n an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll pull tha thruff t\u2019 larl hoal\u2014that\u2019s what Ah\u2019ll deea.\u2019 An\u2019\n then a young lady cam up, an\u2019 sha sez, \u2018If Ah war yow, Ah\u2019d tell t\u2019\n young chap wheear ya\u2019re gahin\u2019 tul, an\u2019 it\u2019ll mense things up a bit,\n an\u2019 ya\u2019ll git yer ticket an\u2019 git awaay neycely.\u2019 \u2018All reet,\u2019 sez Ah.\n \u2018Noo, then, cu\u2019 thi waays back, impidence; Ah\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti Whidby ti\n see my dowter. Sha lives on t\u2019 cliff, an\u2019 sha\u2019s gitten a pianner, an\u2019\n bowt a pig, an\u2019\u2014\u2014 \u2019 \u2018Naay, what!\u2019 sez he; \u2018Ah deean\u2019t want ti knaw\n all t\u2019 family history, hooivver.\u2019 \u2018Well,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2019thoo seeam\u2019d that\n \u2019quisitive aboot it, \u2019at Ah thowt Ah\u2019d best tell tha t\u2019 lot whahl Ah\n war at it.\u2019 \u2018Whya, noo then,\u2019 sez he, \u2019theear\u2019s yer ticket, an\u2019 it\u2019s\n yan an\u2019 fow\u2019pence.\u2019 \u2018Whya,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2019thoo needn\u2019t be seea chuff aboot\n it; theer\u2019s thi yan an\u2019 fow\u2019pence.\u2019 \u2018That\u2019s reet,\u2019 sez he; \u2018an\u2019 ya mun\n tak care on \u2019t.\u2019 \u2018Thoo gert dunder-nowle!\u2019 sez Ah; \u2018Ah\u2019s nut gahin\u2019 ti\n fling \u2019t awaay when Ah git ootsahd. Ah s\u2019all tak care on \u2019t ti t\u2019 end\n o\u2019 mah daays.\u2019 \u2018Naay,\u2019 sez he, \u2018bud ya weean\u2019t.\u2019 \u2018What foor?\u2019 sez Ah.\n \u2018\u2018Coz theer\u2019s a chap \u2019at t\u2019 tother end \u2019ll want it.\u2019 \u2018Oh, is theer?\u2019\n sez Ah; \u2018whya, then, he weean\u2019t git it.\u2019 \u2018He\u2019ll tak it fra ya,\u2019 sez\n he. \u2018Nut if he\u2019s leyke what thoo is,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018or hauf a dozen on\n \u2019em.\u2019 An\u2019 then Ah went ootsahd, on ti what tha call t\u2019 platform.\n \u2018Noo, then,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018is this t\u2019 traan thing?\u2019 An\u2019 a porter chap sez,\n \u2018Aye, that\u2019s it.\u2019 \u2018Oh! an\u2019 wheer\u2019s t\u2019 hoss?\u2019 sez Ah. \u2018What hoss?\u2019 sez\n he. \u2018Whya, t\u2019 hoss \u2019at\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti drag t\u2019 thing ti Whidby?\u2019 \u2018Bud,\u2019\n sez he, \u2018it dizn\u2019t gan wiv a hoss.\u2019 \u2018Then what diz it gan wiv?\u2019 sez\n Ah. \u2018Whya, that thing \u2019at\u2019s at t\u2019 front end on \u2019t.\u2019 \u2018Hoo can a thing\n leyke yon knaw t\u2019 road ti Whidby? Ger away wi\u2019 tha.\u2019 \u2018Oh,\u2019 sez he,\n \u2018ya\u2019re gahin\u2019 ti Whidby, are ya?\u2019 \u2018Ah is,\u2019 sez Ah; an\u2019 wi\u2019 that he gat\n at t\u2019 back o\u2019 mah, an\u2019 afore Ah knew wheer Ah war, Ah war hauf lifted\n an\u2019 hauf thrussen inti ti carridge. An\u2019 ther war nowt bud a young chap\n sitting up i\u2019 t\u2019 far corner; an\u2019 Ah sez tiv him, \u2018Ah, saay, \u2019ev yow\n ivver been iv a train afoor?\u2019 \u2018Aye, monny a tahm,\u2019 sez he. \u2018Is this\n all reet?\u2019 sez Ah. \u2018Aye, it\u2019s reet eneeaf,\u2019 sez he. An\u2019 seea Ah sat\n ma doon. Ah thowt it \u2019ud be seea neyce ti leeak oot o\u2019 t\u2019 winder an\u2019\n see Tom Robison\u2019s coddy fooals an\u2019 John Williams\u2019s pigs, bud it\u2019s ez\n trew ez Ah\u2019s sitting byv thi fire-sahd, t\u2019 fo\u2019st thing \u2019at Ah seed war\n a chetch run reet across a field, an\u2019 t\u2019 next minit ther war tweea\n coos, three pigs, a man, an\u2019 a haystack flew past that quick, whahl\n ya c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t keep yer e\u2019es on \u2019em at all, an\u2019 then ivverything went ez\n pick dark ez neet. \u2018Noo, then,\u2019 Ah shooted, \u2018what\u2019s up noo?\u2019 \u2018Naay,\n nowt,\u2019 sez he; \u2018wa\u2019ve nobbut gane insahd ov a funnel, that\u2019s all.\u2019\n \u2018Insahd ov a funnel!\u2019 sez Ah; \u2019then s\u2019all wa be dragged oot o\u2019 t\u2019\n narrer end on \u2019t?\u2019 \u2018Noo, it\u2019s all reet,\u2019 sez he. \u2018Ah deean\u2019t knaw sae\n mich aboot its being all reet,\u2019 sez Ah. \u2018Ah\u2019ve neea reet ti be locked\n up i\u2019 t\u2019 dark wiv a young chap \u2019at Ah\u2019ve nivver seen afoor.\u2019 \u2018Whya,\n noo, sit ya still,\u2019 sez he; \u2018Ah isn\u2019t gahin\u2019 ti mell on ya.\u2019 \u2018Thoo\u2019d\n better nut,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018or else tho\u2019ll git thi hair combed foor nowt.\u2019\n An\u2019 then wa flew inti dayleet, afoor Ah knew wheer Ah war. Efter a\n bit wa began ti slack up a piece. \u2018Noo, then,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018what\u2019s up\n noo?\u2019 \u2018Nowt,\u2019 sez he; \u2018wa\u2019ve nobbut gitten ti Whidby, that\u2019s all.\u2019\n \u2018Oh! well,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018if that\u2019s all, that\u2019s wheear Ah want ti be.\u2019 An\u2019\n Ah oppen\u2019d t\u2019 deear an\u2019 stepped oot, an\u2019 afoor Ah knew wheer Ah war,\n Ah war laid flat o\u2019 mah back on t\u2019 platform. When Ah\u2019d gitten mysen\n upended agaan, Ah seed a chap at t\u2019 far end o\u2019 t\u2019 station clicking\n ther tickets frev \u2019em leyke all that, an\u2019 Ah thowt ti mysen, \u2018Thoo\u2019ll\n finnd thisen wrang when Ah cum up.\u2019 Hooivver, he nobbut tried ti git\n hauf o\u2019 mahn, an\u2019 seea it didn\u2019t matter; bud Ah\u2019ve ta\u2019en \u2019em in, foor\n all that. Ah wadn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e deean \u2019t if they\u2019d nobbut behaved thersens,\n bud tha didn\u2019t, chucking yan in an\u2019 potching yan oot. What diz ta\n saay, thoo wants ti knaw hoo Ah\u2019ve mannished ti tak \u2019em in? Whya, noo,\n Ah\u2019ll tell tha\u2014Ah\u2019ve bowt a return ticket, an\u2019 Ah isn\u2019t gahin\u2019 back.\n Tha caan\u2019t git t\u2019 best o\u2019 me.\n\n\n WENSLEYDALE NICKNAMES.\n\n\n Ov all the straange plaaces \u2019at ivver wur knawn,\n Wensleydale bangs \u2019em all, ez noo s\u2019all be shown,\n Fur naams \u2019a\u2019e been gi\u2019en ti women an\u2019 men\u2014\n Yow\u2019d wunner hooivver tha gat \u2019em, an\u2019 when.\n\n \u2018Drummer Tom\u2019 is t\u2019 naame \u2019at\u2019s sattled o\u2019 yan,\n An\u2019 \u2018Sheggy\u2019 is t\u2019 naame o\u2019 \u2018Mary Toms\u2019\u2019 son;\n Ther\u2019s \u2018Bell Taylor Johnny\u2019 \u2018at lives up at Gayle,\n An\u2019 \u2018Brissy\u2019 \u2018s a man bred an\u2019 born iv oor dale.\n\n \u2018Cobbler Jack\u2019 drahves a bus fra Leyburn ti Hawes,\n An\u2019 \u2018Wingy\u2019 uz sartinly been i\u2019 the wars;\n Ah caan\u2019t tell hoo \u2018Hiapath\u2019 cam byv his naame,\n An\u2019 ti call a man \u2018Shinnock\u2019 is sewerly a shaame.\n\n \u2018Ball Joan\u2019 is a chap ya\u2019d awn ti be tall;\n His weyfe, \u2018Lile Bella,\u2019 is sartinly small;\n Her brother-i\u2019-law is called \u2018Peggy Tom,\u2019\n An\u2019 \u2018Pop\u2019 \u2018s a chap Ah knaw nut wheer from.\n\n \u2018Tom Kiss\u2019 is a tailor, a scheealmaister \u2018Paul,\u2019\n Whahl \u2018Jeff Boat,\u2019 a cobbler, wurks hard wiv his awl;\n \u2018Jim Nip\u2019 is a good un wi\u2019 pickaxe or speead,\n An\u2019 \u2018Shetty\u2019 maks brass i\u2019 t\u2019 grossery traade.\n\n \u2018Spinner Niddy\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Chapir\u2019 wurk up at t\u2019 au\u2019d mill,\n \u2018Arry Ann\u2019 uz a doctor is faam\u2019d fur her skill,\n \u2018Sailor Jack\u2019 Ah wad sweear nivver hann\u2019l\u2019d an oar,\n Bud \u2018Planks,\u2019 the young joiner, \u2019ll mak ya a doour.\n\n \u2018Dicky Flesk\u2019 is a grosser, an\u2019 \u2018One Boy\u2019 maks shoes,\n An\u2019 \u2018Snegram\u2019 \u2018s a naame \u2019at Ah wadn\u2019t choose;\n \u2018Sophy John\u2019 keeps a lodging-hoos noo at t\u2019 Toon foot,\n An\u2019 tweea uther chaps are called \u2018Puin\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Put.\u2019\n My frien\u2019s \u2019at are left Ah\u2019ll clap iv a lump,\n Fur wa\u2019ve \u2018Gaggon\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Crackon\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Bridney\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Stump.\u2019\n\n\nThe above would be written about twenty-five years ago. The verses\nwere given to me by my old schoolfellow, T. Fairbank King, Esq., West\nWitton. The two following verses are the sole remains of a much older\nrhyme, probably about 1800, and may have suggested the idea to the\nauthor of the above, whose name is unknown.\n\n\n Ther\u2019s \u2018Jack\u2019s lass wi\u2019 cauves\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Sally wi\u2019 Shanks\u2019;\n Ther\u2019s \u2018Miss Nancy Prim,\u2019 an\u2019 young \u2018Tommy Pranks,\u2019\n An\u2019 \u2018Mucky stee Tom,\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Hopplin\u2019 Bill\u2019;\n Ther\u2019s \u2018Mary wi\u2019 t\u2019 scar\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Au\u2019d Muther Dill\u2019;\n\n Ther\u2019s \u2018Tommy wi\u2019 t\u2019 warts,\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Sticker Bull Coo,\u2019\n An\u2019 \u2018Sniftering Tom lass,\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Ugger-a-boo\u2019;\n Ther\u2019s \u2018Snouty\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Corker,\u2019 an\u2019 \u2018Annie fra Gayle,\u2019\n Wheeas legs caan\u2019t be matched iv all Wensleydale.\n\n\nThe symmetry of Annie\u2019s legs must have been quite phenomenal, as my\ninformant gravely told me that \u2018A chap cam all t\u2019 waay fra Lunnon ti\ntak t\u2019 pattern on \u2019em fer a statta\u2019 (i.e. statue) \u2018he war makking fur\nsumbody.\u2019\n\n * * * * *\n\nNicknames are quite common in Yorkshire. Take the following (some I\ndo not know the surnames of, though well knowing the persons):\u2014Jamma,\nMucaduck, Midge, Boxer, T\u2019 au\u2019d bo\u2019d, Blash, Tarra, Au\u2019d Willie, Bunks\nCanary, Black Jack, Coy Duck, Calcraft, Fishy, Tankard, Trucky, Radden,\nShut, Moudy, Tramp, Slackbags, Jump a Bush, Dog Tom, &c.\n\n\n A COMPARISON OF TWO LANGUAGES AS SPOKEN AT THE PRESENT DAY.\n\n\n Ther war a chap fra Lunnon cam\u2014\n Fau\u2019k said he war a swell.\n He mebbe war; yah thing Ah knaw,\n He did his varra best ti draw\n T\u2019 soft oot o\u2019 yan.\n\n He cam ti me yah daay an\u2019 sez,\n \u2018Oi sai, old chep, look h\u2019yar,\n Oi\u2019ve lorst my bally self, yew kneow,\n End jest which wai I orter gou\n To me aint cleah.\n\n \u2018Deoun\u2019t cher kneow, \u2019pon my word!\n A fellah feels a fool;\n Oi sai, look h\u2019yar, I want to kneow,\n Old cheppy, the best wai to gou\n To\u2014er\u2014the hall?\n\n \u2018Oi kneow yew Johnnies kneow a lot,\n Beout land end worms end grubs;\n Yew\u2019re beastly clevvah, deoun\u2019t cher kneow?\n But deoun\u2019t yew find it bally sleow,\n This sort of life?\u2019\n\n \u2018Noo, then,\u2019 Ah sez, \u2018ho\u2019d on a bit,\n Deean\u2019t ramm\u2019l on seea fast;\n Thoo sez thoo\u2019s lost, an\u2019 wants ti knaw\n T\u2019 gainest road foor thoo ti goa\n Ti git ti t\u2019 hall.\n\n \u2018Noo, if thoo aims that road ti gan,\n Just to\u2019n thisen aboot,\n Thruff t\u2019 staggarth tak an\u2019 to\u2019n ti t\u2019 reet,\n Mak foor t\u2019 larl yat thoo\u2019ll finnd i\u2019 seet,\n Nigh hand t\u2019 faud-yard.\n\n \u2018Thoo maun\u2019t gan thruff \u2019t, bud to\u2019n agaan,\n Keep t\u2019 muckheap weel ti t\u2019 reet,\n Tak t\u2019 pastur path, deean\u2019t laak wi\u2019 t\u2019 steg,\n Foor he\u2019s neean ower neyce wheea\u2019s awe t\u2019 leg\u2014\n He\u2019d neb thi breeaks.\n\n \u2018Ah mak na doot aboot this tahm\n Thoo\u2019ll sairly daffled be,\n Bud theer \u2019s a lad theer flaying creeaks;\n Thoo\u2019d best ass him, an\u2019 when thoo speeaks,\n Talk plaan.\u2019\n\n \u2018Thenks, awf\u2019ly, but deoun\u2019t cher kneow,\n Deah cheppie, \u2019pon my word,\n Oi deoun\u2019t quite ketch what yew do sai,\n The fect is, Oi hev lorst my wai\u2014\n Yew understend?\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah understand tha hard eneeaf,\n Bud leeaks ta, mun, Ah s\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t,\n Bud a frien\u2019 o\u2019 mahn fra Lunnon cums,\n An\u2019 just leyke thee, he \u2019aws an\u2019 \u2018ums,\n Whahl Ah caan\u2019t bahd.\n\n \u2018Noo, if thoo aims Ah \u2019s gahin\u2019 ti try\n Ti scrape mah tongue, thoo\u2019s wrang;\n Thoo cums an\u2019 slaps yan on yan\u2019s back,\n An\u2019 eggs yan on ti talk, ti mak\n Nowt else bud gam.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019ve tell\u2019d tha t\u2019 road ez plaan ez nowt,\n An\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tell tha summat else\u2014\n Deean\u2019t aim at t\u2019 reeaks an\u2019 shut a craw,\n Deean\u2019t slavver fau\u2019k thoo dizn\u2019t know;\n Noo off thoo gans.\u2019\n B\u2014\u2014.\n\n\n THE SELL IN THE CELLAR.\n\n\n Being fond o\u2019 sweets ov ivvery kahnd,\n Nut lang sen, mun, Ah \u2019ed a mahnd\n Ti help mysen tiv a lahtle teeaste\n O\u2019 summat neyce i\u2019 puffy peeaste.\n Thieves, thoff, awlus \u2019ev a fear,\n Seea Ah lissen\u2019d, an\u2019 Ah fan t\u2019 road clear;\n Seea being a sharpish soart o\u2019 feller,\n Ah teeak mysen reet doon i\u2019 t\u2019 celler,\n An\u2019 theear on shelves afoor my een\n War pies an\u2019 tarts fit foor a queen.\n Ho\u2019d on a bit! what\u2019s this Ah see?\n A pankin full o\u2019 rich jelly.\n Ah war fairly capp\u2019d at fo\u2019st ti see\n Seea gert a bowl full ov jelly;\n But theear it war, ez plaan ez daay,\n An\u2019 tempting teea. Ah\u2019ve heeard fau\u2019k saay\n When t\u2019 divil maks ya try yer luck,\n He awlus leeaves ya stuck i\u2019 t\u2019 muck.\n He \u2019ez a waay, he \u2019ez, by gock!\n O\u2019 makking plother leeak leyke rock.\n Whether \u2019t be wenches, drink, or money,\n T\u2019 divil daubs \u2019em all wi\u2019 honey,\n Or summat else \u2019at catches t\u2019 e\u2019e.\n Noo Ah war \u2019ticed wi\u2019 that jelly,\n Seea wi\u2019 mah whittle a shive o\u2019 keeak\n \u2018At \u2019ed been cutten, Ah did teeak.\n Theer\u2019s a saying, mun, which rhymes wi\u2019 rhahm,\n It\u2019s \u2019yah good thing tak at a tahm\u2019;\n Bud t\u2019 lump o\u2019 keeak Ah felt wad be\n Nowt mich bidoot Ah \u2019ed t\u2019 jelly.\n Seea Ah laid a lump on t\u2019 top o\u2019 t\u2019 keeak,\n An\u2019 sed, by gum! hoo neyce ya leeak!\n Mah mooth war wattering foor a teeast,\n An\u2019 Ah just war gahin\u2019 ti start mah feeast,\n When Ah thowt Ah heeard sumbody cumin\u2019\u2014\n Mah fo\u2019st thowt war ov up an\u2019 runnin\u2019.\n Inti mah gob Ah cramm\u2019d all t\u2019 lot,\n Then nut a minit did Ah stop;\n Up t\u2019 cellar steps Ah quickly flang,\n Thruff t\u2019 kitchen deear went wiv a bang,\n Whahl t\u2019 garden roond Ah madly rushed,\n An\u2019 plants an\u2019 shrubs Ah sairly crushed\n Wi\u2019 baith mah stamping feet;\n Foor t\u2019 stuff \u2019at Ah\u2019d thowt foor ti eat,\n Oha! war nut it a sell!\n Tak mah wo\u2019d for \u2019t, Ah scarce da\u2019st tell.\n Ti think o\u2019 t\u2019 trouble \u2019at Ah teeak\n Ti git that jelly an\u2019 that keeak,\n An\u2019 efter all mah langing hoap,\n Ti finnd Ah\u2019d gitten nowt bud soap.\n Ya tumm\u2019l teea \u2019t; Ah needn\u2019t saay,\n Sum stuff they\u2019d made foor t\u2019 weshing daay.\n B\u2014\u2014.\n\n\n A SPECIMEN OF YORKSHIRE FOLK-SPEECH, AS SPOKEN IN THE NORTH RIDING.\n\n A SKETCH. ONE OF THE \u2018WADDLETON\u2019 SERIES, BY THE AUTHOR.\n\n\n _Mrs. Waddleton goes to Stockton Races, and her friend Mrs. Bubbles is\n told all about it._\n\n Sit tha doon, Mary, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll tell tha all aboot it reet awaay fra t\u2019\n starting. It war leyke this, thoo knaws. Ah sed tiv oor John yah daay\n when he cam in; Ah sez tiv him, \u2018Noo, then!\u2019 an\u2019 he sez ti ma, \u2018Noo,\n then!\u2019 An\u2019 Ah sed, \u2018Whya, noo, Ah\u2019ll tell tha what; what diz ta think\n if wa gan ti Stockton Races?\u2019 An\u2019 he sez, \u2018Wha, Ah s\u2019u\u2019d think \u2019at wa\n war daft\u2014that\u2019s what Ah s\u2019u\u2019d think.\u2019 Ah seed \u2019at he war t\u2019 wrang sahd\n oot, an\u2019 seea Ah sed nowt neea mair just then. Bud bliss yer leyfe, Ah\n \u2019evn\u2019t been wed tiv a man fahve an\u2019 twenty year nut ti knaw t\u2019 reet\n end o\u2019 yan, ez a body might saay; seea Ah let things bahd whahl he\n cam intiv his supper, an\u2019 Ah\u2019 gat him a neyce bit o\u2019 liver an\u2019 bacon\n riddy. Ah seed him soffen t\u2019 minit \u2019at he clapp\u2019d his een on \u2019t. Bud,\n what! ya can ommaist awlus tattle onny man thruff his stomach. Ah\n waited a larl bit, whahl he\u2019d gitten a mouth or tweea full, an\u2019 then\n Ah sat ma doon on t\u2019 cheer-airm, an\u2019 started ti git ower him wi\u2019 mah\n au\u2019d cunnin\u2019 waays, leyke what Ah used ti deea i\u2019 daays geean by. Ah\n put mah airm roond his neck, an\u2019 sed, \u2018Noo, that\u2019s a bit o\u2019 neyce,\n isn\u2019t it?\u2019 An\u2019 he sez, \u2018Aye, lass.\u2019 An\u2019 Ah sed, \u2018Aye, it is; ther\u2019s\n neeabody else wad \u2019a\u2019e bothered to \u2019a\u2019e gitten tha sike a neyce bit o\u2019\n supper riddy.\u2019 An\u2019 then Ah ran mah fingers thruff his hair. \u2018Neea,\u2019\n sez he, \u2019ther\u2019s nut.\u2019 An\u2019 then efter a bit, he sez, \u2018Ah\u2019ll tell tha\n what, lass; if thoo wants ti gan ti t\u2019 races, whya, what, Ah s\u2019all\n \u2019a\u2019e ti tak tha.\u2019 \u2018Nut if ya doan\u2019t want ti go, mah luv,\u2019 sez Ah. Bud\n Ah maad up mah mahnd \u2019at he s\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t back oot on \u2019t then. \u2018Bud Ah\u2019ll\n tell tha what,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018if thoo wants ti gan, Ah\u2019ll gan wi\u2019 tha.\u2019\n Thoo knaws it\u2019s best foor t\u2019 men ti deea ez t\u2019 weyfe wants \u2019em at t\u2019\n fo\u2019st, acoz thoo knaws wa awlus deea git wer awn way owther thruff\n t\u2019 yat or ower t\u2019 hedge. Bud ez he\u2019d sattled ti gan, theer war nowt\n neea mair ti saay aboot it. An\u2019 seea when t\u2019 morning cam, wa gat up a\n bit seeaner, an\u2019 set off foor Guisborough Station\u2014ma, Sairy Jane, an\u2019\n Jimmey, an\u2019 oor John, wi\u2019 t\u2019 ten pund \u2019at mah aunt Martha \u2019ed left uz\n ti buy a bit o\u2019 betterly furniter wi\u2019.\n\n Weel, thoo knaws, when wa gat ti t\u2019 station, oho\u2014oo! Ah think \u2019at\n Ah nivver war i\u2019 sike a hubbleshoe i\u2019 all mah leyfe. Ah sed ti\n Sairy Jane, \u2018Noo, thoo mun tak ho\u2019d, an\u2019 keep ho\u2019d o\u2019 thi feyther\u2019s\n coat-taal; an\u2019 thoo, Jimmey, lig ho\u2019d o\u2019 mah sket, an\u2019 see \u2019at nowther\n on ya leeaves go whahl wa\u2019re all safely inti t\u2019 carridge.\u2019 Wa \u2019ed\n nobbut been studden that waay hauf a minit, when oor Sairy Jane let\n oot t\u2019 gertest skrike \u2019at Ah\u2019ve ivver heeard; an\u2019 when Ah leeaked\n roond, if sha warn\u2019t i\u2019 the cruel clutch ov a bobby. \u2018Noo, then,\u2019 sez\n Ah, \u2018what\u2019s up wi\u2019 t\u2019 lass?\u2019\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019ve catched her i\u2019 t\u2019 act,\u2019 sez he.\n\n \u2018I\u2019 t\u2019 act o\u2019 what?\u2019 sez Ah.\n\n \u2018O\u2019 picking this chap\u2019s pocket,\u2019 sez he.\n\n \u2018Thoo gert dunderknowle!\u2019 sez Ah. \u2018Thoo\u2019s deean nowt o\u2019 t\u2019 sooart;\n that\u2019s her feyther, an\u2019 sha\u2019s nobbut ho\u2019ding on tiv his coaat-taals,\n seea ez sha dizn\u2019t git hersen lost amang all this thrang. Leeave\n lowse, an\u2019 let her gan, an\u2019 mak a shift ti leet o\u2019 sumbody \u2019at\u2019s up\n ti neea good; or else thoo\u2019ll finnd thysen i\u2019 t\u2019 wrang box, Ah can\n tell tha.\u2019 An\u2019 wi\u2019 that, Ah marched all t\u2019 three on \u2019em inti t\u2019 traan,\n which \u2019ed just puff\u2019d itsen inti t\u2019 station. Sitting reet i\u2019 t\u2019 front\n o\u2019 ma, war a young chap wiv a rug ower his knees, potching three cards\n aboot maist miracklous leyke.\n\n \u2018What are ya trying foor ti deea?\u2019 sez Ah.\n\n \u2018Whya, it\u2019s a trick,\u2019 sez he.\n\n \u2018Whya,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018Ah deean\u2019t see mich ov a trick i\u2019 owt \u2019at ya\u2019ve deean\n up ti noo; onny bit baan could hann\u2019l three cards i\u2019 that road. What\n is \u2019t ya\u2019re efter?\u2019\n\n \u2018Whya,\u2019 sez he, \u2018it\u2019s a trick \u2019at Ah seed a chap deeaing yesterdaa,\n bud Ah\u2019s nut weel up in \u2019t yet. Ah\u2019s trying ti thraw \u2019em doon seea ez\n ya weean\u2019t ken wheer t\u2019 pictur-card tumm\u2019ls.\u2019\n\n \u2018Oha, that\u2019s it, is\u2019t?\u2019 sez Ah. An\u2019 then Ah sez, \u2018Ah\u2019ll tell tha what,\n thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti lig \u2019em doon vastly different ti what thoo \u2019ez deean\n up ti noo, afoor thoo\u2019ll mannish ti deea \u2019t, foor Ah\u2019ve seen wheer\n it\u2019s tumm\u2019l\u2019d ivvery tahm.\u2019\n\n \u2018Maist leykely,\u2019 sez he; \u2018bud ya knaw it\u2019s ez Ah sed\u2014Ah\u2019s nut t\u2019\n maaster on\u2019t yet.\u2019\n\n \u2018Neea,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018Ah seear thoo isn\u2019t.\u2019\n\n \u2018Whya, noo,\u2019 sez he, chucking \u2019em doon agaan, \u2018which on \u2019em\u2019s t\u2019\n pictur-card this tahm?\u2019\n\n \u2018T\u2019 far ended!\u2019 sez Ah. An\u2019 Ah lifted it up, an\u2019 o\u2019 course it war,\n \u2019coz Ah\u2019d seen it tumm\u2019l theer.\n\n \u2018Aye, ya\u2019ve mannished it this tahm,\u2019 sez he.\n\n \u2018Aye, an\u2019 ivvery uther tahm!\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018if ta caan\u2019t deea \u2019t neea\n better \u2019an that!\u2019\n\n \u2018Whya, noo then,\u2019 sez he, chucking \u2019em doon agaan. \u2018Deean\u2019t touch \u2019em,\n bud tell uz which on \u2019em is \u2019t this tahm?\u2019\n\n \u2018T\u2019 middle yan!\u2019 sez Ah, ez bou\u2019d ez brass.\n\n \u2018Whya!\u2019 sez he, \u2018mebbe it is. Ah deean\u2019t knaw neea mair \u2019an what ya\n deea, but Ah\u2019s yan o\u2019 them \u2019at backs mah fancy, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll bet yer a\n suverin \u2019at it\u2019s nut it.\u2019\n\n \u2018Young man!\u2019 sez Ah, solembly, \u2018diz yowr muther knaw \u2019at ya cum\u2019d\n awaay wiv a suverin, foor ya\u2019re gahin\u2019 on iv a straange leykely way\n foor lossing on \u2019t.\u2019\n\n \u2018Nivver ya mahnd,\u2019 sez he; \u2018Ah\u2019ll bet a suverin \u2019at it\u2019s nut it. Ah\u2019ve\n gitten mah idea, an\u2019 ya\u2019ve gitten yowrs\u2014will ya bet?\u2019\n\n \u2018Well!\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018Ah deean\u2019t ho\u2019d wi\u2019 betting, an\u2019 Ah nivver at neea\n tahm did; bud if so be ez hoo an au\u2019d boddy leyke mysen can larn ya\n hoo easy a suverin can be slithered awaay by backing up sike consate\n ez \u2019ez gitten ho\u2019d o\u2019 ya, whya, here gans.\u2019 An\u2019 Ah pulled mah pess[83]\n oot, teeak t\u2019 on\u2019y suverin \u2019at Ah \u2019ed, and handed it tiv a chap ez\n war sitting byv his sahd; t\u2019 young chap handed him yan an\u2019 all, an\u2019\n then Ah lifted t\u2019 card up, an\u2019\u2014oho\u2014\u2014 o! Ah nivver war seea capped iv\n all mah leyfe\u2014it warn\u2019t it. Ah trimm\u2019l\u2019d an\u2019 dithered fra t\u2019 top ti\n t\u2019 boddum o\u2019 ma; Ah felt just ez if mah back war stuffed wiv aspen\n leeaves.\n\n \u2018John!\u2019 Ah gasped, \u2018it\u2019s a swinn\u2019l, it\u2019s a swinn\u2019l; keep thi han\u2019 i\u2019\n thi pocket, or thoo\u2019ll be lossing t\u2019 ten pund \u2019at mah aunt Martha\n left uz ti buy a bit o\u2019 betterly furniter wi\u2019. An\u2019 deean\u2019t let on \u2019at\n thoo \u2019ez ten pund aboot tha,\u2019 sez Ah, foorgitting \u2019at Ah war letting\n ivvery yan on \u2019em i\u2019 t\u2019 carridge knaw \u2019at he\u2019d gitten seea mich on\n him. Hooivver, Ah hedn\u2019t neea tahm ti saay owt else, foor just then\n wa gat ti Stockton, an\u2019 Ah think ther war a warse hubbleshoe on i\u2019\n Stockton Station \u2019an what ther war i\u2019 Guisborough. \u2018Noo, then!\u2019 sez\n Ah tiv a gert fat woman \u2019at cam thrussin\u2019 up agaan ma, \u2018deean\u2019t ya\n cum shuvvin\u2019 ma aboot i\u2019 that road.\u2019 \u2018Noo, then, Victoria!\u2019 sez sha,\n \u2018what\u2019s t\u2019 matter wi\u2019 thoo?\u2019 \u2018Ah\u2019s nut Victoria!\u2019 sez Ah; an\u2019 leeak\n ya, Ah deean\u2019t think sha thowt \u2019at Ah war. Just ez Ah sed that, ther\n war anuther woman stood hersen reet on t\u2019 top o\u2019 mah pet bunion. \u2018Oh\n deeary ma, missus!\u2019 Ah skriked oot, \u2018Ah cannut bahd this, hooivver,\n ya\u2019re laaming ma sadly; deea tak yer foot off.\u2019 \u2018Noo, then,\u2019 sez she,\n \u2019t\u2019 station isn\u2019t yowrs!\u2019 \u2018Neea,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018bud t\u2019 bunion is.\u2019 An\u2019\n wi\u2019 that Ah tell\u2019d John an\u2019 t\u2019 childer ti follow cleease at t\u2019 back\n o\u2019 ma, an\u2019 Ah boudly pushed mah waay oot o\u2019 t\u2019 station. Neea seeaner\n \u2019ed wa gitten ootsahd, \u2019an Ah seed clagg\u2019d on a wall a gert big bill,\n wi\u2019 theease we\u2019ds printed on \u2019t, \u2018BEWARE O\u2019 PICKPOCKETS.\u2019 An\u2019 what\n d\u2019ye think? Ah felt i\u2019 mah pocket, an\u2019 mah pess, eight-an\u2019-six, an\u2019\n mah railway ticket \u2019ed all geean, geean ez cleean ez a whistle. Ah\n didn\u2019t tell John; Ah just sed, \u2018Thoo mun keep thi han\u2019 i\u2019 thi pocket,\n or else sumbody \u2019ll be takking t\u2019 ten pund fra tha, if thoo dizn\u2019t\n mahnd.\u2019 He sez ti ma, \u2018Tha weean\u2019t git nowt oot o\u2019 mah pockets, if\n tha deea shuv ther han\u2019s in.\u2019 Ah sez, \u2018Thoo dizn\u2019t meean ti saay \u2019at\n tha\u2019ve gitten \u2019t fra tha alriddy, diz ta?\u2019 \u2018Neea,\u2019 sez he, \u2018Ah \u2019evn\u2019t\n gitten t\u2019 brass i\u2019 mah pocket\u2014Ah\u2019ve putten \u2019t i\u2019 mah hat.\u2019 An\u2019 then\n Ah notished \u2019at he \u2019ed his hancutcher tied ower his hat an\u2019 unner his\n chin, leeaking foor all t\u2019 wo\u2019lld leyke yan \u2019at war iv an extremity\n wi\u2019 t\u2019 teeth wark; bud Ah thowt it war t\u2019 capitalist idea \u2019at\n onnyboddy could \u2019a\u2019e thowt on. Ah didn\u2019t saay seea tiv him, acoz if\n yer praise t\u2019 men tha seean git past thersens\u2014bud ya knaw that bidoot\n ma telling ya. Hooivver, Ah did wish \u2019at Ah\u2019d putten mah pess i\u2019 mah\n bonnet, an\u2019 then Ah s\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e lost it an\u2019 all \u2019at war iv it.\n \u2018It\u2019ll be t\u2019 best,\u2019 Ah sez, \u2018foor uz ti finnd wa waays ti t\u2019 course,\n git summat ti eat, see a race, buy t\u2019 furniter, an\u2019 gan yam ageean.\u2019\n Noo, hoo can Ah picter ti tha a race-course? If yer can \u2019magine all t\u2019\n rackapelts an\u2019 raggamuffins gedered tigither i\u2019 yah crood, shooting\n men an\u2019 screeaming women, wi\u2019 rows o\u2019 carridges filled wi\u2019 lords an\u2019\n ladies stuffing thersens wi\u2019 pies an\u2019 pop, ya can \u2019ev summat ov a idea\n what a race-course is leyke. Whahl wa war stannin\u2019 fair capped wi\u2019\n t\u2019 carryings on, whau s\u2019u\u2019d cum up bud t\u2019 varra seeam young chap \u2019at\n Ah\u2019d lost t\u2019 pund teea i\u2019 t\u2019 carridge. \u2018Ah\u2019s glad \u2019at Ah\u2019ve tumm\u2019l\u2019d\n across ya ageean,\u2019 sez he. \u2018Mebbe ya may be,\u2019 sez Ah. \u2018Ya see, ya\n wan t\u2019 pund an\u2019 Ah lost it, an\u2019 that maks all t\u2019 difference i\u2019 being\n glad ti see onnybody.\u2019 \u2018Aye, bud that\u2019s nut it; Ah\u2019ve gitten a gert\n frien\u2019 o\u2019 yer muther\u2019s wi\u2019 ma,\u2019 sez he. \u2018Oh, indeed,\u2019 sez Ah. \u2018An\u2019\n whau may that be?\u2019 \u2018This is the gentleman,\u2019 sez he; \u2018let ma mak him\n knawn ti ya. This is Lord Swin\u2019lton, whau knew yer muther varra weel.\u2019\n \u2018Ah didn\u2019t knaw \u2019at mah muther ivver war acquainted wiv a lord,\u2019 sez\n Ah, leeaking t\u2019 chap ower; bud ther war neea doot aboot his being\n a lord\u2014Ah seed that t\u2019 minit Ah clapped mah een on him. Oh yes,\n he war all there\u2014ulster, eye-glass, di\u2019mon\u2019 pin, an\u2019 ivverything.\n Ther\u2019s no mistakking a lord when ya see yan, tha\u2019re good eneeaf ti\n challenge. \u2018This is yer husband?\u2019 sez his lordship, leeaking at John.\n \u2018Got t\u2019 feeace-ache?\u2019 sez he. \u2018Noa, mah lord,\u2019 sez Ah, \u2018it\u2019s nut t\u2019\n feeace-ache \u2019at he\u2019s suffering fra. It\u2019s leyke this, doan\u2019t yer see,\n mah lord: mah aunt Martha left us ten pund ti buy a bit o\u2019 betterly\n furniter wi\u2019, an\u2019 seea ez neeabody \u2019ll finnd oot wheer it is, he\u2019s\n tied it up iv his hat, foor safety leyke, ez a body might saay, ez ya\n may term it so ti speeak.\u2019\n\n \u2018An\u2019 a varra good plan an\u2019 all,\u2019 sez he.\n\n Just at that minit t\u2019 young chap whau Ah\u2019d lost t\u2019 pund teea teeak a\n fit, an\u2019 fell wiv his han\u2019s roond oor John\u2019s neck, an\u2019 doon tha baith\n went tigither, an\u2019 ez tha tumm\u2019l\u2019d on ti t\u2019 grand, Lord Swin\u2019lton\n swiped oor John\u2019s hat off wiv his stick, an\u2019 next minit Sairey Jane\n beald oot, \u2018Oha, muther! Lord Swin\u2019lton\u2019s off wi\u2019 mah feyther\u2019s hat,\n an\u2019 it\u2019s gitten t\u2019 ten pund in \u2019t.\u2019 Ah didn\u2019t stop ti think, thoo\n knaws, bud just off efter him ez hard ez ivver Ah could gan. Ah heard\n a man saay \u2019at he\u2019d nivver seen a woman leg it leyke what Ah did. Ah\n s\u2019u\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e catch\u2019d him an\u2019 all, bud just when Ah war gahin\u2019 ti click\n ho\u2019d ov his coat taals, Ah catched mah foot iv a tent-roap, an\u2019 afoor\n Ah knew wheer Ah war, Ah war laid wi\u2019 mah heead iv a box o\u2019 cokernuts.\n \u2018Noo, then,\u2019 shooted t\u2019 man \u2019at awn\u2019d \u2019em, \u2018cum oot o\u2019 that. Deean\u2019t\n ya cum cracking mah cokernuts, an\u2019 sucking t\u2019 milk oot; ther\u2019s neea\n free sucks here.\u2019 Ah gat up, an\u2019 Ah let that man \u2019ev t\u2019 length o\u2019 mah\n tunge\u2014Lord Swin\u2019lton \u2019ed ta\u2019en hissel off by that tahm. Ther war nowt\n else for \u2019t bud ti git wersens heeam ez best wa could. An\u2019 when Ah\u2019d\n putten Sairey Jane an\u2019 Jimmy ti bed, Ah sed tiv oor John, Ah sez,\n \u2018Noo, John, Ah deean\u2019t want ti upbraad tha\u2014it\u2019s been a sad daay foor\n uz\u2014bud efter all\u2019s sed an\u2019 deean, thoo owt ti be asham\u2019d o\u2019 thisel\n foor ivver letting a woman \u2019tice tha inti takking her ti sikan a\n blackguardy pleeace ez Stockton Races.\n\nNOTE.\u2014Wensleydale and Swaledale readers will find it both interesting\nand instructive to compare the above sketch, which is given in the\nClevelandic speech, with the folk-speech as spoken in their own\ndale, which to a slight degree in pronunciation tends toward that of\nLancashire in one direction and to that of Cumberland and Westmoreland\nin the other. The two latter, however, on all counts, bear a closer\nrelationship to our North Riding speech than either that of the West\nRiding or South Lancashire.\n\nIt must always be borne in mind that the dialect along the north-east\ncoast of Yorkshire approaches nearer to its original source than that\nof any other, and especially so may this be said of Cleveland.\n\n\n A HUNDERD YEARS HENCE.\n [_Date about 1800._]\n\n\n A hunderd years hence\n What a chaange \u2019ll be maade\n I\u2019 politics, morals, religion an\u2019 traade.\n I\u2019 statesmen whau wrang\u2019l\n Or rahd upo\u2019 t\u2019 fence\n Maist things \u2019ll be diff\u2019rent\n A hunderd years hence.\n\n T\u2019 heeads ov oor lasses\n Sike changes \u2019ll show;\n It\u2019s nut ov ther mahnds\n \u2018At wa aim ti speeak noo,\n Bud ov three-bishel bonnets,\n Ther gypsies an\u2019 flats,\n Ther scoops, navarinoes,\n Ti snug lahtle hats\n\n Wi\u2019 furs an\u2019 wi\u2019 ribbons,\n Wi\u2019 feathers an\u2019 flooers,\n Sum feshioned byv artists\n An\u2019 sum plucked fra t\u2019 booers.\n Bud heeads \u2019ll be chaang\u2019d teea,\n Far larnt an\u2019 i\u2019 sense,\n Afoor wa\u2019 \u2018ev coonted\n A hunderd years hence.\n\n Oor laws \u2019ll be then\n Nivver maade, mun, by feeals,\n An\u2019 prisons Ah aim\n \u2018Ll be to\u2019n\u2019d inti skeeals;\n Foor t\u2019 pleasurs o\u2019 vice\n Are a feealish pretence,\n Bud Ah doot if tha\u2019ll awn it\n A hunderd years hence.\n\n Noo vice \u2019ll be kenn\u2019d,\n When at last fau\u2019k awakken,\n Ti be t\u2019 warst kind o\u2019 daftness,\n Or else Ah \u2019s mistakken.\n T\u2019 lawyers an\u2019 t\u2019 doctors\n And t\u2019 parsons wi\u2019 sense\n Will \u2019ev altered ther waays\n A hunderd years hence.\n\n An\u2019 you an\u2019 me, reader,\n Wheer s\u2019all wa be fund?\u2014\n It\u2019s wer souls \u2019at Ah meean,\n Nut wer bodies i\u2019 t\u2019 grund.\n S\u2019all wa be wheer it\u2019s joy,\n Or i\u2019 sorrow intense?\n Wa s\u2019all all on uz knaw\n A hunderd years hence.\n _Anon._\n\n\n THE SWEEPER AN\u2019 THIEVES.\n\n BY D. LEWIS.\n [_Date about 1800-15. Published at Bedale._]\n\n\n A sweeper\u2019s lad war late o\u2019 t\u2019 neet,\n His slaape-shod shoon \u2019ed leeam\u2019d his feet;\n He call\u2019d ti see a good au\u2019d deeam\n \u2018At monny a tahm \u2019ed trigg\u2019d his wame[84]\n (Foor he war then fahve mile fra yam).\n He ax\u2019d i\u2019 t\u2019 lair[85] ti let him sleep,\n An\u2019 he\u2019d t\u2019 next daay the\u2019r chim\u2019lies sweep.\n Tha supper\u2019d him weel wi\u2019 country fare,\n Then show\u2019d him tul his hoal i\u2019 t\u2019 lair.\n He crept intul his streahy[86] bed,\n His pooak o\u2019 seeat[87] beneath his heead;\n He war content, ner cared a pin,\n An\u2019 his good frien\u2019 then lock\u2019d him in.\n T\u2019 lair fra t\u2019 hoos a larl piece stood,\n Atween \u2019em grew a lahtle wood.\n Aboot midneet, ur nigher morn,\n Tweea rogues brak in ti steeal ther corn.\n \u2018Eving a leet i\u2019 lantern dark,\n Tha seean ti winder fell ti wark;\n An\u2019 wishing tha\u2019d a lad ti fill,\n Young brush (wheea yet \u2019ed ligg\u2019d quite still),\n Thinkin\u2019 \u2018at t\u2019 men belang\u2019d ti t\u2019 hoos,\n An\u2019 that he noo mud be ov ewse,\n Jump\u2019d doon directly on ti t\u2019 fleear,\n An\u2019 t\u2019 thieves then baith ran oot o\u2019 t\u2019 deear,\n An\u2019 stopp\u2019d at nowther thin na thick\u2014\n Fully tha aim\u2019d it war Au\u2019d Nick.\n T\u2019 sweeper lad then ran reet seean\n Ti t\u2019 hoos, an\u2019 tell\u2019d \u2019em what war deean.\n Maister an\u2019 men then quickly raase,\n An\u2019 ran ti t\u2019 lair wi\u2019 hauf ther clais[88];\n Tweea hosses, secks, an\u2019 leet tha fand,\n Which \u2019ed been left by t\u2019 thievish band.\n Theease all roond t\u2019 countrysahd tha cry\u2019d,\n Bud nut an awner e\u2019er apply\u2019d,\n Foor neean dast t\u2019 hosses awn na t\u2019 secks,\n Tha war seea freeten\u2019d o\u2019 ther necks.\n Yah hoss an\u2019 seck war judged ez t\u2019 sweeper\u2019s share,\n Acoz he\u2019d kept baith t\u2019 farmer\u2019s corn an\u2019 lair.\n\n\nThe following note is appended to the original:\u2014\u2018This tale is founded\non fact, and happened at Leeming Lane a few years ago.\u2019\n\nThe student will find the above and four following pieces interesting,\nas showing the alteration in the pronunciation of certain words which\nhas locally taken place during the last eighty years in the Bedale\ndistrict.\n\n\n DARBY AN\u2019 JOAN AN\u2019 THEIR DAUGHTER NELL.\n\n A DIALOGUE BY W. HIRD.\n [_Date 1800-15. Published at Bedale._]\n\n\n _Darby._\n\n Joan! Ah noo \u2019ev thowt seea mich about it,\n Ah seearly nivver mair s\u2019all doot it;\n At moorn an\u2019 neet, an\u2019 neet an\u2019 moorn,\n Ah sumtahms wish Ah\u2019d ne\u2019er been born.\n\n _Joan._\n\n Whya, Darby, prethee, let ma see,\n Ah whoap it\u2019s nowt \u2019at\u2019s bad o\u2019 me.\n\n _Darby._\n\n Thee, Joan! neea, marry, neea sike thing.\n Think bad o\u2019 thee! \u2019twad be a sin.\n Ah think, indeed, Ah war a feeal\n Ti send oor Nell ti t\u2019 Boordin\u2019-skeeal.\n Sike mauky feeals ez them, Ah think,\n \u2018Ev filled her heead wi\u2019 prahd an\u2019 stink,\n Foor, sin\u2019 sha went, sha\u2019s grown seea fine,\n Sha caan\u2019t deea nowt wi\u2019oot her wine,\n When t\u2019 dinner\u2019s owered, an\u2019 sha\u2019s seea neyce,\n Sha weean\u2019t eat puddin\u2019 meead o\u2019 rice,\n Thoff when at skeeal an\u2019 put ti t\u2019 pinch,\n Fra sike good stuff sha\u2019d nivver flinch.\n An\u2019 all her notions are seea raased,\n It\u2019s fit ti to\u2019n her feyther crazed,\n Fer leyke a toon wench, Ah declare,\n Sha walks abroad wi\u2019 breasts all bare\u2014\n To show her shoon, an\u2019 hosen clocked,\n Sha lifts her sket whahl Ah\u2019s fair shocked;\n Nut \u2019at Ah care aboot t\u2019 fond lass,\n Neea mair \u2019an this\u2014it taks mah brass,\n An\u2019 wiv her fine lang labbering tail,\n Sha\u2019ll git her fathther inti jail.\n\n _Joan._\n\n Whya, Darby, bud thoo knaws ther \u2019s t\u2019 Squire,\n An\u2019 he, mayhap, will Nell admire,\n An\u2019 efter all ther noise an\u2019 strife,\n Thoo knaws t\u2019 young Squire he wants a weyfe.\n Then let \u2019s be seear ti mak her smairt,\n An\u2019 teeach her hoo ti plaay her pairt;\n Sha seean \u2019ll mak him towards her leean,\n An\u2019 then thoo knaws \u2019at t\u2019 wark is deean.\n Ez fer her breasts an\u2019 bare at t\u2019 airms,\n It\u2019s feshion noo ti show yan\u2019s chairms.\n Men leyke ti knaw, Ah\u2019ve heeard it sed,\n What\u2019s real an\u2019 fause afoor they wed;\n Hoose\u2019er, Ah\u2019ll try an\u2019 deea mah best,\n An\u2019 leeave ti thee ti mannish t\u2019 rest.\n\n _Darby._\n\n Bud, then, suppooase oor plot s\u2019u\u2019d fail,\n An\u2019 me foor debt be sent ti jail,\n Poor Nell wad nivver be a weyfe,\n An\u2019 \u2018ev ti laabur all her leyfe;\n Foor efter sha\u2019s seea browten up,\n Hoo can sha ivver bahd ti stoop\n Ti gan ti sarvice, ur ti spin,\n Or ivver ti deea onnything?\n\n _Joan._\n\n Whya, Darby, leeave it all ti me,\n Ah\u2019ll mannish \u2019t weel, an\u2019 that thoo\u2019ll see;\n Ah\u2019ll be her pilot all mah leyfe,\n An\u2019 mak her sum rich farmer\u2019s weyfe.\n Then ez tha gan ti chetch, doon t\u2019 toon,\n Ah\u2019s seear thoo\u2019ll saay, \u2018Weel deean, oor Joan.\u2019\n\n\n T\u2019 DEEATH OV AWD DEEASY.\n\n AN ECLOGUE.\n\n GEOORGY AND ROBIN.\n [_Date about 1800._]\n\n\n _Geoorgy._\n\n Weel met, good Robin. Seed ya my au\u2019d meer?\n Ah\u2019ve laated her an hoor i\u2019 t\u2019 looaning here,\n Bud hoosumivver, spite ov all mah care,\n Ah caan\u2019t spy her, nowther heead na hair.\n\n _Robin._\n\n Whah, Geoorgy, Ah\u2019ve ti tell ya dowly news,\n Sike ez varra leyke \u2019ll mak ya muse.\n Ah just this minit left yer poor au\u2019d tike,\n Deead ez a steean, i\u2019 Johnny Dobson\u2019s dyke.\n\n _Geoorgy._\n\n Wheer! What\u2019s that, Robin? Tell uz ower agaan.\n Thoo\u2019s jokin\u2019\u2014ur ya\u2019ve mebbe been mistaan.\n\n _Robin._\n\n Neea, marry, Geoorgy; Ah\u2019s seear Ah caan\u2019t be wrang.\n Ya knaw Ah\u2019ve kenn\u2019d au\u2019d Deeasy noo seea lang.\n Her breead-ratch\u2019d feeace, an\u2019 tweea white hinder legs\n Preeav\u2019d it war her, as seear ez eggs is eggs.\n\n _Geoorgy._\n\n Poor thing! What, deead then? \u2019ed sha ligg\u2019d theer lang?\n Wheeraboot is sha? Robin, will ta gan?\n\n _Robin._\n\n Ah care nut, Geoorgy; Ah \u2019a\u2019en\u2019t mich ti deea\u2014\n A good hoor\u2019s laabor, or mayhappen tweea;\n Bud ez Ah nivver leyke ti hing behinnd\n When Ah[89] can deea a kahndness tiv a frinnd,\n An Ah[89] can help ya wi\u2019 mah hand or teeam\n Ah\u2019ll help ti skin her, ur t\u2019 fetch her heeam.\n\n _Geoorgy._\n\n Thank ya, good Robin. Ah caan\u2019t think, belike,\n Hoo t\u2019 poor au\u2019d creature tumm\u2019l\u2019d inti t\u2019 dyke.\n\n _Robin._\n\n Ya mahnd, sha\u2019d fun hersel just boon ti dee,\n An\u2019 seea laid doon byv t\u2019 sahd (ez \u2019t seeams ti me),\n An\u2019 when sha felt, mun, t\u2019 paans o\u2019 deeath wi\u2019in,\n Sha stakker\u2019d, tumm\u2019l\u2019d, fick\u2019d, then toupled in.\n\n _Geoorgy._\n\n Maist leykly\u2014bud\u2014what, war sha deead ootreet\n When fo\u2019st thoo fand her, when ta gat t\u2019 fo\u2019st seet?\n\n _Robin._\n\n Ya s\u2019 hear, ez Ah war gahin doon t\u2019 looan, Ah spy\u2019d\n A scoore or mair o\u2019 creeaks byv t\u2019 gutter sahd,\n All seea thrang, hoppin\u2019 in an\u2019 hoppin\u2019 oot,\n Ah wunder\u2019d what i\u2019 t\u2019 wo\u2019lld tha war aboot.\n Ah leeaks, an\u2019 then Ah sees t\u2019 au\u2019d yode[90] leead,\n Gaspin\u2019 an\u2019 pantin\u2019 sair, an\u2019 ommaist deead.\n An\u2019 ez tha pick\u2019d it een, an\u2019 pick\u2019d ageean,\n It just could lift it leg, an\u2019 give a greean;\n Bud when Ah fand au\u2019d Deeasy war ther prey,\n Ah wav\u2019d mah hat, an\u2019 shoo\u2019d \u2019em all awaay.\n Poor Deeas\u2019! Ya mahnd, sha \u2019s noo worn fairly oot,\n Sha\u2019s lang been quite hardset ti traail aboot\u2014\n Bud yonder, Geoorgy, leeak ya, wheer sha\u2019s leead,\n An\u2019 tweea \u2019r three nanpies chatt\u2019rin\u2019 ower her heead.\n\n _Geoorgy._\n\n Hey, marry! This Ah nivver wished ti see;\n Sha\u2019s been seea good\u2014seea trew a frinnd ti me.\n An\u2019 \u2018ez ta cum\u2019d ti this, mah poor au\u2019d meer?\n Thoo\u2019s been a trusty sarvant monny a yeear;\n An\u2019 better treeatment thoo \u2019s desarv\u2019d fra me,\n \u2018An thus neglected iv a dyke ti dee.\n Monny a good day\u2019s wark wa\u2019ve wrowt tigither,\n An\u2019 bodden monny a blast o\u2019 wind an\u2019 weather;\n Monny a lang dree mahle, ower moss an\u2019 moor,\n An\u2019 monny a hill an\u2019 deeal wa\u2019ve toddled ower.\n Bud noo, wae\u2019st[91] me! thoo\u2019ll nivver trot neea mair,\n Ti nowther kirk, na market, spoort, na fair;\n An\u2019 noo foor t\u2019 futur\u2019, thoff Ah\u2019s au\u2019d an\u2019 leeam,\n Ah s\u2019all be forced ti walk, ur stay at heeam.\n Neea mair thoo\u2019ll bring ma cooals fra Blakey-Broo,\n Ur sticks fra t\u2019 wood\u2014Ah s\u2019 \u2018a\u2019e ti drag \u2019em noo.\n Ma poor au\u2019d Deeas\u2019! afoor Ah dig thi greeave,\n Thi weel-worn shoon Ah will foor keepseeaks seeave;\n Thi hide, poor lass! Ah\u2019ll \u2019ev it tann\u2019d wi care,\n \u2018T\u2019ll mak a cover ti mah au\u2019d airm-cheer,\n An\u2019 pairt an appron foor mah weyfe ti weear\n When cardin\u2019 woul ur weshin\u2019 t\u2019 parlour fleear.\n Deep i\u2019 t\u2019 cau\u2019d yeth Ah will thi carcase pleeace,\n \u2018At thi poor beeans maay lig an\u2019 rist i\u2019 peeace;\n Deep i\u2019 t\u2019 cau\u2019d yeth, \u2019at t\u2019 dogs mayn\u2019t scrat tha oot,\n An\u2019 rahve thi flesh an\u2019 trail thi beeans aboot.\n Thoo \u2019s been seea faithful foor seea lang ti me,\n Thoo s\u2019annot at thi deeath neglected be.\n Seldom a Christian \u2019at yan noo can finnd,\n Wad be mair trusty ur mair trew a frinnd.\n _Anon._\n\n\n THE INVASION.\n\n AN ECLOGUE.\n [_Date_ 1810.]\n\n\n A wanton wether had disclaimed its bonds\n \u2018At kept him cleease wivin Au\u2019d Willie\u2019s grunds,\n Brakt thruff t\u2019 hedge an\u2019 wander\u2019d far astraay,\n He kenn\u2019d nut whither, alang t\u2019 au\u2019d to\u2019npik waay.\n Ez Willie wrowt wi\u2019 neea larl care\n T\u2019 fence wi\u2019 stake an\u2019 thorns t\u2019 gap ti repair,\n His neighbour Roger, heeam fra t\u2019 fair reto\u2019n\u2019d,\n Then cam i\u2019 seet, i\u2019 rahding graith[92] weel don\u2019d[93],\n Wheea seean ez Willy, fast drawing nigh he spies,\n Thus tiv his frinnd fra t\u2019 back o\u2019 t\u2019 hedge he cries.\n\n _Willy._\n\n Noo, then; what, Roger! \u2018 ya been ti t\u2019 fair?\n Hoo gans things? Maad ya onny bargaans theer?\n\n _Roger._\n\n Ah knaw nut, Willy, things deean\u2019t leeak ower weel;\n Coorn sattles fast, thoff beeas \u2019ll fetch a deeal.\n Ti sell t\u2019 au\u2019d intak barley, Ah desaund[94],\n Bud c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t git a bid ti suit mah mahnd[95].\n What wi\u2019 rack rents, an\u2019 sike a want o\u2019 traad,\n Ah knawn\u2019t hoo yan\u2019s ti git yan\u2019s landloord paad;\n Mairower an\u2019 that, tha saay i\u2019 t\u2019 spring o\u2019 t\u2019 year\n T\u2019 Franch is intarmin\u2019d[96] ti \u2019tack uz here.\n\n _Willy._\n\n Yea, mun! What are tha cummin\u2019 hither foor?\n Depend on \u2019t, they\u2019d far better nivver stor.\n\n _Roger._\n\n True, Willy\u2014nobbut Inglishmen \u2019ll stand\n By yan anuther; o\u2019 ther awn good land\n Tha\u2019ll nivver suffer, Ah s\u2019 be bun ti saay,\n T\u2019 Franchmen ti tak a sing\u2019l sheep awaay;\n Feightin\u2019 foor heeam upo\u2019 ther awn fair field,\n All t\u2019 poo\u2019r o\u2019 France c\u2019u\u2019d nivver mak \u2019em yield.\n\n _Willy._\n\n Whya, seear yan cannot think, when put ti t\u2019 pinch,\n \u2018At onny Inglishmen \u2019ll iwer flinch.\n If t\u2019 Franch deea cum, wha, Roger, Ah\u2019ll be hang\u2019d,\n An tha deean\u2019t git thersens reet soondly bang\u2019d,\n Ah can\u2019t bud think\u2014thoff Ah may be misteean\u2014\n Nut monny on \u2019em \u2019ll git back ageean.\n\n _Roger._\n\n Ah think nut, Willy; bud sum fau\u2019k \u2019ll say\n Oor Inglish fleet let t\u2019 Franch ships git awaay\n When tha war laid\u2014thoo knaws\u2014i\u2019 Bantry Bay,\n \u2018At tha c\u2019u\u2019d nivver all \u2019a\u2019e gi\u2019en \u2019em t\u2019 slip,\n Bud t\u2019 Inglish wanted nut ti tak a ship.\n\n _Willy._\n\n Eah! that \u2019s all lees!\n\n _Roger._\n\n Ah dunnot saay it\u2019s trew,\n It\u2019s all unknawn ti sike ez me an\u2019 yow.\n Hoo deea wa knaw when t\u2019 fleets deea reet ur wrang?\n Ah whooap it \u2019s all on \u2019t fause[97]\u2014bud seea talks gan.\n Hoosivver, this Ah knaw, \u2019at when tha pleease,\n Oor sailors allus beeat \u2019em upo\u2019 t\u2019 seeas,\n An\u2019 if tha nobbut sharply leeak aboot,\n Tha needn\u2019t let a sing\u2019l ship cum oot;\n At leeast, tha\u2019ll drub \u2019em weel, I dunnot fear,\n An\u2019 keep \u2019em fairly off fra landing here.\n\n _Willy._\n\n Ah whooap seea, Roger; bud an\u2019 if tha deea\n Cum ower, Ah then s\u2019all sharpen mah au\u2019d leea[98].\n What thoff Ah can bud ov a lahtle boast,\n Ya knaw yan wadn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e that lahtle lost.\n Ah s\u2019 send oor Molly an\u2019 all t\u2019 bairns awaay,\n An\u2019 Ah mysen \u2019ll byv t\u2019 au\u2019d yamsteead staay.\n Ah\u2019ll feight, if need; an\u2019 if Ah fall, wha, then\n Ah s\u2019 suffer all t\u2019 warst mishap mysen.\n War Ah bud seear my weyfe an\u2019 bairns war seeaf,\n Ah then s\u2019u\u2019d be ti dee content eneeaf.\n\n _Roger._\n\n Reet, Willy, mun! What an tha put uz teea \u2019t,\n Ah will mysen put forrad mah best feeat;\n What thoff Ah \u2019s au\u2019d, Ah \u2019s nut seea easily scar\u2019d\u2014\n On his awn middin, an au\u2019d cock feights hard.\n Tha saay a Franchman \u2019s to\u2019n\u2019d a different man,\n A braver, better sojer ten ti yan;\n Bud let t\u2019 Franch be to\u2019n\u2019d ti what he will,\n Tha\u2019ll finnd \u2019at Inglishmen are Inglish still\u2014\n O\u2019 ther awn grund tha\u2019ll nowther flinch na flee,\n Tha\u2019ll owther conger, or tha\u2019ll bravely dee.\n _Anon._\n\n\n COMIC SONG.\n\n A BEAUTIFUL BOY.\n [_Date about 1750._]\n\n\n \u2018Twar yance on a tahm, aboot six i\u2019 t\u2019 morn,\n When fo\u2019st Ah saw leet\u2014Ah meean, Ah war born.\n Ther war t\u2019 doctor an\u2019 t\u2019 nuss, an\u2019 a gert monny mair,\n Bud neean on \u2019em \u2019ed seen sike a babby afoor.\n Ah\u2019d t\u2019 neease o\u2019 mah dad, an\u2019 t\u2019 een o\u2019 mah mam,\n Seea wi\u2019 sleet alterations Ah varra seean cam\n Wivoot onny doot or the sleetest o\u2019 sham\n Ti be a maist beautiful boy.\n\n Ti mak ma a beauty, skriked oot Mrs. Sneer,\n \u2018He\u2019ll be t\u2019 taal end o\u2019 nowt, bidoot a sweet leer.\u2019\n Seea ti gi\u2019e ma this leer, yan on \u2019em shoots oot,\n \u2018When he\u2019s tumm\u2019l\u2019d asleep, lig a weight on his snoot.\u2019\n Which maad ma ti wink an\u2019 ti blink O!\n Whahl t\u2019 ladies kenn\u2019d nut what ti think O!\n Bud tha mannish\u2019d ti gi\u2019e ma a squint O!\n An\u2019 maad ma a beautiful boy.\n\n Ti finish ma off, Ah needed yah thing.\n My gob ower-straight war\u2014Ah meean for ti sing\u2014\n Seea ti lug it an\u2019 tug it all t\u2019 lot on \u2019em tried,\n Whahl they stritched mah poor gob ommaist hauf a yard wide,\n Shooting, \u2018Pull awaay, noo, Mrs. Ryder,\n It\u2019s stritching a lahtle bit wider,\u2019\n An\u2019 Dolly, wheea stood just ashad her,\n Sed, \u2018Oh! what a beautiful boy!\u2019\n\n When they\u2019d finish\u2019d ma off, tha sent ma ti skeeal.\n T\u2019 lads an\u2019 t\u2019 lasses all gen\u2019d ez Ah sat o\u2019 mah steeal,\n An\u2019 when they went yam tha sed \u2019at tha\u2019d seen\n T\u2019 fresh lad at skeeal wi\u2019 sike beautiful een.\n \u2018He can leeak onny road, an\u2019 that\u2019s handy,\n His gob \u2019s reetly shapp\u2019d ti suck candy,\n Whahl his legs are what tha call bandy\u2014\n Gocks! bud he\u2019s a beautiful boy!\u2019\n\n T\u2019 uther daay Ah war ax\u2019d i\u2019 t\u2019 city ti dine,\n When t\u2019 lasses i\u2019 rapters all thowt ma divine;\n An\u2019 t\u2019 lot, whahl admiring mah elegant grace,\n Let ther dinners aleean ti gaze i\u2019 mah feeace,\n Then sigh\u2019d, \u2018Ah s\u2019all swound wi\u2019 surprise O!\n T\u2019 sunleet caan\u2019t match his dear eyes O!\n He\u2019s sike a neyce mooth foor mince-pies O!\n Oh! kiss uz, you beautiful boy!\u2019\n\n Ah sed, \u2018Lasses, beware o\u2019 love\u2019s piercing darts,\n Foor feearful Ah be Ah s\u2019all steeal all yer hearts;\n An\u2019 then, mah deear lasses, ya\u2019ll sob an\u2019 ya\u2019ll sigh,\n When you think o\u2019 mah charms, whahl ya\u2019ll langwish an\u2019 dee.\n Ah can kiss, bud Ah caan\u2019t wed ya all,\n Bud Ah wad if Ah mud, gert an\u2019 small;\n Ah lang for ti cuddle ya all,\n For, ya ken, Ah\u2019s a beautiful boy.\u2019\n\n\nMr. Fossick, of Carthorpe, kindly gave me the above (and several\nothers). He tells me it was sung when his grandfather was a boy. As\nMr. Fossick was born in the early years of this century, I am not in\nthe least antedating it. Though turned eighty, the last time I saw Mr.\nFossick, for two hours he recited poetry without having to halt for a\nsingle word. It is in a great measure owing to the wonderful memories\npossessed by our old people that I have been able to collect the matter\nfor this work.\n\n\n\n\n CHAPTER XVI\n\n A FEW SIMPLE HINTS ON THE GRAMMAR OF THE FOLK-SPEECH\n\n\n THE ARTICLE.\n\nThere is no variation in the usage of the indefinite article, save that\nit still retains its place before participles and the adjectives _few_,\n_many_, and _great many_.\n\n Ex.\u2014\u2018He started a calling o\u2019 ma, an\u2019 Ah started a genning at him, an\u2019\n then wa set ti wark a lethering yan anuther,\u2019\n\nEducated people do not nowadays say, \u2018I sat a sipping of my tea, and a\nsmiling at the kettle a singing on the hob,\u2019 No, it sounds quaint. And\nto those who know as little of their Shakespeare as they do of their\nBibles, such speech is put down to ignorance, or a lack of education,\nwhen in point of fact they are listening to an echo of that old-time\nspeech which was in full swing long before their great grandmothers\nwere born, and used by really quite respectable people; e.g.\u2014\n\n \u2018As he was yet _a_ coming\u2019 (Luke ix. 42).\n\n \u2018I go _a_ fishing\u2019 (John xxi. 3).\n\n \u2018While the ark was _a_ preparing\u2019 (1 Pet. iii. 20).\n\n \u2018His greatness is yet _a_ ripening\u2019 (_Henry VIII_).\n\n \u2018There is some ill _a_ brewing towards my rest\u2019 (_Merchant of Venice_,\n Act ii. Sc. 5).\n\nIn such cases, however, \u2018a\u2019 cannot be parsed as an article. Many\nopinions have been given, but perhaps Cobbett, who holds it to be an\nabbreviation for \u2018at,\u2019 meaning \u2018without doubt,\u2019 has gained the most\nsupporters. In the _Spectator_, No. 86, we find, \u2018Socrates\u2019 disciples\nburst out _a_ laughing,\u2019 and in No. 420, \u2018The spirits which set the\nsprings _a_ going.\u2019 Such are by no means archaic forms of speech in the\nNorth Riding, \u2018bud ez common ez pigs _a_ grunting at yan anuther.\u2019\n\nThe definite article, as mentioned elsewhere, is \u2018t\u2019.\u2019 To this rule\nthere are very few exceptions. Before certain letters it is almost\ninaudible; nevertheless, it is always there. It may be said, and with\ntruth, that a perfect mastery of the definite article, both in speaking\nand hearing it spoken, has advanced those desirous of knowing something\nof our folk-speech\u2014rather more than half of their journey. I know many\npeople who are fluent speakers of the dialect, but who read it, even\nwhen in printed form, with the greatest difficulty; others who can read\nfairly well, but so far as understanding the dialect when spoken, might\nas well listen to a batch of Chocktaw Indians, as two or three good old\nYorkshire dames when fairly letting out.\n\nA Frenchman once said to me, \u2018I could understand you English people,\nif you did not speak so quickly.\u2019 Aye, just so, and so would many\nanother body from other counties understand a great deal of what our\ncountry folk say if each word was uttered separately, but with us, as\nin standard English, very frequently no pause is made between commas;\nso the difficulty increases tenfold, when a stranger strives to follow\na fairly classical dalesman or woman. Take, for instance, a few words\nwhich the other day I heard a woman shout across a village street to\nher daughter. Firstly, as they sounded when uttered, then the same as\nthey would be written, and thirdly, the translation.\n\n_As spoken._ Teggattenlaadsitwinner.\n\n_As written._ T\u2019 egg at t\u2019 \u2018en laad\u2019s i\u2019 t\u2019 winner[99].\n\n_Standard English._ The egg (that) the hen laid is in the window.\n\n\nNUMBER.\n\nThis, with only a few exceptions, follows the ordinary rule of grammar.\n\n\nCASE.\n\nThe possessive case is noted elsewhere.\n\n\nGENDER.\n\nThe same as in standard English, with this slight deviation: many\nthings which are neuter are spoken of as being of the feminine gender.\nEx.\u2014\u2018Sha\u2019s a fine stack;\u2019 \u2018Sha\u2019s a bit rough ti-daay,\u2019 speaking of the\nsea; \u2018Sha\u2019s gitten a fine bole on her,\u2019 speaking of an oak. There can\nbe no rule given for guidance, because in a compound sentence the same\nnoun is sometimes both feminine and neuter. A man speaking of his\nwatch said, \u2018It\u2019s yan ov t\u2019 best \u2019at Ah ivver \u2019ed; sha\u2019s a good un,\u2019\ni.e. \u2018It is one of the best that I ever had; she is a good one.\u2019\n\n\nADJECTIVES.\n\nAdjectives which in standard English are compared by the addition of\n_more_ and _most_ to the positive, generally form their degrees of\ncomparison by the addition of _er_ or _r_ for the comparative, and\n_ist_ or _st_ for the superlative; e.g.\u2014\n\n POSITIVE. COMPARATIVE. SUPERLATIVE.\n True truer truist\n Expensive expensiver expensivist.\n Dangerous dangerouser dangerousist.\n Okkad (awkward) okkader okkadist.\n Forrad (forward) forrader fo\u2019derist.\n\nThough it is quite common to hear such expressions as \u2018mair okkader\u2019 or\n\u2018t\u2019 maist okkadist,\u2019 and the like, with other adjectives, it is also\nnot uncommon for the adjective to be used as an adverb, as \u2018It\u2019s easy\ndeean.\u2019\n\n\nPERSONAL PRONOUNS.\n\nFIRST PERSON.\n\n _Nom._ _Poss._ _Obj._\n {I, thou, he, she, it. {I mine me.\n SING. {Ah, thoo, tha, _or_ ta, SING. {Ah mahn ma.\n { he, sha, it, \u2019t.\n\n PLU. {We you they us. PLU. {Thou thine thee.\n {Wa ya tha uz. {Thoo thahn thee.\n\nThere is no rule to guide the student in the use of _thoo_, _tha_,\n_ta_. In a general way _ta_ follows an auxiliary verb, and _thoo_, used\nin the accusative case, is definite in its application. \u2018He\u2019s shooting\no\u2019 thoo,\u2019 and \u2019he\u2019s shooting o\u2019 tha,\u2019 have a well-marked distinction\nof meaning. \u2018He\u2019s shooting o\u2019 thoo\u2019 implies that the person told of\nthe fact is the actual person being shouted of; not only does it point\nhim out from amongst many, but the fact that _thoo_ was used further\nimplies that the shouting had better be attended to at once. \u2018He\u2019s\nshooting o\u2019 tha,\u2019 is merely certain information given, making known to\nsome other person that he was being called for without regard to others.\n\n\nRELATIVE PRONOUNS.\n\n Who which that.\n Wheea _or_ whau which that _or_ \u2019at[100].\n\n_Who_ and _which_ are declined as follows. _That_ and _what_ as in\nstandard English.\n\n\nSINGULAR AND PLURAL.\n\n STAND. ENG. NTH. RIDING. | STAND. ENG. NTH. RIDING.\n _Nom._ Who whau, | Which which.\n wheea. |\n _Poss._ Whose whaus | Whose wheeas,\n wheeas. | whaus.\n _Obj._ Whom whaum. | Which which.\n\nThe compound relatives are formed by the addition of _ever_ and\n_soever_; _\u2019at_ forming the compound _\u2019ativver_, i.e. _whatever_.\n\n\nPOSSESSIVE PRONOUNS and the compound personal and possessives are\nformed as under:\u2014\n\n STAND. ENG. My mine thy thine his her\n NTH. RIDING. Mah mahn {thah} thahn his her\n {thi }\n\n STAND. ENG. Its our your their own\n NTH. RIDING. Its oor _or_ wer yer ther awn\n\n STAND. ENG. Myself thyself himself herself\n NTH. RIDING. {Mahsel thisel hissel hersel\n {Mahsen thisen hissen hersen\n\n STAND. ENG. Itself ourselves yourselves\n NTH. RIDING. {Itsel oorsels _or_ -sens yersels\n {Itsen wersels _or_ -sens yersens\n\n STAND. ENG. Theirselves ownselves.\n NTH. RIDING. {Thersels awnsels\n {Thersens awnsens.\n\n\nDEMONSTRATIVE PRONOUNS.\n\n_This_ and _that_ are used as follows:\u2014\n\n_This_ refers to an object near at hand, _that_ is rarely used, _yon_\nbeing almost universal, e.g. \u2018Yon man ower theer \u2019ll tell tha.\u2019 _Q._\n\u2018Which is Mister Thompson?\u2019 _A._ \u2018Yon chap\u2019s him,\u2019 i.e. \u2018That man is\nMr. Thompson.\u2019\n\n\nINDEFINITE PRONOUNS.\n\n Any both some other another one none such\n Onny beeath sum uther anuther yan neean sich, sike\n\n_Yan_ and _yah_ are noticed elsewhere, also _vide_ Glossary.\n\n\nADVERBS.\n\nAdverbial peculiarities are fully noticed in the Glossary.\n\nThe PREPOSITIONS and ADVERBS mostly in use are:\u2014\n\n About, _aboot_.\n\n Above, _aboon_.\n\n Across, _quarrelled_. \u2018Him an\u2019 me\u2019s gitten across.\u2019\n\n After, _efter_ or _efther_[101].\n\n Against, _ower agaanst_, near to.\n\n Among, _amang_. Amongst, _amangst_.\n\n Before, _afoor_. \u2018For afore the harvest, when the bud is perfect\u2019\n (Isa. xviii. 5).\n\n Behind, _ahint_.\n\n Between, _atween_.\n\n Betwixt, _atwixt_.\n\n Beyond, _ayont_, _beyont_.\n\n By, _byv_ or _by_, pronounced _be_.\n\n From, _fra_ before a consonant, _frev_ before a vowel.\n\n In, _i\u2019_.\n\n Into, _intiv_, _inti_, _intil_.\n\n Near, _near-hand_.\n\n Nigh, _near_, _ommaist_, also _nigh_.\n\n Of, _ov_ and _foor_.\n\n Over, _ower_ and _aboon_.\n\n Beyond, _past_. \u2018He did entreat me _past_ my saying nay\u2019 (_Merchant of\n Venice_, Act iii. Sc. 2).\n\n Too, _ower_.\n\n With, _wi\u2019_, _wiv_.\n\n_Until_ is never used, _whahl_ always taking its place: no exception to\nthis rule.\n\nIt may be noted this peculiarity extends to the south of\nNorthamptonshire.\n\n\nTHE VERB.\n\nIt will only be possible to note one or two of the more striking\npeculiarities.\n\n\nTO BE.\n\n_Indicative Mood._\n\nHas two forms of the present tense.\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah is, _or_ Ah\u2019s. _I am_, &c. W\u0103 } {Wa\u2019re, _we are_.\n Thoo is, _or_ Thoo\u2019s. Y\u0103 } are, _or_ {Ya\u2019re.\n He, Sha, _or_ it is. Th\u0103} {Th\u0103\u2019re.\n\nAlso the older form is quite common\u2014\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah be. _I am_, &c. W\u0103 }\n Thoo beest _or_ byst. Y\u0103 } be.\n He be. Th\u0103}\n\nExamples:\u2014\n\n \u2018Ah be gahin\u2019 ti morn.\u2019\n\n \u2018Thoo byst efter neea good.\u2019\n\n \u2018We be twelve brethren\u2019 (Gen. xlii. 32).\n\n \u2018If thou beest he\u2019 (_Paradise Lost_, Bk. i. 84).\n\n \u2018If thou beest death\u2019 (_Henry VI, Part II_, Act iii. Sc. 3).\n\n \u2018If thou beest rated by estimation\u2019 (_Merchant of Venice_, Act ii. Sc.\n 7).\n\n\nIMPERFECT.\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah war, wur, _or_ wuz. _I was_, &c. Wa }\n Thoo war, wur, _or_ wast Ya } war, wur, _or_ wuz\n He war, wur, _or_ wuz. Tha}\n\n\nPERFECT.\n\n\u2018Ev _or_ hev. The aspirate is rarely heard.\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah \u2019ev been. _I have been_, &c. Wa }\n Thoo \u2019est been. Ya } \u2019ev been.\n He\u2019s _or_ he \u2019ez been. Tha}\n\n\nPLUPERFECT.\n\nAh hed _or_ \u2019ed been, &c.\n\n\nFIRST FUTURE.\n\nAh s\u2019all _or_ will be, &c.\n\n\nSECOND FUTURE.\n\nAh s\u2019all _or_ will \u2019ev been, _or_ Ah s\u2019all \u2019a\u2019e been.\n\n\n_Imperative Mood._\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Let ma be. Let uz be.\n Be thoo. Be ya.\n Be he, let him, her, _or_ it be. {Let \u2019em be.\n {Be tha.\n\n\n_Subjunctive Mood._\n\nSINGULAR.\n\n Ah be, _or_ Ah maay _or_ can be.\n Be thoo, _or_ thoo mayest _or_ canst be.\n He be, _or_ he may _or_ can be.\n\nPLURAL.\n\n Wa }\n Ya } may _or_ can be.\n Tha}\n\n\nIMPERFECT.\n\nSINGULAR.\n\n Ah war, mud, c\u2019u\u2019d, wad, _or_ s\u2019u\u2019d be }\n Thoo wert, mudst, c\u2019u\u2019dst, wadst, _or_ s\u2019u\u2019dst be} loved.\n He war, mud, c\u2019u\u2019d, wad, _or_ s\u2019u\u2019d be }\n\nPLURAL.\n\n Wa war, }\n Ya war, } wur, mud, c\u2019u\u2019d, wad, _or_ s\u2019u\u2019d be loved.\n Tha war,}\n\n\nPERFECT.\n\n Ah maay _or_ can \u2019ev }\n Tho maayst _or_ canst \u2019ev } loved.\n Tha may _or_ can \u2019ev }\n\n\nPLUPERFECT.\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah mud, &c. Wa mud, &c.\n\n\n_Infinitive Mood._\n\n PRESENT. PERFECT.\n Ti be. Ti \u2019a\u2019e _or_ \u2019ev been.\n\n\n_Participles._\n\n PRESENT. PERFECT. COMPOUND PERFECT.\n Being. Been. \u2018Evin\u2019 been.\n\n\nTO HAVE.\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah\u2019ve, Ah \u2019a\u2019e, _or_ Ah \u2019ev. _I\n have_, &c. Wa\u2019ve, \u2018, or \u2019ev. _We have._\n Thoo\u2019s _or_ thoo \u2019ez. Ya\u2019ve, \u2018, _or_ \u2019ev.\n He\u2019s _or_ he \u2019ez. Tha\u2019ve, \u2018, _or_ \u2019ev.\n\n\nPERFECT.\n\n Ah\u2019d, Ah \u2019ed. _I had._ Wa\u2019d, wa \u2019ed.\n Thoo\u2019d, thoo \u2019ed. Ya\u2019d, ya \u2019ed.\n He\u2019d, he \u2019ed. Tha\u2019d, tha \u2019ed.\n\n\n_Affirmative._\n\n Ah\u2019ve, _or_ Ah \u2019ev t\u0103\u2019en. Wa\u2019ve, _or_ wa \u2019ev t\u0103\u2019en.\n _I have taken._ _We have taken._\n\n Thoo\u2019s t\u0103\u2019en. Ya\u2019ve, _or_ ya \u2019ev t\u0103\u2019en. _You have taken._\n He\u2019s t\u0103\u2019en. Tha\u2019ve, _or_ tha \u2019ev t\u0103\u2019en.\n _They have taken._\n\n\n_Negative._\n\n Ah \u2019evn\u2019t, _or_ Ah \u2019a\u2019en\u2019t ta\u2019en. W\u0103 \u2019evn\u2019t, _or_ w\u0103 \u2019a\u2019en\u2019t ta\u2019en.\n _I have not taken._ _We have not taken._\n Thoo\u2019s nut, _or_ thoo \u2019ezn\u2019t [102]Y\u0103\u2019ve nut, _or_ y\u0103 \u2019a\u2019en\u2019t\n ta\u2019en. ta\u2019en. _You have not taken._\n He\u2019s nut, _or_ he \u2019ezn\u2019t ta\u2019en. [102]Th\u0103\u2019ve nut, or th\u0103 \u2019a\u2019en\u2019t\n ta\u2019en. _They have not taken._\n\n\n_Interrogative._\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n \u2018Ev Ah ta\u2019en? _Have I taken?_ \u2018Ev w\u0103, _or_ \u2018 w\u0103 ta\u2019en?\n _Have we taken?_\n \u2018Ez t\u0103 ta\u2019en? \u2018Ev y\u0103, _or_ \u2018 y\u0103 ta\u2019en?\n \u2018Ez \u0103[103] ta\u2019en? \u2018Ev th\u0103, _or_ \u2018 th\u0103 ta\u2019en?\n\n\nIMPERFECT TENSE.\n\n Ah\u2019d, _or_ Ah \u2019ed. _I had._ Wa\u2019d, _or_ wa \u2019ed. _We had._\n Thoo\u2019d, _or_ thoo \u2019ed. _Thou hadst._ Ya\u2019d, _or_ ya \u2019ed. _You had._\n He\u2019d, _or_ he \u2019ed. _He had._ Tha\u2019d, _or_ tha \u2019ed. _They had._\n\n\n _Imperative Mood._\n\n \u2018A\u2019e _or_ \u2019ev (have).\n\n\n _Infinitive Mood._\n\n Ti \u2019ev, _or_ ti \u2019a\u2019e. _To have._\n\n\n _Participles._\n\n PRESENT. PAST.\n \u2018Evin\u2019, _having_. \u2018Ed _or_ \u2019ad, _had_.\n\n\nTO DO.\n\n_Indicative Mood._\n\nPRESENT TENSE.\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah deea, diz, _or_ duz. _I do._ W\u0103 }\n Thoo diz _or_ duz. Y\u0103 } deea _or_ div.\n He diz _or_ duz. Th\u0103}\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah deean\u2019t. _I do not._ Wa deean\u2019t _or_ divn\u2019t[104].\n Thoo dizn\u2019t _or_ deean\u2019t. Ya deean\u2019t _or_ divn\u2019t.\n He dizn\u2019t. Tha deean\u2019t _or_ divn\u2019t.\n\n\nMAY.\n\n Ah maay. Wa }\n Thoo maayst. Ya } maay.\n He maay. Tha}\n\nIMPERFECT TENSE\u2014Might.\n\n Ah mud _or_ might. Wa }\n Thoo mud. Ya } mud _or_ might.\n He mud. Tha}\n\n Must. Must not.\n SINGULAR. PLURAL. SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah } Wa } Ah } maun\u2019t Wa } maun\u2019t\n Thoo} mun. Ya } mun. Thoo} _or_ Ya } _or_\n He } Tha} He } munnot. Tha} munnot.\n\n\nTO GO.\n\nACTIVE VOICE.\n\n_Indicative Mood._\n\nPRESENT TENSE.\n\n SINGULAR. PLURAL.\n Ah gan, _or_ goa. Wa }\n Thoo\u2019s gahin\u2019 _or_ gannin\u2019. Ya } gan _or_ goa.\n He gans. Tha}\n\n\nINDEFINITE\u2014I was going.\n\n Ah war, wur, _or_ wuz} gahin\u2019 Wa war, wur, _or_ wuz } gahin\u2019\n Thoo wast _or_ wart } _or_ Ya war, wur, _or_ wuz } _or_\n He war _or_ wuz } gannin\u2019. Tha war, wur, _or_ wuz} gannin\u2019.\n\n\nINDEFINITE PERFECT\u2014I have gone.\n\n Ah \u2019ev _or_ Ah\u2019ve } Wa \u2019ev _or_ wa\u2019ve }\n Thoo\u2019s _or_ thoo \u2019ez} gane _or_ Ya \u2019ev _or_ ya\u2019ve } gane _or_\n He\u2019s _or_ he \u2019ez } geean. Tha\u2019ev _or_ tha\u2019ve} geean.\n\n\n_Infinitive Mood._\n\n PRESENT. PROGRESSIVE.\n Ti gan. _To go._ Ti be gahin\u2019 _or_ gannin\u2019. _To be going._\n\n PERFECT. PROGRESSIVE.\n Ti \u2019ev gane _or_ ti \u2019a\u2019e geean. Ti \u2019ev been gahin\u2019.\n _To have gone._ _To have been going._\n\n PRESENT.\n Gahin\u2019 _or_ ganning. _Going._\n\n PERFECT.\n Geean _or_ gane. _Gone._\n\n COMPOUND.\n Having geean _or_ gane. _Having gone._\n\n\nObserve _is_ and _be_ generally take the place of _are_ and _am_. In\nfact, the latter word is very rarely heard amongst the country people.\n\u2018Are you Tom?\u2019 in the folk-speech, would be, \u2018Is ta Tom?\u2019\u2014the answer\nwould not be \u2018Ah am!\u2019 but \u2018Ah is!\u2019\n\n_Q._ \u2018Is ta gahin\u2019 wiv uz[105]?\u2019 i.e. \u2018Are you going with me?\u2019\n\n_A._ \u2018Neea, Ah\u2019s nut,\u2019 or \u2018Neea, Ah isn\u2019t,\u2019 i.e. \u2018No, I is not\u2019 (I am\nnot).\n\n_Nobbut_, as a sign of the conditional mood, is quite as general as\n_if_.\n\n_Q._ \u2018Will ta cum?\u2019 Will you come?\n\n_A._ \u2018Nobbut it be owt leyke, an\u2019 nobbut I git deean;\u2019 i.\u202fe. \u2018If it be\nanything like\u2019 (as to weather), \u2018and if only I finish my work.\u2019\n\nIt is not uncommon to hear the future tense used for the present, and\nin many instances the country people, as it were, confuse the perfect\ntense and perfect participle. \u2018Ah\u2019ve chose t\u2019 whip \u2019at Ah want.\u2019 \u2018I\nhave chosen the whip I want (_or_ like).\u2019\n\n\u2018\u2019Ez ta broke t\u2019 winder?\u2019 would be asked in a whisper, but \u2018Aye, he\u2019s\nbrokken \u2019t,\u2019 would certainly be the form in which it would be shouted\nto the other boys. \u2018Ah\u2019ve spoke tiv him mair \u2019an yance,\u2019 would be the\nform such a declaration would take from one confiding to another the\nhopelessness of making any further entreaties; but \u2018Ah\u2019ve spokken tiv\nhim ower an\u2019 up agaan,\u2019 would be the language used when temper was\nin the ascendent. Nevertheless, those who would consider vulgar such\nsentences as have been given, are apt to forget that the accepted rules\nwhich govern the speech of to-day are only correct because they are of\nto-day. The rules which were once accepted may have been laid aside in\nfavour of others; but the country people move slowly\u2014their speech is\nthat of their grandparents, and it is what they have been used to all\ntheir lives. They know nothing of the new order of things. And again,\nthey keep very good company.\n\nExamples:\u2014\n\n \u2018I have already _chose_ my officer.\u2019\n _Othello_, Act i. Sc. 1.\n\n\n \u2018Methought this staff, mine office badge in court, was _broke_ in\n twain.\u2019\u2014_Henry VI, Part II_, Act i. Sc. 2.\n\n\n \u2018By what yourself too late have _spoke_ and done.\u2019\n _King Lear_, Act i. Sc. 4.\n\n\n \u2018Why was this _forbid_?\u2019\u2014_Paradise Lost_, Bk. ix. 703.\n\n \u2018Waiting desirous her return, had wove\n Of choicest flowers a garland.\u2019\n _Paradise Lost_, Bk. ix. 839.\n\n\nSteele, in the _Spectator_ (No. 344), has, \u2018I have _wrote_ to you three\nor four times.\u2019 And he is generally acknowledged to have been a fairly\ngood scholar, but then his writings go back a hundred years, and they\nspoke differently then. Our people speak very much like it now.\n\nThe formation of the perfect and of the participle vary considerably\nfrom that of ordinary grammar. As a rule the past participle is formed\nby the addition of _en_. There are other striking peculiarities in the\nvowel changes. A list of some of the leading ones is here given.\n\n\n _Present._ _Perfect._ _Participles._\n Build Belt Belt\n Beeat (beat) Bet Betten\n Bid Bad Bidden, bodden\n Binnd (bind) Bun _or_ bund Bun, bund, _or_ bunden\n Bleead (bleed) Bled, blaad Bledden\n Break, breek (break) Brak Brokken\n Brust (burst) Brast Brussen, brossen\n Cast Kest Kessen\n Cheease (choose) Choaze Chozzen\n Coss (curse) Coss\u2019d Coss\u2019d, cossen\n Cost Cost Cossen\n Creeap (creep) Crep _or_ crop Croppen\n Cum (come) Cam, com Cum\u2019d\n Cut (cut) Cut Cutten\n Darr (dare) Dast Darrd\n Drahve (drive) Drave Drovven _or_ druvven\n Felt (hide) Felt Felted\n Feyght (fight) Fowt Fowten\n Finnd (find) Fan Fun\n Flig (fly) Fligg\u2019d Fligg\u2019d\n Fling (fling) Flang Flung\n Flit (to change\n one\u2019s abode) Flitted Flitten\n Freeze (freeze) Fraze Frozzen\n Gi\u2019e (give) Gav or ga Geen[106]\n Git (get) Gat Gitten, getten, _or_ gotten\n Greeap _or_ group\n (grope) Grape Groupen _or_ groppen\n Grund, grahnd\n (grind) Grund Grun _or_ grunded\n Ho\u2019d (hold) Ho\u2019ded Ho\u2019dden\n Ho\u2019t (hurt) Ho\u2019t Ho\u2019tten\n Kep (catch) Kept Kept, keppen\n Lap (wrap) Lapt, lapp\u2019d Lappen _or_ lappen\u2019d\n Let (let) Let Letten\n Lig (lay) Lig\u2019d, lihd Lihn\n Lig (lie) Lig\u2019d Liggen _or_ lig\u2019d\n Leet (light) Let Letten\n Loose (loose) Lowse Lowsen\n Loss (lose) Lost Lossen\n Preeave (prove) Preeav\u2019d Provven _or_ pruvven\n Put (put) Put Putten\n Rahd (ride) Rade Ridden _or_ rodden\n Rahse (rise) Roase Risen _or_ rosen\n Rahve (tear) Rave Rovven\n Set Set Setten\n Shak (shake) Shak\u2019t Shak\u2019t _or_ shakken\n Shed (shed) Shed Shedden\n Shoe (shoe) Shod Shodden\n Shut (shut)\n _or_ shoot Shut Shutten\n Sit (sit) Sat Setten\n Slet (slit) Slet Slitten\n Smit (infect) Smitted Smittel\u2019d\n Snaw (snow) Snew Snawn _or_ snaw\u2019d\n Speeak (speak) Spak Spokken\n Splet (split) Splet Spletten\n Spreead (spread) Sprade Sprodden\n Stan (stand) Steead Stooden\n Stick (stick) Stack Stucken\n Straad (stride) Stroade, straad,\n _or_ strahd Strodden\n Strahve (strive) Strahve _or_\n stroave Struvven _or_ strovven\n Strike (strike) Strake, strak Strukken\n Tak (take) Teeak, teuk Ta\u2019en, takken, _or_\n tuckken\n Tell Tell\u2019d, tell\u2019t Tell\u2019d, tell\u2019t\n Thrahve (thrive) Throv, thrahve Throvven\n Thrust (thrust) Thrast, throst Throssen _or_ thrussen\n Treead (tread) Trade, tred Trodden\n Wet (wet) Wet Wetten\n Win (win) Wan Won\n Worrk (work) Wrowt, wark\u2019d Wrowt _or_ wrowten\n Wreyte (write) Wrate Written\n\n\nCONJUNCTIONS.\n\nSome of those generally in use will be found contained in the following\nrequest:\u2014\n\n \u2018Tommy\u2019s cum\u2019d, _an\u2019_ Jimmy _an\u2019 all_. Noo, _if so be as hoo \u2019at_ wa\n caan\u2019t finnd hoos-room for baith _on_[107] \u2019em, could thoo, _wivoot_\n putting thisen aboot, mannish ti tak Jimmy in? _Bud, hooivver_, thoo\n knaws _if in case \u2019at_ thoo caan\u2019t mannish ti deea \u2019t foor all t\u2019\n tahm tha\u2019re here, can ta _whahl_ t\u2019 daay efter ti morn? Tha\u2019ve cum\u2019d\n _for ti_ see Mary. _Nowther_ on \u2019em\u2019s clapt ees on her _sen_ sha went\n ti pleeace, _an\u2019 seeaner \u2019an_ tha s\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e seen her, Ah wad \u2019a\u2019e\n geean ti my aunt Martha; bud Ah\u2019d better stop at yam _ez_ gan theer,\n _if so be \u2019at_ thoo can mannish \u2019t onny road. _Besides, thoo knaws_\n thi larl Lizzie could cum _an\u2019_ lig wiv oor Freddy, _bidoot_ thoo\n _ligs_ her on t\u2019 s\u014dfy. Ah think _\u2019at_ that wad be t\u2019 better waay; noo,\n what diz ta saay?\u2019\n\n\n _Key._\n\n \u2018Tommy has come, _and_ Jimmy _as well_. Now, _if_ we cannot find room\n for both on them, could you, _without_ inconveniencing yourself,\n manage to take Jimmy in? _Still, if_ you cannot manage to do so for\n all the time they are here, can you _until_ the day after to-morrow.\n They have come to see Mary, _neither_ of them having seen her _since_\n she went to place\u2014i.e. situation. _And rather than_ they should have\n missed seeing her, I would have gone to my aunt Martha; but I had\n better stay at home _than_ go there, _if_ you can manage it anyway.\n _Besides_, your little Lizzie could come _and_ sleep with our Freddy,\n _unless_ you _lay_ her on the sofa. I think _that_ would be the best;\n now, what do you say?\u2019\n\n\nIn reading the key over, it will be found, in several instances, that a\nsingle word does duty for several. This tendency towards redundancy is\nvery common, e.g. \u2018If so be as how \u2019at wa cannot,\u2019 simply means \u2018If we\ncannot\u2019; and \u2018Besides, thoo knaws,\u2019 is \u2019besides.\u2019 Instead of the last\nword, \u2018besides,\u2019 the usage of \u2018An\u2019 moreover \u2019an that\u2019 is very common.\n\nThe rule that prepositions govern the objective case, expressed or\nunderstood, the conjunction never, holds good in the folk-speech.\n\nThe conjunctions in italics are very rarely used, those in brackets\ncommonly taking their place.\n\n\n \u2018Ah s\u2019all be theer (an\u2019 all),\u2019 _as well_.\n\n \u2018(Bud hooivver) thoo mun cum,\u2019 _still_.\n\n \u2018(Wivoot) Ah cum, deean\u2019t start,\u2019 _unless_.\n\n \u2018(Ez) stop wiv him, Ah\u2019ll cum,\u2019 _rather than_.\n\n \u2018Ah\u2019ve cum (for ti) see Tom,\u2019 _in order to_.\n\n \u2018Deean\u2019t leeave t\u2019 hoss (bidoot) he gi\u2019es tha t\u2019 brass,\u2019 _unless_.\n\n \u2018Thoo wait (whahl) Ah cum,\u2019 _until_.\n\n\nThere are many who consider the folk-speech of our country people\nlittle better than a mixture of about equal parts of bad grammar and\nmispronunciation. Such a notion, I feel sure, can only have arisen from\neither a lack of information or undue haste. From such I would humbly\ncrave a reconsideration of the case.\n\nI can well understand those who know little of the various sources\nthrough which the standard English of to-day has come down to us,\nconsidering such words as those contained in the following list as\nbeing vulgar\u2014_backerly_, _balk_, _belly-wark_, _botch_, _cant_,\n_chaamer_, _clag_, _cleg_, _drukken_, _flacker_, _flit_, _fra_, _lake_,\n_lang_, _leck_, _lig_, _lop_, _lown_, _luke_, _mirk_, _neeaze_,\n_owerwelt_, _raun_, _roke_, _rud_, _scraffle_, _shive_, _snite_,\n_steg_, _stob_, _stower_, _sump_, _theeak_, _thrave_, _till_, &c.\nThough some words in the list may be new to the reader, they are\nin common usage amongst our people. And what is much more to their\ncredit, every one of them were doing duty hundreds of years ago. And\nas in many cases the pronunciation is identical with that of their\nDanish relations, we have grounds for assuming that not only has\nthe word itself been preserved, but the actual sound in which it was\nformerly uttered, though the spelling often differs greatly in the two\ncountries. Take, as a single example, the North Riding word \u2019stower\u2019;\nthe Danish word is spelt \u2019staver,\u2019 but the pronunciation is exactly the\nsame in both countries. Therefore, as Angus says, if the sound rather\nthan the spelling be taken, the similarity of the languages will be\nfound to be much more striking. A few so-called vulgar words and their\nrespectable relations are given in the following list.\n\nNOTE.\u2014Scandinavian in this list must be taken in its widest sense, as\nincluding Old Norse, Frisian, Swedish, and Danish.\n\n\n _North Riding._ _Scandinavian._ _Anglo-Saxon._ _English._\n Backerly Bagerlig ... Late\n Backstan Bage-sten ... A stone for baking\n cakes on\n Balk Balk Balca Beam\n Band Baand (O. N.) ... String\n Belly-wark B\u00e6lg-v\u00e6rk B\u00e6lig-w\u00e6rc Stomach-ache\n Bid Byde Be\u014ddan To invite\n Bor Borre ... Seed of the burdock\n Blendcorn Blandkorn ... Mixed corn\n Botch Bota Botian To mend clumsily\n Brave Brav ... Goodly\n Brede Bredde Br\u00e6d Breadth\n Cant Kante, Kanta ... To tilt on end\n Calf Kalve, _v._\n to calve ... Calf\n Chaamer Kammer ... Chamber\n Clag Kl\u00e6g Cl\u00e6g To stick\n Clap Klap ... To pat\n Cleg Kl\u00e6ge ... Horse-fly\n Clovver Klaver Klaver (Dutch) Clover\n Clip Klippe ... To clip\n Drukken Drukken ... Drunken\n Eaves Ovs Efesse The eaves\n Fau\u2019k, Folk,\n Fooak Folk ... People\n Felt Fela, fi\u00e6le Feolan To hide\n Flacker Flagre ... To flutter\n Flittermouse Flaggermus ... The bat\n Flit Flytte ... To remove to another\n house\n Fore-elders For\u00e6ldre ... Forefathers\n Fra Fra Fra From\n Gimmer Gimmer ... Ewe lamb\n Glooar Gloe ... To stare\n Gob Gab ... Mouth\n Havermeal Havre mel ... Oatmeal\n Handsel Handsel Handselen First money received\n Holm Holm ... Low-lying land\n Hoos Hus ... House\n Humble-bee Humlebi ... Humble-bee\n Kist Kiste Cist A chest\n Laat, lait Lait ... To seek\n Lake, laak Leka Lacan To play\n Lake, laak Leg, lec Lac A game\n Lang L\u00e6ng ... Long\n Leck L\u00e6kke Leccan To leak\n Lig Ligge Liggan To lie down\n Lop Loppe ... A flea\n Lown Luun ... Calm, still\n Luke Luge ... To weed\n Middin Modding Midding A dunghill\n Mirk Mork Mirc Dark\n Neeaze Nyse Niesan To sneeze\n Owerwelt Awv\u00e6lt ... To lie on the back\n as a sheep\n Raun Rawn ... Fish-spawn\n Riggintree Rygtr\u00e6 ... The topmost spar in\n the roof\n Roke Rok ... A misty rain\n Rud Rod[108] ... Red ochre\n Scraffle Scravle ... To walk in a feeble\n way\n Shive Skive ... A slice\n Suite Snyde ... To blow the nose\n Steg Steggi ... A gander\n Stob Stub ... The stump of a tree\n Stower Staver ... A stake, a rung\n Sump Sump ... Boggy place\n Theeak T\u00e6kke ... Thatch\n Thrave Trave ... A number of sheaves\n of corn\n Till Til ... To\n Yule keeak Yule kage ... Yule cake\n\n\nThis list might have been greatly extended, but the above suffices for\nthe purpose of proving that many of the words considered vulgar are\nsimply venerable through age. If we inquire a little further, we shall\nfind not only the words, but the form of speech used by our people,\nwhich so often seems ungrammatical, is actually that of the best\nwriters of bygone ages. The fact is, as has been already stated, our\nvocabulary and mode of speech is not of to-day, but belongs to the time\nof long ago.\n\nFrom Spenser\u2019s _Faerie Queen_ take as examples the following words and\ngrammatical forms, which are quite common with us to-day:\u2014\n\n\n That seemed both shield and plate it would have _rived_.\n _For to_ avenge that foul, reproachful shame.\n To lose long _gotten_ honour with one evil hond.\n Much greater grief and _shamefuller_ regret.\n In hope her to attain by _hook or crook_.\n To _tossen_ spear and shield.\n _Me leifer_ were with point of foeman\u2019s spear be dead.\n ... how stout Deborah _strake_.\n Inglorious now lies in senseless _swownd_.\n But _lapped_ up her silken leaves most _chare_.\n Fast _bounden_ hand and foot with cords of wire.\n But, glancing on the tempered metal, _brast_.\n And ever and anon, when none was _ware_.\n And from her head oft rent her _snarled_ hair.\n\n\nIn _Piers Ploughman_, 1362, by R. Langton:\u2014\n\n Under a brood bank\u2014By a _burn\u2019s_ side.\n * * * * *\n Some _putten hem_ to the plough.\n\n\n_The Parsone\u2019s Tale_:\u2014\n\n And _axeth_ of the old ways.\n ... ought to _plain_.\n\n\nWicliff, 1380:\u2014\n\n And he eat _honeysoukis_.\n\n\n_The Prodigal Sone_, 1380:\u2014\n\n Tweie sonnes. And the younger of _hem_.\n A ryng on his hond, and _schoon_ on his feet.\n And when he _cam_.\n\n\nTyndale, 1534:\u2014\n\n And not long after the younger sonne _gaddered_ all that he had\n _togedder_.\n And when he _cam_.\n And _axed_ what these things meant.\n From the Epistle to the Romans.\n\n\nAlso\u2014_Geven_, _goven_, _moun_, _quyt_ (quit = to repay), _stakker\ntrone_[109] (throne), and scores of others are quite common with us.\n\nThe following past tenses are given by Angus as obsolete, and as having\nbeen so for long:\u2014_fand_, _flang_, _slang_, _stang_, _wan_, _wrang_,\nevery one of which are in frequent use.\n\nIn Wicliff\u2019s edition of the Bible we have:\u2014\n\n \u2018The keperis weren _afeered_.\u2019 \u2018And _brak_.\u2019 \u2018The wisdom of this world\n _fonned_.\u2019 \u2018Clensed with _besyms_.\u2019 \u2018Mayster Moses seide if _ony_\n man.\u2019 \u2018_Twey_ men.\u2019 \u2018_Ridile_ as whete,\u2019 \u2018Joseph _lappide_ it\u2019 (St.\n Matthew). \u2018_Moun_ comprehende with alle seyntis which is _breed_\u2019\n (Eph.). \u2018He _concitide_\u2019 (St. Luke). \u2018And _telde_ him\u2019 (Acts). \u2018It\n schal not _rewe_ Him\u2019 (Hebrews).\n\n\nSuch words, when uttered by our country people, are not vulgar, though\nthey may sound odd, but that is because they are old fashioned and\nunfamiliar; and if their utterance has no charm for you, then it is\nmusic you never heard in your youth, and which your ear can never\nrightly appreciate. So that you may see at a glance to what extent\nthe language has altered, and how the folk-speech has remained almost\nstationary during the last three or four hundred years, let us compare\na few of the commonest North Riding words of to-day with the standard\nEnglish of the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries.\n\n\n _Words of the 13th, _Standard English as pronounced\n 14th, and 15th _Common North in 1898, or giving\n centuries, taken Riding words, the word which has supplanted\n from the best 1898._ the older one._\n authors._\n\n Afeered Afeeard Afraid\n Axed Axed Asked\n Besyms Bizzums, buzzums Broom\n Bounden Bounden Bound\n Brak Brak Broke\n Brast Brast Burst\n Breede Breed Breadth\n Burn Burn Stream\n Cam Cam Came\n Chare Chare Carefully\n Concitide Consated Imagined, opinionated\n Fain Fain Gladly\n Fand Fand Found\n Flang Flang Flung\n Flig Flig To fly\n Fonned Fond Foolish\n Gaddered Gaddered Gathered\n Geven Geven(1) }\n Goven Govven(1)} Given\n Gotten Gotten Got\n Lapped Lapped }\n Lappide Lapp\u2019t } Wrapped\n Laverock Lairock _or_ laverock The lark\n Leifer Leif _or_ leifer Soon, willingly\n Moniment Moniment Monument\n Mown Mun Must\n Ony Onny Any\n Partinge Parting Division\n Plain Pleean Complain\n Putten Putten Put\n Quyt Quit To repay\n Rewe Rewe Repent\n Ridile Ruddle _or_ riddle To sift\n Shamefuller Shamefuller Very disgraceful\n Snarled Snarled Knotted\n Stakker Stakker Stagger\n Strake Strake Struck\n Swownd Swound _or_ soond To faint\n Telde Tell\u2019d _or_ tell\u2019t Told\n Threpe Threeap Argue, contend\n Togedder Togedder Together\n Tossen Tossen To throw\n Twey Tweea Two\n Ware Ware Beware\n Wrack Wrack Destruction\n By hook or crook By hook or crook By any means\n\n (1) \u2018Gi\u2019en\u2019 is by far the most general. Still, amongst the older\n people, one often hears \u2018geven\u2019 and \u2018govven.\u2019\n\n\nNeed I add more to prove my case? I think not.\n\nThose interested are requested to read the concluding remarks at the\nend of the Glossary.\n\n\n\n\n GLOSSARY\n\n OF ABOUT FOUR THOUSAND NORTH RIDING WORDS\n\n\n_Giving only those daily in use at the present time, 1898, together\nwith more than 1000 sentences as examples of the dialect._\n\nFOR RARE AND OBSOLETE WORDS, SEE OTHER GLOSSARIES.\n\n\n N.B.\u2014Some words as we pass from east to west of the North Riding\n differ slightly in pronunciation; such, when established over a\n sufficiently wide area, have been included in the Glossary. It is\n owing to this that the spelling of the same word varies throughout\n the work, as in all cases the dialect has been given in accordance\n with the pronunciation of the locality in which the incident or\n word uttered occurred. As a single example, take \u2018fau\u2019k,\u2019 which is\n universal along the coast; further inland, in the Great Ayton and\n Stokesley district \u2018fau\u2019k\u2019 and \u2018fooak\u2019 are equally common, whilst in\n Wensleydale and Swaledale \u2018fooak\u2019 is only heard.\n\n\n ABBREVIATIONS.\n\n abv. = abbreviated.\n _adj._ = adjective.\n _adv._ = adverb.\n _conj._ = conjunction.\n _pron._ = pronoun.\n ex. = example.\n _intj._ = interjection.\n _n._ = noun.\n N.R. = North Riding.\n _v._ = verb.\n _part._ = participle.\n _pp._ = past participle.\n _prep._ = preposition.\n _pret._ = preterit.\n _num._ = numeral.\n\n\n A.\n\n +A+ or +Eh+, _p._ _pr._ He. _Vide_ footnote, p. 326. [TN. Footnote 103]\n\n +A+, _num._ _adj._ One. _Vide_ +Yah+, +Yan+.\n\n +A\u2019+, _adj._ All.\n\n +Aa!+ _intj._ Exclamation of surprise, admiration.\n\n +Aa+, but. +Aa+, but +Ah saay!+ _intj. of comparison_.\n Ex.\u2014_Aa, but Ah saay!_ _Ah aim \u2019at yon pig\u2019s better \u2019an oors._\n\n +Aback+, _adv._ Behind.\n\n +Aback o\u2019 beyont+, _adv._ Out of sight, out of the way.\n Ex.\u2014_Them things is sadly i\u2019 t\u2019 road. Ah wish thoo\u2019d git \u2019em aback\n o\u2019 beyont._\n\n +Abeear+, _v._ To endure.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah caan\u2019t abeear t\u2019 seet o\u2019 yon lass._\n\n +Aboon+, _prep._ Above.\n\n +Aboon-heead+, _adv._ Overhead.\n Ex.\u2014_It leeaks a bit blackish aboon-heead._\n\n +Abraid+, _v._ To wake, to stir up.\n\n +Abrede+, _adv._ Width.\n\n +Accorn+, +Yackron+, _n._ The acorn.\n\n +Acoz+, _conj._ Because; often abv. to \u2018\u2019coz.\u2019\n\n +Actilly+, _adv._ Actually.\n\n +Addle+, _adj._ Barren.\n\n +Addle+, _v._ To earn.\n\n +Addlin\u2019+, _n._ A term of contempt.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo larl addlin\u2019, ger awaay wi\u2019 tha._\n\n +Addlin\u2019s+, _n._ Wages.\n\n +Admire+, _v._ 1. To approve, to like.\n 2. To wonder.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah deean\u2019t admire a job o\u2019 that soart._ _Ah admire t\u2019 maist\n o\u2019 what he did._\n 2. _Ah caan\u2019t bud admire at t\u2019 waay he did it._\n\n +Adreead+, _adj._ In a state of fear.\n\n +\u2018A\u2019e+, +\u2018Ev+, _v._ Have.\n\n +Aether+, +Owther+, _conj._ Either.\n\n +Afeear\u2019d+, _adj._ and _part._ Afraid, seized with fear.\n\n +Afoor+, +Afur+, _prep._ Before.\n\n +Afoor+- or +Afur-lang+, _adv._ Before long, very shortly.\n\n +After+- or +Efter-birth+, _n._ Placenta.\n\n +Afterwit, Efterwit+, _n._ An idea which strikes one often when too\n late to remedy a mistake.\n\n +Agaan+, +Ageean+, _prep._ Again.\n\n +Agaanst+ or +Ageeanst+, _prep._ Against.\n\n +Agaate+, +Ageeat+, _adv._ 1. On the way.\n 2. Begun; also used as a _part._\n 3. To disturb.\n 4. To set going.\n Ex.\u20141. _Wa s\u2019all git agaate ti morn at morn._\n 2. _Ah\u2019s agaate wi\u2019 \u2018t noo._\n 3. _Naay, what! Ah\u2019d gitten all sattled peeacably, an\u2019 thoo gans an\u2019\n sets \u2019em all agaate agaan._\n 4. _Ah\u2019ve putten a new pin in, an\u2019 sha\u2019s agaate agaan noo._\n\n +Agee+, _adv._ Askew.\n\n +Ah+, _per. pron._ I.\n\n +Ah\u2019ll+, I will.\n\n +Ah\u2019ll awaand+, I will warrant.\n\n +Ah\u2019ll be bun+, I will be bound, I am sure.\n\n +Ahint+, _adv._ and _prep._ Behind.\n\n +Aiblings+, _adv._ Maybe, perhaps.\n\n +Aim+, +Aam+, +Yam+, _v._ 1. To intend. 2. To be under the impression.\n _Vide_ chapter on \u2018Idioms.\u2019\n Ex.\u20141. _Wa aim ti start ti flit ti morn fust thing_, i.e. \u2018We intend\n to remove our goods first thing to-morrow.\u2019\n 2. _Ah yam\u2019d \u2019at he war Tommy\u2019s bairn_, i.e. \u2018I thought that he was\n Tom\u2019s bairn.\u2019\n\n +Airm+, _n._ Arm.\n\n +Airt+, _n._ Point of the compass.\n Ex.\u2014_What airt is t\u2019 wind in? Whya, sha\u2019s nobbut iv a bad airt; Ah\n doot \u2019at it\u2019s nut gahin\u2019 ti tak up._\n\n +Al+, +Yal+, _n._ Ale.\n\n +Alaane+, +Aleean+, _adj._ Alone.\n\n +Aliments+, _n._ Elements.\n\n +All of a heh+, _adj._ Inclining to one side.\n\n +All out+, _adv._ Altogether, absolutely.\n\n +All ti nowt+, Gone to nothing, dwindled away.\n\n +Ally+, +Ally-taw+, _n._ A boy\u2019s taw of white marble, distinct from\n either a stony or glassy.\n\n +Along of+, _prep._ Owing to, in consequence of.\n\n +Amaist+, +Omaist+, _adv._ Almost.\n\n +Amang+, _prep._ Among.\n\n +Amang-hands+, Implies the doing of certain work coincidently with\n other labour.\n\n +Amell+, _prep._ In the midst, between.\n\n +Ance+, _Vide_ +Yance+.\n\n +An\u2019+, _conj._ And.\n\n +\u2018An+, _conj._ Than.\n\n +An\u2019 all+, _conj._ and _adv_. As well as, besides, truly.\n\n +Ane+, _num. adj._ One, usually followed by \u2019ither,\u2019 i.e. other.\n Ex.\u2014_If Ah\u2019ll tak t\u2019 ane, will thoo tak t\u2019 ither? Vide_ +Yan+.\n\n +Anew+, _adj._ Enough in number.\n\n +Angry+, _adj._ Inflamed.\n\n +Anotherkins+, _adj._ Different altogether.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha sartinly raffled on tiv a gert len\u2019th, bud sha nivver\n tell\u2019d ma \u2019at Willie hed offered ti gi\u2019e ma summat\u2014that\u2019s\n anotherkins, thoo knows._\n\n +Anters+, _conj._ For fear, lest.\n\n +Any+, +Onny+, _adv._ At all, in the least.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah doan\u2019t aim \u2019at he\u2019ll help onny_, i.e. \u2018I do not think that\n he will help at all.\u2019 _He teeak ho\u2019d, bud he didn\u2019t lift onny_,\n i.e. \u2018He took hold, but he did not lift in the least.\u2019\n\n +Apace+, +Apaace+, _adv._ With great speed.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s gitten tweea mair lads; he\u2019ll git on apaace noo._\n\n +Appron+, _n._ The fat covering the belly of ducks and geese.\n\n +Arf+, +Arfish+, _adj._ 1. Timid, fearful.\n 2. Unwilling.\n Ex.\u20141. _He wur a bit arfish when t\u2019 dog boonced oot._\n 2. _Naay, Ah deean\u2019t think he\u2019ll cum, he seem\u2019d a bit arfish when\n Ah ax\u2019d him._\n\n +Argify+, _v._ To argue.\n\n +Arn+, _v._ To earn.\n\n +Arr+, _n._ A scar.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s afeear\u2019d he\u2019ll be arr\u2019d sairly on his feeace, he gat sae\n badly bo\u2019nt._\n\n +Arran web+, _n._ A cobweb.\n\n +Arridge+, _n._ The rough edge left after either sawing or filing;\n the edge of a squared stone, of furniture, &c.\n\n +Arse-end+, _n._ The end of a stook which rests upon the ground.\n\n +Arsey-varsey+, Upside down, great confusion.\n\n +Ashads+, _prep._ Beside.\n\n +Asher+, _adj._ Ashen.\n\n +Ask+, +Esk+, _n._ The newt.\n\n +Aslew+, _adj._ Not perpendicular.\n\n +Ass+, _v._ _Vide_ +Ax+.\n\n +Asseer+, _v._ To assure, _adv._ Instead, in the place of.\n\n +Assel-tree+, _n._ Axle-tree.\n\n +Ass-hoal+, _n._ A hole with a grate over it, usually under the\n kitchen fire, to hold the fine ash.\n\n +Assil-teeath+ or +-tewth+, _n._ A molar, a back tooth.\n\n +Ass-manner+, _n._ Manure obtained from the ash-midden.\n\n +Ass-midden+, _n._ The place in which ashes and other refuse is\n thrown.\n\n +Asteead+, _adv._ Instead.\n\n +As tite+, +Ez tite+, _adv._ As soon, rather, readily.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019d ez tite gan ez stop_, i.e. \u2018I would as soon go as stay.\u2019\n _Ah\u2019d ez tite kiss t\u2019 dowter ez t\u2019 muther_, i.e. \u2018I would rather\n kiss the daughter than the mother.\u2019\n\n +\u2018At+, _rel. pron._ and _conj._ 1. Who.\n 2. That.\n 3. Which.\n Ex.\u20141. _Him \u2019at tell\u2019d tha, tell\u2019d tha wrang_, i.e. \u2018He who told\n you, told you wrongly.\u2019\n 2. _Ah caan\u2019t saay \u2019at ivver Ah did_, i.e. \u2018I cannot say that ever\n I did.\u2019\n\n +At+, _prep._ 1. To.\n 2. Also used in a verbal sense of to worry.\n 3. To attack.\n 4. To bother.\n Ex.\u20141 and 3. _What\u2019s he deean at tha \u2019at thoo s\u2019u\u2019d at him leyke\n that?_ i.e. \u2018What has he done to you that you should attack or\n illuse him like that.\u2019\n 2 and 4. _Ah s\u2019all \u2019ev ti let her \u2019ev t\u2019 pup, ska\u2019s awlus at ma\n aboot it._\n\n +Atefter+ or +Atefther+, _adv._ Afterwards.\n Ex.\u2014_Whya, noo, Ah\u2019ll see tha atefter aboot it. Aye, that\u2019s what\n he sed at fo\u2019st, bud he tell\u2019d a different taal atefter._\n\n +Athout+, _prep._ and _conj._ Without, unless.\n\n +Atop o\u2019+, _prep._ On the top of.\n\n +Atter+, _n._ Matter, mucus.\n\n +Atween+, _prep._ Between.\n\n +Au\u2019d-feshioned+, _adj._ Precocious, antique.\n\n +Au\u2019d-leyke+, _adj._ Aged.\n\n +Aught+, _n._ Anything.\n\n +Aund+, +Awned+, _pp._ Possessed.\n\n +Aw+, _adj._ All.\n\n +Aw+, _intj._ Oh.\n\n +Awaay+, _intj._ Go on, continue doing the same thing.\n Ex.\u2014_It maay scream awaay foor owt \u2019at Ah care_, i.e. \u2018Scream on.\u2019\n \u2018Fight away, my lads.\u2019 \u2018Shout away, my boys.\u2019\n\n +Awaay-gannin\u2019 crops+, _n._ The crops an outgoing tenant sows and\n reaps on the farm he is leaving, in consideration of certain other\n land which he has fallowed and manured.\n\n +Awanting+, _adj._ 1. Needed.\n 2. Lacking sense.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 land\u2019s vastly awanting a sup o\u2019 rain._\n 2. _That bairn\u2019s a bit awanting._\n\n +Awe+, _Vide_ +Owe+.\n\n +Awhahl+, _conj._ Awhile. _Vide_ +Whahl+.\n\n +Awkward+, _Vide_ +Okkad+.\n\n +Awlus+, +Allus+, _adv._ Always.\n\n +Awm+, _n._ The elm.\n\n +Awn+, _v._ 1. To own.\n 2. To admit.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah awn t\u2019 dog_, i.e. \u2018I own the dog.\u2019\n 2. _Did ta awn tiv owt?_ i.e. \u2018Did you admit anything?\u2019 _Neea, Ah\n awned ti nowt_, i.e. \u2018No, I admitted nothing.\u2019 _Ti awn ti_, is\n \u2018to confess.\u2019\n\n +Ax+, +Ax\u2019d+, +Ass+, or +Ast+, _v._ To ask.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah ax\u2019d him, bud he wadn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e neea truck. Ah\u2019s ast oot ti\n tea ti morn at neet._ _Ah wadn\u2019t ax him owt_, or _ass him_.\n\n +Ax\u2019d at chetch or ch\u016dch+ } Publishing the banns.\n +Ax\u2019d oot+ }\n Ex.\u2014_Tha\u2019ll be ax\u2019d at chetch o\u2019 Sunday; he\u2019s putten t\u2019 spurrings\n in._\n\n +Aye+, +bairn+. Assent.\n\n +Aye+, +foor seear+. Aye, for sure.\n\n +Aye+, +marry+, _adv._ Certainly, yes.\n Ex.\u2014_Diz ta believe what sha\u2019s sed aboot Hannah? Aye, marry, that\n Ah deea\u2014Hannah war sadly flowtered t\u2019 other daay, when Ah plump\u2019d\n her wi\u2019 \u2018t._\n\n\n B.\n\n +Bab+, +Babby+, _n._ A baby.\n\n +Babbles an\u2019 Saunters+, 1. Wearying repetitions.\n 2. Unreliable information.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 sarmon war larl better \u2019an babbles an\u2019 saunters._\n 2. _Tak neea notish ov owt \u2019at sha sez, all \u2019at sha knaws is babbles\n an\u2019 saunters._\n\n +Back+, _v._ _Vide_ +Backen+.\n\n +Back-bearaway+, _n._ The common bat.\n\n +Back-burden+, _n._ A load carried on the back.\n\n +Backen+, _v._ 1. To retard.\n 2. To hold in check.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 frost \u2019ll backen things a gay bit._\n 2. _Wa did all \u2019at ivver wa c\u2019u\u2019d, bud wa c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t backen t\u2019\n inflammation; \u2019t \u2019ed gitten past deeaing owt, afoor t\u2019 doctor\n cam._\n\n +Back-end+, _n._ The time following harvest.\n\n +Backendish+, _adj._ Winterly.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s cau\u2019d, an\u2019 begins ti feel a larl bit backendish._\n\n +Backerly+, _adj._ and _adv._ Late, backward.\n\n +Backly+, _adv._ Late, backward.\n\n +Backreck\u2019nin\u2019+, _n._ A misunderstanding.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo Ah\u2019ve maad it plaan, \u2019evn\u2019t Ah? foor Ah deean\u2019t want\n neea backreck\u2019nin\u2019 at efter._\n\n +Back-talk+, _n._ Impudently answering again.\n\n +Back-side+, _n._ 1. The back of the house.\n 2. That part which is opposed to the front of anything.\n Ex.\u20141. _Put t\u2019 barrer at t\u2019 back-side._\n 2. _It\u2019s at t\u2019 back-side o\u2019 t\u2019 barn._\n\n +Backstan+, _n._ A sheet of iron, sometimes a stone, having an iron\n hoop to hang it over the fire by, used to bake cakes upon.\n\n +Back up, To get one\u2019s+, To make angry.\n\n +Back-word+, _adv._ To countermand, to decline.\n\n +Bad+, _adj._ 1. Difficult.\n 2. Unwell.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah finnd it varra bad ti deea._\n 2. _Ah feel ez bad ez ivver Ah can._\n\n +Bad+, +Bod+, _pret._ of \u2019to bid.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_Ah bad, an\u2019 sha bod, an\u2019 Tommy gat it._\n\n +Badger+, _n._ A huckster.\n\n +Badger+, _v._ To beat down in a bargain.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo mun ass him a lump mair \u2019an what thoo wants, foor he\u2019s\n a despert yan at badgering._\n\n +Badly+, _adv._ 1. Sickly, ill.\n 2. Very much.\n Ex.\u20141. _Mah wo\u2019d, bud Ah is badly._\n 2. _Ah\u2019s badly i\u2019 want ov a self-binnder. It badly wants leeaking\n teea._\n\n +Badness+, _n._ Wickedness.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s full o\u2019 nowt bud badness._\n\n +Bags Ah fuggy+, \u2018I claim the first,\u2019 whether it be innings or\n first place in a game, &c.\n\n +Bahd+, _Vide_ +Bide+.\n\n +Bainest+, _adj._ The nearest.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s t\u2019 bainest waay ti gan byv t\u2019 pastur._\n\n +Bairn+, +Barn+, +Baan+, _n._ A child.\n\n +Bairn-birth+, _n._ Lying-in.\n\n +Bairnish+, _adj._ Childish.\n\n +Bairn-lakings+, _n._ Playthings.\n\n +Bakin\u2019+, _n._ The whole of the bread baked at one time.\n\n +Bakus+, +Bakehoos+, _n._ The bakehouse.\n\n +Balk+, +Bawk+, _n._ A beam, also a worthless corner of a field.\n\n +Ball+, _n._ The palm of the hand, or sole of the foot.\n\n +Bally-bleeazes+, _n._ A bonfire.\n\n +Bam+, _n._ and _v._ 1. A cheat, a joke, to cheat.\n 2. To play a joke.\n Ex.\u20141. _He bamm\u2019d ivvery hand he played._\n 2. _He went all t\u2019 waay ti Stowsla ti see her, an\u2019 sha nivver\n cam oot; it war nowt bud a bam o\u2019 Jack\u2019s._\n\n +Band+, _n._ String, twisted straw used by the harvesters to bind\n sheaves with.\n\n +Band-maker+, _n._ A maker of bands in the harvest-field.\n\n +Bang+, _v._ To thrash.\n\n +Bangs all+, _v._ Surpasses everything.\n Ex.\u2014_He bangs all, yon youth. That\u2019s a capper; it bangs all, it\n diz._\n\n +Bank up+, _v._ To collect in masses, as clouds.\n\n +Banky+, _adj._ Hilly, applied to road or land.\n\n +Bar+, _adj._ Bare.\n\n +Barfan+, _n._ A horse-collar.\n\n +Bargh+, +Barugh+, +Barf+, _n._ A hill forming part of a low ridge,\n as Lang Barugh, Great Ayton.\n\n +Bargollies+, _n._ Young birds before they are feathered.\n\n +Barguest+, _n._ An apparition, applied to ghosts in general.\n\n +Barken\u2019d+, _v._ Encrusted.\n\n +Barley-bairn+, _n._ A child born shortly after marriage.\n\n +Barm+, _n._ Yeast.\n\n +Barren+, _n._ The external part of the sexual organ of a cow.\n\n +Barrow+, _n._ The flannel in which a newly-born child is wrapped.\n\n +Bass+, _n._ Any kind of matting made from reeds or grass.\n\n +Bat+, _n._ 1. A blow.\n 2. A condition.\n 3. A small amount of work.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah gav\u2019 him sike a bat ower t\u2019 lug._\n 2. _He\u2019s awlus at that bat_, i.e. \u2018game.\u2019\n 3. _Ah\u2019ve nut deean a bat sen yesterdaay._\n\n +Bate+, _v._ To reduce in price.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti bate summat afoor wa can barg\u2019in._\n\n +Bath+, _v._ To wash a child; to foment with hot water.\n\n +Batten+, _n._ Two sheaves of straw.\n\n +Batter+, _n._ An inclination inwards, a narrowing towards the\n summit. A wall which is wider at the base than at the summit is\n said to \u2018batter.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019ll be leyke ti gi\u2019e it a bit mair batter, foor if\n t\u2019 bank at t\u2019 back gi\u2019es waay, it\u2019ll nivver bahd it thrussin\u2019\n agaan \u2019t._\n\n +Batter-fanged+, _adj._ Beaten and scratched by a woman.\n Ex.\u2014_He nobbut sed tweea wo\u2019ds ti Ann, when sha batter-fang\u2019d\n him sairly._\n\n +Battin+, _n._ A rafter of any length, 7 \u00d7 2\u00bd in. thick.\n\n +Baufy+, _adj._ Strong.\n\n +Bavin+, _n._ A bundle of sticks.\n\n +Bawks+, _n._ The yoke.\n\n +Bazzak+, _v._ To strike with force.\n\n +Beck+, _n._ A small stream.\n\n +Bedfast+, _adj._ Confined to bed.\n\n +Bed-happings+, _n._ Bedclothes.\n\n +Bed-heead+, _n._ The pillow end.\n\n +Bedho\u2019dden+, _adj._ _Vide_ +Bedfast+.\n\n +Bedoot+, +Beoot+, _prep._ 1. Without.\n 2. Unless.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti gan bedoot tha._\n 2. _Bedoot thoo cums an\u2019 all, Ah saan\u2019t gan, soa thoo knaws._\n\n +Bedstock+, _n._ The wooden frame of a bed.\n\n +Bed-twilt+, _n._ Bed-quilt.\n\n +Beeaf+, _n._ The bough of a tree. _Vide_ also Bugh.\n\n +Beeak+, _v._ To bake.\n\n +Beeal+, _v._ 1. To roar as an animal.\n 2. To cry out in pain.\n 3. To shout loudly.\n Ex.\u20141. _He beeal\u2019d leyke a bull when tha catch\u2019d him._\n 2. _Ah nivver heeard a lass beeal oot leyke what sha did when\n t\u2019 doctor cut her wicklow._\n 3. _When he calls o\u2019 yan, he beeals ez if yan war deeaf; he\n ommaist deavens yan._\n\n +Beean+, _n._ A bone.\n\n +Beean\u2019t+, Be not (am not).\n\n +Beearer+, _n._ Martingale.\n\n +Beeas+, +Beeos+, +Beeast+, _n._ An animal of the ox kind.\n\n +Beeaslings+, _n._ The first milk drawn from a cow after calving.\n\n +Beeldin\u2019+, _n._ A building.\n\n +Bee-skep+, _n._ A straw hive.\n\n +Behappen+, _v._ To happen to, perhaps.\n\n +Behauf+, _n._ Behalf, sake.\n\n +Beho\u2019dden+, _pp._ To be indebted to.\n\n +Belang+, _v._ To own, to belong to.\n\n +Belder+, _v._ To bellow as a bull, to cry out loudly.\n\n +Beleyke+, _adv._ Probably.\n\n +Belk+, _v._ To belch.\n\n +Bellacing+, _part._ A sound thrashing.\n\n +Belly-cheer+, _n._ Good cheer.\n\n +Belly-glut+, _n._ A greedy glutton.\n\n +Belly-timber+, _n._ Food.\n\n +Belly-wark+, _n._ A pain in the stomach.\n\n +Belt+, _pp._ of \u2018Build.\u2019\n\n +Bensil+, _n._ A blow.\n\n +Bensiling+, _n._ A sound chastisement.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha sike a bensiling if ivver thoo cums that\n gam agaan._\n\n +Benty+, _adj._ Wiry, blue-looking, applied to pasture herbage.\n\n +Berry-tree+, _n._ The gooseberry tree.\n\n +Bessy-babs+, _n._ One who behaves like a child.\n\n +Bessy-bainworts+, _n._ Daisies.\n\n +Bessy-ducker+ or -+douker+, _n._ The water-ousel.\n\n +Best leg first, To put one\u2019s+ = To hurry.\n Ex.\u2014_If ya aim ti catch t\u2019 traan ya\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti put yer best leg\n fo\u2019st._\n\n +Best+ and +Bested+. Used in a verbal sense\u20141. To get the better of.\n 2. To overcome.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah bested him_, i.e. \u2018I got the better of him.\u2019\n 2. _Ah can seean best yon youth_, i.e. \u2018I can soon vanquish that\n fellow,\u2019\n\n +Bethink+, +Bethowt+, _v._ To recollect.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah caan\u2019t bethink ma ov hauf o\u2019 what sha sed. When Tom ga\u2019\n ma a inklin\u2019 Ah bethowt ma ov ivverything \u2019at \u2019ed ta\u2019en\n pleeace; aye, all \u2019at t\u2019 ane \u2019ed sed ti t\u2019 other, thoff afoor\n that all t\u2019 lot \u2019ed cleean slipped fra mah mahnd._\n\n +Better+, _adj._ and _v._ 1. More.\n 2. To gain by.\n 3. Improved in health.\n Ex.\u20141. _It\u2019s better \u2019an a month sen._\n 2. _Ah s\u2019 better mysel by changing pleeaces._\n 3. _Ah\u2019s a lot better ti-daay._\n\n +Bettering+, _n._ An improvement.\n\n +Bettermy+, _adj._ 1. Used to denote those in a higher position.\n 2. Polished.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 bettermy fau\u2019k \u2019ez their waays, an\u2019 wa\u2019 \u2018ev oors;\n bud when onny on \u2019em cums inti mah cottage, Ah awlus puts on\n mah bettermy manners, an\u2019 Ah can scrape mah tongue an\u2019 knack\n a bit wi t\u2019 best on \u2019em._\n\n +Beyont+, _prep._ Beyond.\n\n +Bickerin+\u2019, _n._ A wordy conflict, quarrelling.\n Ex.\u2014_Tommy an\u2019 Mary\u2019s at it agaan; Ah nivver heeard sike\n bickerin\u2019 deed ez yon tweea \u2019ev, tha\u2019re awlus at it._\n\n +Bid+, _v._ To invite to a funeral.\n\n +Bidder+, _n._ The person deputed to bid guests to a funeral.\n\n +Bide+, +Bahd+, _v._ 1. To endure.\n 2. To wait.\n 3. To dwell.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah caan\u2019t bahd yon chap._\n 2. _Ah\u2019ll bahd here whahl ya cum._\n 3. _Wheear did ta bahd afoor thoo cam ti live here?_\n\n +Big+, _adj._ Strong\u2014of the wind.\n Ex.\u2014_It war a fairly big wind last neet._\n\n +Bigg+, _n._ Barley having four rows of ears on one stalk.\n\n +Bike+, _n._ The nest of the wild bee.\n\n +Bile+, _n._ A boil.\n\n +Binch+, _n._ A bench to work upon.\n\n +Bink+, _n._ A long seat of either stone or wood.\n\n +Binnd+, _v._ To bind.\n\n +Binnder+, +Binndther+, _n._ The tier-up of sheaves.\n\n +Birk+, _n._ The birch-tree.\n\n +Birr+, _n._ Rapid motion accompanied with a sound like whirr-r-r.\n Ex.\u2014_T\u2019 bo\u2019ds gat up an\u2019 went wi\u2019 sike a birr, \u2019at Ah aim he war\n ti freet\u2019n\u2019d ti shut at \u2019em._\n\n +Bishel+, _n._ A bushel.\n\n +Bishopped+, _Vide_ Set on.\n\n +Biv+, +Byv+, _prep._ By.\n\n +Bizzum+, +Buzzum+, _n._ A broom.\n\n +Bizzum-heead+, _n._ A person who is equally foolish and stupid.\n\n +Bizzum-+ or +Buzzum-heeaded+, _adj._ Stupid and foolish.\n\n +Black-clocks+, _n._ Black beetles.\n\n +Blacking+, _n._ A severe scolding.\n\n +Bladdry+, +Blathery+[110], _adj._ Muddy, applied to soft splashy\n mud.\n\n +Blaeberry+, _n._ The bilberry.\n\n +Blair+, _v._ To roar loudly, to shout loudly.\n\n +Blake+, _adj._ Of a light golden hue, pale.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo, that\u2019s a bit o\u2019 neyce blake butter. Thoo nobbut leeaks\n blakeish._\n\n +Blake+, _v._ Intoxicated.\n Ex.\u2014_Jim war fairly blake last neet._\n\n +Blane+, _n._ A small boil.\n\n +Blash+, _v._ 1. To splash with water.\n 2. _adj._ Nonsense, idle talk.\n\n +Blashment+, _n._ Melted snow or soft mud.\n\n +Blashy+, _adj._ Applied to wet weather. The roads are said to be\n \u2018blashy\u2019 when the snow melts.\n\n +Blather+, _adj._ and _n._ Nonsense.\n\n +Bleb+, _n._ A blister, a small bubble.\n\n +Bleck+, _n._ The dirt and oil worked together on a machine.\n\n +Bleea+, _n._ The inner bark of a tree.\n\n +Blendcorn+, _n._ A mixture of wheat and rye.\n\n +Blendings+, _n._ A mixture of peas and beans.\n\n +Blether+, _n._ Noisy foolish talk.\n\n +Bletherheead+, _n._ One full of silly talk.\n\n +Blew milk+, _n._ Skim milk.\n\n +Blind-worm+, _n._ A non-venomous snake.\n\n +Blirt+, _v._ To tell anything suddenly.\n Ex.\u2014_Yan caan\u2019t trust Sally wi\u2019 nowt, sha blirts oot all sha\n knows._\n\n +Blish-blash+, _n._ Tittle-tattle.\n\n +Blo\u2019+, _n._ Bloom.\n\n +Blob+, _v._ To bubble, as air rising in water.\n Ex.\u2014_He tumm\u2019l\u2019d blob inti t\u2019 beck_ is quite a common form of\n speech. The original meaning may have been that the falling\n in caused many bubbles.\n\n +Bloss+, _v._ and _n._ 1. To make ugly, to disfigure.\n 2. A dowdy.\n Ex.\u20141. _Her feeace war bloss\u2019d wi\u2019 blebs an\u2019 blanes._\n 2. _Sha is a bloss is yon lass._\n\n +Blotch+, _n._ A blot, a spot.\n\n +Blubber+ or +Bluther+, _v._ To cry.\n\n +Blur+, _v._ To blot or smear.\n\n +Blurt+, _v._ To suddenly weep.\n\n +Blustery+, _adj._ Squally.\n\n +Blutherment+, _n._ Puddle, slush of any kind.\n\n +Bobblekins+, _n._ The water buttercup.\n\n +Bodden+, _v._ 1. To impose too heavy a task.\n 2. To accuse, to charge with.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s bodd\u2019n\u2019d t\u2019 lad wi\u2019 mair an\u2019 a day\u2019s wark._\n 2. _Well, an\u2019 thoo\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e slapt her a feeace an\u2019 all if sha\u2019d\n bodd\u2019n\u2019d thee wi\u2019 t\u2019 seeam ez sha plump\u2019d me wi\u2019._\n\n +Bodden+, _pp._ of \u2018to bide.\u2019\n\n +Boddum+, _v._ To thoroughly investigate.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll boddum \u2019t if it cost ma fahve pund._\n\n +Boddums+, _n._ and _adj._ Lowest, lowest ground.\n\n +Boddy+, _n._ A person.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s a deeacent boddy, is \u2018Liza._\n\n +Boggart+ } _n._ A ghost.\n +Boggle+ }\n\n +Boggle+, _v._ To jib, to frame badly; also a _n._ inaptitude.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019ll mak nowt bud a boggle on \u2019t._\n\n +Boiling+, _n._ The whole lot, whether of persons or things.\n\n +Bolden+, _v._ To encourage, to incite.\n Ex.\u2014_Yance ower Ah felt a larl bit fearsome, bud he bolden\u2019d ma\n ti deea \u2019t, seea Ah bunched him._\n\n +Boll+, _n._ The trunk of a tree.\n\n +Bonny+, _adj._ 1. A large quantity or number.\n 2. Strange.\n 3. Good-looking.\n Ex.\u2014_Aye, ther\u2019 wur a bonny lot on \u2019em, a vast mair \u2019an Ah\u2019d\n aim\u2019d ti see._\n 2. _Ther\u2019ll be bonny deed i\u2019 Bedale a week cum Mundaay._\n 3. _It\u2019s a bonny-leeaking meer._\n\n +Bon\u2019t!+ _intj._ Bother it (literally, burn it).\n\n +Bo\u2019nt+, _pp._ Burnt.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s bo\u2019nt her pinny wiv a cat\u2019ren wheel._\n\n +Booak+, +Bowk+, _v._ To retch, to vomit.\n\n +Book+, +Bouk+, _n._ Bulk.\n\n +Bool+, _v._ To trundle a hoop.\n\n +Booler+, _n._ A child\u2019s hoop.\n\n +Bor+, _n._ The seed of the burdock.\n\n +Borril+, _n._ The gadfly.\n\n +Bost+, _v._ To burst or break in small pieces.\n\n +Botch+, _v._ To repair in an unworkmanlike manner.\n\n +Botchet+, _n._ Mead, made from honey.\n\n +Bottery+, +Bore-tree+, +Bur-tree+, _n._ The alder-tree.\n\n +Bottom+, _Vide_ +Boddums+.\n\n +Boult+ or +Bou\u2019t upright+. Upright, erect.\n\n +Boun+, +Bun+, _adj._ Going, on the point of.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s bun ti deea\u2019t t\u2019 next job. Ah doot t\u2019 au\u2019d thing\u2019s\n boun ti dee. Ah war just boun ti pop ower, if thoo \u2019edn\u2019t\n dropt in._\n\n +Bound+, +Bun+, _adj._ Compelled.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s \u2019a\u2019e ti gan, in fact Ah\u2019s bound ti gan._\n\n +Bounder-marks+ or +-steeans+, _n._ Stones erected to mark\n boundaries.\n\n +Bow-bridge+ or +-brigg+, _n._ A one-arched bridge, several of\n which still exist.\n\n +Bowdykite+, _n._ An impudent child.\n\n +Boxin+, _adj._ Buxom.\n\n +Brack+, _pret._ of \u2018to breke,\u2019 \u2018breck,\u2019 or \u2018breeak.\u2019\n\n +Bracken+, _n._ The common fern (_Pteris aquilina_).\n\n +Brade+, _v._ To spread abroad.\n\n +Brading aboot+, _part._ Gossiping.\n\n +Brae+, _n._ The overhanging portion of the bank of a river.\n\n +Braeful+, _adj._ Bankful.\n\n +Brag+, _v._ To boast.\n\n +Brahdal-bands+, _Vide_ +Bridal-bands+.\n\n +Brahd-wain+, _n._ A wagon laden with furniture, &c., taken\n from the home of the bride.\n\n +Braid-band+, _n._ A sheaf of corn laid out to dry.\n\n +Bramlings+, _n._ The red worms used as bait for trout.\n\n +Bramm\u2019l+, _n._ The bramble.\n\n +Brander+, _n._ An arrangement varying in design\u2014often in the shape\n of a tripod\u2014fixed over the fire to support pans, &c.\n\n +Brander+, _v._ To cook over the fire.\n\n +Brandery+, _n._ A wood frame used in making wells.\n\n +Bran-new+, +Brander spander new+, _adj._ Quite new.\n\n +Brant+, _adj._ Steep.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti put t\u2019 skid on, its varra brant._\n\n +Brash+, _n._ Useless refuse, a rising of acid into the mouth.\n\n +Brashy+, _adj._ Worthless.\n\n +Brass+, _n._ 1. Money.\n 2. Impudence.\n Ex.\u20141. _Brass nivver chinks sae sweetly ez when t\u2019 soond cums\n fra yan\u2019s awn pocket._\n 2. _If he\u2019d nobbut hauf ez mich brass iv his pocket ez he \u2019ez iv\n his feeace, he nivver need deea a hand stroak._\n\n +Brassend+, +Brazzend+, _adj._ Impudent. When applied to a female,\n immoral.\n\n +Brat+, _n._ A child.\n\n +Brattice+, _n._ A wooden partition dividing two rooms.\n\n +Bratty+, _adj._ Applied to cream or milk when turning sour.\n\n +Brave+, _adj._ Good in quality as well as in appearance.\n\n +Bravely+, _adj._ and _adv._ Exceeding, exceedingly well.\n\n +Bray+, _v._ 1. To thrash, flog.\n 2. To overcome.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll bray tha when thoo cums in._\n 2. _Ah can bray yon chap wi\u2019 yah han\u2019 i\u2019 mah pocket._\n\n +Brazent+, +Brazened+. Impudent. _Vide_ +Brassend+.\n\n +Breaks+, +Brooks+, _n._ Boils.\n\n +Breeath, To take away one\u2019s+ = To overcome.\n Ex.\u2014_It teeak mah breeath away when tha tell\u2019d ma \u2019at he\u2019d deean\n foor hissen_, i.e. \u2018It filled me with surprise when they told\n me that he had _deean for hissen_,\u2019 i.e. committed suicide.\n\n +Brede+, _n._ Breadth.\n\n +Bree+, +Breece+, _n._ The gadfly.\n\n +Breer+ }\n +Breear+ } _n._ The briar, the dog-rose.\n\n +Breeacus+, +Breckus+, _n._ Breakfast.\n\n +Breead leeaf+ or +loaaf+, _n._ A bread loaf.\n\n +Breead meal+, _n._ Flour from which brown bread is made.\n\n +Breead-ratched+, _adj._ Broad-striped.\n\n +Breeak+, +Breek+, +Brek+, _v._ To break.\n\n +Breeak one\u2019s day, To+ = To fail to keep an appointment; to spoil\n a day\u2019s employment by having to attend to some trivial duty.\n\n +Breeam+, _n._ The broom (_Genista scoparia_).\n\n +Breed+, _n._ A brood, a litter.\n\n +Breekin\u2019+, _n._ That part of a tree where the stem breaks into\n branches.\n\n +Breekless+, _adj._ Without breeches.\n\n +Breeks+, _n._ Breeches.\n\n +Breke+ or +Breear+, _v._ To break.\n\n +Bridal-band+, _n._ The name given to the bride\u2019s garter\n (_obsolete_).\n\n +Bride-ale+, _n._ Another form of hotpot. _Vide_ chapter on\n \u2018Customs.\u2019\n\n +Bride-wain+, _n._ _Vide_ +Brahd-wain+.\n\n +Brief+, _n._ A begging letter.\n\n +Brigg+, _n._ A bridge; a natural bed of rocks standing\n considerably out of the water and projecting into the sea.\n\n +Briggsteean+, _n._ Flags or stones covering a culvert in front of\n a gateway, or in other places, so as to serve the purpose of a\n bridge in miniature.\n\n +Brim+, _v._ Applied to a sow when inclined to the boar.\n\n +Brissling+, _adj._ A slight gale of wind.\n\n +Brock+, _n._ The badger; the frog-hopper or cuckoo-spit\n (_Aphrophora spumaria_).\n\n +Brog+, _v._ To feed on the young hedge-shoots.\n\n +Brokken-bodied+, _adj._ Suffering from hernia.\n\n +Brole+, +Browl+, +Brul+, _n._ An impudent, saucy girl.\n\n +Bru+, _n._ The brow, forehead.\n\n +Bruff+, +Bluff+, _adj._ Fresh-complexioned, rough in speech,\n brusque.\n\n +Brully+, _n._ A squabble amongst neighbours, a broil, a storm at\n sea of short duration.\n\n +Brully+ }\n +Brullier+ } _n._ A stealer of marbles.\n\n +Brully+, _v._ To steal marbles (taws) from the ring whilst a game\n is in progress, by some bully having no part in the game.\n\n +Brumm\u2019l-neeased+, +-nooazed+, +-noased+ } _adj._ Rubicund.\n +Brumm\u2019l-snouted+ }\n\n +Brumm\u2019ls+, _Vide_ +Bramm\u2019l+.\n\n +Brunt+, _Vide_ +Brant+.\n\n +Brussel+, +Brissel+, _v._ To hector, swagger, show off.\n Ex.\u2014_He went bruss\u2019ling aboot ez if t\u2019 field war hisen, bud when\n Jack\u2019s lad offered him oot ti feight, he \u2019edn\u2019t a wo\u2019d ti saay\n foor hissel._\n\n +Brussen+, _pp._ of Burst.\n\n +Brussen-hearted+, _adj._ Broken-hearted.\n\n +Brussen oot+, _adj._ Covered with blotches or sores.\n\n +Brussen+ or +Brusten up+, _adj._ Burst, broken into small pieces.\n\n +Buckheeads+, _n._ The living stump of a thorn hedge left to grow\n after slashing.\n\n +Budge+, _v._ To move, to give way in a bargain.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah weean\u2019t budge an inch foor neeabody. Ah weean\u2019t budge a\n farden._\n\n +Buer+, _n._ The gnat.\n\n +Buff+, _n._ The blow given as a challenge to fight.\n\n +Bugh+, +Bew+, _n._ A bough.\n\n +Bull+, _v._ To serve a cow.\n\n +Bullace+, _n._ Wild plum, of a green colour when ripe.\n\n +Bull-feeaces+, +Bull-fronts+, _n._ The hair-grass (_Aira\n caespitosa_).\n\n +Bull-heead+, _n._ A small flat-headed fish found under stones,\n the miller\u2019s thumb.\n\n +Bullock+, _v._ To bully, to be overbearing.\n Ex.\u2014_If thoo aims \u2019at thoo can cum a bullocking o\u2019 ma, thoo\u2019s\n wrang, sae thoo\u2019d better off wi\u2019 thisel._\n\n +Bulls+, _n._ Bulrushes, also the cross-beams of a harrow which\n carry the tines.\n\n +Bulls and segs+, _n._ The name often given to the stalk and\n seed-head of the bulrush, the leaves being called \u2018segs\u2019; hence\n \u2018bulls and segs.\u2019\n\n +Bull-seg+, A bull castrated in its prime.\n\n +Bull-spink+, _n._ The chaffinch.\n\n +Bull-stang+, +Bull-teng+, _n._ Dragon-fly.\n\n +Bull-steean+, _n._ A stone used for sharpening tools.\n\n +Bullyrag+, _v._ To be exceedingly overbearing.\n\n +Bum-bailiff+, _n._ A bailiff.\n\n +Bumm\u2019l-barfan+, _n._ A horse-collar made of reeds.\n\n +Bumm\u2019l-bee+, _n._ The humble-bee.\n\n +Bumm\u2019l-kites+, _n._ The fruit of the bramble.\n\n +Bumper+ } _Vide_ { +Thumper+.\n +Bumping+ } { +Thumping+.\n\n +Bumping+, _n._ An initiating ceremony at some schools of bumping\n a new boy on a stoop or otherwise.\n\n +Bunch+, _v._ To kick with the foot, or violently bump with the\n knee. N.B.\u2014\u2018To bunch\u2019 is \u2018to kick,\u2019 \u2018to punch\u2019 is \u2018to hit.\u2019\n\n +Burden+, +Bod\u2019n+, _n._ Anything one has to bear, whether mentally\n or physically.\n\n +Burden-band+, _n._ A hempen band used to bind hay, to be carried on\n the back.\n\n +Burdened+, _adj._ Insane.\n\n +Burn+, _n._ A brook.\n\n +Burr+, _n._ Anything used to prop a wheel from running backwards\n downhill. A burr proper is a round cylinder of wood with a loose\n iron pin through it; this is so fixed that it runs on the ground\n behind the wheel, and automatically prevents the wheel running back.\n\n +Burr-thistle+, _n._ The spear-headed thistle.\n\n +Busk+, _n._ A small bush.\n\n +Bustard+, _n._ A witch bereft of power to work ill (_obsolete_).\n _Vide_ chapter on \u2018Witchcraft.\u2019\n\n +Butch+, _v._ To kill as a butcher.\n\n +Butt+, _n._ The halibut.\n\n +Butter-fingered+, _adj._ Applied to one who lets things\n drop.\n\n +Butter-mouthed+, _adj._ Flattery.\n\n +Butter-scotch+, _n._ A superior kind of toffee.\n\n +Buzzard+, _n._ A large moth.\n\n +Buzznacking+, _part._ Gossiping.\n\n +By mich+, _adj._ By a good deal.\n\n +By noo+, _adj._ By now, by this time.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo owt ti \u2019a\u2019e lap\u2019t t\u2019 job up by noo._\n\n +Byre+, _n._ A cow-house.\n\n\n C.\n\n +Caan\u2019t+, pronounced \u2018carnt,\u2019 _v._ Cannot, must not.\n Ex.\u2014_You caan\u2019t do that_, i.e. \u2018You must not do that.\u2019\n\n +Cabbish+, _n._ Cabbage.\n\n +Cade+, _n._ A sheep-tick. _Vide_ +Kead+.\n\n +Cadge+, _v._ To beg.\n\n +Cadger+, _n._ A carrier, a beggar.\n\n +Caff+, _n._ Chaff.\n\n +Caffed+, _adj._ Cowed, dispirited.\n\n +Caff-hearted+, _adj._ Nervous, cowardly, unprincipled.\n\n +Caffy+, _adj._ Worthless.\n\n +Caggy+, _adj._ Touchy, disposed to quarrel.\n\n +Cagmag+, _adj._ and _n._ Worthless.\n\n +Caingy+, _adj._ Fretful, peevish.\n\n +Cake+, _v._ To cackle.\n\n +Caling+, _v._ To gossip.\n\n +Call+, _n._ Occasion, necessity, reason.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s nut gahin\u2019, Ah\u2019ve neea call ti gan_, i.e. \u2018I am not\n going, I have no occasion to go. _Ther wur neea call for tha\n ti deea that._\n\n +Call+, _v._ 1. To scold.\n 2. To quarrel.\n 3. To call to or for.\n Ex.\u20141. _Sha\u2019s nobbut calling o\u2019 ma ti call ma_, i.e. \u2018She is only\n shouting for me to (give) me a scolding.\u2019\n 2. _Tha\u2019re calling yan anuther leyke all that_, i.e. \u2018They are\n quarrelling with one another like anything.\u2019\n 3. _Ah\u2019ll call on him ti cum_, i.e. \u2018I will shout for him to\n come.\u2019\n\n +Callet+, _n._ A scold, a railing woman.\n\n +Callet+, _v._ To scold.\n\n +Callety+, _adj._ Scolding, nagging.\n\n +Call of+, +Call on+, _v._ To cry to.\n\n +Calven-coo+, _n._ A cow recently calved.\n\n +Cam+, +Camside+, _n._ A raised earthen bank, the sloping bank from\n a hedge bottom.\n\n +Cambril+, +Caumbril+, +Caum\u2019ril+, _n._ The notched wooden bar\n which is thrust through the tendons of the hind legs of a\n slaughtered beast to suspend it by.\n\n +Can+, _v._ May. \u2018Can\u2019 is commonly used for \u2018may.\u2019\n Ex. Q. _Can I smoke here?_ Ans. _No, you caan\u2019t_, i.e. \u2018No, you\n may not.\u2019\n\n +Canker+, _v._ To rust.\n\n +Cankery+, _adj._ Cross, rotten.\n\n +Cannily+, _adv._ Wisely, with subtility, nicely.\n\n +Canny+, _adj._ Pleasing, judicious, skilful, considerable as to\n number.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s a canny lass_, i.e. \u2018pleasing.\u2019 _Thoo fraam\u2019d varra\n cannily wiv him_, i.e. \u2018You set to work very judiciously with\n him.\u2019 _He did it varra cannily_, i.e. \u2018He did it very\n skilfully.\u2019 _Whya, ther wur a cannyish few on \u2019em_, i.e. \u2018Why,\n there were a considerable number.\u2019\n\n +Cant+, _v._ To raise one end.\n\n +Canty+, _adj._ Full of spirits, lively.\n\n +Cap+, _v._ To fix a piece of leather over the toe of a boot; to\n surprise, bewilder, excel.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah nivver war sae capped i\u2019 mah leyfe_, i.e. \u2018I never was\n so surprised in my life.\u2019 _Ah caan\u2019t tell hoo he mannish\u2019d ti\n deea \u2019t, he capped me_, i.e. \u2018I cannot say how he managed to\n do it, he bewildered me.\u2019 _Yon caps \u2019em all_, i.e. \u2018That one\n over there excels them all.\u2019\n\n +Capper+, _n._ Something which surpasses all others.\n\n +Caps all+ = Exceeds in everything.\n\n +Capster+, _n._ A piece of wood roughly shaped like the bridge of a\n bagatelle board, each arch being numbered, the boy winning by\n that number placed over the arch he shoots through; should he not\n succeed in passing through any arch, he loses his taw.\n\n +Card up+, _v._ To sweep and tidy up the fireside.\n\n +Cark+, _v._ To be careful, anxious.\n\n +Carlings+, _n._ Peas cooked in butter, prepared for Carling Sunday.\n\n +Carneyed+, _pp._ Flattered, coaxed.\n\n +Carp+, _v._ To doubt without reason.\n\n +Carr+, _n._ Low-lying boggy land.\n\n +Carryings on+, _n._ Lively, disorderly proceedings.\n\n +Cassen+, _Vide_ +Kessen+.\n\n +Cast down, To be+, _v._ To be downhearted, dispirited.\n\n +Cast+, +Kest+, _adj._ Not straight, warped.\n\n +Cast+, +Kest+, _v._ To cease wearing.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah kest yan o\u2019 my petticoats, and Ah\u2019ve catch\u2019d my deeath\n o\u2019 cau\u2019d._\n\n +Cast, To be+, _v._ To be bent, warped.\n\n +Cast up+, _v._ 1. To twit a person with some past failing.\n 2. To happen unexpectedly.\n 3. To come to light.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah think \u2019at Ah wadn\u2019t kest that up at him._\n 2. _Well, it caps yan when a thing leyke that kests up._\n 3. _Ah thowt \u2019at Ah\u2019d lost it, but it kest up i\u2019 yan o\u2019 ma au\u2019d\n coats._\n\n +Catch it+, _v._ To be reprimanded, punished.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019ll catch it when thi mudher sees tha._ I heard a woman\n say to her daughter, when giving the child a jug of milk to take\n to a neighbour\u2019s, _If thoo lets it drop, thoo\u2019ll catch it_.\n\n +Cat-collop+, _n._ Cat\u2019s-meat.\n\n +Cat-gallows+, _n._ Two upright forked sticks upon which a\n cross-bar rests as an obstacle for boys to jump over.\n\n +Cat-haws+, _n._ The fruit of the hawthorn.\n\n +Cat-jugs+, _Vide_ +Dog-choops+.\n\n +Cats and eyes+, _n._ Seeds of the ash-tree.\n\n +Cat-trail+, _n._ The root of valerian.\n\n +Cau\u2019d+, _adj._ and _n._ Cold.\n\n +Cauf+, +Cauff+, _n._ A calf.\n\n +Cauf-heead+, _n._ A stupid fellow.\n\n +Cauf-lick+, _n._ A tuft of hair on the forehead which cannot be\n parted or made to lie flat.\n\n +Cauf-riddling+, _Vide_ chapter on \u2018Superstition.\u2019\n\n +Caul+, _n._ _Vide_ +Keld+.\n\n +Causer+, +Caus\u2019ay+, _n._ A causeway, a paved footpath.\n\n +Cess+, _n._ A rate for parish relief;\n the amount paid to the poor by the overseer.\n\n +Cess+, _n._ 1. Extra effort.\n 2. Punishment.\n Ex.\u20141. _Gi\u2019e \u2019t cess, an\u2019 thoo\u2019ll seean \u2019a\u2019e \u2019t deean_, i.e.\n \u2018Give it an extra effort, and you will soon have it done.\n 2. _Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha cess when Ah git ho\u2019d on tha._\n\n +Cess getherer+, _n._ Rate collector.\n\n +Chaff+, _v._ To tease by using playful but provoking language.\n\n +Chaff+, +Chafts+, _n._ The jaw, generally that of a pig.\n\n +Chaffer+, _v._ 1. To banter or beat down in a bargain.\n 2. An interchange of provoking remarks.\n Ex.\u20141. _He chaffered that mich, whahl Ah ax\u2019d him if he wanted\n t\u2019 meer foor nowt?_\n 2. _Dolly\u2019s chaffering wi\u2019 Sally agaan._\n\n +Chaff-fallen+, _adj._ Dejected.\n\n +Challenge+, _v._ To recognize.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah c\u2019u\u2019d challenge oor bitch among all t\u2019 dogs i\u2019 t\u2019 show.\n Sha\u2019s good ti challenge onnywheer._\n\n +Chamber+, +Chamer+, _n._ A room above the ground-floor.\n\n +Champ+, +Champion+, _adj._ Excellent, very well.\n\n +Chance bairn+, _n._ An illegitimate child.\n\n +Chander+, _n._ A chaldron.\n\n +Change+, _v._ To turn sour.\n\n +Channely+, _adv._ Grandly.\n\n +Chanter+, _n._ A chorister.\n\n +Chare+, _adv._ Careful, doubtful.\n\n +Chass+, _n._ Haste. _v._ To follow quickly.\n\n +Chatt+, _n._ A fir cone.\n\n +Chatter+, _v._ To make an uneven surface;\n to shake, as machinery running unevenly.\n\n +Chaudy-bag+, _n._ The stomach of an animal.\n\n +Chaudy-guts+, _n._ A greedy, gluttonous fellow.\n\n +Chavel+, _v._ To chew as one without teeth, to gnaw.\n\n +Cheean+, _n._ A chain.\n\n +Cheeany+, The common pronunciation of \u2018chinaware.\u2019\n\n +Cheeat\u2019ll chow+, _Lit._ \u2018Cheating will show itself.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014In a dispute boys will say, _Let him \u2019ev anuther goa,\n cheeat\u2019ll chow_.\n\n +Cheek by chowl or jowl+ = Close together.\n Ex.\u2014_Theer tha gan, cheek by chowl_;\n _Ah doot tha\u2019re up ti neea good._\n\n +Cheep+, _n._ The cry of a young bird, generally a chicken,\n partridge, or grouse.\n\n +Cheeper+, _n._ A young partridge or grouse.\n\n +Chesfat+, _n._ A press used for extracting the whey from the\n curds.\n\n +Chetch+, +Ch\u016dch+, _n._ A church.\n\n +Chetch+ or +Chuch priest+, _n._ A Church of England clergyman.\n\n +Chevin+, _n._ The chub.\n\n +Childer+, _n._ Children.\n\n +Chimbler+, +Chim\u2019ly+, _n._ A chimney.\n\n +Chip+, _v._ To chip anything; to crack an egg when boiled, or\n when hatching commences.\n\n +Chip up+, _v._ To trip up by holding the foot out in front of\n any one running past.\n\n +Chisel+, +Chizzel+, _n._ Bran, husks of grain.\n\n +Chissel+, _v._ To cheat, to impose upon.\n\n +Chist+, _n._ The chest, a chest of drawers.\n\n +Chitterlings+, _n._ The small entrails of a pig.\n\n +Chitty+, _adj._ Childish.\n\n +Chock-full+, _adv._ Full to overflowing.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo caan\u2019t git neea mair in, it\u2019s chock-full noo._\n\n +Cholter-headed+, _adj._ Thick-headed.\n\n +Chop+, _v._ To trade by exchanging.\n\n +Chops+, _n._ The jaws. _Vide_ +Chaff+.\n\n +Chow+, _v._ To chew.\n\n +Chucky+, _n._ A hen, a term of endearment applied to a child.\n\n +Chuff+, _adj._ Healthy-looking, pert, determined.\n\n +Chunter+, _v._ To mutter in a complaining tone.\n\n +Churlish+, +Chollus+, _adj._ Bad-tempered.\n\n +Churr+, _v._ The murmuring sound made by birds when roosting.\n\n +Clack+, _n._ Lit. the tongue, scolding, advice.\n\n +Clack+, _v._ To admonish, to talk much.\n\n +Clag+, _v._ To stick to or on.\n\n +Claggum+, _n._ Any sticky mass, applied generally to sweets.\n\n +Claggy+, _adj._ Sticky.\n\n +Clam+, _v._ 1. To climb.\n 2. To squeeze, to nip as a vice.\n 3. To adhere to, stick to, owing to moisture.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah clam up t\u2019 tree an\u2019 gat t\u2019 nist an\u2019 t\u2019 eggs an\u2019\n all._\n 2. _Ah gat mysen clamm\u2019d atween t\u2019 wall an\u2019 t\u2019 wagon._\n\n +Clam+, +Clem+, _v._ To faint for want of food.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s fair clamm\u2019d foor a bit o\u2019 summat ti eat._\n\n +Clam+, _n._ Damp, sticky moisture.\n\n +Clame+, _v._ To smear with anything sticky.\n Ex.\u2014_Tha saay what it\u2019s t\u2019 chaange o\u2019 watter what\u2019s deean \u2019t.\n That maay be; onny road sha\u2019s a perfect picter noo, covered wi\u2019\n watter-blebs an\u2019 larl reead spots ivvery bit ower her; an\u2019 t\u2019\n doctor\u2019s clamed her all ower wi\u2019 sum soart o\u2019 clarty, bladdry,\n muckment stuff, whahl sha kittles that bad \u2019at sha dizn\u2019t knaw\n wheear ti put hersel._\n\n +Clammy+, _adj._ Parched with thirst, sticky, moist, adhesive.\n\n +Clamoursome+, _adj._ Noisy.\n\n +Clamper+, _v._ To make a loud noise with the feet when walking or\n running.\n\n +Clampers+, _n._ Feet or claws of any metal object, also the\n fingers and claws of things animate.\n\n +Clap+, _v._ 1. To pat a dog.\n 2. To sit down, or set anything down.\n Ex.\u20142. _Clap yersel i\u2019 that cheer._ _Clap it doon onnywheear._\n\n +Clap back+, _v._ To encore.\n\n +Clapt een on+, _v._ To see. Really _part._, saw.\n\n +Clart+, _v._ To smear, to flatter.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve gitten mysen clarted all ower wi\u2019 t\u2019 bladdry\n blashment. Noo, then, deeant cum clarting ma up leyke that;\n gan thi waays an\u2019 clart Mary ower. Whya, he clarted her up\n whahl he\u2019s fair to\u2019n\u2019d her heead._\n\n +Clarty+, _adj._ 1. Sticky.\n 2. Untrustworthy.\n Ex.\u20142. _Deean\u2019t len\u2019 him owt, his nobbut a clarty customer._\n\n +Clash+, _v._ To hurry work, to close a door with force, to bring\n together suddenly.\n\n +Clat+, _Vide_ +Clack+.\n\n +Clatter+, _n._ A blow, a noise.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha a good clatter if thoo clatters on leyke\n that._\n\n +Clavver+, _n._ A rowdy rabble.\n\n +Clavver+, _v._ To clamber like a child.\n\n +Clawt+, _v._ To attack with the nails.\n\n +Clear up+, _v._ To become fine after rain.\n\n +Cled+, _adj._ Clothed.\n\n +Cleean+, _v._ To tidy oneself.\n\n +Cleean+, _adj._ and _adv._ 1. Right.\n 2. Quite.\n 3. Well, adroitly, completely.\n Ex.\u20141. _He flang t\u2019 steean cleean thruff t\u2019 winner_, i.e. \u2018He\n threw the stone right through the window.\u2019\n 2. _Ah cleean foorgat all aboot it_, i.e. \u2018I quite forgot all\n about it.\u2019\n 3. _Ah\u2019ve nivver seed a chap sae cleean deean iv all my leyfe_,\n i.e. \u2018I never saw a fellow so completely taken in.\u2019\n\n +Cleean up+, _v._ To tidy the house.\n\n +Cleeas+} _n._ clothes\n +Clais+ }\n\n +Cleease+, _adj._ Near, close, greedy.\n\n +Cleease-fisted+, _adj._ Greedy.\n\n +Cleeat+, _n._ A piece of iron or wood used to add strength.\n\n +Cleg+, _n._ The horse-fly, a begging friend.\n\n +Clem+, _Vide_ +Clam+.\n\n +Cletch+, _n._ A brood of young birds.\n\n +Cleugh+, _n._ The race of a mill, terminating often at one end by\n cleugh-gates or gate, or door, which winds up and down by means\n of a wheel and ratchet, admitting more or less water according to\n the height it is lifted.\n\n +Clever+, _adj._ Well done or made.\n\n +Clever-headed+, _adj._ Wise beyond his fellows.\n\n +Click+, _v._ To snatch, to snatch quickly.\n\n +Click-hooks+, _n._ Three or four hooks joined together and\n attached to a rope, used to drag ponds or a river with in search\n of a body, &c.\n\n +Clim+, _v._ To climb.\n\n +Clinch+, _v._ To grasp tightly with the hand.\n\n +Clink+, _n._ A stinging blow.\n\n +Clinker+, _n._ A heavy blow.\n\n +Clinking+, _adj._ Very good, first-class.\n\n +Clip+, _v._ To shear sheep.\n\n +Clipping tahm+, _n._ Shearing time.\n\n +Cloam+, +Clooam+, +Claum+, _v._ To grasp with both hands at the\n same time, to pull about not only roughly but rudely.\n\n +Clock+, _n._ Black clocks, black beetles.\n\n +Clock-seves+, +Bulrush+. The names not only vary in different\n localities, but are given first to one and then another of the\n water-side flags, rushes, and seves or seaves. _Vide_ +Bulls and\n segs+.\n\n +Clog+, _n._ A log of wood.\n\n +Clogged+, _adj._ Asthmatical (of people), stopped by bleck (q.v.)\n or other filth (of machinery).\n\n +Clooase+, _Vide_ +Cleease+.\n\n +Clooased+, _part._ Closed up, as in a cold in the chest.\n\n +Clooase-neifed+, _adj._ Niggardly, greedy.\n\n +Closing+, _n._ A difficulty in breathing.\n\n +Clot+, _n._ A clod of earth, a portion of blood when set.\n\n +Clot bur+, _n._ The burdock.\n\n +Cloth, To draw the+ = To remove the white tablecloth on the meal\n being concluded.\n\n +Clotter+, _v._ To make thick or lumpy.\n\n +Clout+, _n._ An old piece of cloth, a patch.\n\n +Clout+, _n._ A blow.\n\n +Clout+, _v._ To strike at.\n\n +Clow-clags+, _n._ Dried dung adhering to the hind parts of animals;\n in the case of sheep they are termed \u2018doddings.\u2019\n\n +Clow-clash+, _n._ Things all in confusion.\n\n +Cloy+, _v._ To eat until sick at the sight of the same dish.\n\n +Clubster+, _n._ The stoat.\n\n +Cludder+, +Cluther+, _v._ To huddle together.\n\n +Clue+, _n._ A ball of cotton or string.\n\n +Clum+, _adj._ Sodden, heavy; generally applied to clayey land.\n\n +Clunter+, _v._ To go heavily on the feet.\n\n +Cob+, _n._ A small-sized horse, a small bread bun.\n\n +Cobble+, +Cobble-steean+, _n._ A small paving-stone.\n\n +Cobble+, _v._ To pelt with stones, to mend anything roughly to\n serve for the time being.\n\n +Cobble-tree+, _n._ The wooden bar which connects the swingle-trees\n with the beam of the plough.\n\n +Cobby+, _adj._ Lively, brisk, stout, decent.\n\n +C\u014dble+, _n._ A fishing-boat.\n\n +Cocker+, _v._ To fondle, to indulge.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019ll spoil t\u2019 bairn if thoo cockers it i\u2019 that road._\n\n +Cocker+, _n._ Conceit.\n\n +Cockerate+, _v._ To boast.\n\n +Cookeration+ }\n +Cockle-spell+ } _n._ Uncertainty.\n\n +Cockertraps+, _n._ Traps to catch cockroaches.\n\n +Cockle+, _v._ To be unsteady, to curl when drying.\n\n +Cockle boat+, _n._ A small pleasure boat.\n\n +Cock-leet+, _n._ The dawn of day.\n\n +Cockly+, _adj._ Unsteady, insecure, likely to fall over.\n\n +Cock o\u2019 t\u2019 middin+, _n._ The one who claims supremacy.\n\n +Cock-shot+, _n._ The boy who chances being caught in a certain\n game.\n\n +Cockshut+, _n._ Twilight.\n\n +Cock-sure+, _v._ To be quite certain.\n\n +Cocky+, _adj._ Self-assertive, domineering.\n\n +Cod+, _n._ The cod or pod of peas, beans, &c.\n\n +Cod+, _v._ To impose upon, to stuff with nonsense.\n\n +Coddle+, +Couther+, _v._ To indulge oneself, to use unnecessary\n wraps.\n\n +Collar+, _n._ A horse-collar.\n\n +Collar+, _v._ To lay hold of.\n\n +Collier+, _n._ The swift.\n\n +Collop+, _n._ A slice of bacon.\n\n +Collop Monday+, _n._ Monday before Shrove Tuesday.\n\n +Colly+, _adj._ Curly.\n\n +Come[111] again+, _v._ To appear after death.\n\n +Come by+, _v._ To stand aside.\n\n +Come by chance+, _Vide_ +Chance bairn+.\n\n +Come fra+, _v._ To come from.\n\n +Come on+, _v._ To improve, to grow.\n Ex.\u2014_Thi cabbishes is cummin\u2019 on champ._\n\n +Come round+, _v._ 1. To recover from fainting.\n 2. To reconsider.\n 3. To agree with.\n Ex.\u20141. _Slap her han\u2019s, an\u2019 sha\u2019ll seean cum roond._\n 2. _Tak neea notish o\u2019 what he sez, i\u2019 t\u2019 end he\u2019ll cum roond\n an\u2019 foorgi\u2019e ya baith._\n 3. _Whya, Ah\u2019ve cum roond ti thi way o\u2019 thinking._\n\n +Come to+, +Cum teea+, _v._ To regain consciousness.\n Ex.\u2014_When Ah cam teea, Ah didn\u2019t ken wheear Ah war._\n\n +Come-to+, _n._ Place of abode.\n Ex.\u2014_Maist fooak \u2019ev a cum-teea o\u2019 sum soart._\n\n +Commin\u2019s+, _n._ Barley-sprouts formed during fermentation.\n\n +Comp\u2019ny+, _n._ Several people gathered together with one object.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther war a fairish comp\u2019ny geddered up ti lissen ti t\u2019 new\n parson._\n\n +Con+, _v._ To scan, to observe critically.\n Ex.\u2014_Efter Ah\u2019d conn\u2019d it ower, Ah thowt varra larl aboot it._\n\n +Conceit+, +Consate+, _n._ Imagined.\n Ex.\u2014_He consated hissen \u2019at he knaw\u2019d a lot, bud it wur all\n blather when he wur oppen\u2019d oot._\n\n +Conger+, _v._ Conquer.\n\n +Conny+, _adj._ Neat, nice; when applied to things, \u2018little.\u2019\n\n +Conquerors+, _n._ Horse-chestnuts when dried, or even freshly\n gathered, are so called when used by boys to play the game of\n conquerors with. The game consists of threading a chestnut on a\n string and striking it against a similar one held by an\n opponent\u2014the one breaking the other, conquers.\n\n +Consarn+, _n._ Business, the object or matter seen or discussed.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s a gert consarn yon_, i.e. \u2018A big affair or undertaking.\u2019\n _Ah\u2019ve nowt ti deea wi\u2019 \u2018t, it\u2019s neea consarn o\u2019 mahn_, \u2018No\n business of mine.\u2019\n\n +Consumpted+, _part._ Suffering from phthisis or consumption.\n\n +Continny+, _v._ Continue.\n\n +Cook thi goose+ = To completely vanquish.\n\n +Cool+, _Vide_ +Coul+.\n\n +Coom+, _n._ Dust. +Sawcoom+, sawdust.\n\n +Coo-tie+, _n._ A band, usually made of hair, used to secure the\n hind legs of a cow.\n\n +Cop+, _v._ 1. To be caught.\n 2. To be punished.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019ll cop uz if wa deean\u2019t leeak sharp._\n 2. _Thoo\u2019ll cop it when thoo gans yam._\n\n +Corker+, _adj._ Large of its kind. _n._ A lie.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah saay, bud that\u2019s a corker._\n\n +Corn-creeak+, _n._ Field-crake.\n\n +Corr\u2019n-berries+, _n._ The red or white currant.\n\n +Cossen+, _v._ 1. To cost.\n 2. To inconvenience.\n Ex.\u20142. _It wadn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e cossen him mich_, i.e. \u2018It would not have\n inconvenienced him much.\u2019\n\n +Cot+, _n._ One who manages his domestic affairs without any female\n help, an effeminate fellow.\n\n +Cott+, _n._ A tangled mass of wool or hair.\n\n +Cotten+, _v._ 1. To have a liking for.\n 2. To discover.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah cotten\u2019d tiv him fra t\u2019 fust._\n 2. _He cottened ti what sha wur efter afoor sha\u2019d ommaist gitten\n started._\n\n +Cotter+, _v._ To work hair or wool into knots. _Vide_ +Felter+.\n\n +Cottered+, _pp._ Entangled, knotted.\n\n +Coul+, +Cool+, _n._ A weal or swelling caused by a blow.\n\n +Counting+, _n._ Arithmetic.\n\n +Coup+, _v._ To exchange in barter, to empty a cart by tilting.\n\n +Coup ower+, _v._ To fall over.\n\n +Couther+, _Vide_ +Coddle+.\n\n +Cout+, _n._ A colt.\n\n +Cow-+ or +Coo-byre+, _n._ A cow-house.\n\n +Cow-+ or +Coo-clags+, _n._ Dung adhering to the buttocks of cattle.\n\n +Cow-+ or +Coo-footed+, _adj._ Awkward in gait.\n\n +Cow-+ or +Coo-gate+, +Coo-yat+, +Cow pastur+, _n._ Cow pasture.\n\n +Cow-+ or +Coo-grip+, _n._ The channel to carry off the urine.\n\n +Cow-+ or +Coo-leech+, _n._ A cow-doctor.\n\n +Cowdy+, _adj._ Lively, pert, active.\n\n +Cower+, _v._ To crouch in fear.\n\n +Cowl+, _v._ To scrape together towards one.\n\n +Cowler+, _n._ A scraper.\n\n +Cowl-rake+, _n._ A small scraper used to rake ashes together.\n\n + \u2018Coz+, _Vide_ +Acoz+.\n\n +Crab+, _v._ To vex.\n\n +Crabbed+, _adj._ Peevish, in a bad temper.\n\n +Crack+, _n._ A loud noise like thunder.\n\n +Crack+, _v._ 1. To boast.\n 2. To praise.\n Ex.\u20141. _He crack\u2019d a deeal aboot it._\n 2. _Ah crack\u2019d it up fur tha. He cracks a seet ti mich ov his\n awn deeds._\n\n +Crack+, _n._ and _v._ A chat, to chat. _Vide_ +Rap+.\n\n +Crack+, _n._ A short space of time, immediately.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019all be deean iv a crack._\n\n +Crack\u2019d+ and +Cracky+, _adj._ Not quite _compos mentis_.\n\n +Crafty+, _adj._ Skilful, original.\n\n +Crake+, +Creeak+, +Cruke+, _n._ A carrion crow.\n\n +Crake+, _Vide_ +Corn-creeak+.\n\n +Crake+, _v._ To speak hoarsely.\n\n +Cramm\u2019l+, _v._ To walk haltingly, tottery.\n\n +Cramm\u2019ls+, _n._ The gnarled and twisted boughs of trees.\n\n +Cramped+, _part._ Perplexed.\n\n +Cramper+, _n._ Any matter difficult of settlement or solution.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo, that\u2019s a cramper fur tha._\n\n +Cramp-ring+, _n._ A charm-ring made from coffin tire, and worn as\n a preventive against cramp, &c.\n\n +Cramps+, _n._ The term given to the playing of either the octave\n or the scales.\n\n +Cranch+, _v._ To grind the teeth together when eating.\n\n +Cranky+, _adj._ Idiotic, able to move with difficulty through\n stiffness, likely to overbalance, insecure.\n\n +Cranky+, _n._ A checked material, usually of blue and white checks,\n used for aprons. Often called \u2018Kinky-cranky.\u2019\n\n +Craps+ or +Crappin\u2019s+, _n._ The pieces left after rendering fat\n into lard.\n\n +Crashes+, +Creeases+, _n._ Watercress.\n\n +Craw+, _v._ To crow. _n._ A crow.\n\n +Crazed+, _pp._ In a violent passion.\n\n +Creckits+, _n._ The game of cricket.\n\n +Cree+, _v._ To soak grain in water.\n\n +Creeak+, _Vide_ +Crook+ and +Cruke+.\n\n +Creel+, _n._ The wooden frame pigs are laid upon after\n slaughtering.\n\n +Creepin\u2019s+, _n._ A shivering sensation usually foretelling a cold.\n\n +Cricket+, _n._ A small four-legged stool.\n\n +Crook+, +Creeak+, +Crewk+, _n._ The hinge upon which a gate swings,\n a bent piece of iron to hang anything upon.\n\n +Crook+, +Crewk+, _n._ An abrupt corner in a field.\n\n +Crooked+, _adj._ Bent.\n\n +Crowberries+, _n._ The crowberry fruit (_Empetrum nigrum_).\n\n +Crowdy+, _n._ Oatmeal porridge.\n\n +Crow-ling+, _n._ The heath (_Erica cinerea_).\n\n +Crown+, _n._ Top of the head.\n\n +Crowp+, _v._ To croak like a toad.\n\n +Crowse+, _adj._ Lively. _n._ A drinking bout.\n\n +Cruddle+, _v._ To curdle.\n\n +Cruds+, _n._ Curds.\n\n +Cruke+, +Crewk+, +Creeak+, _n._ The rook. _Vide_ +Reeak+.\n\n +Crunkle+, +Crinkle+, _v._ To crease, rumple.\n\n +Crush+, _n._ A great crowd.\n\n +Cuddle+, _v._ To fondle by embracing.\n\n +Cuddy+, _n._ A donkey, a hedge-sparrow.\n\n +Culler\u2019d+, _pp._ Blushed.\n\n +Cum+, _n._ Sweepings of sawdust.\n\n +Cum+, _v._ Come.\n\n +Cumber-ground+, _n._ Any thing or person of no value.\n\n +Cumly+, _Vide_ +Comely+.\n\n +Cummer+, _v._ To encumber.\n\n +Cummersome+, _adj._ Burdensome.\n\n +Cungle+, _v._ To influence by charms or prayers.\n\n +Cup-rose+, _n._ The common poppy.\n\n +Cushat+, _n._ Ring-dove.\n\n +Cush-pet+, _n._ Pet name for a crow; also +Cushy-Cushy+.\n\n +Cut+, _v._ Be off.\n\n +Cut and run+ } _v._ To retire hurriedly.\n +Cut wer sticks+ }\n\n +Cutter+, _v._ To whisper.\n\n +Cuvvins+, _n._ Periwinkles.\n\n +Cuz+, _n._ Cousin.\n\n\n D.\n\n +\u2018D+, Would, had.\n\n +Daam+, +Deeam+, _n._ A lady, the wife, an aged person.\n\n +Dab+, _adj._ Dexterous, skilful, _n._ A blow.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s a dab hand at t\u2019 job_, i.e. He is skilful at the\n business. _Catch him a dab on t\u2019 feeace._\n\n + \u2019Dacity+, _n._ 1. Ability to accomplish.\n 2. Presumption, impudence.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s gitten \u2019dacity fur owt, \u2019ez that lad._\n 2. _Ah didn\u2019t aim \u2019at he \u2019ed t\u2019 \u2018dacity ti \u2019a\u2019e spokken ti\n t\u2019 parson i\u2019 that waay, hooivver._\n\n +Daddle+, _v._ To walk unsteadily, to trifle.\n\n +Daff+, _n._ A coward, a fool.\n\n +Daffle+, _v._ To confuse, to bewilder with noise.\n\n +Daffly daffled+, _pp._ Bewildered.\n\n +Daffy-down-dilly+, _n._ The daffodil.\n\n +Daft+, _adj._ Foolish, lacking common sense.\n\n +Daftish+, _adj._ Foolish, like a fool.\n\n +Dagg+, +Deggle+, _v._ To sprinkle with water.\n\n +Dainish+, +Densh+, _adj._ Over particular.\n\n +Daized+, _pp._ Stupefied, suffering from the effect of cold.\n\n +Dakky+, _n._ A pig.\n\n +Dale+, _n._ A valley varying in extent. \u2018Dale\u2019 is usually\n pronounced \u2018deeal\u2019.\n\n +Dale-end+, _n._ The end or widest part of a dale.\n\n +Dale-heead+, _n._ The upper and narrowest portion of a dale.\n\n +Dander+, _n._ Rage, temper.\n\n +Dander+, _v._ To tremble, to vibrate.\n\n +Danger+, _n._ Risk, probability, doubt.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s lost hauf on \u2019em, an\u2019 ther\u2019s a danger \u2019at other\n hauf \u2019ll dee an\u2019 all._\n\n +Dangerous+, _adj._ Doubtful, risky.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s nobbut a dangerous consarn ti sink yan\u2019s brass in._\n\n +Dangle efter+, _v._ To follow as a lover.\n\n +Danglements+, _n._ Superfluous trinkets, trimmings of beads, &c.\n\n +Dank+, _adj._ Damp, moist.\n\n +Dapper+, _adj._ Sharp, active, nimble.\n\n +Dappers+, _n._ Birds ready to leave the nest.\n\n +Dark+, _v._ To follow or move slily about, to listen unperceived.\n\n +Darkening+, _n._ Twilight.\n\n +Darrn\u2019t+, _v._ Dare not.\n\n +Darr+, _v._ To dare.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah darr tackle yon job._ To tell any one they dare not do a\n certain thing, is to dare them to it, e.g. _He darrn\u2019t jump\n whahl Ah darr\u2019d him ti \u2019t, an\u2019 then he went that cauf-hearted\n at it, whahl he tumm\u2019ld blob in._\n\n +Dased+, +Deeased+. _Vide_ +Daized+.\n\n _Datherin\u2019._ _Vide_ +Ditherin\u2019+.\n\n +Daul\u2019d+, _pp._ Tired, weary.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah daul\u2019d on \u2019t_, i.e. \u2018I tired of it.\u2019\n\n +Daul\u2019d oot+, _part._ Tired out.\n\n +Daupee+, _n._ The grey-headed crow.\n\n +Daytal+, _adj._ By the day.\n\n +Daytalman+, _n._ A farm labourer hired by the day.\n\n +Deaf+, +Deeaf+, _adj._ Lacking a kernel, barren.\n\n +Deaf+ or +Deeaf nettle+, _n._ The blind or hemp nettle.\n\n +Deary+, _adj._ Puny, lovable.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s a deary larl honey._\n\n +Deave+, +Deeave+, _adj._ Deaf.\n\n +Deaven+, _v._ To deafen.\n\n +Decoy-duck+, _n._ A by-name given to one who leads others astray.\n\n +Dee+, _v._ To die.\n\n +Deea+, _v._ 1. Do.\n 2. To swindle.\n Ex.\u20142. _He\u2019ll deea him if he dizn\u2019t watch him_, i.e. \u2018He will\n swindle him if he does not take care.\u2019\n\n +Deead+, _adj._ Dead.\n\n +Deeafly+, +Deavely+, _adj._ Alone, by oneself.\n\n +Deeak+, _n._ Duke.\n\n +Deean+, _pp._ of Do. Also swindled overmatched.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve deean him neycely_, i.e. \u2018I have taken him in nicely.\u2019\n\n +Deean\u2019t+, +Doan\u2019t+, _v._ Do not.\n\n +Deear+, +Doour+, _n._ Door.\n\n +Deearstan+, _n._ _Vide_ +Doorstan+.\n\n +Deearsteead+, _n._ The framework of the door; also +Doourstead+, &c.\n\n +Deeatchess+, _n._ Duchess.\n\n +Deeath+, _n._ Death.\n\n +Deeath-smear+ }\n +Deeath-clam+ } _n._ The clammy sweat of death.\n +Deeath-sweeat+ }\n\n +Deeazment+, _n._ Chilled to the bone.\n\n +Deed+, _n._ Doings, applied indiscriminately to events of a joyous\n or sorrowful nature.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther war straange deed at Willie\u2019s wedding. Ah nivver seed\n sike deed ez ther war at Ann\u2019s funeral._\n\n +Deedless+, _adj._ Useless, helpless.\n\n +Deggle+, _Vide_ +Dagg+.\n\n _Deft_, _adj._ Quick, clever, neat.\n\n +Delf-rack+, _n._ An arrangement of wooden bars to hold plates and\n dishes.\n\n +Dempt+, _pp._ Deemed, thought.\n\n +Deng+, _v._ To knock off with violence, to throw down, to wrench\n off.\n\n +Densh+, _Vide_ +Dainish+.\n\n +Deny+, _v._ To refuse.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll see Tommy mysel, he\u2019ll nut deny me. Ah weean\u2019t deny\n tha fishing, hooivver._\n\n +Despert+, _adv._ Exceedingly, used as an augmentative.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther war despert grand deed at \u2019t Squire\u2019s dinner._\n\n +Dess+, _n._ A mass built up by degrees; a block cut out, as a\n dess of hay.\n\n +Dessably+, _adj._ Orderly.\n\n +Devil-screamer+, _n._ The swift.\n\n +Dhriss+, _Vide_ +Dress+.\n\n +Dib+, _v._ To dip.\n\n +Dibbing+, _v._ To dip, as with a fly on the top of the water.\n\n +Dice+, _n._ A small portion, as a dice of cheese; a square piece\n of anything.\n\n +Dicky+, _adj._ Doubtful.\n Ex.\u2014_It nobbut leeaks a bit dicky._\n\n +Dicky+, _n._ A louse.\n\n +Dicky-ass+, _n._ A donkey.\n\n +Didder+, _Vide_ +Dither+.\n\n +Differ+, _v._ To quarrel.\n\n +Differing bout+, _n._ A wordy quarrel.\n\n +Dike+, _n._ A ditch.\n\n +Dike-back+, _n._ The bank forming one side of a ditch.\n\n +Dike-cam+, _n._ The bank-side of a ditch.\n\n +Dildering+, +Dilder+, _v._ To shake, unstable, silly.\n\n +Dill+, _v._ To lessen, to deaden.\n Ex.\u2014_Clap a plaaster on, it\u2019ll dill \u2019t paain._\n\n +Dilldam+, +Dilldum+, or +Dilldrum+, _n._ A loud noise, boisterous\n merry-making.\n\n +Dindle+, _v._ To have a tingling sensation after a fall or blow.\n\n +Ding+, _Vide_ +Deng+.\n\n +Dingle+, _v._ To tingle after a blow.\n\n +Dint+, _n._ Energy, force, power.\n Ex.\u2014_By dint an\u2019 sticking ti \u2019t, he\u2019ll mannish \u2019t._\n\n +Dither+, _v._ To shiver, to shake with fear.\n\n +Doan\u2019t+, +Deean\u2019t+, = Do not.\n\n +Docken+, _n._ The dock plant. Also denotes of little value.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah wadn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e gi\u2019en a docken for \u2019t._\n\n +Dodded+, _adj._ Hornless.\n\n +Dodderums+, _n._ Shaking violently, unnerved.\n\n +Doddery+, +Dothery+, _adj._ _Vide_ +Dither+.\n\n +Doddings+, _n._ Matted wool on the hind quarters of sheep.\n\n +Doff+, _v._ 1. To remove the garments.\n 2. To raise the hat.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll doff mah duds iv a crack._\n 2. _Ah doff\u2019d mah cap tiv her._\n\n +Dog+, _v._ To set a dog to drive sheep.\n\n +Dog+, _n._ A piece of iron fitted within the fire-grate, thereby\n reducing its size, so as to save coal.\n\n +Dog-choops+, _n._ Hips, the fruit of the dog-rose.\n\n +Doggers+, _n._ Nodules containing a fossil, and used in the\n making of Roman cement.\n\n +Dog-jumps+, _Vide_ +Dog-choops+.\n\n +Dog one\u2019s footsteps, To+, _v._ To persistently follow any one.\n\n +Doit+, _n._ A small portion.\n\n +Dole+, _n._ The distribution of money left to some charity, or\n that given at a funeral.\n\n +Dole out+, _v._ To give in small quantities.\n\n +Dollop+, _n._ A clumsy person or badly-formed thing, a number or\n quantity of persons or things.\n\n +Dolly-stick+, _n._ A handle to which is affixed an arrangement\n like a small four-legged stool, being used to give a\n half-circular motion to the clothes in the tub, which is termed\n dollying.\n\n +Dolly-tub+, _n._ A round tub used to wash clothes in.\n\n +Don+, _v._ and _adj._ 1. To put on one\u2019s better attire.\n 2. Clever.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll don mysel up a bit, ez Janey\u2019s cumin\u2019 ti tea._\n 2. _He\u2019s a don hand at deeaing owt o\u2019 that sooart._\n\n +Donk+, _Vide_ +Dank+.\n\n +Donnot+, _n._ An immoral female.\n\n +Doody-cow+, _n._ The ladybird beetle.\n\n +Door+, +Deear+, +Doour-cheek+, _n._ Sidepost of a door.\n\n \u201d \u201d \u201d +sill+, _n._ The threshold of the door.\n\n \u201d \u201d \u201d +stan+, _n._ The flagstone in front of the\n doorway, often mistaken as meaning the doorstep.\n\n +Door+, +Doour+, +Deear+, +To get to the+ = Able to walk abroad.\n\n +Doory+, _adv._ Very little, a trifle.\n\n +Dordum+, _n._ A dreadful uproar.\n\n +Dorse+, +Duzz+, _v._ To shake out from the ear by reason of\n over-ripeness.\n\n +Dossel+, _n._ A bunch of wheat, the finest ears being selected to\n be used as an ornament; formerly such bunches were fixed on the\n top of corn-pikes.\n\n +Dossel-knob+, _n._ The straw knob at the top of a stick which\n terminates the thatch.\n\n +Dothering-grass+, _Vide_ +Trimm\u2019ling-gess+.\n\n +Dotteril+, _n._ A dotard.\n\n +Douk+, _v._ To duck under, to dive as a water-fowl.\n\n +Doup+, _Vide_ +Daupee+.\n\n +Dou\u2019t+, +Doot+, _v._ Almost certain.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah doot he\u2019s laam\u2019d fur leyfe. Ah doot wa saan\u2019t git it._\n\n +Dow+, _v._ To thrive.\n\n +Dowdy+, _n._ An untidy woman.\n\n +Dowled+, _adj._ Flat, said of long-drawn beer.\n\n +Dowly+, _adj._ Sad, poorly, downhearted.\n\n +Down+, _v._ To knock or throw down.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve doon\u2019d tha yance, an\u2019 if Ah \u2019ev onny mair o\u2019 thi lip,\n Ah\u2019ll doon tha ageean._\n\n +Down-come+, _n._ A spout at the side of the house, a heavy\n downpour of rain.\n\n +Down-dinner+ = Afternoon allowance.\n\n +Dowse+, _n._ A blow from the fist.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll catch tha a dowse on t\u2019 sahd o\u2019 t\u2019 heead._\n\n +Dowse+, _v._ To wet to the skin.\n Ex.\u2014_He dowsed t\u2019 lot on uz wi\u2019 t\u2019 hose. Ah gat sike a dowsing_,\n said one who fell into a stream.\n\n +Dozzen\u2019d+, _adj._ Withered, blighted.\n\n +Drab+, _n._ A dirty slut.\n\n +Drabbletail+, _Vide_ +Flappy-sket+.\n\n +Draff+, _n._ Refuse from a brewery for pigs, grains.\n\n +Draker-hen+, _n._ Corn-crake.\n\n +Drape+, +Dreeap+, _n._ A cow not giving milk.\n\n +Drate+, _v._ To drag one\u2019s speech, to drawl.\n\n +Draught+, _n._ A team of horses, not less than three.\n\n +Draw up+, _v._ To gather together.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo mun ring t\u2019 bell an\u2019 call oot, an\u2019 they\u2019ll seean draw\n up._\n\n +Drazzle+, _n._ A shower of fine rain and mist.\n\n +Dree+, _adj._ Tiring, weary.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s nobbut a dree job this._\n\n +Dree+, _adv._ Slowly.\n\n +Dree+, _v.a._ To deliver tediously.\n\n +Dreeap+, _Vide_ +Drape+.\n\n +Dreep+, _v._ Drop by drop.\n\n +Dress+, +Dhriss+, _v._ 1. To tidy up.\n 2. To correct, to punish.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah s\u2019all \u2019a\u2019e ti dhriss things up a bit afoor sha cums._\n 2. _Thoo impident young raggel, thi fatther owt ti dhriss thi\n jacket weel foor tha_, i.e. \u2018Your father ought to chastise you.\u2019\n\n +Dressin\u2019+, +Dhrissin\u2019+, _part._ and _n._ 1. Preparing.\n 2. Chastisement, severe scolding. The use of this word is\n peculiar.\n Ex.\u20141. _Things \u2019ll want dhrissing up a bit afoor Ah start ti\n wark_, signifies that a certain amount of work not actually\n connected with the \u2018thing\u2019 itself must be done or prepared\n beforehand, such as tidying up the bench, or rough planing\n before marking out. _He nivver gits neea fother \u2019an dhrissing\n things afoor he starts o\u2019 summat else._\n 2. _He\u2019ll nut foorgit ma, Ah nivver gav onnybody sike a dhrissing\n afoor._\n\n +Dribblet+, _n._ A small quantity at a time.\n Ex.\u2014 _He\u2019ll pay ma back, Ah\u2019ve neea doot, bud Ah s\u2019all \u2019a\u2019e ti\n tak \u2019t noos an\u2019 agaains i\u2019 dribblets._\n\n +Drinch+, _n._ An aperient drink for a cow.\n\n +Drinching+, _part._ To be drenched.\n\n +Drinkin\u2019 tahm+, _n._ The usual extra allowance during hay or\n harvest time.\n\n +Drippling+, _adj._ Weak, small.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s nobbut a drippling bairn._\n\n +Drive+, +Dhrive+, _v._ To procrastinate.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo dhrives ivverything whahl t\u2019 last bat, an\u2019 then thoo\n nivver gits nowt deean._\n\n +Droll on+, _v._ To half promise, to lead one to believe.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah nobbut drolls him on a bit, Ah saan\u2019t tell him nowt\n \u2019at\u2019s owt._\n\n +Drolly+, _n._ _Vide_ +Capster+.\n\n +Droothy+, +Drouthy+, _adj._ Suffering from excessive thirst.\n\n +Drooty+, _adj._ Very dry, a long continuance of fine dry weather.\n\n +Drop+, _v._ 1. To lose.\n 2. To fell with a blow.\n 3. To kill a bird on the wing.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019d drop a canny bit ower that last bargain._\n 2. _He up wi\u2019 his neeaf an\u2019 dropped him leyke an ox._\n 3. _He fired in amang \u2019em an\u2019 dropped three._\n\n +Drop-dry+, _adj._ Water-tight, as of a roof.\n\n +Drop in+, _v._ To pay a casual visit.\n\n +Drop it+ or +that+, _v._ To cease doing.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo drop it_, i.e. \u2018Discontinue the act.\u2019 _Drop that racket_,\n i.e. \u2018Cease that noise.\u2019\n\n +Drop on+, _v._ 1. To surprise.\n 2. To discover.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah nivver wur seea dropped on afoor_, i.e. \u2018Never so\n surprised,\u2019 or \u2018suddenly caught in the act.\u2019\n 2. _Ah dropped on it all at yance_, i.e. \u2018I discovered it all at\n once.\u2019 It also implies a sense of shame, e.g. _Ah did feel dropped\n on when he catched ma_.\n\n +Droppy+, _adj._ Applied to rain long continued.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s nobbut a droppy tahm._\n\n +Drubbin\u2019+, _n._ A thrashing.\n\n +Dub+, _n._ A large pond.\n\n +Dubbin\u2019+, _v._ and _n._ 1. To lower one\u2019s dignity.\n 2. A thrashing.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s ti clivver by hauf is yon youth, he wants dubbin\u2019\n a bit._\n 2. _Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha sike a dubbin\u2019 ez thoo \u2019ezn\u2019t \u2019ed ov a piece,\n if thoo dizn\u2019t mahnd thisel._ \u2018Dubbing\u2019 originally meant\n cutting the comb and wattle of a gamecock.\n\n +Duck+, _v._ To drop the head so as to evade a missile.\n\n +Ducks and drakes+, _v._ A stone thrown so as to skim with short\n leaps along the water.\n\n +Duds+, _n._ Clothes, usually applied to old garments.\n\n +Dulbert+, _n._ A stupid fellow. Also +Dullard+.\n\n +Dump+, _Vide_ +Dub+.\n\n +Dunderheead+, +Dunderknowle+, _n._ A blockhead.\n\n +Dundy-cow+ or +Dowdy-cow+, _n._ The ladybird.\n\n +Dwine+, _v._ To pine away, to fade.\n\n +Dwinn\u2019l+, _v._ To decrease.\n\n +Dwiny+, _n._ and _adj._ Fading, small.\n\n +Dwiny-voiced+, _adj._ Weak-voiced.\n\n +Dwizzend+, _adj._ Thin, wrinkled, shrunk.\n\n\n E.\n\n +\u0114+, _per. pron._ I. The short sound of \u2018Ah,\u2019 as _Mun \u0115 cum?_\n i.e. \u2018Must I come?\u2019 Although rarely used by writers, it must be\n admitted, when speaking the dialect, it is as commonly used as\n \u2018Ah.\u2019\n\n +Eak+, _n._ The oak.\n\n +Earan+, _n._ An errand.\n\n +Earnest+, _n._ A sum of money paid to bind a bargain.\n\n +Earning+, _Vide_ +Yearning+.\n\n +Ease+, _v._ To spatter with mud, to accede to the demands of\n nature, to obtain ease from pain.\n\n +Easement+, _n._ Alleviation from pain, the remedy applied.\n\n +Easings+, _n._ The eaves.\n\n +Easter-shells+, _n._ The periwinkle.\n\n +E\u2019e+, _n._ The eye, that part of a potato from which the sprout\n leads.\n\n +Een+, _n._ The eyes.\n\n +Een+, _n._ 1. The evening, as \u2018yester een.\u2019\n 2. The eve of any fast-day, as \u2018All Hallows\u2019 Een.\u2019\n\n +Een-holes+, _n._ The eye sockets.\n\n +Efter+, +Efther+, _prep._ After. \u2018Efther\u2019 becomes general as we\n approach the East Riding.\n\n +Efterneean+, _n._ Afternoon.\n\n +Egg on+, _v._ To incite, to urge.\n Ex.\u2014_It wer yowr Tom \u2019at egg\u2019d him on ti kiss ma. Ah nivver\n s\u2019u\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e set mysel ti loup t\u2019 beck if he hedn\u2019t egg\u2019d ma on\n and darr\u2019d ma tiv it._\n\n +Eldin+, _n._ Firewood of any kind.\n\n +Eller+, _n._ The alder-tree.\n\n +Elsin+, +Alsin+, _n._ A shoemaker\u2019s awl.\n\n +\u2018Em+, _pro._ Them.\n\n +End-board+, _n._ The tail-board of a cart.\n\n +Endeavouring+, _adj._ Striving, industrious.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s a fendy endivering lahtle body. He\u2019s a varra\n endivering young chap, an\u2019 he\u2019ll mak a man ov hissel._\n\n +End, Girt+, _Vide_ +Gret end+.\n\n +End na sahd+, 1. Nothing.\n 2. Not understandable.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ther\u2019s nowther end na sahd tiv owt \u2019at he diz_,\n i.e. \u2018Neither beginning nor end,\u2019 nothing.\n 2. _Ah c\u2019u\u2019d nowder mak end na sahd ov owt \u2019at t\u2019 chap war\n raffling on aboot._\n\n +End, Reet upon+, _adv._ Upright.\n Ex.\u2014_Let\u2019s git it reet upon end fust, an\u2019 then wa s\u2019all mannish._\n\n +Enoo+, +Enew+, _n._ 1. Enough in number.\n 2. Sufficiently cooked.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo wants neea mair, thoo\u2019s gitten mair \u2019an enew ez it\n is._\n 2. _It owt ti be enew by this, it\u2019s been i\u2019 t\u2019 yewn ower an hoor._\n\n +Enow+, _Vide_ +Inoo+.\n\n +Entry+, _n._ The passage within the house, or small entrance hall.\n\n +Ept+, _adj._ Handy.\n\n +Esh+, _n._ The ash-tree.\n\n +Ewse+, _n._ Use.\n\n +Expect+, _v._ 1. To imagine, to suppose.\n 2. Not quite certain.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah expect it war him \u2019at did it._\n 2. _Yan nivver can saay, bud Ah expect sha\u2019ll win t\u2019 prize. Sha\u2019s\n neea waays sure, sha nobbut expects seea._\n\n +Extremity, To be in an+ = To be at the far end.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah war in an extremity a\u2019 paain. Nowt c\u2019u\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e been warse,\n sha war in a complete extremity._\n\n +Ez+, as. +\u2018Ez+, has.\n\n\n F.\n\n +Fadge+, _v._ Between a walk and a trot.\n Ex.\u2014_T\u2019 au\u2019d meer an\u2019 me, wa\u2019ve fadged along monny a mahl\n tigither._\n\n +Fadgy+, _adj._ Fat, unwieldy.\n Ex.\u2014_Buxom at twenty, fadgy at fo\u2019tty._\n\n +Faff+, _v._ To blow in puffs.\n\n +Faffle+, _n._ A light intermittent wind.\n\n +Faffle+, _v._ To flap gently, as a ship\u2019s sail.\n\n +Fahve o\u2019 clocks+, _n._ Ripe seed-heads of the dandelion, which\n children blow at to ascertain the time.\n\n +Fail+, _v._ To show signs of growing weakness day by day.\n\n +Fain+, _adv._ Gladly.\n\n +Fair+, _adv._ Altogether, absolutely.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s fair bet wi\u2019 t\u2019 lad. Ah nivver war sae fairly takken\n in wiv a lass ez Ah \u2019a\u2019e been wi\u2019 Tom\u2019s weyfe._\n\n +Fairish+, _adj._ Just moderate.\n\n +Fairlings+, _adv._ Clearly, distinctly.\n Ex.\u2014_Naay! he fairlings gat t\u2019 best a\u2019 thah that tahm._\n\n +Fair to see+, Easy to see or understand.\n\n +Fair up+, _Vide_ +Clear up+.\n\n +Fairy butter+, _n._ A yellow fungus found growing on dead wood.\n\n +Fairings+, _n._ Presents bought at a fair.\n\n +Fall+, _v._ 1. To happen.\n 2. To become finely divided, as lime when slaked.\n Ex.\u20141. _Whya, it mebbe mud fall i\u2019 that road_, i.e. \u2018Why, it\n maybe might happen in that way.\u2019\n\n +Fallen away+, _v._ To have decreased in bulk, to grow thin.\n Ex.\u2014_Whya, it\u2019s fallen awaay ti nowt._\n\n +Fall in+, _v._ To meet accidentally.\n Ex.\u2014_Oor Martie war pleased ti fall in wi\u2019 John an\u2019 Annie at\n Bedale._\n\n +Fall out+, _v._ To quarrel, to have a misunderstanding.\n Ex.\u2014_Tha\u2019re nut kind noo, tha fell owt ower Tommy\u2019s pig. Ah\n nivver knew sike nibors ez them tweea, tha\u2019re awlus quarting\n an\u2019 fratching, an\u2019 falling oot t\u2019 ane wi\u2019 t\u2019 uther._\n\n +Fall teea+, _v._ To commence.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo all t\u2019 lot on ya fall teea an\u2019 set ti wark._\n\n +Fan+, +Fand+, +Fun+, +Fund+, _part._ and _pp._ of \u2018to find.\u2019\n\n +Fangle+, _v._ To seize, to entrap.\n\n +Fangled+, _pp._ Caught.\n\n +Fantickle+, _n._ A freckle.\n\n +Far+, _adj._ Further, more distant than.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah ligg\u2019d it doon i\u2019 t\u2019 far sahd o\u2019 yon field._\n\n +Far an\u2019 awaay+, _adv._ Much, decidedly.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s far an\u2019 awaay t\u2019 best-leeaking lass aboot here_;\n often +Far awaay+.\n\n +Farantly+, _adj._ Decent, well behaved; neat, nice, orderly.\n\n +Fardel+, _n._ A small bundle.\n\n +Farden+, _n._ Farthing.\n\n +Fare+, _v._ 1. To approach, to draw nigh to.\n 2. To seem.\n 3. To succeed.\n 4. To conduct oneself, to behave.\n Ex.\u20141. _Sha fares o\u2019 cauvin\u2019._\n 2. _Yon lass fares dafter na Sally Ridge._\n 3. _Thoo\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti fare t\u2019 warst wi\u2019 t\u2019 cauves, Ah think; thoo\n mun git sum keeak intiv \u2019em._\n 4. _He fares foor gitting t\u2019 sack._\n\n +Far end+, The close of anything, almost _in extremis_.\n Ex.\u2014_Tell her Ah\u2019ll cum when Ah\u2019ve deean; Ah saan\u2019t be lang;\n Ah\u2019ve ommaist gitten ti t\u2019 far end. Ah\u2019ve just left him; Ah\n deean\u2019t aim \u2019at he\u2019ll see t\u2019 neet throw, he\u2019s ommaist at t\u2019\n far end noo._\n\n +Far-fetched+, _adj._ Unlikely, improbable.\n\n +Farness+, _n._ Distance.\n Ex.\u2014_T\u2019 farness on \u2019t taks all t\u2019 profit awaay, gahin\u2019 an\u2019\n cumin\u2019._\n\n +Farrish+, +Fairish on+, _adj._ Considerably advanced.\n Ex.\u2014_He mun be gitting fairish on i\u2019 years noo. He gat farrish\n on at t\u2019 dinner, did Tommy, afoor he gat to\u2019n\u2019d ti t\u2019 doour._\n\n +Far-side+, _n._ The further side, the right-hand or off side; the\n +Nar-side+ being the left-hand.\n\n +Fash+, _v._ 1. To worry.\n 2. To inconvenience oneself.\n Ex.\u20141. _Just thee tak thi awn gate, an\u2019 deean\u2019t fash thisen aboot\n nowt._\n 2. _Ah wadn\u2019t fash mysel a larl bit fur owther him or her._\n\n +Fast+, _adj._ 1. At a standstill.\n 2. In a fix.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah caan\u2019t deea nowt, Ah\u2019s fast foor a sup o\u2019 wet._\n 2. _Ah think \u2019at Ah nivver war sae fast iv all my wick._\n\n +Fasten+ or +Fass\u2019n oot+, _v._ Said of sheep when turned from the\n grass on to the moor for the season.\n\n +Father+, _v._ 1. To impute.\n 2. To bear witness of itself, as an illegitimate child.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s awlus tryin\u2019 ti father his misdeeds o\u2019 sumbody. Ah\n wadn\u2019t let him father his lees o\u2019 me._\n 2. _Ther\u2019s neea call ti mak t\u2019 poor lass gan afoor her betters,\n t\u2019 bairn sha hugs fathers itsel._\n\n +Fatrascal+, _n._ A cake made with butter, flour, and currants; a\n rich kind of small tea-cake.\n\n +Faugh+, +Fauf+, _n._ Fallow land.\n\n +Fause+, _adj._ False.\n\n +Fayther+, +Fadder+, _n._ Father.\n\n +Fear\u2019d, To be+, _v._ To be apprehensive of, to be afraid.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s to be fear\u2019d t\u2019 warst\u2019ll happen._\n\n +Fearful+, _adv._ Exceedingly, used as an augmentative.\n\n +Fearsome+, _adj._ Awful, terrifying.\n\n +Feather-fallen+, _adj._ Crestfallen.\n\n +Feather-fowl+, _n._ Birds.\n\n +Featly+, _adv._ Dexterously.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo, he lapp\u2019d that job up weel. Aye, it war varra featly\n deean._\n\n +Feck+, _n._ Ability, quantity, mass.\n\n +Feckless+, _adj._ Lacking management, wanting ability to provide\n for oneself.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s a feckless miss, is yon; sha\u2019s up ti nowt, good ti\n nowt, an\u2019 warse \u2019an nowt._\n\n +Feeal+, _n._ A fool.\n\n +Fegs+, _n._ Dead grass-stems, anything of small value.\n\n +Fele+, +Felt+, _v._ To hide.\n\n +Fell+, _v._ To knock down.\n\n +Fell+, _n._ An undressed hide or skin, a moorland summit, a hill.\n\n +Fell+, _adj._ Keen, striving.\n\n +Fell\u2019d+, _v._ To be prostrate, knocked down.\n\n +Felon bone+, _n._ An abscess on the finger or some other part of\n the hand, from which, during suppuration, small pieces of rotted\n bone are ejected.\n\n +Felon o\u2019 t\u2019 yuer+, A disease the cow\u2019s udder is liable to.\n\n +Fellow-fond+, _adj._ Wild after the men. A girl is said to be\n \u2018fellow-fond\u2019 when her arts and guiles to gain a lover are too\n plainly manifest.\n\n +Felt+, _Vide_ +Fele+.\n\n +Felter+, _n._ One who hides things.\n\n +Felter+, _v._ To entangle, to twist, to clot. NOTE.\u2014+Cotter+ is\n much more commonly used now.\n\n +Feltrics+, _n._ A disorder horses are liable to.\n\n +Femmer+, _adj._ Slight, light, weak.\n\n +Fend+, _v._ To provide, to be able to do.\n\n +Fendable+, +Fendy+, _adj._ Capable of doing.\n\n +Fengle+, _Vide_ +Fangle+.\n\n +Fent+, _n._ A vent or slit in a garment.\n\n +Fent+, _v._ To bind the edge of anything.\n\n +Fer+, +Foor+, +Fur+, _prep._ For.\n\n +Fest+, _v._ To bind an apprentice.\n\n +Fet+, _v._ To last out, serve round, to serve.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019ll fet uz ower Sunday. It\u2019ll fet t\u2019 lot on uz if Tom\n carves._\n\n +Fetch+, _n._ A stitch or catch in the side, difficulty in\n breathing.\n\n +Fetch+, _v._ To give, to bring.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll fetch tha yan ower t\u2019 feeace._ _Ah\u2019ll fetch tha \u2019t\n when Ah cum fra t\u2019 market._ _Fetch t\u2019 barrer ower here_,\n i.e. \u2018Bring the barrow over here.\u2019\n\n +Fettle+, _v._ 1. To repair.\n 2. To put in order.\n 3. To be in good order.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo mun fettle t\u2019 au\u2019d cart up a larl piece_, i.e. \u2018You\n must repair the old cart a little,\u2019\n 2. _Ah\u2019ll fettle things up a bit afoor ya cum back_, i.e. \u2018I will\n put things in order by the time you return,\u2019\n 3. _T\u2019 machine\u2019s i\u2019 grand fettle._\n\n +Few+, _n._ Amount, generally used with some qualifying adjective,\n as \u2018a good few,\u2019 \u2018a larl few,\u2019 \u2018a gay few.\u2019\n\n +Fick+, _v._ To struggle under restraint.\n\n +Fik+, _v._ 1. To strive.\n 2. To obtain.\n Ex.\u20141. _He fick\u2019d on whahl he gat it._\n 2. _He fick\u2019d it i\u2019 t\u2019 end._\n\n +Find heart, To+, _v._ To make up one\u2019s mind.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s blinnd, bud Ah can\u2019t finnd heart ti put t\u2019 poor au\u2019d\n critter oot o\u2019 t\u2019 road._\n\n +Finnick+, _v._ To be over-particular in doing things.\n\n +Fire-flaught+, _n._ and _adj._ A lighted coal which leaps from the\n fire, a meteor; passionate.\n\n +Fire-smatch+, _Vide_ +Stithe+.\n\n +Fire-steead+, _n._ Fireplace.\n\n +First-foot+, _Vide_ +Lucky bird+.\n\n +Fisk+, _v._ To dance about.\n\n +Fit+, _adj._ 1. Equal to.\n 2. Ready.\n 3. Inclined.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019s fit foor that job, hooivver._\n 2. _T\u2019 meer\u2019s fit onny tahm._\n 3. _Ah\u2019s ommaist fit ti gan._\n\n +Fizzle+, _v._ To fidget.\n\n +Flabbergasher+, _n._ A poser. _Vide_ +Cramper+.\n\n +Flacker+, _v._ 1. To flutter.\n 2. To flicker.\n 3. To waver.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 au\u2019d bo\u2019d flackered ower t\u2019 hedge._\n 2. _T\u2019 cann\u2019l flackered whahl Ah thowt it \u2019ud gan oot._\n 3. _Ther\u2019s neea dependence on him, he flackers aboot sae._\n\n +Flag+, _n._ A snow-flake.\n\n +Flags+, _n._ The yellow iris.\n\n +Flam+, _v._ To flatter, to make believe.\n\n +Flappers+, _n._ Young birds nearly ready to fly.\n\n +Flappy+, _adj._ Unstable.\n\n +Flappy-sket+, _n. and adj._ An immoral woman; untidy.\n\n +Flappy-tongue+, _n._ One whose word cannot be relied upon.\n\n +Flatch+, _n._ A flatterer, also used as a _verb_.\n\n +Flather+, _Vide_ +Blether+.\n\n +Flaum+, _v._ 1. To blaze, to burst out in flame.\n 2. To demonstrate great affection so as to gain some advantage.\n Ex.\u20141. _It flaum\u2019d up leyke all that, bud then it war ez dry ez a\n kex._\n 2. _Sha flaum\u2019d aboot ma that mich, whahl i\u2019 t\u2019 end Ah \u2019ed ti\n gi\u2019e waay an\u2019 let \u2019em git wed._\n\n +Flaumy+, _adj._ Common, tawdry, _n._ Fulsome caresses.\n\n +Flaun+, _n._ A custard tart.\n\n +Flaup+, +Flauping+, _n._ +Flaupy+, +Flaupish+, _adj._ Senseless\n talk.\n\n +Flawter+, +Flowter+, _v._ To unnerve, to flurry.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah war sairly flowtered when Ah heeard o\u2019 Jimmy\u2019s deeath._\n\n +Flay+, _v._ To frighten. Also +Fley+.\n\n +Flay-boggle+, _n._ A ghost.\n\n +Flay-craw+, +-creeak+, or +-cruke+, _n._ A scarecrow.\n\n +Flaysome+, _adj._ Causing fear.\n\n +Flee+, _n._ A fly.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah deean\u2019t meean fleas \u2019at\u2019s fleas, bud flees \u2019at flee_,\n i.e. \u2018I do not mean fleas that are fleas, but flies that fly.\u2019\n\n +Fleead+, _n._ A flood.\n\n +Fleead+, _v._ To flood.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti let t\u2019 dam off an\u2019 fleead t\u2019 boddums._\n\n +Fleear+, _n._ A floor.\n\n +Fleece+, _n._ Obesity.\n Ex.\u2014_Wait whahl he gans throw all \u2019at Ah\u2019ve gane throw, an\u2019 he\n weean\u2019t hug sike a fleece._\n\n +Fleece+, _v._ To take all that a man has.\n Ex.\u2014_Oh, sha\u2019s a rank bad un; tha saay \u2019at sha\u2019s fleeced him ov\n ivvery haupenny he \u2019ed._\n\n +Fleeing-aither+ or +-ask+, _n._ The dragon-fly.\n\n +Fleer+, _v._ To laugh at, to ridicule.\n\n +Flesh-fly+, _n._ The common bluebottle.\n\n +Flesh-meat+, _n._ Butcher\u2019s meat, not pork.\n\n +Flick+, _n._ A flitch of bacon.\n\n +Flick+, _v._ To remove any light dust or thing with a rapid motion,\n as with a duster or whip-lash.\n\n +Flicker+, _v._ and _n._ To exist for an instant, as a smile; the\n action of a dying flame.\n\n +Flig+, _v._ To fly.\n\n +Fligged+, _part._ Having left the nest.\n\n +Fliggers+, _Vide_ +Flappers+.\n\n +Flipe+, _n._ The brim of a hat.\n\n +Flipe+, _v._ To remove dust by any quick, light motion, as with a\n handkerchief. _Vide_ +Flick+.\n\n +Flisk+, _n._ A light tap.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha nobbut flisk\u2019d him wi\u2019 her larl finger._\n\n +Flit+, _v._ To remove to another house.\n\n +Flite+, +Fleeght+, _v._ 1. To scold with many words.\n 2. To quarrel.\n Ex.\u20141. _Sha nivver lets ma be, sha\u2019s awlus fliting at ma._\n 2. _Tha\u2019re fliting t\u2019 ane agaain t\u2019 ither that mich whahl Ah\u2019ve\n cum\u2019d awaay._\n\n +Flither+, _n._ The common limpet.\n\n +Flittermouse+, _n._ The common bat.\n\n +Flitting+, _v._ The act of removing.\n\n +Flity+, _adj._ Unstable.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah wadn\u2019t trust her, nowder yah waay ner anuther, sha\u2019s\n sike a flity body._\n\n +Flobbed up+, _part._ Swollen.\n\n +Flop+, _v._ To sit down with a sudden drop, to set things down of\n a sudden and carelessly.\n\n +Floss-docken+, +Fox-docken+, _n._ The foxglove (_Digitalis\n purpurea_).\n\n +Floss-seave+, _n._ Cotton-grass.\n\n +Flowtered+, _part._ Upset, nervous.\n\n +Flowterment+, _n._ Excitement in speech and behaviour.\n\n +Flowtersome+, _adj._ Excitable, tomboyish.\n\n +Fluff\u2019d+, +Fluff\u2019d up+, _adj._ Conceited.\n\n +Fluffy+, _adj._ Covered with down, light, feathery.\n\n +Fluke+, +Fleeak+, +Fleuks+, _n._ A small maggot found in the liver\n of sheep.\n\n +Fluky+, +Fleeaky+, +Fleuky+, _adj._ Maggot-eaten, fly-blown.\n\n +Flushy-feeaced+, _adj._ Red complexioned.\n\n +Fluster+, +Flusterment+, _n._ A state of being heated by\n excitement, agitation.\n Ex.\u2014_What a flusterment that bairn \u2019ez putt en uz all inteea! wa\n thowt \u2019at he\u2019d gitten hissel lost._\n\n +Fly, To let+, _v._ To strike with force.\n\n +Foal\u2019s-foot+, _n._ Coltsfoot (_Tussilago farfara_).\n\n +Fod+, _n._ A small bundle of straw.\n\n +Fodder-hoos+, _n._ A barn for storing fodder.\n\n +Fog+, _n._ The grass which grows after the hay has been removed.\n\n +Fog-field+, _n._ A field left for the second growth of grass to\n spring up after haytime.\n\n +Foisty+, _adj._ Musty, damp, mouldy.\n\n +Fold-+ or +Fod-garth+, +Fod-yard+, _n._ The farmyard where the\n beasts are fed.\n\n +Folk+, +Fau\u2019k+, +Fooak+, _n._ The people, often used with and\n generally qualified by a prefix, as _T\u2019 au\u2019d folk_, _T\u2019 young\n fooak_, _Chetch-fau\u2019k_, _Chapel-fau\u2019k_.\n\n +Fond+, _adj._ Silly.\n\n +Fond-head+, _n._ A silly fellow.\n\n +Fondness+, _n._ Nonsense.\n\n +Fondy+, _n._ A simpleton.\n\n +Foor+, +Fur+, +Fer+, _prep._ For.\n\n +Foorced+, _part._ Compelled.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther\u2019s neea waay o\u2019 gittin oot on \u2019t, Ah s\u2019 be foorced ti\n gan._ _He\u2019ll foorce tha ti deea \u2019t._\n\n +Foot, The length of my+ = A kick.\n Ex.\u2014_If thoo isn\u2019t off iv a quickstick, Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha t\u2019 len\u2019th\n o\u2019 mah foot._\n\n +Foot, To get or take the length of one\u2019s+ = 1. To judge a person\n accurately.\n 2. To have completely won another\u2019s confidence.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019ll nut best ma, weean\u2019t yon; Ah teeak t\u2019 len\u2019th o\u2019 his\n foot lang sin._\n 2. _Sha lets him deea just what he leykes wiv her brass; he\u2019s\n gitten t\u2019 len\u2019th ov her foot, an\u2019 ther\u2019s nowt aboot that._\n\n +Footing+, _n._ Money claimed from a new apprentice on commencing\n his apprenticeship, commonly called paying his footing; the sum\n paid is always spent in drink.\n\n +Footings+, _n._ The lowest foundations.\n\n +For+, +Fur+ = In what direction.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo, then, wheear\u2019s thoo for? Ah\u2019s for Ayton, is thoo for\n Stowsla?_\n\n +Fore+, _prep._ Before. +Afoor+ is much more general.\n\n +Fore-elders+, _n._ Forefathers.\n\n +Fore-end+, +Forr-end+, _n._ 1. The beginning of a season or time.\n 2. The springtime.\n Ex.\u20141. _At t\u2019 forr-end he war ez reet ez a trivet, bud he maad a\n varra poor finish on \u2019t._\n 2. _If t\u2019 back-end be owt leyke t\u2019 forr-end wa s\u2019all mannish\n grandly._\n\n +Forking-robin+, _n._ The earwig.\n\n +Forks, A pair o\u2019+, _n._ The centre timber of a roof.\n\n +For-wandered+, _adj._ Bewildered.\n\n +Fo\u2019st+, +Fust+, _adj._ First.\n\n +Fo\u2019ther+, _adv._ Further.\n\n +Foul-fingered+, _adj._ Given to stealing.\n\n +Foul-lipped+ }\n +Foul-mouthed+ } _adj._ Given to swearing or lewd talk.\n\n +Foulmart+, +Fumart+, _n._ The polecat.\n\n +Foupe+, _v._ To drive sheep, &c., too quickly.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e sum o\u2019 them sheep deead beeat if thoo foupes\n \u2019em i\u2019 that road._\n\n +Fou\u2019t+, _n._ A fault.\n\n +Fou\u2019ty+, _adj._ Badly made, ill fitting.\n\n +Fowt+, _part._ Fought.\n\n +Fowt+, +Fout+, _n._ An idiot, a spoiled child.\n\n +Foxy+, _adj._ Cunning.\n\n +Fra+, +Frav+, +Frev+, _prep._ From, \u2018Fra\u2019 is used before a\n consonant, \u2018frav\u2019 and \u2018frev\u2019 before a vowel.\n\n +Fraby+, +Frebby+, _prep._ 1. Beyond.\n 2. Compared with. Still common in parts of Cleveland.\n Ex.\u20141. _\u2018T\u2019ll be fraby ten mahl ti Yarm._\n 2. _Thahn frebby mahn\u2019s t\u2019 best o\u2019 t\u2019 tweea on \u2019em._\n\n +Framation+, _n._ Dexterity, ability, skill shown at the\n commencement of any work.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo, yon chap hez a bit o\u2019 framation aboot him._\n\n +Frame+, _v._ To show good management, contrive well.\n Ex.\u2014_T\u2019 lass frames weel ti milk._\n\n +Fratch+, _v._ To quarrel.\n\n +Fraunge+, _v._ To play a joke.\n\n +Fresh+, _adj._ Intoxicated.\n\n +Fresh-wood+, _n._ The threshold of a doorway.\n\n +Fridge+, _v._ To rub against so as to cause a sore.\n\n +Frightened+, +Freetened+, _adj._ and _part._ 1. Doubtful as to.\n 2. Apprehensive of.\n 3. Bashful.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019s freetened he weean\u2019t mannish ti cum._\n 2. _Sha war despert freetened \u2019at he war gahin\u2019 ti splet aboot\n what tha\u2019d deean._\n 3. _Gi\u2019e t\u2019 lass a kiss, deean\u2019t be freetened._\n\n +Frog-fry+, _n._ Frog- or toad-spawn.\n\n +Fromward+, _prep._ Away from.\n\n +Frough+, _adj._ Soft, spongy.\n\n +Frow+, _n._ An untidy person, generally a female.\n\n +Frowsy+, _adj._ Applied to a forbidding countenance, untidy,\n musty.\n\n +Frutas+, _n._ A kind of tea-cake made of batter and fruits fried\n in butter on Ash Wednesday.\n\n +Fuggy+, _adj._ First. _Vide_ +Laggy+.\n\n +Full+, _adv._ An intensive, as \u2018Full seean,\u2019 i.e. \u2018full soon.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll be on full seean efter dinner_, i.e. \u2018very soon.\u2019\n\n +Full-fligged+, _adj._ Full-feathered.\n\n +Fullock+, _v._ To shoot a marble with force, and by unfairly\n overreaching the line; to do anything with considerable force.\n Ex.\u2014_He went at it wi\u2019 sike a fullock._\n\n +Full-up+, _adv._ Quite full.\n\n +Fun+, _pp._ of Find.\n\n +Fur+, For.\n\n +Furmety+, +Frummety+, _n._ Creed-wheat boiled in milk, thickened\n with lithing, sweetened, and flavoured with cloves, nutmeg, &c.,\n only eaten at Christmas time.\n\n +Furrh+, _n._ A furrow.\n\n +Fustilugs+, _n._ A low fellow.\n\n +Fuzzack+, _n._ A donkey.\n\n +Fuzz-ball+, _n._ The common field-fungus which, when ripe, on\n being nipped emits a cloud of brown dust-spores.\n\n +Fuzzle+, _v._ To intoxicate.\n\n\n G.\n\n +Ga\u2019+, _v._ Gave.\n\n +Gaa+, _v._ To go.\n\n +Gab+, _n._ Senseless chatter.\n Ex.\u2014_Ho\u2019d thi gab_, i.e. \u2018Cease your foolish talk,\u2019 or \u2018hold your\n tongue.\u2019\n\n +Gabber+, _v._ To talk foolishly.\n\n +Gabriel-ratchet+ or +T\u2019 Gabby-ratch+. A sound heard overhead in\n the still hours of the night, somewhat resembling the yelping of\n dogs; generally thought to be due to a flock of geese. When heard\n by the country folk it is looked upon as an omen of death.\n\n +Gad+, _n._ A pointed rod, a whip-stock fitted with a thong. To\n guard against the power of witches the whip-stock was often made\n of rowan-tree wood.\n\n +Gad+, +Gadder+, +Gadabout+, _n._ A gossip.\n\n +Gadding+, _part._ Gossiping.\n\n +Gaddish+, _adj._ Inclined to gossip.\n\n +Gadling+, _adj._ Applied to a gossiping person.\n\n +Gae+, _Vide_ +Gaa+.\n\n +Gaed+, _pret._ of +Gae+.\n\n +Gaffer+, _n._ The master.\n Ex.\u2014_Leeak oot, here\u2019s t\u2019 gaffer cumin\u2019._\n\n +Gag-bit+, _n._ A powerful bit used when breaking horses.\n\n +Gah+, _v._ To go.\n\n +Gahins on+, Doings, festivities, proceedings.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther\u2019s been straange gahins on at Bessy\u2019s sen Martha cam\n yam._ _Noo, wa \u2019ed grand gahins on at t\u2019 Jubilee._\n\n +Gahlfat+. _Vide_ +Gilevat+.\n\n +Gain+, +Gainest+, _adj._ Shortest, quickest, easiest.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s t\u2019 gainest waay ti gan byv t\u2019 wood_, i.e. \u2018It is the\n shortest way,\u2019 &c. _Ther\u2019s a gainer way ti deea\u2019t \u2019an that_,\n i.e. \u2018There is a quicker or easier plan to do it than that.\u2019\n\n +Gainable+, _adj._ Obtainable.\n\n +Gain-hand+, _adj._ Easily reached.\n\n +Gainly+, _adv._ Easily gained, of access.\n\n +Gains+, _n._ An advantage.\n\n +Gainstrive+, +Gainstand+, _v._ To oppose.\n Ex.\u2014_Yan caan\u2019t gainstrive owt o\u2019 that soart. Neeabody can\n gainstand thersens agaain t\u2019 railway cump\u2019ny._\n\n +Gain-way+, _n._ A shorter path.\n\n +Gairn+, +Garn+, _n._ Worsted, yarn.\n\n +Gaitings+, _n._ Bundles of clover tied at the top and left to dry.\n\n +Gallac-handed+, _adj._ Left-handed.\n Ex.\u2014_Fau\u2019k \u2019at\u2019s gallac-handed\u2019s awlus a larl bit tricky, Ah\n think._\n\n +Gallivant+, _v._ To flirt, to be continually in the society of\n ladies.\n\n +Galloway+, _n._ One of a small breed of horses.\n\n +Gallowses+, +Gallasses+, _n._ Trouser braces.\n\n +Gally-bauk+, _n._ An iron bar attached to the rann\u2019l bauk, from\n which pans are hung either on or off the fire.\n\n +Galore+, _n._ A superabundance.\n\n +Gam+, _n._ 1. A game.\n 2. Fun.\n 3. Ridicule.\n Ex.\u20141. _Wa\u2019d a rare gam at creckets last neet._\n 2. _He\u2019s a grand hand at makking gam._\n 3. _Ah thowt sha was deeaing nowt bud mak gam o\u2019 ma._\n\n +Gamashes+, _n._ Gaiters, leggings, now applied to all kind of\n leg-coverings.\n\n +Gammer+, _v._ To waste time, to be slow.\n\n +Gammer-stag+ or +-stang+, _n._ An immodest female.\n\n +Gammish+, _adj._ Lively, full of frolic, plucky.\n\n +Gan+, +Gang+, _v._ To go, to go on foot. \u2018Gang\u2019 is often added to\n the direction pointed out.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019d best tak by t\u2019 mill gang_, i.e. \u2018Go by the mill way,\u2019\n or \u2018go by the mill,\u2019 or \u2018by t\u2019 stell gang,\u2019 \u2018up gang,\u2019 &c.\n\n +Gane+, _v._ Gone.\n\n +Ganger+, _n._ A goer, usually applied to a horse.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s nut mich ov a ganger._ _That\u2019s a good ganger_,\n i.e. \u2018A good goer.\u2019\n\n +Gangeril+, +Gangril+, _n._ A worthless fellow, a vagrant, a toad.\n\n +Gannings on+, _Vide_ +Gahins on+.\n\n +Gans+, _v._ Goes.\n\n +Gant+, _adj._ Thin, puny, half-fed.\n\n +Gantree+, _n._ A low wooden stand for barrels to rest on.\n\n +Gap+, _n._ An opening in a hedge through which sheep may stray, a\n rift in the hills.\n\n +Gape+, +Gaape+, +Geeap+, _v._ To bawl loudly, to stand\n open-mouthed.\n\n +Garb+, _v._ To dress vulgarly, or in tawdry finery.\n\n +Garfits+, _n._ Entrails. In some parts goose giblets are known as\n \u2018garfits.\u2019\n\n +Garland+, _v._ A white glove decorated with ribbons and carried at\n funerals. _Vide_ Chap. VIII, on \u2018Customs.\u2019\n\n +Garsel+, _n._ Rotten sticks, last year\u2019s undergrowth.\n\n +Garth+, _n._ A small enclosure of land.\n\n +Gate+, +Geeat+, _n._ A way, road, street; there is also a secondary\n meaning of \u2018manner.\u2019 Adverbially as \u2018all gates,\u2019 \u2018onny gates.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_What gate mun Ah tak ti Easby?_ i.e. \u2018Which road must I take\n to Easby?\u2019 _If he gans on i\u2019 yon gate, he\u2019ll seean lap t\u2019 job\n up_, i.e. \u2018If he goes on in that manner, he will soon end the\n business.\u2019 _Leeak at what he\u2019s deean onny gate an\u2019 all gates,\n an\u2019 yan\u2019s boun ti awn he\u2019s been a feeal all roads_, i.e. \u2018Look\n at what he has done any way and all ways, and one is compelled\n to admit he has been a fool every way.\u2019 _Thoo diz things all\n gates an\u2019 onny gates, an\u2019 it\u2019s neea gates i\u2019 t\u2019 end._\n\n +Gate+, _n._ An acquired right or privilege of pasturage for cattle.\n\n +Gate+, _v._ To arrange clover in small bundles to dry.\n\n +Gauk+, +Gawk+, _n._ A stupid fellow, the cuckoo.\n\n +Gauky+, _adj._ Clumsy, idiotic.\n\n +Gaum+, _v._ To pay attention intelligently.\n\n +Gaumish+, _adj._ Intelligent.\n\n +Gaumless+, _adj._ Lacking intelligence.\n\n +Gaup+, _v._ To stare and gape with astonishment.\n\n +Gauve+, _v._ To stare vacantly.\n\n +Gauvison+, _n._ Silly of either sex. Usually applied to a female.\n\n +Gauvy+, _n._ A silly fellow.\n\n +Gavelock+, _n._ A crowbar.\n\n +Gay+, +Gayish+, _adj._ 1. Considerable in number.\n 2. Nice, pleasing.\n 3. Fairly good, both as to size, quality, and number.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ther war a gay few fau\u2019k gethered up. Ah gav a gayish bit\n mair \u2019an that for \u2019t._\n 2. _It\u2019s a gay bit o\u2019 stuff._\n 3. _It\u2019s a gayish field o\u2019 to\u2019nips._\n\n +Gayly+, _adv._ 1. First-class.\n 2. Exceedingly well as to health.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019s gittin\u2019 on gayly_, i.e. \u2018first-class.\u2019\n 2. _Sha war nobbut dowly a piece sen, but sha\u2019s gayly noo._\n\n +Gear+, +Gearing+, _n._ That part of a machine which alters the\n speed of running, harness.\n\n +Gear+, _n._ Worldly possessions, raiment.\n\n +Geb+, _Vide_ +Gib+.\n\n +Geck+, _n._ A stupid oaf. _Vide_ also +Goffen+.\n\n +Geean+, _part._ Gone.\n\n +Geeaping+, _pp._ Gaping, staring.\n\n +Gecken+, _v._ _Vide_ +Goffen+.\n\n +Gee+, _v._ The wagoner\u2019s command for the horse to take the\n right-hand side of the road.\n\n +Geen+, +Gi\u2019en+, +Gi\u2019n+, _v._ Given.\n\n +Geld+, _adj._ and _n._ Barren; single unmated birds, as of\n partridges.\n\n +Gell+, _n._ Girl.\n\n +Gen+, +Girn+, _v._ To grin.\n\n +Genning+, _adj._, also _part._ of _Gen_. 1. To grin.\n 2. To find fault.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo genning munkey, Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha summat ti gen at if\n thoo dizn\u2019t shift thisel._\n 2. _Sha\u2019s awlus genning an\u2019 fliting at yan._\n\n +Gep+, _v._ To eavesdrop.\n\n +Ger+, _v._ To get, go.\n Ex.\u2014_Ger ho\u2019d on \u2019t._\n\n +Gert+, +Gret+, +Greeat+, _adj._ Great.\n\n +Gesling+, _n._ Gosling.\n\n +Gess+, +Gerse+, _n._ Grass.\n\n +Geesing-land+, +Gersing-land+, _n._ Grass-land.\n\n +Get+, _v._ Beside being used in the ordinary sense there are\n several curious usages. 1. To get to.\n 2. Is called.\n 3. To come.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah aim ti gan ti Brotton when Ah git to Boosbeck._\n 2. _T\u2019 chap \u2019at \u2019ed it afoor called it Jack, bud it awlus gits\n Flip wiv uz._\n 3. _Wa thowt ya warn\u2019t gahin\u2019 ti mannish ti get._\n\n +Get, Able to+, _Vide_ +Yabble+.\n\n +Get agate+, _v._ To commence.\n\n +Get away with, To+, _v._ To push forward work.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo \u2019at t\u2019 wood\u2019s cum\u2019d wa s\u2019all be yabble ti git awaay wi\u2019\n t\u2019 job at yance._\n\n +Get on+, _v._ To succeed.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s sartin ti git on, is yon chap._\n\n +Get the length of+, _v._ To get as far as, either of place,\n distance, or work.\n\n +Getherer+ or +Gedderer+, _n._ A collector of taxes, one who gathers\n the corn into bundles.\n\n +Gether+ or +Gedder up, To+, _v._ To collect together.\n\n +Getten+, +Gitten+, +Gotten+, _part._ To get.\n\n +Gew-gaws+, _n._ Jewellery, &c.\n\n +Gew-gow+, _n._ A Jew\u2019s harp.\n\n +Gib+, _n._ The hooked handle of a stick.\n\n +Gib-+ or +Geb-stick+, _n._ A hooked stick.\n\n +Gicken+, _Vide_ +Goffen+.\n\n +Gi\u2019en+, _Vide_ +Geen+.\n\n +Giglet+, _n._ A giggling girl.\n\n +Gilder+, _n._ A horsehair snare.\n\n +Gilevat+, _n._ The vat or tub in which ale is stood to ferment.\n\n +Gill+, _n._ A half-pint.\n\n +Gill+, _n._ A narrow rock valley, a ravine.\n\n +Gillifer+, _n._ An immodest woman; one who pretends to good looks,\n or dresses younger than her years.\n\n +Gilt+, _n._ A young sow.\n\n +Gimmal+, _n._ A narrow passage between two houses.\n\n +Gimmer+, _n._ A young female lamb.\n\n +Ginger-heead+, _adj._ and _n._ One having red hair.\n\n +Gingerly+, _adv._ Cautiously, ticklish to do.\n\n +Ginnel+, _Vide_ +Runnel+.\n\n +Ginner+, _adv._ Rather, quite as soon as.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019d ez ginner gan ez stop._\n\n +Girt+, _adj._ Great. _Vide_ +Gert+.\n\n +Girt shakes, Neea+, Nothing to boast of.\n\n +Gissy-gissy+, _n._ The call for the young pigs to be fed.\n\n +Git+, _Vide_ +Get+.\n\n +Give+, _v._ To stretch, to give way, to yield to force, to thaw.\n\n +Give agaan+, _v._ To thaw, to return something when bargaining for\n luck.\n\n +Give back+, _v._ To recede, to yield through lack of courage.\n\n +Give in+, _v._ To tender an estimate, to give notice to a landlord\n of intention to quit his farm or house, to admit being\n vanquished.\n\n +Give out+, _v._ To fail in supply.\n\n +Give ower+, _v._ Leave off, desist, cease.\n Ex.\u2014_Gi\u2019e ower at yance_, i.e. \u2018Cease at once.\u2019\n\n +Gizzen+, _n._ The gizzard.\n\n +Glazzen+, _v._ 1. To glaze a window.\n 2. Become glassy.\n Ex.\u20142. _It\u2019ll seean be deead, its een \u2019s glazzen\u2019d noo._\n\n +Glease+, +Gleeaze+, _v._ To run swiftly.\n\n +Gleasing+, _n._ A race after, the cost of a suit at law.\n\n +Gleen+, _v._ To shine.\n\n +Gleg+, _v._ To peep slyly, to cast one\u2019s eyes about furtively.\n\n +Glent+, _v._ To glance off at an angle.\n\n +Gliff+, +Glift+, _n._ A passing glance, a glimpse.\n\n +Gloaming+, _n._ Twilight.\n\n +Gloor+, +Gloar+, _v._ To stare intently.\n\n +Glorr+, _n._ Soft, fat.\n\n +Glow+, _Vide_ +Low+.\n\n +Glump+, _v._ To sulk.\n\n +Glumpy+, _adj._ Sulky.\n Ex.\u2014_If he\u2019s glumpy, let him glump._\n\n +Glut+, _n._ A wooden wedge used to split timber with.\n\n +Gnag+, _v._ To weary one with reproaches, to continually assail\n one with remarks of an irritating nature.\n\n +Gnaggy+, _adj._ Bad tempered, continually scolding.\n\n +Gnarl+, _v._ To gnaw, as rabbits do trees during a hard winter.\n\n +Gnarr+, _Vide_ +Knar+.\n\n +Gnarr+, _v._ To growl.\n\n +Gnatter+, _v._ To find fault of a petty nature continuously.\n\n +Gnattering+, +Nattering+, _adj._ Fault-finding on all occasions.\n Ex.\u2014_Oh, sha\u2019s a gnattering au\u2019d thing, sha\u2019s nivver off his\n beeans._\n\n +Gnipe+, _Vide_ +Knep+.\n\n +Go+ or +Goa+, _n._ 1. Attempt, try.\n 2. Event, circumstance.\n Ex.\u20141. _Cum by, an\u2019 let me \u2019ev a go at it. He fetched yan doon\n fust go. All t\u2019 three on uz \u2019ed a go, bud neean on uz hit it._\n 2. _Well, this is a go; it beeats ivvery go, diz this._\n\n +Gob+, _n._ The mouth.\n\n +Gobble+, _v._ To reply in a sulky, indistinct manner.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo, git thisel oot o\u2019 t\u2019 glumps, an\u2019 deean\u2019t gobble i\u2019 that\n road when Ah ass tha owt._\n\n +Gob-string+, _n._ A bridle.\n\n +God\u2019s penny+, _n._ A sum of money paid by the master when hiring\n a servant to bind the transaction.\n\n +Goffen+, +Gecken+, +Gicken+, +Geck+, _v._ To laugh like an idiot.\n\n +Goings on+, _Vide_ +Gahins on+.\n\n +Goke+, +Gowk+, +Gooak+, _n._ The core of an apple, the hard part\n of a boil or ulcer; also used to denote the centre of many things,\n as \u2019t\u2019 gowk o\u2019 t\u2019 stack.\u2019\n\n +Goldens+, _n._ The charred stems of burnt ling.\n\n +Goldie+, _n._ The yellow-hammer.\n\n +Golly+, _n._ A newly-hatched bird.\n\n +Gomerill+, _n._ A born idiot.\n\n +Gone away+, _Vide_ +Fallen away+.\n\n +Good+, _adj._ 1. Considerable.\n 2. Easy.\n 3. Well.\n 4. Almost.\n 5. Kind, obliging.\n Ex.\u20141. _Whya, noo, ther war a good few on \u2019em._\n 2. _That\u2019s good eneeaf ti deea._\n 3. _Yan mud ez good talk tiv a yat-post ez yon lad._\n 4. _Ah\u2019ve ez good ez deean noo._\n 5. _Ya\u2019ll mebbe be seea good ez ti fetch ma a bit o\u2019 bacca back\n wi\u2019 ya?_\n\n +Good+, _adv._ Altogether, entirely.\n Ex.\u2014_Wa\u2019d gi\u2019en ya up foor good, wa thowt ya warn\u2019t gahin\u2019 ti\n mannish to get._\n\n +Goodies+, _n._ Sweetmeats.\n\n +Good-like+, _adj._ Of pleasing appearance.\n\n +Goodman+, _n._ The husband.\n\n +Good riddance+, Lit. Very pleased you have gone away.\n\n +Good-stuff+, _n._ Sweets.\n\n +Good-woman+, _n._ The wife.\n\n +Goose-+ or +Geeasegogs+, _n._ Gooseberry.\n\n +Gorpie+, _n._ _Vide_ +Golly+.\n\n +Gossamer+, _n._ Fine cobwebs found during dry weather, either on\n the herbage or floating in the air. _Vide_ +Musweb+.\n\n +Gote+, _n._ A narrow passage often running between two rows of\n houses, a rent in rocks sufficiently wide to admit the passage\n of one man at a time, a natural narrow ravine. A mill-race is\n often called a \u2018mill-gote.\u2019\n\n +Goupen+, _n._ A handful.\n\n +Goupenful+, _n._ A double handful.\n\n +Gowden+, _adj._ Golden. The \u2018ow\u2019 is pronounced as in \u2018show.\u2019\n\n +Gowk+, _n._ A fool, a clumsy fellow.\n\n +Gowky+, _adj._ Clumsy.\n Ex.\u2014_A gret gowky good ti nowt._\n\n +Gowland+, _n._ The corn marigold.\n\n +Grace+, _n._ Advantage, benefit.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther weean\u2019t be mich grace i\u2019 deeaing a thing leyke that._\n\n +Graft+ or +Graff+, _n._ A spade depth.\n\n +Grain+, _v._ To grumble.\n\n +Graining+, _n._ The fork, the division into branches.\n\n +Grains+, _n._ Branches.\n\n +Graithing+, _n._ Clothes.\n\n +Grapplement+, _n._ A grasping in a struggle.\n\n +Grass widdy+, _n._ An immoral woman.\n\n +Grave+, _v._ To dig.\n\n +Grawn up+, _adj._ Grown up, adult.\n\n +Greean+, +Girn+, +Gairn+, _v._ To groan, as when lifting a heavy\n weight.\n Ex.\u2014_Thee lift, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll deea t\u2019 gerning._\n\n +Gree+, _v._ To agree, to assent.\n\n +Greease-horn+, _n._ A toady, a sycophant.\n\n +Greease in+, _v._ To win over by flattery.\n\n +Greed+, _n._ Avarice.\n\n +Greet+, _v._ To weep silently.\n\n +Grenky+, _adj._ Complaining, unwell, irritable.\n\n +Gret+, _Vide_ +Gert+.\n\n +Gret end+, _adv._ Almost.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther\u2019ll be t\u2019 gret end o\u2019 fowr scoore. Whya, Ah gav\u2019 t\u2019 gret\n end o\u2019 twenty pun for \u2019t._\n\n +Gret likelihood+, Almost a certainty.\n Ex.\u2014_Tha\u2019ve been keeping cump\u2019ny foor sum tahm, ther\u2019s gret\n likelihood \u2019at tha\u2019ll be gittin\u2019 wed afoor lang._\n\n +Griff+, _n._ A small ravine.\n\n +Grime+, +Grahm+, _n._ Soot.\n\n +Grime+, +Grahm+, _v._ To black with soot.\n\n +Grime ower+, _v._ To spread a light covering of dust or other\n light matter.\n\n +Griming+, _n._ A light covering of snow.\n\n +Grip+, _n._ A narrow trench.\n\n +Gripe+, _n._ A pronged fork for digging.\n\n +Grip ho\u2019d+, _n._ A handle. _v._ To take hold of firmly.\n\n +Grissy+, _adj._ Damp and warm, of the weather.\n\n +Grob+, _n._ An undersized, badly-built man.\n\n +Grob+, _v._ To search with the hand under conditions where the\n eyes cannot assist.\n\n +Grobble+, _v._ To grope, to search for with a stick or hand, as\n under a stone for fish.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s grobbling unner t\u2019 steean foor a treeat_, i.e. trout.\n\n +Gross+, +Grossy+, _adj._ Rapid growth, plants too close together,\n fat.\n\n +Growt-heead+, _n._ A blockhead.\n\n +Grozy+, _adj._ Well-to-do.\n\n +Grue+, _adj._ Sullen, lowering, dismal, also applied to discontent\n freely expressed.\n\n +Gruff+, _adj._ Brusque.\n\n +Gruff+, _v._ To express dissatisfaction, to grunt, to snort in\n temper, to snore.\n\n +Grump+, _v._ To sulk.\n\n +Grumps+, _n._ _Vide_ +Brully+.\n\n +Grumpy+, _adj._ Bad tempered, sulky.\n\n +Grund+, _n._ Ground.\n\n +Grundage+, _n._ Ground rent.\n\n +Grun\u2019lstan+, +Grunstan+, _n._ Grindstone.\n\n +Gruntle+, _v._ To give low grunting sounds of discontent.\n\n +Grutch+, _v._ To envy, to grudge.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther\u2019s nowt \u2019at he dizn\u2019t grutch yan. He mud \u2019ev \u2019ed t\u2019\n tweea pigs, bud Ah did grutch him t\u2019 coo._\n\n +Gulch+, _v._ To swallow like a dog.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo gulches thi puddin\u2019 doon warse \u2019an a dog._\n\n +Gumption+, _n._ Tact, general capability.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019ll nowther fick na fend, foor he wants baith mense an\u2019\n gumption._\n\n +Gush+, _n._ A rush of air, a gust.\n\n +Gutter+, _v._ To waste, as a candle in a draught.\n Ex.\u2014_Put t\u2019 deear teea, t\u2019 cann\u2019l\u2019s sweealing an\u2019 guttering\n awaay leyke all that._\n\n +Gutter eaves+, _n._ The gutter which carries the water from off\n the roof.\n\n\n H.\n\n +Hack+, _n._ A small pickaxe.\n\n +Hackle+, _n._ The natural covering of an animal, or the clothes\n of man.\n\n +Hackle+, _v._ 1. To dress, to put on one\u2019s best attire, to make\n smart.\n 2. To turn the soil lightly.\n Ex.\u20141. _Sha\u2019s hackled hersel wiv all t\u2019 gew-gaws \u2019at sha\u2019s\n gitten._\n 2. _Thoo mun just hackle aboot t\u2019 reeats._\n\n +Had away+, A corruption of the Scotch \u2018haud awa.\u2019 It is quite\n common, and used in the sense of \u2018come or go quickly.\u2019\n\n +Haffle+, _v._ 1. To hesitate when speaking, to stammer, to appear\n desirous of keeping something back.\n 2. To exhibit indecision of character.\n 3. To quibble.\n Ex.\u20141. _Deean\u2019t haffle leyke that, bud speeak plain._\n 2. _Naay, what! he\u2019s lost t\u2019 job, he haffled seea; fust he wad\n an\u2019 then he wadn\u2019t, whahl t\u2019 gaffer gav it ti sumbody else._\n 3. _He awlus haffles on that mich, whahl neeabody ho\u2019ds ti owt\n he sez._\n\n +Hag+, _n._ A thick white fog which, when followed by a frost,\n forms frost-hag; a coppice, such as often grows on a rough bank\n or broken ground; a broken rugged bank.\n\n +Hag-berry+, _n._ The fruit of the bird-cherry (_Prunus padus_).\n NOTE.\u2014In many parts of the North Riding Bug-berry is the common\n name, _b\u00e4gg_ being the Swedish for the same.\n\n +Hag-clog+, _n._ A wooden block, varying in size, used as a\n chopping block.\n\n +Haggle+, _v._ To chop or cut anything unevenly, to tease, to beat\n down in a bargain, to argue in a contentious spirit.\n\n +Haggy+, _adj._ Rough, boggy, always applied to land.\n\n +Hag snars+, _n._ The stubs left standing after the chopping down\n of young trees.\n\n +Hag-worm+, _n._ The viper or adder (_Pelias berus_). The name is\n never applied to the blind-worm.\n\n +Hair-breed+, _n._ 1. By little and little.\n 2. Slow degrees.\n 3. The narrowest margin.\n Ex.\u20141. _Wa\u2019re bodduming what tha did byv hair-breeds_, i.e. \u2018We\n are finding out what they did little by little.\u2019\n 2. _Willie mends, bud it\u2019s nobbut byv hair-breeds._\n 3. _He \u2019scaped wiv his leyfe, bud it war nobbut byv a hair-breed_,\n lit. \u2018A hair\u2019s breadth.\u2019\n\n +Hairy-worm+, _n._ Any caterpillar of a hairy kind.\n\n +Hake+, _n._ An importunate beggar, not necessarily a pauper; a\n greedy, grasping person.\n\n +Hake+, _v._ To be pertinacious, to weary with importunities.\n\n +Hale+, _v._ To empty a vessel by inclining it to one side.\n\n +Hales+, _n._ The handles of a plough.\n\n +Half-marrow+, _n._ One considered as but a youth at his calling,\n half-grown.\n\n +Half nowt+, Beneath consideration, either as to money or character.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah gat it foor hauf nowt. Its nobbut a hauf-nowt when it\u2019s\n deean. T\u2019 father\u2019s i\u2019 prison an\u2019 t\u2019 lad\u2019s a hauf nowt._\n\n +Half-rocked+ or +-baked+, _adj._ Half-witted, foolish.\n Ex.\u2014_He knaws nowt, he\u2019s nobbut hauf-rocked. It\u2019s nobbut a\n hauf-rocked thing foor onnybody ti deea._\n\n +Hallock+, _v._ To wander aimlessly about.\n Ex.\u2014_If he isn\u2019t risting up agaain a wall, he\u2019ll be hallocking_\n _sumwheear. If thoo aims \u2019at hallocking aboot \u2019ll finnd tha a\n job, thoo\u2019s grandly mista\u2019en._\n\n +Hames+, +Heeams+, _n._ That part of a horse\u2019s collar to which the\n traces are fixed.\n\n +Hammer+, _v._ To stammer.\n\n +Hampered+, _adj._ 1. Hindered by difficulties.\n 2. Overrun by vermin or insects.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ve been hampered wi\u2019 all maks an\u2019 manders o\u2019 things._\n 2. _T\u2019 farm\u2019s fairly hampered wi\u2019 rabbits an\u2019 rats._\n 3. _Them to\u2019nips leeak a bit hampered wi\u2019 t\u2019 fly._\n\n +Ham-sam+, _v._ To pack or hurriedly put away things anyhow so as\n to get them out of sight, to throw together anyhow.\n\n +Ham-shackle+, _v._ To tie the head to one of the fore feet to\n prevent driven cattle from running away.\n\n +Hanch at+, _v._ An attempt to bite from behind.\n\n +Hand, To bear at+. _v._ 1. To blame.\n 2. To blame with a feeling of resentment.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah beear him at hand foor all sha knows aboot what wa\n did at Sally\u2019s._\n 2. _It war nowt bud a dirty trick, an\u2019 Ah s\u2019all awlus beear him\n at hand for \u2019t._\n\n +Hand-clowt+, +Han\u2019-cloot+, _n._ A towel.\n\n +Hand-ho\u2019d+, _n._ That which admits of being firmly gripped, the\n act of gripping.\n Ex.\u2014_It \u2019ez a good hand-ho\u2019d ti \u2019t. Ah gat a good hand-ho\u2019d, an\u2019\n Ah nivver let go._\n\n +Handle+, +Hann\u2019l+, _v._ 1. To treat.\n 2. To manage.\n Ex.\u20141. _Tha hann\u2019ld t\u2019 lad varry badly._\n 2. _Sha\u2019s varra kittlish an\u2019 bad ti hann\u2019l._\n\n +Hand-running+, _adv._ In regular succession.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s ta\u2019en fowr prizes han\u2019-running._\n\n +Handsel+, +Han\u2019sel+, _n._ and _v._ 1. The money received on or\n before the commencement of any work so as to make the agreement\n binding.\n 2. To give something on using a thing for the first time.\n 3. The act of using a thing for the first time.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll pay tha summat noo ti han\u2019sel t\u2019 job._\n 2. _Whya, thoo\u2019ll be leyke ti han\u2019sel t\u2019 new hoss, wa s\u2019 want a\n glass apiece._\n 3. _Ah\u2019ve han\u2019sel\u2019d t\u2019 new reaper ti-daay._\n\n +Hand-staff+, _n._ The handle of a flail.\n\n +Hand-turn+, _n._ A small amount of work.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s that lazy \u2019at sha weean\u2019t deea a hand-to\u2019n foor hersen,\n let aleean foor onnybody else._\n\n +Handy+, _adj._ 1. Skilful, apt, clever with one\u2019s hands.\n 2. Useful, just the very thing needed.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s a varra handy chap._\n 2. _It\u2019s yan o\u2019 t\u2019 maist handy things \u2019at Ah\u2019ve ivver clap\u2019t my\n een on._\n\n +Hang-dog+, _adj._ Sullen.\n Ex.\u2014_Deean\u2019t gan aboot wiv a hang-dog leeak o\u2019 thi feeace leyke\n that._\n\n +Hang-dog+, _n._ A worthless fellow.\n\n +Hangedly+, _adv._ Without heart, despondent.\n\n +Hank+, _n._ A latchet or loop of band or rope used to secure a\n gate; a skein of wool or string, &c.\n\n +Hank+, _v._ To hang the bridle to a hook, gate, &c.; to fasten,\n as a gate.\n\n +Hank, To get things in a+ = To get one\u2019s circumstances involved.\n\n +Hankle+, +Henkle+, _v._ 1. To become entangled.\n 2. To greatly desire, used in a very wide sense.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ve gitten t\u2019 kite band sadly hankled_, i.e. entangled.\n _He\u2019s gitten hankled on wi\u2019 yon chap, an\u2019 he\u2019ll deea him neea good.\n Ah weean\u2019t be hankled on wi\u2019 neea sike leyke carryings on_,\n i.e. mixed up with.\n 2. _Ah awlus hed a hankling foor Tom\u2019s meer. Neea, wa didn\u2019t\n bargain, bud Ah\u2019ve a gert hankling foor \u2019t._\n\n +Hant+, _v._ To frequent.\n Ex.\u2014_He fairly hants t\u2019 hoos sen Polly cam._\n\n +Hanted+, _v._ 1. Frequented by a ghost.\n 2. To be always at one\u2019s heels.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah wadn\u2019t gan neear t\u2019 pleeace at neet, tha saay it\u2019s\n hanted._\n 2. _He\u2019s awlus sumwheear nigh at hand, Ah\u2019s fairly hanted wi t\u2019\n lad sen Ah gat t\u2019 larl pony._\n\n +Hap+, _v._ 1. To cover over.\n 2. To wrap up.\n 3. To bury.\n 4. To discontinue.\n 5. To happen, chance, befall.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo mun hap t\u2019 strawberries up wi\u2019 a bit o\u2019 streah._\n 2. _Noo ya mun hap up well, it\u2019s a cau\u2019d neet._\n 3. _Ah\u2019ve just happ\u2019d Willie\u2019s grave up._\n 4. _Let\u2019s hap t\u2019 job up noo an\u2019 saay neea mair aboot it._\n 5. _If nowt s\u2019u\u2019d hap ti stop ma, Ah s\u2019 cum._\n NOTE.\u2014Lap is often used instead of \u2018hap\u2019 in 2 and 4.\n\n +Happen+, _v._ 1. Possibly.\n 2. To meet with.\n 3. Perhaps.\n Ex.\u20141. _Will ta cum? Happen Ah maay._\n 2. _He\u2019s happen\u2019d a bad accident._\n 3. _Ass him, an\u2019 happen he\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha \u2019t._\n\n +Happing+, _n._ Covering of any kind, usually bed-clothes.\n\n +Haps+, _n._ Any covering which may be used over the ordinary\n clothes.\n Ex.\u2014_\u2018A\u2019e ya browt plenty o\u2019 haps wi\u2019 ya?_ meaning topcoats,\n jackets, rugs, &c.\n\n +Harbour+, _n._ Shelter, lodging.\n Ex.\u2014_Wa mun finnd a harbour sumwhere whahl t\u2019 shooer\u2019s ower\u2019d.\n Seea lang ez it\u2019s cleean Ah deean\u2019t mahnd, bud Ah mun \u2019ev a\n harbour foor t\u2019 neet._\n\n +Harbour+, _v._ To shelter, to hide, generally used in a derogatory\n sense.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s neeawaays neyce whaw sha harbours_, i.\u202fe. \u2018She is not\n particular what kind of people she takes in, shelters, or lets\n her rooms to.\u2019 _Tha\u2019d harbour t\u2019 devil if tha thowt tha c\u2019u\u2019d\n mak owt byv it._\n\n +Hard+, _adj._ Sour, said of beer; difficult to do or manage, close,\n much.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s a hard un ti bargain wi\u2019. It ficked that hard, whahl\n Ah c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t ho\u2019d it_, i.\u202fe. much. _He awlus drahves a hard\n bargain_, i.\u202fe. close. _It\u2019s ommaist neea ewse assing him; he\n said he wadn\u2019t, an\u2019 he\u2019s hard ti to\u2019n._\n\n +Hard eneeaf+, _adv._ Without doubt, certainly, of a truth.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll deea \u2019t, hard eneeaf. He\u2019ll tell tha what he thinks,\n hard eneeaf._\n\n +Hard, To look+, _v._ To pay great attention, to observe closely.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo mun leeak hard at it, an\u2019 then thoo\u2019ll seean git thi\n task off. Ah hed ti leeak hard at him afoor Ah kenn\u2019d whaw it\n war._\n\n +Harden+, _v._ 1. To bring oneself to do a thing.\n 2. To clear up after rain.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah deean\u2019t leyke t\u2019 job, bud Ah s\u2019all \u2019a\u2019e ti harden\n mysel ti \u2019t._\n 2. _It\u2019s neea ewse to\u2019ning t\u2019 hay, whahl it hardens up a bit._\n\n +Harden-feeaced+, _adj._ Threatening, lowering\u2014of the sky or weather.\n\n +Harding+, _n._ A coarse kind of material for making aprons or\n wrappers of.\n\n +Hardlings+, _adv._ Not quite, scarcely.\n\n +Hard o\u2019 hearing+, _adj._ More or less deaf.\n\n +Hardset+, _adv._ With difficulty able.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s hardset ti mak ends meet. Ah wur hardset ti git t\u2019 job\n deean i\u2019 tahm._\n\n +Hark back, To+, _Vide_ +Harp+.\n\n +Hark ya+, _intj._ Hear you! listen!\n\n +Harled+, _adj._ Mottled.\n\n +Harn+, _n._ _Vide_ +Harding+.\n\n +Harp+, _v._ To continually refer to some annoying circumstance,\n some mistake, or disgrace.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha nivver lets t\u2019 thing dee, sha\u2019s awlus harping on aboot\n it._\n\n +Harr+, _n._ A thick fog inclining to rain.\n\n +Harrish+, _n._ Worry, annoyance, trouble.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s a bit of a harrish, bud then wa s\u2019 git ower \u2019t sumhoo._\n\n +Harrish+, _v._ To be worried owing to some misadventure,\n distressed through not knowing how some undertaking may turn out.\n\n +Harrow, To trail a light+ = To have a small family, to have few\n worries or difficulties.\n\n +Hartree+, _n._ The tail-piece of a gate.\n\n +Harv+, _v._ The word for a horse to turn to the left hand.\n\n +Hasky+, +Hask+, _adj._ Dry, rough, coarse.\n\n +Hat up, To hang one\u2019s+ = To be quite at home, welcome.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah can hang mah hat up yonder when Ah\u2019ve a mahnd teea._\n\n +Hatter+, _v._ To mix or confuse things, to knot, to throw in\n disorder. _See also_ +Hotter+.\n\n +Hause+, _n._ The throat or neck.\n\n +Hauve+, _v._ To stare stupidly.\n\n +Hauvey-gauvey+, _n._ A stupid fellow, a lout.\n\n +Hauvish+, _adj._ Lacking common sense, stupid.\n\n +Havver+, _n._ Oats; hence +Havver-cake+.\n\n +Havver-meal+, _n._ Oatmeal.\n\n +Hay-bauks+, _n._ Poles or sticks so arranged to hold hay for\n cattle to feed from.\n\n +Hay-bay+, _n._ A wild uproar.\n\n +Hay-chat+, _n._ The whitethroat.\n\n +Hasel+, _Vide_ +Hezzle+.\n\n +Hazled+, _adj._ An intermixture of red and white hairs. When the\n red preponderate, the beast is dark hazled; when white, vice\n versa. Often designated roan or roaned.\n\n +Head+, _n._ The upper part of a dale.\n\n +Head-gear+, _n._ 1. The blinders and bit, &c.\n 2. Head-dress.\n 3. Good sense, brain power.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s putten t\u2019 heead-gear on afoor t\u2019 barfan._\n 2. _Did ti notish her heead-gear? It wur grand._\n 3. _Ez far ez a bit o\u2019 heead-geear gans, he\u2019s ez sharp ez onny\n on \u2019em._\n\n +Head-rigg+, _n._ That part of a field on which the horses and\n plough are turned about.\n\n +Head screwed on the right way+, Knowing what is best to be done,\n sensible, having good judgement.\n\n +Head-stall+, _n._ A halter, usually made of hemp.\n\n +Head-tire+, _n._ Head-dress.\n\n +Heap+, _n._ In measure a quarter of a peck.\n\n +Heart-brussen+ or +Brussen-hearted+, _adj._ Heart-broken.\n\n +Heart-bun+, +Heart-grown+, _adj._ Strongly attached to a place;\n also having a great desire to accomplish something in the future.\n\n +Heart-eased+, _adj._ Freed from pain or distress.\n\n +Hearten+, _v._ To encourage, to give hope.\n\n +Heart-sick+, _adj._ Without hope, despondent.\n\n +Heart, Soft at+ } _adj._ Easily appeased, kindly disposed.\n +Heart, Warm at+ }\n\n +Heart-whole+, _adj._ 1. True-hearted.\n 2. Fancy-free.\n Ex.\u2014_Tak him all ends up he\u2019s a heart-w\u2019oll, canny chap. Ah\u2019s\n heart-w\u2019oll yet; ther\u2019s nowt aboot here \u2019at\u2019s ta\u2019en mah fancy_,\n i.\u202fe. not in love.\n\n +Heave+, _v._ To scatter corn, to winnow it.\n\n +Heave and throw+, To retch and vomit.\n\n +Heave up+, _v._ To retch.\n\n +Heck+, _n._ The upper part, containing the latch, of a door made\n in two parts. A rack for fodder; hence Stand-heck.\n\n +Heckling+, _n._ Being much questioned whilst being scolded.\n\n +Heckling+, _v._ To pester with many pertinent and impertinent\n questions.\n\n +Hedge-dike+, _n._ A bank with a hedge on it, forming a fence.\n\n +Hedge-dike-side+, _n._ The part of the hedge-bank on the\n water-channel side.\n\n +Heead-wark+, _n._ Headache.\n\n +Heeaf+, _n._ and _v._ Home, an abode; to abide.\n\n +Heeak+, _v._ To loiter, to hang about with intent to eavesdrop.\n\n +Heeal, Yal+, _adj._ Whole.\n\n +Heeam, Yam+, _n._ Home. Also pronounced Whoam.\n\n +Heeat, Yat+. Pronunciations of Hot.\n\n +Heed+, _v._ To concern oneself, to mind, to pay proper and\n thoughtful attention to.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah deean\u2019t heed mich ov \u2019at he sez. Nivver heed, cum on. He\n nivver heeds what onnybody sez._\n\n +Heegh+, High.\n\n +Heeze+, _v._ To breathe hoarsely.\n\n +Heeze+, _n._ A disease incident to pigs, and when so afflicted\n they breathe with difficulty.\n\n +Heezy+, _adj._ Wheezing, hoarse.\n\n +Heft+, _v._ To fit a handle to.\n\n +Heft+, _n._ 1. A handle.\n 2. Not all, only part.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 knife\u2019s gitten a grand heft tul \u2019t._\n 2. _Thoo\u2019s nobbut gitten a heft on \u2019t, sha\u2019s kept t\u2019 main on \u2019t\n back._\n\n +Heigh-how+, _v._ To yawn.\n\n +Held+, _v._ 1. A condition of finance.\n 2. Inclination.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e lent tha t\u2019 brass leyke all that, bud Ah\u2019s\n badly held mysel just noo._\n 2. _Ah war gretly held i\u2019 t\u2019 seeam waay_, i.\u202fe. \u2018I was greatly\n inclined the same way.\u2019\n\n +Helm+, +Hellum+, _n._ A rough shed or shelter away from the farm\n buildings.\n\n +Helter+, _n._ A halter.\n\n +Helter-skelter+, _n._ A wild rush of people or animals.\n Ex.\u2014_When he seed ma he went helter-skelter doon t\u2019 lonnin\u2019\n leyke a scopperil._\n\n +Hemmel+, _n._ The handrail of a wooden bridge.\n\n +Hempy+, _adj._ Mischievous, even to breaking the law, malicious.\n\n +Hen-bauk+, _n._ The beam for fowls to roost on.\n\n +Henkle+, _Vide_ +Hankle+.\n\n +Hennet+ = Have not. Should be written \u2018\u2019ae\u2018 nut.\u2019\n\n +Henpen+, _n._ The manure of fowls.\n\n +Hen-scrats+, +Hen-scrattings+, _n._ Light, streaky, fleecy clouds,\n often called +Fillytails+.\n\n +Heron-sew+, _n._ The heron.\n\n +Heap+, _n._ The catch which fastens gates, doors, &c.\n\n +Hezzle+, +Hezzling+, +Heshing+, _v._ To beat, to thrash soundly.\n\n +Hide+, _v._ To flog, to chastise.\n\n +Hig+, _n._ Offence taken of a petty nature, to be offended for the\n time being.\n Ex.\u2014_Tak neea notish, sha\u2019s nobbut ta\u2019en t\u2019 hig._\n\n +High-larn\u2019d+, _adj._ Highly educated.\n\n +High up+, _adj._ A good position in society, rank, or office.\n\n +Hind+, _n._ The head farm servant, who is hired by the year, and\n has a house provided rent free, with sundry other perquisites; a\n sort of bailiff, in fact, but of a lower degree.\n\n +Hinder-ends+, _n._ The poorer corn left after threshing.\n\n +Hing+, +Heng+, _v._ 1. To hang.\n 2. To cling.\n 3. To continue.\n Ex.\u20141. _Hing thi coaat up._\n 2. _He\u2019s treated her warse \u2019an a dog, bud sha still hings tiv him._\n 3. _If t\u2019 droot hings on, to\u2019nips\u2019ll be ti neea good ti year._\n\n +Hing for rain, To+, A common phrase used when rain is more than\n probable.\n\n +Hipe+, _v._ To push with the horns, to make grimaces.\n\n +Hiper+, _n._ A mimic.\n\n +Hipping-steeans+, _n._ Stepping-stones.\n\n +Hippings+, _n._ Baby\u2019s napkins.\n\n +Hipple+, _n._ A small bundle of half-dried hay.\n\n +Hiring penny+, _n._ A sum of money, generally half a crown, paid\n as earnest money by a master on hiring his farm servant.\n\n +Hirings+, _n._ A statute fair, at which servants are hired.\n\n +Hirp+, +Hirple+, _v._ To stick the back up with cold.\n\n +Hiss+, _Vide_ +Siss+.\n\n +Hissel+, +Hissen+, _pro._ Himself.\n\n +Hitch+, _v._ To hop.\n\n +Hitch, strahd, an\u2019 jump+ or +loup+. Hop, stride, and jump.\n\n +Hoavish+, _adj._ Stupid, idiotic.\n\n +Hobman+, The name of an elf-man, at one time very generally\n believed in, doubtless akin to, if not the same as, Danish\n _Nisses_. Each elf-man or hobman had his habitation, to which he\n gave his name, as Hob Hill, Upleatham, Hob Green, near Ripon, Hob\n o\u2019 t\u2019 rush Rook, on the Farndale moors, &c. There must have been\n both kindly natured and malicious hobmen, as stories are\n plentiful in proof of both.\n\n +Hobble+, _v._ To move along with difficulty or from age.\n\n +Hobble+, _n._ Trouble, perplexity.\n Ex.\u2014_Throw what Ah\u2019ve tell\u2019d Bob Ah\u2019ve gitten mysel intiv a gret\n hobble. He\u2019s tell\u2019d what Ah sed, an\u2019 sha\u2019s letten oot what he sed,\n an\u2019 noo wa\u2019re all iv a hobble tigither._\n\n +Ho\u2019d+, _v._ 1. To hold.\n 2. To keep.\n 3. To maintain.\n 4. To keep in employment.\n 5. To remain with.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo mun ho\u2019d fast._\n 2. _Thoo mun ho\u2019d ti what thoo\u2019s sed. If t\u2019 daay ho\u2019ds fair wa\n s\u2019all git wer hay._\n 3. _Ah ho\u2019d \u2019at he\u2019s i\u2019 t\u2019 wrang._\n 4. _T\u2019 job at t\u2019 chuch \u2019ll ho\u2019d him foor long eneeaf._\n 5. _He\u2019s laam\u2019d foor leyfe; \u2019t\u2019ll ho\u2019d him ti t\u2019 end ov his\n daays._\n\n +Ho\u2019d+, _n._ 1. Possession.\n 2. Tenure.\n Ex.\u20141. _When he gits ho\u2019d he\u2019ll keep ho\u2019d._\n 2. _If thoo dizn\u2019t mak thi ho\u2019d paay thoo owt._\n\n +Ho\u2019d fair+, _v._ To keep fair.\n\n +Ho\u2019d off+, _v._ To hold off, to keep off.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah think t\u2019 rain\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti ho\u2019d off. If he can nobbut\n ho\u2019d off fra drinkin\u2019 he\u2019ll cum roond._\n\n +Ho\u2019d on+, _v._ 1. To retain one\u2019s grip.\n 2. Also used in the sense of to stop, wait a moment.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ho\u2019d on tiv its heead, Ah\u2019s cummin\u2019._\n 2. _Ho\u2019d on a bit, deean\u2019t thoo slavver on seea fast_,\n i.e. \u2018Wait a moment, don\u2019t you talk so fast.\u2019\n\n +Ho\u2019d talk+, _v._ To gossip, also as a noun.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019ll ho\u2019d talk wi\u2019 onnybody; aye, sha\u2019s a champion at\n ho\u2019ding talk._\n\n +Ho\u2019d teea+, _v._ To agree to, to carry out, to uphold.\n\n +Ho\u2019d up+, _v._ To keep one\u2019s head up, to fight against despondency.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo deean\u2019t gi\u2019e waay, thoo mun ho\u2019d up; things isn\u2019t seea\n bad, noo ho\u2019d up._\n\n +Ho\u2019d wi\u2019+, _v._ To agree with.\n Ex.\u2014_Whya noo, Ah ho\u2019d wi\u2019 t\u2019 main o\u2019 what thoo sez._\n\n +Hoffle+, _Vide_ +Hobble+.\n\n +Hog+, _n._ A male pig, a sheep of a year old.\n\n +Hoidle+, _v._ To idle.\n\n +Hoit+, _v._ To act like a fool. _n._ A fool.\n\n +Hoity-toity+, _intj._ An exclamation of surprise, carrying with\n it slight indignation. _adj._ Somewhat ruffled in temper.\n\n +Holl+, _n._ A narrow deep depression in the face of the land,\n varying in length, but never extensive; the dead of night.\n\n +Hollin+, _n._ The holly.\n\n +Holm+, _n._ Land by the side of a stream, low-lying and subject\n to being flooded.\n\n +Holy+ or +Lemmel steean+, _n._ Any water-rolled stone of small\n size having a hole through, once valued as a charm against\n witches.\n\n +Home-coming+, _n._ The return home of an absent one, the\n festivities on such an occasion after a wedding or long absence.\n\n +Honey+, A term of endearment, often preceded or followed by some\n other word to add greater force. Little conception can be formed\n of the love and tenderness which is thrown into and expressed by\n this word; it must be heard as coming from a mother\u2019s lips.\n Ex.\u2014\u2018_Oh, mah sweet honey bairn!_\u2019 said as a mother picked up a\n fallen child. \u2018_Thoo little honey!_\u2019 as the baby was clasped\n to its mother\u2019s breast. \u2018_Gan thi ways, honey dear; Cu\u2019 thi\n ways, mah honey pet_,\u2019 &c.\n\n +Honey-fall+, _n._ A piece of rare luck, money left from some\n unexpected quarter.\n\n +Honeysouk+, _n._ Honeysuckle.\n\n +Hoo+, _adv._ How.\n\n +Hood-end+, _n._ The flat portion found on either side of old-style\n fire grates, upon which a kettle or pan may be placed.\n\n +Hoos+, _n._ House. _Vide_ +House+.\n\n +Hooze+, _Vide_ +Heeze+.\n\n +Hopper+, _n._ The basket or skep containing the seed corn when\n sowing, usually suspended by a strap over the shoulders.\n\n +Hopple+, _v._ 1. To tie the legs of an animal so as to prevent\n its running away.\n 2. To hinder.\n Ex.\u20142. _It\u2019s neea ewse his endivering when he\u2019s hoppled wiv a\n weyfe leyke yon; sha\u2019s nowt bud a clog tiv his foot_, i.e. \u2018It\n is no use his striving when he is hindered or tied to a wife like\n that; she is nothing but a drag on him.\u2019\n\n +Hork+, _v._ To trail about.\n\n +Horry+, _v._ To hurry.\n\n +Horse-gogs+ or +Hoss-gogs+, _n._ A common, astringent, purple\n brown plum.\n\n +Hoss-steean+, +Hoss-block+, +Hossin\u2019-steps+, _n._ A stone or\n steps used to stand upon when about to mount a horse.\n\n +Hosses together, They deean\u2019t put ther+ = Not friendly.\n\n +Hoss-teng+, _n._ The common dragon-fly.\n\n +Hoss-trod+, _n._ A bridle-road.\n\n +Hostle+, _v._ To put up at an inn. \u2018Hostle\u2019 is only used in\n connexion with an inn. We \u2018put up\u2019 and \u2018hostle\u2019 at an inn, and\n \u2018lowse out\u2019 at a friend\u2019s.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah can lowse oot at thi pleeace, caan\u2019t Ah?_ or _Ah\u2019ll put\n up at t\u2019 Black Swan. Ah hostles at t\u2019 Blew Pig._\n\n +Ho\u2019t+, Pronunciation of +Hurt+.\n\n +Hotch+, _v._ To botch, to bungle.\n\n +Hotch+, _n._ A mismanaged affair.\n\n +Hot-pots+, +Heeat-+ or +Yat-pots+, _n._ _Vide_ \u2018Wedding Customs.\u2019\n\n +Hotter+, _v._ To jolt, to bump as in a cart over a stony road.\n\n +Hottery+, _adj._ Broken, rough, uneven road.\n\n +Houe+, _n._ A hill of considerable size: Houe Hill, near Ripon.\n A tumulus.\n\n +Houl+, _n._ _Vide_ +Holl+.\n\n +Hound+, _v._ 1. To incite.\n 2. To give an opportunity.\n Ex.\u20141. _Them \u2019at hounded him on war t\u2019 fo\u2019st ti bleeam him._\n 2. _Neeabody\u2019s hounded him on mair \u2019an what Ah \u2019ev, an\u2019 yet he\n wadn\u2019t stick up tul him._\n\n +House+, _n._, pron. _hoos_. With our country folk, \u2018hoos\u2019 is not\n the whole building, but the one room in which the family usually\n dwell; the other rooms are spoken of as the parlour, back room,\n and the chambers, &c.\n Ex.\u2014_Deean\u2019t set it doon i\u2019 t\u2019 hoos, tak it inti t\u2019 parlour._\n\n +House-fast+, _adj._ Confined to the house through illness.\n\n +House+ or +Hoos fau\u2019k+ or +fooak+, _n._ The people of the house.\n\n +House-kept+ or +-held+, _adj._ Confined to the house owing to\n some preventing cause other than illness.\n\n +Housin\u2019 stuff+ or +sticks+. Household goods, furniture.\n\n +Hout+, _intj._ Expressing incredulity or dissent.\n\n +Hover+, _v._ 1. To hesitate.\n 2. Inclined for.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah hovered a larl bit afoor Ah bowt it._\n 2. _Ah doot it\u2019s hovering foor raain._\n\n +Howk+, _v._ 1. To dig.\n 2. To lift or push with some force.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll howk t\u2019 grund foor tha. He gat at t\u2019 back o\u2019 ma\n an\u2019 howk\u2019d ma inti t\u2019 carridge afoor Ah ken\u2019d wheear Ah war._\n\n +Howly+, _n._ A boys\u2019 game.\n\n +Howse+, _v._ To bale out water, &c.\n\n +Howsomivver+, +Howsumivver+, +Hoosivver+, _conj._ Howsoever,\n however.\n\n +Hubble-shoo+, _n._ An excited, noisy crowd.\n\n +Huckle+, _n._ The hip.\n\n +Huff+, _n._ Offence taken.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s ta\u2019en huff, an\u2019 sha\u2019s ta\u2019en t\u2019 hig, an\u2019 tha\u2019ve baith\n gitten t\u2019 hump tigither._\n\n +Huff+, _v._ To puff or swell up, as after a blow.\n\n +Huff\u2019d+, _p._, _a._ Offended.\n\n +Huffil+, _n._ A finger-stall.\n\n +Hug+, _v._ To carry, whether in the arms or on the back.\n\n +Hugger-mugger+, _n._ Everything in disorder.\n\n +Huke-bone+, _Vide_ +Huckle+.\n\n +Huker+, _v._ To barter.\n\n +Hull+, _v._ To remove the pod or outer covering of peas, beans, &c.\n\n +Hulls+, +Hullin+, _n._ The pods or outer covering of many fruits\n and grain.\n\n +Hummel+, _v._ To break off the awns of barley.\n\n +Hummel\u2019d+, _adj._ Without horns.\n\n +Hummeller+, _n._ The instrument used to hummel with.\n\n +Humped+, _adj._ Sulky.\n\n +Hunger+, _v._ and _n._ 1. To suffer from the pangs of hunger.\n 2. To withhold food, to provide insufficiently.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah war hungered past my bahdings._\n 2. _He hungers ivverything aboot t\u2019 pleeace._\n\n +Hussocks+, _n._ Coarse tufts of grass.\n\n +Hutter+, _Vide_ +Hotter+.\n\n\n I.\n\n +I\u2019+, _prep._ In. \u2018I\u2019\u2019 is used before a consonant, \u2018iv\u2019 before a\n vowel.\n Ex.\u2014_I\u2019 t\u2019 boddum o\u2019 t\u2019 box_, i.e. \u2018In the bottom of the box.\u2019\n _Iv all manner o\u2019 waays._\n\n +Ice-shoggles+, +Ice-shogglins+, _n._ Icicles.\n\n +Ickles+, _n._ Icicles.\n\n +If+, Is often used for \u2018whether,\u2019 _Vide_ ex. +Nither+.\n\n +If in case+, +If so be as how+. Redundancies for \u2018+if+.\u2019\n\n +If no more+ = If not more.\n\n +If so be that+, _Vide_ +If in case+.\n\n +Ill+, _adj._ Bad, evil dispositioned or intentioned.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s queer, bud sha\u2019s an ill un._\n\n +Ill+, _n._ Harm.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019s warked him all t\u2019 ill \u2019at ivver thoo c\u2019u\u2019d._\n\n +Ill-deed+, _n._ Evil proceedings, ill-luck.\n Ex.\u2014_Ill-deed nivver thrives. He\u2019s \u2019ed nowt bud ill-deed fra t\u2019\n startin\u2019._\n\n +Ill-fare+, _v._ To fail through ill-luck, often used in reversed\n order, as +Fare-ill+.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah \u2019ed it fetch t\u2019 meer yam agaan, Ah nobbut fared ill wi\n \u2019t, ez sha brak baith her knees cumin\u2019 doon t\u2019 bank._\n\n +Ill-favoured+, _Vide_ +Ill-thriven+.\n\n +Ill-gaited+, _adj._ Awkward in action.\n\n +Ill-hap+, _n._ Misfortune.\n\n +Illify+, _v._ To speak disparagingly of, to defame.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha illifies onnybody an\u2019 ivverybody, sha spares nowt na\n neeabody._\n\n +Ill-put-on+ or +-putten+, _adj._ Shabby, applied to clothes.\n\n +Ill-ta\u2019en+, _adv._ To take anything with bad grace.\n Ex.\u2014_It war nobbut ill-ta\u2019en what thoo sed._\n\n +Ill-tented+, _adj._ Neglected, badly cared for or looked after.\n\n +Ill-thriven+ or +-throven+, _adj._ Having a weakly, ill-fed\n appearance, unhealthy.\n\n +Immense+, _adj._ Exactly, precisely the thing required.\n\n +Imp+, _n._ An extra ring, usually made of straw, used for\n enlarging the size, by insertion beneath the beehive.\n\n +In+, +Un+. One. _Vide_ +Un+.\n\n +Incomin\u2019+, _n._ Entrance, the taking possession by a new tenant.\n\n +Inear+, _n._ The kidney.\n\n +Ing+, _n._ A low-lying pasture.\n\n +Ingle+, _n._ 1. Fire, flame.\n 2. The fireside, when used with the definite article.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah tell\u2019d my taal o\u2019 luv byv t\u2019 ingle glow._\n\n +Ingle-neuk+, _n._ The corners by the fireside within the\n old-fashioned open chimneys.\n\n +Inkle+, _n._ A kind of tape.\n\n +Inkle+, _v._ 1. To arrange plans.\n 2. To have a desire for.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s awlus inklin\u2019 summat, bud it nivver cums ti nowt._\n 2. _He maistly inkles efter what he can\u2019t git._\n\n +Inkle-weavers, As thick as+, In the weaving of inkle the workers\n were enabled to sit quite close together, the width of the\n fabric being so narrow; hence arose the saying, \u2018As thick as\n inkle-weavers.\u2019 The phrase also carries the idea of great\n friendship.\n\n +Inklin\u2019+, _n._ A hint, an idea, a guess.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve gi\u2019en her a bit ov an inklin\u2019 o\u2019 what\u2019s gahin\u2019 on.\n It\u2019ll nut be lang afoor he finnds \u2019em oot, he\u2019s gitten an\n inklin\u2019._\n\n +In-meats+, _n._ The viscera of any animal which is considered\n edible.\n\n +Innards+, _n._ One\u2019s inside, bowels, entrails, &c.\n\n +Innerly+, _adv._ More within.\n\n +Inoo+, +Inow+, _adv._ Presently, shortly.\n\n +Insense+, _v._ 1. To inform.\n 2. To make clear beyond all doubt.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll insense him inti \u2019t when Ah see him._\n 2. _Ah varra seean insens\u2019d it intiv him._\n\n +Insides+, _n._ Viscera.\n\n +Intak+, _n._ Land enclosed from a common or road for cultivation.\n\n +Inti+, +Intil+, +Intiv+, +Intul+, _prep._ Into.\n\n +In wi\u2019, To be+ = To be on good terms with.\n Ex.\u2014_Jack\u2019s weel in wi\u2019 t\u2019 Squire._\n\n +Iv+, _Vide_ +I\u2019+.\n\n +Ivvery+, _adj._ Every.\n\n +Ivvery like+, _adv._ Every now and then.\n\n\n J.\n\n +Jab+, _v._ To crush.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve gitten mah finger sadly jabbed wi t\u2019 yat._\n\n +Jack+, _n._ Quarter-pint measure.\n\n +Jacket, To warm one\u2019s+ = To beat, to chastise.\n Ex.\u2014_If thoo gans theear onny mair, Ah\u2019ll warm thi jacket for\n tha._\n\n +Jacketed, To be+, _v._ To hear a charge, or bear reproof having\n first been arraigned before one\u2019s superiors; to be closeted with.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s been jacketed wi\u2019 t\u2019 gaffer i\u2019 t\u2019 parlour ower an hoor\n noo. Ah\u2019ll lay he\u2019s gi\u2019en him t\u2019 lines properly._\n\n +Jaded+, _adj._ To be almost overcome with difficulties.\n\n +Jangle+, _v._ To jingle.\n\n +Jannock+, _adj._ Fair, honourable, just.\n\n +Jar+, _v._ To quarrel.\n\n +Jar on+, _v._ To be continually at variance.\n\n +Jarring+, _n._ Quarrelling, squabbling.\n\n +Jaup+, _v._ 1. To strike together.\n 2. To shake any liquid in a vessel.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll jaup tha eggs_, i.e. boys jaup their Easter eggs\n by striking them one against the other; the one succeeding in\n breaking the other\u2019s egg claims it as victor.\n 2. _If thoo jaups t\u2019 milk leyke that, thoo\u2019ll finnd butter i\u2019\n t\u2019 can when thoo gits yam._\n\n +Jaupin\u2019+, +Jaupen+, _adj._ Gaping, wide.\n\n +Javver+, _n._ Silly talk, foolish prating.\n\n +Jealous+, +Jillous+, _adj._ Suspicious. _v._ To anticipate.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah war a bit jillous \u2019at he wad splet on uz. Ah jillous\u2019d\n Jim all t\u2019 tahm._\n\n +Jert+, _v._ To project a stone by catching the hand against the\n side.\n\n +Jill+, _v._ To drink continuously but in small quantities.\n Ex.\u2014_Neeabody ivver sees him tak a gert quantity, bud then he\n gans jilling aboot seea._\n\n +Jimp+, _adj._ 1. Smart in figure, slight.\n 2. Short measure.\n Ex.\u20141. _Sha\u2019s gitten ez jimp a waist ez onny lass._\n 2. _It\u2019s jimp i\u2019 t\u2019 paper, an\u2019 jimp i\u2019 pot_, i.\u202fe. \u2018Light both\n as to weight and measure.\u2019\n\n +Jin+, Jane.\n\n +Jinny-spinner+, _n._ The crane-fly, or any of the genus _Tipula_.\n\n +Jinny-ullot+, +Jenny Howlet+, _n._ The tawny owl (_Syrnium\n siridula_).\n\n +Job+, _v._ To trade in.\n Ex.\u2014_He jobs iv ommaist owt_.\n\n +Joblijock+, _n._ The name of the cock turkey, a domestic trouble\n or discomfort.\n\n +Jodder+, +Jother+, _n._ A shaking, as one gets in a springless\n cart, a trembling.\n Ex.\u2014_It joggled an\u2019 Ah jothered, whahl Ah felt leyke tumm\u2019ling\n ti bits._\n\n +Jodder+, +Jother+, _v._ To shake like jelly, to tremble.\n\n +Jodderum+, _n._ A trembling, shaking mass.\n\n +Joggle+, _v._ To shake, to be unsteady in motion.\n\n +Joggly+, _adj._ Shaky, unsteady.\n\n +Joggle-stick+, _n._ The bar which secures the shafts to the body\n of the cart.\n\n +Jollous+, _adj._ In good condition, healthy, well-fed.\n\n +Jolt-heead+, _n._ A clumsy fellow.\n\n +Jorum+, _n._ A pitcher-like vessel of considerable size; the\n whole lot, a considerable crowd of people.\n\n +Joskin+, _n._ A country lad.\n\n +Joul+, +Jowl+, _n._ The jaw; fat hanging cheeks.\n\n +Joul+, +Jowl+, _v._ To jolt or hit against.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah laamed mahsen sadly, Ah jowl\u2019d my heead up agaainst t\u2019\n deear._\n\n +Jowls+, _n._ A kind of hockey played by boys.\n\n +Judy-cow+, _Vide_ +Doody-cow+.\n\n +Jumm\u2019lment+, _n._ 1. A confusion.\n 2. Things of many kinds.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo\u2019s gitten things intiv a straange jumm\u2019lment._\n 2. _Ah nivver clapt my een on sike a jumm\u2019lment o\u2019 trash ez he\u2019s\n gitten geddered tigedder._\n\n +Jump with, To+, _v._ To meet or to find.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah jumped wi\u2019 Betty at t\u2019 lonnin\u2019 end. Efter leeaking all\n ower foor t\u2019 lad, Ah jumped wiv him at skeeal yat._\n\n +June bug+, _n._ The ladybird (_Coccinella punctata_). _Vide_\n +Doody-cow+.\n\n +Junters+, _adj._ Sulks, bad temper.\n\n\n K.\n\n +Kaimt+, _adj._ Not straight.\n\n +Kale+, +Keeal+, _n._ Porridge, broth.\n NOTE.\u2014If for other than domestic use, it is specialized as\n \u2018Keeal for t\u2019 pigs,\u2019 \u2018flour keeal,\u2019 &c.\n\n +Kale-pot+, +Keeal-pot+. An iron pot having three short iron feet,\n used for cooking kale in.\n\n +Kal\u012bver+, _v._ To dance about excitedly.\n\n +Kame+, +Keeam+, _n._ A comb. Also as a _verb_.\n\n +Kane+, +Keean+, _v._ To bring fermentation to a head.\n\n +Kave+, +Keeave+, _v._ To rake the \u2019pulls and caff\u2019 from corn when\n thrashing.\n\n +Kavings+, _n._ The short straws, &c., as above.\n\n +Kead+, +Ked+, _n._ The sheep-tick (_Melophagus ovinus_).\n\n +Keck+, +Kecken+, _v._ To make a noise whilst coughing, as if\n something was fast in the throat; to have a loathing for;\n fastidious.\n\n +Kecken-hearted+, _adj._ Nauseated, fanciful.\n\n +Keckle+, _v._ To laugh heartily.\n\n +Kedge+, _n._ A glutton.\n\n +Kedge+, _v._ To set the teeth on edge, to eat and drink like a\n glutton.\n\n +Kedging+, _n._ Food.\n\n +Keeak+, _n._ Cake.\n\n +Keeak+, _v._ To cake, to form a hard scum. _Vide_ also +Keek+.\n\n +Keeaky+, _adj._ Brisk, lively.\n\n +Keeave+, +Kauve+, _v._ To paw the ground impatiently, as a horse.\n\n +Keeaving-rake+ } _n._ The rake and riddle used during thrashing.\n +Keeaving-riddle+ }\n\n +Keek+, +Keeak+, _v._ To lean towards, or tilt up.\n Ex.\u2014_Keeak t\u2019 cart a larl bit mair._\n\n +Keek+, _v._ To pry or peep into, to observe unawares.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s nowt na better \u2019an a keyhooal keeker, sha\u2019s allus\n keeking._\n\n +Keen+, _adj._ Eager, energetic, desirous.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah nivver seed neeabody sae keen afoor. He\u2019s ez keen ez a\n tarrier. Ah war a bit keen ti git it._\n\n +Kegged+, _adj._ Offended, inclined to be spiteful.\n Ex.\u2014_He gat hissel sairly kegg\u2019d ower t\u2019 job._\n\n +Keld+, +Kell+, +Caul+, _n._ The membrane enveloping the foetus in\n the womb, and occasionally found adhering at birth.\n\n +Kelk+, _n._ Fool\u2019s parsley (_Aethusa cynapium_), a heavy blow, a\n single ovum of the spawn of a fish.\n\n +Kelps+, _n._ The iron hooks hanging from the gally-bauk.\n\n +Kelter+, _n._ Circumstances of any kind; wealth, or rather the\n condition of wealth as vested in property.\n\n +Kelter+, _n._ To go full speed.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah nivver cam sike a kelter i\u2019 mah leyfe._\n\n +Keltering+, _adj._ Almost beyond comparison.\n Ex.\u2014_Mah wo\u2019d, bud yon is a keltering good un._\n\n +Kelterment+, _Vide_ +Ketterment+.\n\n +Kemps+, _n._ Hairs mixed with wool.\n\n +Kempt+, _pp._ Combed.\n\n +Ken+, _v._ To know.\n\n +Ken+, +Kern+, _v._ To churn. _n._ A churn.\n\n +Ken-cruddle+, _n._ A churn staff.\n\n +Ken-milk+, _n._ Churn-milk, i.e. butter-milk.\n\n +Kennigood+, _n._ A reminder.\n Ex.\u2014_Tak that ez a kennigood_, said a man, boxing a boy\u2019s ears.\n\n +Kenning+, _n._ 1. Knowledge.\n 2. Recognition.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ther\u2019s a gay bit o\u2019 kenning i\u2019 t\u2019 lad._\n 2. _T\u2019 lass \u2019ez waxed that mich whahl ther\u2019s neea kenning her._\n\n +Kenspak+, +Kenspeckle+, _adj._ Easily known or recognizable,\n conspicuous.\n\n +Kent+, _pp._ Knew.\n\n +Kep+, _v._ To catch.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll potch an\u2019 thoo kep._\n\n +Keslip+, +Keslop+, _n._ Rennet.\n\n +Kessen+, _part._ Cast, bent.\n\n +Kess\u2019mas+, +Kess\u2019nmas+, +Kessamas+, _n._ Christmas.\n\n +Kess\u2019n+, _v._ To christen.\n\n +Kess\u2019nen+, _n._ A christening.\n\n +Kess\u2019n up+ = To be found, to turn up.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah thowt it \u2019ed geean foor good, bud it\u2019s kess\u2019n up agaain\n ez good ez ivver._\n\n +Kest+, _adj_. Bent, not straight, out of truth.\n\n +Kest+, _v._ To cast off.\n\n +Ket+, _n._ Filth, tainted meat, carrion.\n\n +Ketlock+, _n._ Charlock. _Vide_ +Runch+.\n\n +Ketterment+, _n._ Rubbish.\n\n +Ketty+, _adj._ 1. Nasty.\n 2. Disagreeable.\n Ex.\u20141. _Oh, what ketty stuff! Ah caan\u2019t eat it._\n 2. _It\u2019s nobbut a ketty gahin\u2019 on_, i.e. a disagreeable\n proceeding.\n\n +Kevel+, _n._ A strong, fairly long ash handle, to which is fixed\n a steel hammer-head of curious shape, used as a hammer in quarry\n work.\n\n +Kevel+, _v. and n._ Both the working of the stone and the swinging\n of the hammer.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll kevel mair flints iv a daay \u2019an he can_, i.e. dress\n more flints. _He mannishes varra weel foor a new starter, an\u2019\n when he\u2019s larnt t\u2019 knack o\u2019 takking a larl bit wider kevel,\n he\u2019ll chip all t\u2019 easier foor \u2019t_, i.e. \u2018When he has learnt\n the trick of taking a little bit wider sweep or swing, he will\n chip all the easier for it.\u2019 In some way difficult to define,\n both the noun and verb, +Kevel+, relate to the handle and its\n action as well as to the head.\n\n +Kex+, _n._ Dried stem of fool\u2019s parsley.\n\n +Kick+, _v._ To object.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019all kick neea lahtle if he cums that gam on ma._\n\n +Kicky-wicky+, _adj._ Disdainful.\n\n +Kin+, _n._ 1. Kind, generally of species.\n 2. Sort, relationship.\n 3. A chilblain, a chap or crack in the skin.\n Ex.\u20141. _What a-kin is he ti Tommy?_ 2. _What kin o\u2019 yan\n is \u2019t he\u2019s gitten?_\n\n +Kin+, _v._ To chap, as one\u2019s hands in frosty weather.\n\n +Kin-cough+, _n._ Whooping cough.\n\n +Kind+, _adj._ On friendly terms.\n Ex.\u2014_Tha\u2019ve gitten kind agaan. Wa\u2019ve been kind sen wa wur lads._\n\n +Kindling+, +Kinlin\u2019+, _n._ Firewood, small twigs suitable for\n lighting a fire.\n\n +Kink+, _n._ A twist in a rope or line, stiffness of the limbs,\n a stiff neck.\n\n +Kink+, _v._ To laugh wildly, hysterically; to laugh until one\n labours for breath.\n\n +Kinlin\u2019+. _Vide_ +Kindling+.\n\n +Kinn\u2019l+, +Kinnle+, _v._ To set and light the fire; to bring forth\n young, applied to a rabbit.\n\n +Kipper+, _adj._ Nimble, in good and lively spirits.\n\n +Kirk+, _n._ A church.\n\n +Kirk-garth+, _n._ Churchyard.\n\n +Kirk-warner+, _n._ Churchwarden.\n\n +Kissing-bush+, _n._ The mistletoe.\n\n +Kist+, _n._ A chest.\n\n +Kit+, _n._ A small pail with one of the staves longer than the\n rest, to serve as a handle.\n\n +Kite+, _n._ The belly.\n\n +Kith+, +Kyth+, _n._ Friends, acquaintances.\n\n +Kitlin\u2019+, _n._ A kitten.\n\n +Kittle+, +Kittlish+, _adj._ 1. Easily moved or upset.\n 2. Nice, delicate.\n 3. Ticklish, easily tickled.\n Ex.\u20141. _Keep off; its nobbut a varra kittle consarn, varra\n larl\u2019ll touple all t\u2019 lot ower_, i.e. \u2018Stand clear; it is only\n a very unsteady concern, a slight shock or touch will knock it\n over.\u2019\n 2. _Ah\u2019d a seet reyther thoo\u2019d tell him thisel; it\u2019s a kittlish\n thing foor me ti deea when Ah\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti wed his sister._\n 3. _Deean\u2019t touch ma unner t\u2019 airms, Ah\u2019s that kittlish whahl Ah\n caan\u2019t bahd it._\n\n +Kittle+, _v._ 1. To bring forth young, said of a cat.\n 2. To excite, to stir up, to awaken.\n 3. To tickle.\n Ex.\u20142. _Ah\u2019ll tell him a few things \u2019at\u2019ll kittle him up a bit.\n If that weean\u2019t kittle him up a bit, Ah knaw o\u2019 nowt \u2019at will._\n 3. _T\u2019 mair Ah scrat an\u2019 t\u2019 mair Ah kittle._\n\n +Kitty-keis+, _n._ Seeds of the ash-tree.\n\n +Kity+, _adj._ Having a protuberant stomach.\n\n +Kizzen\u2019d+, _pp._ of +Kizzen+, _v._ Dried up, over-cooked, parched.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019s kizzen\u2019d it whahl Ah caan\u2019t eat it._\n\n +Knab+, _v._ To gnaw as a mouse.\n\n +Knack+, _n._ Adroitness, skill, aptness.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah tried an\u2019 oor Jack tried, bud wa c\u2019u\u2019d mak nowt on \u2019t;\n bud Tom teeak ho\u2019d an\u2019 did it iv a crack, bud then he\u2019s gitten\n t\u2019 knack on \u2019t._\n\n +Knack+, _v._ To talk affectedly, to mince one\u2019s speech.\n\n +Knackish+, _adj._ Knavish.\n\n +Knap+, _v._ To give a slight tap, to knock, so as to break.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll knap thi knuckles foor tha. Ah\u2019ve knapped a piece off\n t\u2019 jug spoot._\n\n +Knappish+, _adj._ Snappy.\n\n +Knapper+, _v._ To talk finely. _Vide_ +Knack+.\n\n +Knapper+, _n._ A door-knocker.\n\n +Knappers+, _n._ Leather flaps to shield the thighs when using the\n turf spade.\n\n +Knappery-ware+, _n._ Crockery.\n\n +Knar+, +Knor+, +Knur+, _n._ A ball of wood, a hard knot.\n\n +Knarl+, _v._ To run in knots, as a skein of wool or twine.\n\n +Knaw+, _v._ Know.\n\n +Knee-bass+, _n._ A straw cushion to kneel on when washing steps,\n a church hassock.\n\n +Knep+ or +Nipe+, _v._ To bite off in small pieces.\n\n +Knodden+, _pp._ Knead.\n\n +Knoll+, +Knowl+, _n._ A stroke of a bell.\n Ex.\u2014_Whisht! it gav six knowlls; it\u2019ll be foor a woman, mebby\n Betsy Parkin._\n\n +Knoll+, _v._ To toll, generally applied to the passing bell.\n\n +Knop+, _n._ A knob.\n\n +Knucks+, +Knacks+, +Knuckles+, _n._ A game very commonly played\n in the North Riding, several holes being made in the ground some\n inches apart, the object being to shoot a marble from one to the\n other.\n\n\n L.\n\n +Laan+, _n._ A loan.\n\n +Labber+, _v._ 1. To play with water or soft mud.\n 2. To struggle after falling into water.\n 3. To plod through wet grass or turnips.\n Ex.\u2014_T\u2019 barn labbers aboot i\u2019 yon slap hoal whahl sha\u2019s drinch\u2019d\n thruff an\u2019 clarted an\u2019 labbered fra heead ti foot wi t\u2019\n blathery slathery muckment._\n\n +Labbered+, _pp._ To be splashed or daubed with soft mud.\n\n +Laboursome+, _adj._ Laborious, tiring.\n\n +Lace+, +Leeace+, _v._ 1. To thrash soundly.\n 2. To add spirits to tea or coffee.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll lace tha soondly when Ah catch tha._\n\n +Lacer+ or +Leeacer+, _n._ Any person or thing larger or taller\n than usual.\n\n +Lad-louper+, _n._ An impudent forward lass, one who makes the\n first advances.\n\n +Lady-cow+, _Vide_ +Dundy-cow+.\n\n +Lae+, +Leea+, _n._ A scythe.\n\n +Lae-sand+, _n._ A sandstone used for sharpening scythes.\n\n +Lafter+, _n._ The whole of the eggs laid before sitting, the eggs\n being sat upon.\n\n +Lag+, _n._ A single wooden division in a cask.\n\n +Lag+, _v._ To loiter, to hang behind.\n\n +Lagged+, _pp._ Tired out, wearied.\n\n +Laggy+, _adj._ Last. A boy shouts \u2018Laggy,\u2019 or \u2018Bags Ah laggy,\u2019\n when he desires to take the last turn in any game. \u2018Bags Ah\n fuggy\u2019 is, I claim first, \u2018seggy\u2019 second, \u2018thoddy\u2019 third.\n\n +Lahk+, _Vide_ +Like+.\n\n +Lahtle+, +Larl+, _adj._ Little.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019s nobbut a larl un, bud if thoo nobbut wurks hard an\u2019\n eats plenty o\u2019 pudden thoo\u2019ll stritch oot a gay bit._\n\n +Laid-off+, _adj._ Incapable of work through illness or other causes.\n\n +Laid out+, _v._ Prepared like, got up, looked like.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah caan\u2019t saay what it war, bud it laid out leyke rice an\u2019\n soapsuds; sum on \u2019em gulched it doon leyke all that._\n\n +Laid out+, _v._ 1. To arrange.\n 2. To attend to the body immediately after death.\n 3. To spend money.\n Ex.\u20141. _Sha laid t\u2019 table oot varra neycely._\n 2. _Hannah an\u2019 Jane\u2019s laid him oot, poor things an\u2019 tha\u2019re\n gahin\u2019 ti sahd him by o\u2019 Tho\u2019sday._\n 3. _Ah\u2019ve spent all mah brass, bud Ah\u2019ve laid it oot weel._\n\n +Lairock+, _n._ The lark (_Aluda arvensis_).\n\n +Lait+, +Late+, +Leeat+, _v._ To seek.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah awlus \u2019ev ti late that lass ivvery tahm Ah want her.\n Ah\u2019ve lated high an\u2019 low foor \u2019t, bud Ah caan\u2019t finnd it\n neeawheear._\n\n +Lake+, +Laak+, +Leyak+, _v._ To play, in a modified sense often\n used as tease, e.g. _Tho\u2019ll lake on wi\u2019 t\u2019 dog whahl it\u2019ll bite\n tha._\n\n +Lakings+, _n._ Playthings.\n\n +Lalder+, _Vide_ +Lalling+.\n\n +Lalderish+, _adj._ Lazy, listless.\n\n +Lall+, _v._ To sing and shout excitedly.\n\n +Lalling+, +Lolling+, _v._ To wander idly and aimlessly about, to\n lazily lean up against a wall for support.\n Ex.\u2014_He gans lolling aboot an\u2019 maks \u2019at he\u2019s badly; a good day\u2019s\n work \u2019ud deea him t\u2019 maist good ov owt._\n\n +Lallops+, +Lollops+, _n._ A lazy lounging fellow.\n\n +Lallopy+, +Lollopy+, _adj._ Idle, untidy, slovenly.\n\n +Lam+, _v._ To beat.\n\n +Lame+, +Laam+, _v._ 1. To hurt.\n 2. To injure.\n Ex.\u20141. _Let go, thoo\u2019s laming my airm._\n 2. _Whya, onny road he\u2019s lam\u2019d t\u2019 lad foor leyfe._\n\n +Lammace+, _v._ To beat with heavy blows.\n\n +Lammacing+, _n._ A beating, a good thrashing.\n\n +Lamming+, _n._ A beating.\n\n +Land+, _n._ Space between two furrows.\n\n +Land+, _v._ To arrive, to give a blow.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah set off efter tea an\u2019 landed a bit efter darkening. Ah\u2019ll\n land tha yan ower t\u2019 gob if thoo dizn\u2019t shut up._\n\n +Landlouper+, _n._ One who runs away to escape paying his debts,\n &c.\n\n +Lang+, _adj._ Long.\n\n +Lang first+, _adv._ Long before.\n\n +Lang last+, _adv._ At last.\n\n +Lang length+, _adv._ Full length.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah slipped, an\u2019 Ah war laid ma lang len\u2019th on t\u2019 grund i\u2019\n a crack. Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha t\u2019 lang length o\u2019 my hand._\n\n +Lang sen+, +Lang sin+, _adv._ Long since.\n\n +Lang settle+, _n._ A long wooden seat with a high back and an arm\n at each end.\n\n +Langsome+, _adj._ Long, tedious, troublesome.\n\n +Lang tongued+, _adj._ An exaggerator.\n\n +Lang waay+, _adv._ Much, certainly.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s a lang waay t\u2019 best deeaing it this waay. Aye, byv a\n lang waay_, i.e. \u2018yes, certainly.\u2019\n\n +Lang-waays+, _adv._ Lengthways.\n\n +Lantern-leet+, +Lant\u2019n-leet+, _n._ Lantern-light, often used to\n denote late in the evening.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah doot Ah s\u2018an\u2019t be wi\u2019 y a whahl efter lantern-leet._\n\n +Lap+, _v._ 1. To wrap.\n 2. To have done with, usually followed by \u2018up.\u2019\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll lap a bit o\u2019 clowt roond it, an\u2019 it\u2019ll be all reet._\n 2. _Ah\u2019ve nowt else ti saay; Ah s\u2019all lap t\u2019 job up noo, an\u2019 seea\n ther\u2019s an end on \u2019t._\n\n +Lap-band+, _n._ Hoop-iron.\n\n +Lap-cock+, _n._ A small bundle of hay twisted in the arms and laid\n to dry.\n\n +Lapling+, _n._ A vicious fellow.\n\n +Lap up+, _v._ and _n._ To wrap up, to finish; an end.\n\n +Lapwing+, _n._ The plover.\n\n +Lark-heeled+, _adj._ Having heels turning outward.\n\n +Larn+, _v._ To teach.\n Ex.\u2014_Will ta larn me hoo ti deea \u2019t? Ah\u2019s larning mysel ti plaay\n t\u2019 fiddle._\n\n +Lash oot+, _v._ To kick, as a horse.\n\n +Lashin\u2019 oot+, _v._ Extravagance, showing off.\n Ex.\u2014_Deean\u2019t ya think t\u2019 young doctor\u2019s lashin\u2019 oot mair \u2019an\n what he can stand teea?_ i.e. \u2018Don\u2019t you think the young\n doctor is showing off (buying horses, &c.) more than he will\n be able to pay for?\u2019\n\n +Lashing+, _adj._ Large, either of persons or things.\n Ex.\u2014_By goa! bud he\u2019s a lashing young chap; he mun stan mair \u2019an\n six foot._\n\n +Lasty+, _adj._ Durable.\n\n +Late+, _v._ To seek.\n\n +Lated+, _pp._ Sought.\n\n +Lated+, _adv._ Belated.\n\n +Later+, _n._ A seeker.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah fan him, bud Ah\u2019s a good later._\n\n +Latt+, _n._ A lath.\n\n +Latty+, _adj._ Thin.\n\n +Lawk+, _intj._ Lo!\n\n +Lax+, _n._ Diarrhoea.\n\n +Lay+, _v._ To be certain, of that opinion, to bet or wager; also\n to levy a rate.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo aims \u2019at he weean\u2019t, bud Ah lay \u2019at he will. Ah\u2019ll lay\n tha what thoo leykes._\n\n +Lay on+, _v._ To use extra exertion. Cattle \u2018lay on fat\u2019 when\n specially fed.\n\n +Laylac+, _n._ The lilac.\n\n +Laze+, _v._ To live idly.\n\n +Lead+, _n._ Direction, way.\n\n +Lead+, _v._ To carry goods or hay in a cart or wagon.\n\n +Lead-eater+, _n._ India-rubber.\n\n +Leaf+, _n._ Fat round the kidney of an animal.\n\n +Leafs+, _n._ Fat along a pig\u2019s nose.\n\n +Leam+, _v._ To drop or fall out when ripe, as nuts from the husks.\n\n +Leamers+, _n._ Nuts quite ripe, which fall from the husks.\n\n +Leasing+, _n._ The separating of differing kinds of grain.\n\n +Leather-head+, _n._ A dull, stupid fellow.\n\n +Leathered+, _pp._ 1. Beaten, overcome, mastered.\n 2. Puzzled.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019s leathered wi\u2019 this job hooivver_, i.e. overcome.\n _He\u2019s leathered him soondly_, i.e. thrashed.\n 2. _Ah\u2019s leathered ti knaw wheea\u2019s ti blaam_, i.e. puzzled.\n\n +Leave loose+, To let go, to cease from detaining.\n\n +Leavlang+, _adj._ Oblong.\n\n +Leck+, _v._ To escape by drops, to leak.\n\n +Lee+, _n._ The watery discharge from a wound, a lie.\n\n +Leeak for+, _v._ To expect.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019all leeak foor ya a week cum Mondaay. Ah\u2019s glad ya\u2019ve\n fetched it, Ah\u2019ve been leeaking for it cumin\u2019 ivvery daay._\n\n +Leeak ya+, _intj._ Look you!\n\n +Leear+, _n._ Learning.\n\n +Leef+, +Leave+, +Lief+, _adj._ Willingly, just as soon as.\n\n +Leet+, _n._ A light.\n\n +Leet+, _v._ To alight, to settle upon.\n\n +Leet, I\u2019 that+ = In that way, like that.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah \u2019grees wi\u2019 tha, when thoo puts it i\u2019 that leet. Thoo\n s\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t tak \u2019t i\u2019 that leet._\n\n +Leet on+, _adj._ Unbalanced.\n Ex.\u2014_Sit a bit forrad, wa\u2019re a larl bit leet on._\n\n +Leets+, +Leeghts+, _n._ Lungs, lights.\n\n +Leetsome+, _adj._ Lightsome, cheerful.\n\n +Legs, A pair of+, _n._ Stockings.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s gitten a gran\u2019 pair o\u2019 legs foor t\u2019 wedding._\n\n +Leg up, A+, _n._ Assistance.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll cum an\u2019 gi\u2019e tha a leg up mysel._\n\n +Leister+, +Lyster+, _n._ A three-pronged fork for striking salmon.\n\n +Lemmel-steean+, _n._ A stone with a hole through it, formerly used\n to ward off witches.\n\n +Len+, _v._ To lend.\n\n +Length+, +Len\u2019th+, _n._ Stature. The \u2018g\u2019 is always silent in\n _length_, _strength_, _kingdom_, and usually the final \u2018g\u2019 also.\n\n +Length of, The+, The distance or limit of anything.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah efter it t\u2019 len\u2019th o\u2019 t\u2019 paddock._\n\n +Lenny+, _n._ The linnet.\n\n +Let+, _v._ 1. To light.\n 2. To alight on.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah let t\u2019 cann\u2019l._\n 2. _Ah tumm\u2019ld off t\u2019 stack, bud Ah let o\u2019 mah feet._\n\n +Let drive+, _v._ To strike or kick with force.\n\n +Let on+, _v._ To admit.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah didn\u2019t let on \u2019at Ah knew owt._\n\n +Let on+, +Lite on+, +Leet on+, _v._ To meet, usually followed by\n \u2018with.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_Where did ta lite on wiv him?_\n\n +Let wit+, _v._ To disclose.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah let wit \u2019at Ah knew summat._\n\n +Letten+, _pp._ of \u2018to light\u2019 and \u2018to let.\u2019\n\n +Leve+, _v._ To raise by leverage.\n\n +Leyke+, _Vide_ +Like+.\n\n +Lib+, _v._ To castrate lambs.\n\n +Liberty+, _n._ The parish or township.\n\n +Lick+, _adj._ Swift, at a great speed.\n Ex.\u2014_He did gan wiv a lick roond t\u2019 corner._\n\n +Lick+, _v._ To thrash, to surpass. _Vide_ +Leathered+.\n\n +Lick+, _n._ Just a slight wipe with a damp cloth; hence the saying,\n when anything is only half cleansed, _Ah\u2019ve deean \u2019t wiv a lick\n an\u2019 a promise_.\n\n +Lie on+, _Vide_ +Lay on+.\n\n +Lift+, _v._ To help, to render assistance.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah aim\u2019d ti gi\u2019e him a bit ov a lift mysel._\n\n +Lig+, _v._ To lay down, to put down.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo mun lig it doon a bit. Ah\u2019ll lig it doon on t\u2019 swab._\n\n +Lig+, _v. i._ To lie down, to be near to or situate.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha ligs doon ivvery daay efter dinner. It ligs aback o\u2019\n Roseberry._\n\n +Lig-a-bed+, _n._ A sluggard.\n\n +Lig een on+, _v._ To meet or see a person.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah think he mun be deead, Ah \u2019evn\u2019t lig\u2019d een on him this\n lang whahl._\n\n +Lig ho\u2019d+, _v._ To take hold of.\n\n +Lig on+, _Vide_ +Lay on+.\n\n +Lig up, To+, _v._ To store, put by.\n\n +Lightsome+, _Vide_ +Leetsome+.\n\n +Light+, +Leet+, _adj._ Of little depth, applied to a furrow; weak,\n slight; mealy, not sodden, as applied to potatoes and bread;\n lacking soil.\n\n +Lightening+, +Leetening+, _n._ Yeast (brewer\u2019s), the break of day.\n\n +Light+ or +Leet skets+, _n._ A female of doubtful morals.\n\n +Like+, +Leyke+, _adj._ 1. Likely, highly probable.\n 2. In duty bound.\n Ex.\u2014_Leyke eneeaf Ah s\u2019 be theear._\n 2. _Ah s\u2019 be leyke ti show up at kess\u2019nen._\n\n +Like all that+, _adj._ An intensive, giving greater force to some\n previous statement.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha war iv a tantrum, an\u2019 flang hersel aboot leyke all\n that_, i.e. in a passion. _He went at it leyke all that_,\n i.e. with resolution. _Sha gen\u2019d an\u2019 giggled like all that_,\n i.e. in a ridiculous manner. _Sha tell\u2019d him what sha thowt\n leyke all that_, i.e. spoke her mind plainly.\n\n +Lile+, +Larl+, +Lahl+, _adj._ Little.\n\n +Lillilow+, _n._ A blaze, a flame.\n\n +Lilting+, +Lilty+, _adj._ Jumpy, frolicsome.\n\n +Limb+, _n._ A mischievous child.\n\n +Limber+, _adj._ Pliant, easily bending to light pressure.\n\n +Limmers+, _n._ Shafts.\n\n +Lin+, +Lahn+, _n._ Flax (_Linum usitalissimum_).\n\n +Lin clout+, _n._ A linen rag.\n\n +Linch+, _v._ To flog.\n\n +Lineseed+, Linseed.\n\n +Ling+, _n._ Heather.\n\n +Lingberry+, _n._ The seed capsule of the heather.\n\n +Ling-nail+, _n._ The linch-pin of a cart-wheel.\n\n +Lingy+, _adj._ Active, athletic.\n\n +Lip+, _n._ Impudence, saucy talk.\n\n +Lish+, _adj._ Active.\n\n +Lisk+, _n._ The groin.\n\n +Lithe+, _v._ To thicken with flour and water.\n\n +Lithing+, _n._ Flour and water, used to thicken broth, gravy, &c.\n\n +\u2019Liver+, _v._ To deliver, to give back, usually followed by \u2018up.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_If thoo dizn\u2019t \u2019livver \u2019t up, thoo\u2019ll catch it._\n\n +\u2019Liverance+, _n._ Liberation, freedom.\n\n +\u2019ll+ = Will.\n\n +Lobster-louse+, _n._ The wood-louse.\n\n +Loggerheeads, To be at+ = To be at variance.\n\n +Loggin+, _n._ A batten of threshed straw.\n\n +Lollop+, _v._ To lean up against, to move about lazily.\n\n +Lone+, +Loan+, _n._ A lane.\n\n +Long-+ or +Lang-strucken+, _part._ Legs too long for the body.\n\n +Loning+, +Loaning+, +Lonnin\u2019+, +Lo\u2019nin\u2019+, _n._ A narrow lane.\n\n +Loobily+, _adj._ Foolishly.\n\n +Look a bad look+ }\n +Leeak a bad leeak+ } +To+, _v._ To look ill.\n\n +Looking+ or +Leeaking for+, _v._ To expect, to desire.\n\n +Looks ta+ or +Leeaks ta+. Look thou or you.\n\n +Loose end+, _n._ Going to the bad.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s nobbut at a loose end, sen he gat hissel henkled on\n wi\u2019 yon lot._\n\n +Loose i\u2019 t\u2019 heft+, _n._ Lit. loose in the handle, and hence of\n little use. A worthless fellow.\n\n +Lopp+, _n._ A flea (_Pulex irritans_).\n\n +Loppered+, _adj._ Curdled (of milk).\n\n +Lops an\u2019 tops+, _n._ The small branches and tops of trees.\n\n +Lorn+, _part._ Left, lost, forlorn.\n\n +Lost+, _adj._ Beyond all bounds, almost helpless.\n Ex.\u2014_Her hoos war fairly lost i\u2019 muck. He war lost i\u2019 wonder_,\n i.\u202fe. absolutely amazed. _Ah war lost i\u2019 \u2018mazement an\u2019 c\u2019u\u2019d\n deea nowt._\n\n +Lound+, _adj._ Calm, free from wind, sheltered.\n\n +Lounder+, _v._ To thrash soundly.\n\n +Loundering+, _n._ A thrashing.\n\n +Loundering+, _adj._ Heavy, severe (of a blow).\n\n +Loup+, _v._ To leap, jump, bound up.\n Ex.\u2014_If thoo caan\u2019t loup \u2019t, thoo mun clim \u2019t, tumm\u2019l ower \u2019t,\n or ram thisen thruff \u2019t._\n\n +Low+, +Glow+, _n._ The flame from a fire or candle, &c.\n\n +\u2018Lowance+, _n._ The forenoon drinking.\n\n +Lowse+[112], _v._ To loose, to unfasten.\n 2. To dismiss.\n Ex.\u20142. _Hez t\u2019 chetch lowsed yet?_ i.e. \u2018Has the congregation\n left?\u2019\n\n +Lowse oot+, +Lowsen oot+, _v._ To unyoke, to unpack.\n\n +Lowsing tahm+, _n._ The time for unyoking after a day\u2019s work.\n\n +Lubbart+, _n._ A clown.\n\n +Lucky bird+ or +bo\u2019d+, _n._ The first male to cross the threshold\n on New Year\u2019s morn.\n\n +Lucky-steean+, _n._ A rounded, water-worn piece of quartz, or a\n stone with a natural hole through it. _Vide_ +Lemmel-steean+.\n\n +Lug+, _n._ The ear proper, or the handle of a pitcher or jug, &c.\n\n +Lug+, _v._ To pull.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha diz lug mah hair, when she combs it, diz mah aunt Jane._\n\n +Lug ends+, _n._ Tips of the ears.\n\n +Luke+, _v._ To pull weeds from cornfields.\n\n +Lumberly+, _adj._ Awkwardly.\n\n +Lurdy+, _n._ A stupid fellow.\n\n\n M.\n\n +Mabble+, _v._ To leave the chisel-marks on stone, to rough-dress.\n\n +Mad+, _adj._ 1. Very angry.\n 2. Wild.\n Ex.\u20141. _Aa bud, Ah war mad wiv her._\n 2. _He seems fair mad efter t\u2019 lass._\n\n +Maddle+, _v._ 1. To bewilder, confuse.\n 2. To grow bewildered.\n 3. To conduct oneself foolishly in love affairs.\n Ex.\u20141. _Tha maddled ma sairly wi\u2019 ther racket an\u2019 din._\n 2. _It war that pick dark \u2019at Ah didn\u2019t ken wheear Ah war, bud Ah\n maddled alang, fust yah waay an\u2019 then t\u2019 ither, whahl at last\n end Ah fan mysen i\u2019 Au\u2019d Willie\u2019s pig-stee._\n 3. _If thoo dizn\u2019t tak care, thoo\u2019ll gan maddlin\u2019 efter t\u2019 lass,\n whahl thoo\u2019ll loss thi job._\n\n +Made oot+, _Vide_ +Mak oot+.\n\n +Madge+, +Madgipeg+, _n._ The fool of the sword-dancers.\n\n +Maffle+, _v._ To strive in a way quite inadequate to the success\n of the undertaking.\n Ex.\u20141. _Noo let\u2019s hear what thoo \u2019ez ti saay foor thisel, an\u2019\n deean\u2019t maffle on i\u2019 that road._\n 2. _If he maffles on wi\u2019 t\u2019 job i\u2019 yon waay he\u2019ll nivver\n mannish \u2019t._\n\n +Mafted+, +Mefted+, _adj._ 1. Stifled.\n 2. Out of breath by long exertion, through fighting against a\n storm, generally of snow.\n Ex.\u2014_Oppen t\u2019 winner, Ah caan\u2019t bahd; Ah\u2019s ommaist mafted i\u2019 t\u2019\n pleeace._\n\n +Mahnd+, +Mind+, _v._ 1. To remember.\n 2. To pay heed to.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah mahnd t\u2019 tahm_, i.\u202fe. \u2018I remember the circumstances.\u2019\n 2. _Ah\u2019ve mahnded what thoo sed_, i.\u202fe. \u2018I paid heed to what you\n said.\u2019 _Noo thoo mun mahnd all \u2019at Ah\u2019ve tell\u2019d tha, an\u2019 think\n on \u2019at thoo \u2019ezn\u2019t ti foorgit ti mahnd an\u2019 paay t\u2019 bill._\n\n +Main+, _adj._ and _adv._ 1. Largest or greatest.\n 2. Quite.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 main on \u2019em sez \u2019at it is seea_, i.e. \u2018The greatest\n number of them say that it is so.\u2019\n 2. _Ah\u2019s ommaist main sartin he\u2019s in t\u2019 reet on \u2019t, or Ah\u2019s main\n sartin_, i.e. \u2018I am quite certain.\u2019\n\n +Mainswear+, _v._ To take a false oath.\n\n +Mair+, _adj._ More.\n\n +Maist+, _adj._ Most.\n\n +Maist-hand+, _Vide_ +Near-hand+.\n\n +Maistly+, +Maistlings+, +Moastlings+, _adv._ Mostly.\n\n +Mak+, _n._ 1. Make, design, shape.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve seen a vast o\u2019 maks i\u2019 ma tahm, bud nivver a mak\n leyke this. Wheeas mak\u2019s that?_ i.e. \u2018Whose make is that?\u2019\n _It \u2019ez a queer mak aboot it._\n\n +Makmeeat+, _v._ To make or prepare food for the household.\n\n +Mak on+, _v._ To induce by kindness.\n Ex.\u2014_T\u2019 dog\u2019ll follow if thoo maks on it a bit._\n\n +Mak oot+, _v._ 1. To make, serve.\n 2. To succeed in an undertaking.\n 3. To discover, find out.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti mak oot wi\u2019 t\u2019 bit \u2019at\u2019s left noo._\n 3. _Ah caan\u2019t mak oot what yon chap\u2019s efter._\n\n +Mak sharp+, +Be sharp+, +Leeak sharp+ = Make haste, be quick.\n\n +Mak spare+ = Economical, careful.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo reeach teea an\u2019 help yersels; ther\u2019s nowt ya need be\n neyce aboot, an\u2019 ya needn\u2019t mak spare ov owt._\n\n +Maks an\u2019 manders+, _n._ All sorts.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve all maks an\u2019 manders on \u2019em._\n\n +Man+, _n._ The husband of the person speaking, or of some woman\n spoken of; with the addition of \u2018young,\u2019 it would mean the one\n who is courting some fair maid, e. g. _Mah man\u2019s gahin\u2019, an\u2019 thi\n man\u2019s gahin\u2019, an\u2019 Sally\u2019s young man mun go wiv \u2019em._\n\n +Manders+, _n._ All kinds, different sorts mixed.\n\n +Mang+, _n._ A bran mash.\n\n +Mang+, _v._ To mix various ingredients of any kind of food.\n\n +Manifold+, +Monifaud+, _n._ The intestines. _adj._ Various.\n\n +Mannish+, _v._ To manage, to conduct farming in a prosperous\n manner, to manure land.\n\n +Mannishment+, _n._ Manure.\n\n +Mannur+, _v._ and _n._ Manure.\n\n +Mar+, _v._ To injure, spoil.\n\n +Mark\u2019s E\u2019en+, St. Mark\u2019s Eve.\n\n +Marrish+, _n._ Low-lying ground liable to be flooded.\n\n +Marrow+, +Marrer+, _n._ One of a pair, similar.\n\n +Marrow+, _n._ To match, to produce a similar thing.\n\n +Marry, Aye+, _intj._ Yes; as \u2018Will ta gan?\u2019 answer, \u2018Aye marry!\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_Aye marry! bud sha\u2019s a beauty. Aye marry, tha\u2019re wed noo\n hard eneeaf._\n\n +Mash+, _v._ To draw the strength out of anything by infusion, as\n tea; to reduce to pulp.\n\n +Mash up+, _v._ To break in small pieces.\n\n +Mask+, _v._ To infuse. _Vide_ +Mash+.\n\n +Mask+, _n._ The face, the hunter\u2019s term for a fox\u2019s head. _Vide_\n +Keld+.\n\n +Master+, +Mee\u0103ster+, +Ma\u0103ster+, +Maastther+, _n._ Master; the\n head of the house, shop, works, or school.\n\n +Masterman+, _n._ One who employs.\n\n +Matched+, _pp._ Almost beyond one\u2019s ability to do; to be put to a\n severe test.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019all be hard matched ti git t\u2019 job deean byv t\u2019 tahm\n \u2019at he wants it. He\u2019s mair \u2019an matched wi\u2019 yon. Ah\u2019ve gitten\n myself sairly matched this tahm._\n\n +Matter+, _v._ To esteem.\n 2. To influence.\n 3. Information.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah nivver did matter him mich._\n 2. _Owt \u2019at he sez weean\u2019t matter mich ti onnybody._\n 3. _Onny matter \u2019at he knaws weean\u2019t mak onnybody neea wiser._\n\n +Matters+, _n._ Quantity, account.\n Ex.\u2014_It maks neea gert matters owt \u2019at he sez. Nut onny gert\n matters foor me, Ah \u2019ed summat afoor Ah cum\u2019d._\n\n +Maudle+, _v._ To besot.\n Ex.\u2014_He war maudling drunk._\n\n +Maukey+, _adj._ Whimsical.\n\n +Mauls+, _n._ The marsh-mallow.\n\n +Maum+, +Maumy+, _adj._ Ripe, mellow.\n\n +Maunder+, _v._ To wander, talk foolishly.\n\n +Maundering+, _adj._ Grumbling, muttering.\n\n +Maunsil+, _n._ A fat, slovenly female.\n\n +Maun\u2019t+, +Mooun\u2019t+, +Mun\u2019t+, +Munnot+. Must not.\n\n +Mawk+, _n._ A maggot.\n\n +Mawky+, Maggoty.\n\n +Mayern+, _n._ A wicken gatherer.\n\n +Mayhap+, _adv._ Perhaps. +Mebbe+ is most commonly used.\n\n +Maze+, _v._ To bewilder.\n\n +Meadow-drake+, _n._ Corn-crake.\n\n +Meal+, _n._ Flour of various kind not fully dressed.\n\n +Mealy-mouthed+, _adj._ Plausible.\n\n +Mean+, +Meean+, _adj._ Bad as to character.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s aboot ez meean ez tha mak \u2019em. Sha\u2019s meean eneeaf ti\n deea onny dirty trick. Sha\u2019s meean eneeaf ti hunger t\u2019 baa\u2019n\n ti deeath._\n NOTE.\u2014\u2018Mean\u2019 is almost always used to denote some form of badness,\n rarely stinginess or mediocrity.\n\n +Meat+, _n._ The daily food of a workman in addition to his wages.\n\n +Meat+, _v._ To provide a lodger with food as well as lodgings.\n\n +Meer+, _n._ A mare.\n\n +Meg+, _n._ A penny.\n\n +Mell+, _n._ A wooden mallet.\n\n +Mell+, _v._ To meddle, usually followed by \u2018on.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_If thoo mells on oor larl Jimmy onny mair, Ah\u2019ll leather tha\n mysel. Thoo\u2019s allus melling o\u2019 t\u2019 baa\u2019n. Will ta nivver gi\u2019e\n ower?_\n\n +Mell-sheaf+, _n._ The last sheaf gathered.\n\n +Mell-supper+, _n._ Harvest supper. See chapter on \u2018Customs.\u2019\n\n +Melt+, +Milt+. The spawn of the milter (male fish).\n\n +Mend+, _v._ To improve, to grow better.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s mending neycely noo, Ah\u2019s seean be all reet agaan.\n He\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti mend his waays, or he\u2019ll end up nowt._\n\n +Mends+, _n._ Improvement.\n\n +Mennem+, +Mennad+, _n._ The minnow.\n\n +Mense+, _n._ Decency, good appearance, civility, tact.\n Ex.\u2014_If he\u2019d \u2019ed onny mense aboot him, he wadn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e sed a thing\n leyke that._\n\n +Mense+, _v._ 1. To add beauty or order.\n 2. To smooth away a misunderstanding.\n Ex.\u20141. _Sha seean mensed things up a bit when sha cam._\n 2. _Nobbut saay thoo\u2019s sorry an\u2019 it\u2019ll mense t\u2019 matter up at\n yance._\n\n +Menseful+, _adj._ Becoming and decent behaviour.\n\n +Mensefully+, _adv._ Becomingly, decently, civilly.\n\n +Menseless+, _adj._ Untidy, useless, &c.\n\n +Merls+, _n._ The game of morris.\n\n +Met+, _n._ Two bushels, a five-stone weight.\n\n +Met-poke+, _n._ A narrow sack, but sufficiently large to hold two\n bushels.\n\n +Meuse+, _v._ To study, to contemplate.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah think t\u2019 lass is lovesick, sha gans meusing aboot seea._\n\n +Mew+, _pret._ To mow. _n._ A stack.\n\n +Mew-bo\u2019nt+, _adj._ Heated or burnt in the stack.\n\n +Mew up+, _v._ To be overcrowded in a heated room.\n 2. To huddle together.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ther war ower monny fau\u2019k i\u2019 t\u2019 room; Ah war that mew\u2019d\n up Ah c\u2019u\u2019d hardlings breeathe. Sha\u2019s gitten all her things\n mew\u2019d up tigether, whahl sha\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e straange deed ti git \u2019em\n all ti reets again._\n\n +Mich+, _adj._ Much.\n\n +Middin+, _n._ A manure-heap.\n\n +Middinstead+, _n._ The ground or place of the midden.\n\n +Midge+, _n._ A tiny fly.\n\n +Mig+, _n._ The drainings from a manure-heap.\n\n +Milk-can+, _n._ A milk-pail.\n\n +Milk-hoos+, +Milk\u2019us+, _n._ The milk dairy.\n\n +Milk-lead+, _n._ A shallow leaden cistern, with a hole stopped by\n a wooden plug; after the milk has stood overnight, the plug is\n withdrawn, and the milk drained from the cream.\n\n +Mill\u2019d in+, _adj._ Shrunk, aged, withered.\n\n +Mill-e\u2019e+, _n._ The eye or hole through which the ground grain\n falls into the sack or bin.\n\n +Mill-gear+, _n._ The machinery of a mill.\n\n +Mill-race+, +Mill-reeace+, _n._ The cut or channel which leads to\n the waterwheel, the water running towards the waterwheel.\n\n +Mindful+, +Mahndful+, _adj._ Careful.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo mun be mahndful hoo thoo hugs t\u2019 basket. Be mahndful\n what thoo sez, noo._\n\n +Mint+, _v._ To intend, purpose; to aim a blow; to pretend.\n\n +Mirak\u2019lous+, _adj._ Careless, venturesome, precocious.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s a bit mirak\u2019lous wiv a gun. He carried on iv a straange\n mirak\u2019lous waay at t\u2019 fire. He war awlus a mirak\u2019lous kind ov a\n lad._\n\n +Miscall+, _v._ To give a wrong name to any person or thing, to\n use abusive epithets.\n\n +Misfit+, _n._ Out of place, one who cannot be trusted.\n\n +Mista\u2019en+, _adj._ Mistaken.\n\n +Mistetched+, _part._ Badly trained or broken in (of a horse).\n\n +Mistimed+, _adj._ Put out of the regular course, especially of\n sleep.\n\n +Mits+, +Mittens+, _n._ Woollen gloves, covering the wrist and\n knitted with divisions for the fingers.\n\n +Moider+, _v._ To bewilder.\n\n +Moil+, _v._ To toil on when tired.\n\n +Moit+, _n._ The smaller part, a small portion.\n Ex.\u2014_Tha sed \u2019at tha shared it oot amang t\u2019 lot on uz, onny waay\n Ah nobbut gat a moit._\n\n +Mole-rat+, _Vide_ +Mowdywarp+.\n\n +Moo-moo+, _n._ A pet name for a cow.\n\n +Moor-titling+, +Moor-taalin+, _n._ The meadow pipit.\n\n +Mooun\u2019t+, _Vide_ +Maun\u2019t+.\n\n +Moozy-feeaced+, +Mouzy-feeaced+, _adj._ Applied to the first\n growth of hair on the lip or chin.\n\n +Moozy meean+, _n._ A hazy moon.\n\n +Mostlings+, +Meeastlings+, _adv._ Generally, usually.\n\n +Mouck+, _v._ To creep along, to hide.\n\n +Moud+, +Mud+, _v._ Might.\n\n +Mowdy-hill+, _n._ A mole-hill.\n\n +Mowdy-rake+, _n._ A rake used to level mole-hills.\n\n +Mowdywarp+, _n._ The mole.\n\n +Mounge+, _v._ To chew with the gums when the teeth have gone.\n\n +Muck+, _n._ Dirt, excrement, manure.\n\n +Muck+, _v._ To spread manure.\n\n +Muck-clout+, _n._ A floor-cloth, &c.\n\n +Muck-gripe+, _n._ A dung-fork.\n\n +Muck lather+, _n._ In a state of excessive perspiration.\n\n +Muckments+, _n._ Filthy matter.\n\n +Muck-middin+, _n._ The manure- or ash-midden.\n\n +Muck out+, _v._ To clean out a stable or midden.\n\n +Muck sweat+, _Vide_ +Muck lather+.\n\n +Mucky+, _adj._ Dirty, filthy, unwashed.\n\n +Mud+, _v._ Might.\n\n +Mug+, _n._ Face.\n\n +Muggy+, _adj._ Damp, foggy, thick and close.\n\n +Mull+, +Murl+, _n._ Dry fine mould.\n\n +Mumm\u2019l+, _v._ To mumble.\n\n +Mump+, _n._ A blow on the face with the fist. _v._ To chew without\n teeth.\n\n +Mun+, _n._ Man.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll tell tha what, mun._\n\n +Mun+, _v._ Must.\n\n +Murl+, _v._ and _n._ To crumble into small pieces.\n\n +Mush+, _n._ Dust, rotten through decay. NOTE.\u2014Though generally\n applied to anything dry, it is sometimes used to denote damp and\n rotten.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s grund ti mush. Them to\u2019nips is neea good, tha\u2019re all\n iv a mush._\n\n +Mushy+, _adj._ Dry, powdery, in a state of pulp.\n\n +Musweb+, _n._ A cobweb, the white cobwebs which float about in\n the air.\n\n +Muther+, +Mudder+, _n._ Mother.\n\n +My-song!+ _intj._ Originally +La Sangue+!\n\n\n N.\n\n +Na+, _conj._ Nor, than.\n\n +Naay+, _adv._ Nay.\n\n +Nab+, _v._ To pick up sharply, to steal.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo mun watch him or he\u2019ll nab summat._\n\n +Nab+, _n._ A hill or rocky point, a headland.\n\n +Naekins+, _Vide_ +Otherkins+.\n\n +Naether+, +Nowther+, +Nowder+, _conj._ Neither.\n\n +Naff+, _n._ The nave of a wheel.\n\n +Naff-heead+, _n._ A stupid fellow.\n\n +Naffle+, _v._ To pretend, to potter about.\n\n +Naggy+, _Vide_ +Gnaggy+.\n\n +Nak\u2019t+, _adj._ +Naked+.\n\n +Namby-pamby+, _adj._ Affected, conceited.\n\n +Nanpie+, _n._ The magpie.\n\n +Nantle+, _Vide_ +Naffle+.\n\n +Nap+, _Vide_ +Nab+.\n\n +Nap+, _v._ To strike with a hammer lightly.\n\n +Nar+, _adj._ Near.\n\n +Narked+, _v._ Vexed beyond measure.\n\n +Nar-side+, _n._ The left-hand side of a horse when leading or\n walking along with a team.\n\n +Nasty+, _adj._ Ill-natured.\n Ex.\u2014_He war varra nasty aboot t\u2019 job._\n\n +Natter+, _v._ To be fretful, peevish.\n\n +Nattery+, _adj._ Fretful, peevish.\n\n +Nattering+, _n._ Continued complaining. _Vide_ +Gnatter+.\n\n +Nattle+, _v._ To make a light rattling sound.\n\n +Natt\u2019rable+, _adj._ What might be expected; unassuming, kindly.\n\n +Nature+, +Nater+, _n._ The innate good quality of things.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther \u2019ez been that mich wet, whahl t\u2019 gess \u2019ll a\u2019e lost\n all t\u2019 nater oot on \u2019t_, i.e. \u2018There has been that much wet,\n that the grass (drying for hay) will have lost all the\n nature (goodness) out of it.\u2019\n\n +Naup+, _v._ To give a smart tap on the head.\n\n +Naup+, _n._ A tap on the head, as with a ruler.\n\n +Nauping+, _n._ A thrashing.\n\n +Naw+, _Vide_ +Neea+.\n\n +Nay-say+, _n._ The privilege of refusing.\n Ex.\u2014_Tommy\u2019s gitten t\u2019 naay-saay on \u2019t. Aye, Ah\u2019ve bowt it, bud\n then Ah\u2019ve hed t\u2019 naay-saay on \u2019t foor lang eneeaf._\n\n +Nazzed+, +Nazzled+, _adj._ Somewhat intoxicated.\n\n +Nazzy+, _adj._ Under the influence of drink.\n\n +Neaf+, _Vide_ +Neeaf+.\n\n +Near+, _adj._ Close-fisted, very careful, greedy.\n Ex.\u2014_Did Sammy gi\u2019e tha owt? Neea, he\u2019s ti near ti even wish yan\n weel._\n\n +Near+, _n._ A kidney.\n\n +Near-hand+, _adv._ 1. Near by, close to.\n 2. Almost, nearly.\n Ex.\u20141. _Whya, sha lives near-hand Bessy._\n 2. _Ah nivver wur seea near-hand gittin\u2019 putten oot o\u2019 t\u2019 road\n i\u2019 mah leyfe. If thoo gans near-hand yon chap, he\u2019ll smit tha._\n\n +Nearlings+, _adv._ Almost, all but.\n\n +Neavil+, +Nevel+, _v._ To pummel with the fist.\n\n +Nevilling+, _n._ A sound pummelling with the fist.\n\n +Neb+, _n._ The bill of a bird, the nose, the peak of a cap.\n\n +Neb+, _v._ To kiss, to peck at viciously.\n Ex.\u2014_Did ta neb her afoor thoo let her gan?_\n\n +Neea+, +Noa+, +Naw+, +Nooa+, _adv._ No.\n\n +Neeaf+, +Neif+, _n._ The fist.\n\n +Neeaf-full+, _n._ A handful.\n\n +Neea matters+ = No great quantity, of little importance.\n Ex.\u2014_Did he win owt at t\u2019 races? Neea matters wo\u2019th telling on.\n What sha sez is neea matters ti onnybody._\n\n +Neeap+, _v._ To raise on end, as in lifting the shafts of a cart.\n\n +Neease+, +Nooas+, _n._ The nose.\n\n +Neease+, _v._ To sneeze.\n\n +Needer+, _n._ The common adder.\n\n +Needful+, _adj._ Necessitous, applies to persons and things.\n Ex.\u2014_Whya, wa mun all deea a bit; sha\u2019s varra needful, ther\u2019s a\n lot o\u2019 bairns. Aye, it\u2019s wivoot doot a maist needful case._\n\n +Needment+, _n._ Something necessary.\n\n +Ne\u2019er-di-weel+, _n._ A worthless fellow.\n\n +Neest+, _adj._ Next.\n\n +Neet+, _n._ Night.\n\n +Ner+, _conj._ Nor.\n\n +Nervy+, _adj._ Vigorous.\n\n +Nesh+, _adj._ Tender, soft, weak.\n\n +Ness+, _n._ A projecting headland.\n\n +Neuk+, _n._ A corner, corner of a field, a hiding-place.\n\n +Never give over, With a+ = without ceasing.\n\n +New-fangled+, _part._ Pleased with novelties.\n Ex.\u2014_Bairns diz git new-fangled wi\u2019 owt \u2019at\u2019s fresh._\n\n +Nias+, _n._ A young hawk.\n\n +Nibble+, _n._ Nipple of either the breast or a gun.\n\n +Nibbs+, _n._ The handles on a scythe.\n\n +Nice+, +Neyce+, _adj._ 1. Too particular.\n 2. Shy.\n 3. Considerable in size and quantity.\n 4. Sensitive.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah deean\u2019t leyke fooak \u2019at\u2019s sae neyce aboot what tha eat._\n 2. _Noo help yersels, an\u2019 deean\u2019t be neyce aboot it._\n 3. _Ah mun saay \u2019at ther wur a neycish few._\n 4. _Ah\u2019s a bit neyce aboot what fooak saay o\u2019 ma._\n\n +Nicker+, _v._ To whinny as a foal.\n\n +Niff-naff+, _n._ A trifle.\n\n +Niff-naffing+, _adj._ Trifling.\n\n +Nifle+, _n._ A trifle.\n\n +Nifle+, _v._ To waste time. Useless occupation.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo nifles on, an\u2019 nivver gits nowt deean. Thoo\u2019s nifling\n agaan, allus at t\u2019 saam bat._\n\n +Niggle+, _v._ To deal out or give grudgingly, to be greedy in\n small matters.\n\n +Nigh+, _adv._ Nearly, about.\n\n +Nigh at hand+, _adv._ Close to, near by.\n\n +Nilder-nalder+, _n._ Vacillation, hesitation.\n\n +Nim+, _adj._ Quick, active.\n\n +Nim+, _v._ To snatch up quickly, to steal, to be active, agile.\n\n +Ninnycocks+, _n._ Young lobsters.\n\n +Nip+, _v._ Run.\n Ex.\u2014_Just nip ower ti Bob an\u2019 ass foor t\u2019 saw._\n\n +Nip off+, _v._ To run away, to move quickly.\n\n +Nip up+, _v._ To snatch up quickly, to go up quickly.\n Ex.\u2014_He nipped it up afoor Ah c\u2019u\u2019d stop him. Nip upstairs an\u2019\n fetch mah hat doon._\n\n +Nipper+, _n._ A young child.\n\n +Nisly+, _adj._ Showery.\n\n +Nit+, _n._ The egg of the louse.\n\n +Nither+, +Nidder+, _v._ To shiver.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah nithered an\u2019 dithered an\u2019 trimm\u2019ld all ower that mich\n whahl Ah c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t mak oot if sha\u2019d been shuvved, tumm\u2019ld,\n slithered, or louped inti t\u2019 beck._\n\n +Nittering+, _part._ Subdued giggling.\n\n +Nivver+, _adj._ Never.\n\n +Nizy+, _n._ A dunce.\n\n +Nizzled+, _v._ To be under the influence of drink.\n\n +Noa ship+, _n._ Clouds said to resemble the Ark. A common saying\n is, _T\u2019 Ark\u2019s oot, wa\u2019re in foor a spell o\u2019 bad weather._\n\n +Nobbin+, _n._ The hair on the crown of the head.\n Ex.\u2014_He teeak her biv t\u2019 nobbin an\u2019 pulled her backkards-waay\n ower._\n\n +Nobbut+, _conj._ If, only. \u2018Only\u2019 is rarely used.\n\n +Nobby+, _adj._ Handy, nice.\n\n +Nock+, +Nicking+, _n._ A method of keeping count by cutting\n notches on a stick.\n\n +Nodder+, _v._ To tremble.\n\n +Noggen+, _adj._ Hard, rough.\n\n +Noggin+, _n._ A quarter pint, a small jug.\n\n +Nominy+, _n._ The name given to any doggerel rhyme.\n\n +None+, +Noan+, +Neean+, _adv._ Not at all.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019ll neean ho\u2019d back, he\u2019ll deea \u2019t hard eneeaf._ \u2018Neean\u2019\n in this case means more than \u2018not\u2019; the idea conveyed is, \u2018He\n will not in any sense hold back.\u2019 _He\u2019s neean lost owt_,\n i.e. \u2018He has lost nothing at all.\u2019\n\n +Nooatish+, _v._ To notice.\n\n +Noo+, _adv._ Now, well. The use of this word is most curious.\n _Noo, Noo, Noo! Noo_, said one man on meeting a friend. \u2018Noo\u2019 the\n first meant either \u2018good morning,\u2019 \u2018now then,\u2019 or \u2018well.\u2019 \u2018Noo\u2019\n the second was addressed to the dog, and meant \u2018lie down.\u2019 \u2018Noo\u2019\n the third, with a different inflection, was understood by the dog\n to imply, \u2018If you do not lie down at once, I shall hit you.\u2019 And\n \u2018Noo\u2019 the fourth clearly denoted, the dog having laid down, \u2018Now,\n then, we can talk.\u2019 This inflective power throughout the whole\n vocabulary lessens or adds force to words. Unfortunately it is\n impossible to render in print these varying tones, which are the\n life and soul of the dialect. When used as an interjection, it is\n equivalent to \u2018How do you do?\u2019\n\n +Nooa+, _Vide_ +Neea+.\n\n +Noos an\u2019 agaains+ }\n +Noos an\u2019 thens+ } = By chance, now and again, occasionally.\n\n +Noration+, _Vide_ +Oration+.\n\n +Notified+, +Nooatified+, _adj._ Well-known.\n Ex.\u2014_Aye, he war a nooatified chap yance ower._\n\n +Not ti fail+, Without fail.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll tell him ti cum an\u2019 not ti fail._\n\n +Nowt+, _n._ 1. Nothing.\n 2. Valueless.\n 3. Worthless person.\n Ex.\u20141. _Yon thing\u2019s warse \u2019an nowt._\n 2. _It\u2019s up ti nowt neea way._\n 3. _He\u2019s a nowt, an\u2019 warse \u2019an nowt._\n\n +Nowt bud weel+, Exceedingly good in every way.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah can saay nowt bud weel on him._\n\n +Nowther+, +Naether+, +Nowder+, _conj._ Neither.\n\n +Noy+, +Noyance+, +Noying+, _n._ Vexatious, worrying.\n\n +Nuddle+, _v._ To huddle together, to squeeze.\n\n +Nullet+, +Nullot+, _n._ An owl. +Ullot+ is most commonly used.\n\n +Numb+, _adj._ Dull, awkward, clumsy, insensible.\n\n +Nursery+, _n._ A plantation of young trees.\n\n +Nut+, _adv._ Not.\n Ex.\u2014_Is ta gahin wi\u2019 ma? Neea, Ah\u2019s nut._ \u2018Nut\u2019 is to some extent\n an emphatic form of \u2018not.\u2019\n\n +Nutty-crack-neet+, The ninth night before Martinmas Day, on which\n a feast of apples and nuts is indulged in.\n\n\n O.\n\n +O\u2019+, _prep._ Of.\n\n +Oafing+, +Oafish+, _adj._ Half-witted, foolish, silly.\n\n +Oaf-rocked+, _adj._ More or less imbecile.\n\n +Oddments+, _n._ Odds and ends.\n\n +\u2018Od rabbits+, This and other forms commencing with _\u2018Od_ is an old\n form of profanity, by abbreviating the name of the Deity by the\n omission of _G_.\n\n +Of+, _prep._ By, out of.\n Ex.\u2014_That meer he gat of t\u2019 broon meer\u2019s deean weel._\n\n +Off+, Used in the sense of \u2018by heart.\u2019 To be aware of, to know all\n about.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve gitten my task off. He\u2019ll nut git ower ma na mair,\n Ah\u2019ve gitten him off noo_, i.e. \u2018I know all about him now.\u2019\n\n +Offally+, _adj._ Refuse. Bad, both of persons and things.\n\n +Offally maade+, +Offally leeaking+, +Offally putten tigither+,\n _adv._ Badly or poorly made, &c.\n\n +Offalment+, _n._ 1. Of little value, offal.\n 2. A useless, good-for-nothing fellow.\n 3. Intestines, &c., of animals.\n\n +Off and on+, _adj._ and _adv._ 1. Vacillating, uncertain.\n 2. Now and again.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s allus off an\u2019 on, an\u2019 nivver sattles ti nowt._\n 2. _He\u2019s off an\u2019 on frev yah thing tiv anuther, whahl ther\u2019s\n neea \u2019pendence on him._\n\n +Off one\u2019s heead+, _adj._ Mad, delirious.\n\n +Off on\u2019t+, _adv._ 1. Poorly.\n 2. Disappointed.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah \u2019evn\u2019t deean nowt this week, Ah nobbut felt a larl\n bit off on \u2019t._\n 2. _He war sadly off on \u2019t when tha tell\u2019d him o\u2019 Mary\u2019s trouble._\n\n +Offen+, _adv._ From off, off.\n Ex.\u2014_It tumm\u2019l\u2019d offen t\u2019 shelf on tiv his heead._\n\n +Off\u2019ns+, _adv._ Often.\n\n +Ofter+, _adv._ Oftener.\n\n +Okkad+, _adj._ Awkward, clumsy.\n\n +Olden+, _v._ To age, to show signs of age.\n\n +Ommaist+, +Ommost+, _adv._ Though often meaning simply \u2018almost,\u2019\n it often carries a stronger sense with it, e.g. Q. _Will ta gan\n wiv uz?_ \u2018Will you go with me?\u2019 A. _Aye, Ah ommost think Ah\n will_, would mean, \u2018Aye, I certainly think I will.\u2019 The general\n sense, however, is that of \u2018almost.\u2019\n\n +On+, _adv._ 1. Here.\n 2. There.\n 3. Forward.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s cumin\u2019 on ti-neet_, i.e. \u2018He is coming here to-night.\u2019\n 2. _Will ta be on ti-neet?_ i.e. \u2018Will you be there to-night.\u2019\n 3. _Wa mun push t\u2019 job on or wa s\u2019aan\u2019t git deean._\n\n +On+, _prep._ Of.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha war despert freet\u2019n\u2019d \u2019at Ah war gahin\u2019 ti tell on her._\n\n +On, To be+, _v._ To assent.\n Ex.\u2014Q. _Will thoo gan wiv uz?_ A. _Noa, Ah weean\u2019t be on at a\n gam o\u2019 that soart._\n\n +Once ower+, _Vide_ +Yance ower+.\n\n +Onely sahded+, _adj._ Doubtful, singular.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s nobbut a onely sahded gahin\u2019 on_, i.e. \u2018It is only a\n doubtful or singular proceeding.\u2019\n\n +Onny bit leyke+, or +Owt leyke+. Fairly well, tolerably.\n Ex.\u2014_If he aim\u2019d onny bit leyke, he mud \u2019a\u2019e mannished. Wa s\u2019all\n cum if t\u2019 daay be owt leyke._\n\n +On with, To be+, _v._ The act of doing, to be engaged with.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019 be on wiv it ti morn at morn_, i.e. \u2018I shall be doing\n it to-morrow morning.\u2019 _He\u2019s dropped Sally, an\u2019 \u2018s on wi\u2019\n Jin_, i.e. \u2018He has jilted Sally, and is engaged to Jane.\u2019\n\n +Oot+, _adv._ Out, not within; also away, as _Git oot wi\u2019 ya_,\n \u2018Get away with you.\u2019\n\n +Oot o\u2019 course+, _adv._ Beyond comparison, beyond measure.\n\n +Oot an\u2019 away+, _adv._ Undoubtedly.\n Ex.\u2014_Oot an\u2019 away t\u2019 best hoss._\n\n +Oor+, +Wer+, _pron._ Our.\n\n +Oorsens+, +Oorsels+, +Wersens+, +Wersels+, _pron._ Ourselves.\n\n +Oppen+, _v._ Open.\n\n +Oppen oot+, _v._ 1. To bring to light, to reveal.\n 2. To show one\u2019s true character.\n Ex.\u20141. _If thoo sez mich mair, Ah\u2019ll oppen oot a bit mysen_,\n i.e. \u2018I will reveal something.\u2019\n 2. _Ah think he\u2019s a varra canny chap sen he\u2019s oppen\u2019d oot a bit._\n\n +Oration+, _n._ A commotion accompanied with much talking and\n shouting.\n\n +Orf+, _n._ The scurf which forms under the hair of children and\n animals.\n\n +Orling+, _n._ A mis-shapen, undersized, rickety child.\n\n +Othergates+, _adj._ Otherwise.\n\n +Othersome+, _adj._ Variety, of another sort.\n\n +Ought+, +Owt+, _n._ Anything. _adv._ At all.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s all nowther owt, nowt, na summat._\n\n +Ouse+, _Vide_ +House+.\n\n +Out+, +Outing+, _n._ A day\u2019s pleasure.\n\n +Out with, To be+ = On unfriendly terms.\n\n +Out by+, _adv._ Near to, in the direction of.\n Ex.\u2014Q. _Does Mr. Jackson live near here?_ A. _Noa, he lives out\n by Newton._\n\n +Outen+, _adv._ Out of.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha tumm\u2019l\u2019d outen t\u2019 winder i\u2019ti t\u2019 watter-butt. Thoo\n caan\u2019t git thisel an\u2019 Dolly a dhriss outen that, cut it which\n waay thoo will. Ya mud ez weel aim ti squeeze milk outen a\n yat-post ez git owt outen him._\n\n +Out-end+, +Out-gang+, +Out-gaat+, _n._ An exit, a way out of.\n\n +Out o\u2019 fettle+, _adj._ Unwell, needing repair.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019aan\u2019t be gahin\u2019 ti-daay, Ah\u2019s a bit oot o\u2019 fettle. T\u2019\n cart\u2019s gitten a bit oot o\u2019 fettle; Ah s\u2019all \u2019a\u2019e ti \u2019ev it\n leeaked teea._\n\n +Out o\u2019 t\u2019 road+, _adv._ Out of the way, out of sight, killed.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah caan\u2019t finnd \u2019t, sha\u2019s putten \u2019t oot o\u2019 t\u2019 road\n sumwheears._\n\n +Out-thrust+, +Out-thrussen+, _adj._ Projecting.\n\n +Ouzel+, _n._ The Bessy ducker, or ring ouzel.\n\n +Over+ is generally pronounced \u2019ower\u2019 or \u2019ovver.\u2019\n\n +Overget+, +Owerget+, _v._ To come up with, overtake, overreach.\n\n +Oversail+, _n._ The top course of masonry covering the whole\n width of the wall.\n\n +Over-scutch+, _v._ To whip too severely.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s ower-scutched t\u2019 lad this tahm, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll foller t\u2019\n law on him an\u2019 mak him pay foor \u2019t._\n\n +Overwelt+, _v._ To roll on the back, so as to be unable to rise\n again\u2014generally applied to sheep.\n\n +Overwing+, _v._ To outwit.\n Ex.\u2014_He aims \u2019at he knaws a bit, bud Ah\u2019ll overwing him onny\n tahm iv a hoss deeal._\n\n +Owe+, +Awe+, _v._ To own.\n\n +Ower+, _v._ 1. To last through.\n 2. To cease, to come to an end.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah deean\u2019t think Tom \u2019ll git here i\u2019 tahm ti see t\u2019 au\u2019d\n chap, it\u2019ll tak him all his tahm to ower t\u2019 neet, let aleean\n t\u2019 week end._\n 2. _T\u2019 meeting\u2019s owered, t\u2019 chapel\u2019s lowsed, an\u2019 t\u2019 chetch \u2019ez\n cum\u2019d out, bud t\u2019 army\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti gan at it whahl midneet._\n\n +Ower+, _adj._ 1. Too.\n 2. Beyond due bounds.\n Ex.\u20141. _It\u2019s ower grand_, i.e. \u2018Too fine.\u2019 _Ower big_, i.e. \u2018Too\n large.\u2019\n 2. _He\u2019s ower daft foor owt_, i.e. \u2018He\u2019s foolish beyond all\n bounds.\u2019\n\n +Ower+, _prep._ and _adv._ On the other side of, beyond.\n Ex.\u2014_Ower t\u2019 street_, e.g. \u2018On the other side, across the street.\u2019\n _Ower t\u2019 dale_, i.e. \u2018On the other side of or beyond the dale.\u2019\n\n +Owerance+, _n._ The upper hand, the mastery.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s gitten t\u2019 owerance ov all t\u2019 lot on uz. Ah ower-handed\n him that tahm_, i.e. \u2018Got the advantage of.\u2019\n\n +Ower an\u2019 up agaan+ = More than once, over and again.\n\n +Ower-gaat+, _n._ A stone style, the steps in a wall side.\n\n +Ower-kessen+, +Owercast+, _v._ and _adj._ Overcast, cloudy.\n\n +Ower monny+, _adj._ Too many, too strong, beyond one\u2019s power.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll nut drhive t\u2019 hoss, he\u2019s ower monny foor ma. He maay\n bunch t\u2019 lass, bud his weyfe\u2019s ower monny foor him._\n\n +Ower-neyce+, _adj._ Too particular, fastidious, shy, diffident.\n _Vide_ +Nice+.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo ya mun stritch yer elbows, an\u2019 reach teea; what\u2019s putten\n afoor ya\u2019s putten ti gan at; noo deean\u2019t be ower-neyce, bud\n set ti wark an\u2019 sahd t\u2019 lot._\n\n +Owerset+, +Owersetten+, _pp._ 1. Overtasked beyond one\u2019s strength.\n 2. Overturned.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019s completely owersetten an\u2019 deean up wi\u2019 t\u2019 job. Naay\n what, thoo seems owersetten afoor thoo starts._\n 2. _Ah owerset t\u2019 au\u2019d lass\u2019 stall, an\u2019 t\u2019 nippers did scramm\u2019l\n foor t\u2019 things._\n\n +Owerhand+, _Vide_ +Owerance+.\n\n +Owt+, _n._ Aught, anything.\n\n +Owther+, +Owder+, +Aether+, _conj._ Either.\n\n +Ox-prod+, _n._ An ox-goad.\n\n +Oxter+, _n._ The armpit.\n\n\n P.\n\n +Pace-eggs+, +Paste-eggs+, _n._ Hard-boiled eggs dyed various\n colours, used by children on Easter Monday. _Vide_ chapter on\n \u2018Customs.\u2019\n\n +Pack+, _v._ When birds at certain seasons collect together they\n are said to \u2018pack.\u2019\n\n +Packman+, _n._ A pedlar.\n\n +Pack-rag day+, The day following Martinmas Day, when the servants\n who are changing masters pack up their belongings.\n\n +Paddle+, _v._ To walk with difficulty, to wade bare-legged.\n\n +Paddy-noddy+, _n._ A long wearisome tale with much repetition.\n\n +Pafty+, _adj._ Pert, assuming, impudent.\n\n +Pair of stairs+, _n._ A flight of stairs.\n\n +Pairt+, _Vide_ +Part+.\n\n +Pairtner+, _n._ A partner, generally husband or wife.\n\n +Pally-ully+, _n._ A game almost identical with hop-scotch.\n\n +Palm+, +Paum+, _v._ To climb with the hands and legs. _Vide_\n +Swarm+.\n\n +Palm-cross day+, _n._ Palm Sunday.\n\n +Palms+, +Paums+, _n._ Catkins, \u2018lambs\u2019-tails\u2019 of the hazel.\n\n +Pan+, _v._ To fit into or close together.\n\n +Pankin+, +Pankin-pot+, _n._ A large earthenware vessel.\n\n +Pankin-dish+, _n._ A deep earthenware dish.\n\n +Pannel+, _n._ A riding pad.\n\n +Parkin+, _n._ A gingerbread cake made for the fifth of November.\n\n +Parlous+, _adj._ Its general meaning carries with it a sense or\n state of evil.\n 2. Adverbially used, it always intensifies.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ther\u2019s been parlous deed at t\u2019 mill. Tha\u2019ve locked him\n up at t\u2019 last, it\u2019s nobbut a parlous ending up._\n 2. _He\u2019s a parlous good preeacher is yon local chap._\n 3. _T\u2019 hoos is iv a parlous state, bud then it\u2019s cleeaning tahm._\n\n +Part+, +Pairt+, _adj._ A considerable number or quantity.\n Ex.\u2014_Pairt fooak wur bidden ti t\u2019 funeral. Ther\u2019ll be pairt\n fruit ti year, nobbut Jack Frost dizn\u2019t nip t\u2019 blo afoor it\n sets._\n\n +Pash+, _v._ To dash to the ground, to smash into fragments.\n\n +Pash+, _n._ 1. A crash.\n 2. A heavy fall of snow or rain.\n 3. The result of a smash, or of a heavy fall of rain or snow, as\n mud or slush.\n 4. Soft, rotten, pulpy matter.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 chim\u2019ly cam doon wi\u2019 sikan a pash._\n 2. _Wa\u2019ve hed a pash o\u2019 snaw ti week._\n 3. _Baith t\u2019 carts is upskell\u2019d an\u2019 t\u2019 things ur a\u2019 iv a pash\n tigither._\n 4. _Cum awaay fra sike pashy deed, thoo\u2019ll labber thisen all ower._\n\n +Past+, _adj._ Beyond, incapable.\n Ex.\u2014_Past deeaing owt wi\u2019_, i.e. \u2018not to be restrained or\n influenced.\u2019 _Past kenning_, i.e. \u2018grown beyond recognition.\u2019\n _Past bahding_, i.e. \u2018beyond one\u2019s power to endure.\u2019 _Past wark_,\n i.e. \u2018incapable of working.\u2019 _He\u2019s gitten past that noo_,\n i.e. \u2018incapable of having further aid rendered.\u2019\n\n +Past all+ = Beyond all bounds, generally used in a disagreeable\n sense; the antithesis of \u2018Caps all.\u2019\n\n +Patter+, _v._ To tread or beat down by many steps, as a pathway\n across a newly tilled field.\n\n +Patter+, +Pattering+, _n._ The sound of quick, light footsteps.\n\n +Pause+, _Vide_ +Bunch+.\n\n +Paut+, +Pooat+, _v._ 1. To paw the ground impatiently.\n 2. To kick lightly.\n 3. To walk in an affected style.\n 4. To walk feebly and somewhat heavily, as an aged person.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 meer\u2019s gifting stall\u2019d o\u2019 stannin\u2019, sitha hoo sha pauts\n t\u2019 grund._\n 2. _Wa caan\u2019t hap t\u2019 bairn up, sha pauts aboot wiv her larl feet\n sae._\n 3. _Sen sha\u2019s gitten long skets an\u2019 fancy stockin\u2019s on, sha diz\n paut alang._\n 4. _Au\u2019d Willie, Ah see, still mannishes to paut about wiv a\n stick._\n\n +Pawk+, _n._ +Pawky+, _adj._ Impudent, inquisitive, precocious,\n forward (of a child).\n\n +Pawty+, _adv._ Slovenly.\n\n +Pea-hulls+, +Pea-swads+ or +-cods+, _n._ Empty pods of peas.\n\n +Peascod+, _n._ Peas still in the pod.\n\n +Peffing+, _adj._ Applied to short, husky, hard breathing.\n\n +Peggy-stick+, _Vide_ +Dolly-stick+.\n\n +Peggy wi\u2019 t\u2019 lautern+, Will o\u2019 t\u2019 Wisp, Jack o\u2019 t\u2019 Lantern\n (_Ignis Fatuus_).\n\n +Pelt+, _adv._ Speedily, swiftly.\n Ex.\u2014_He cam doon t\u2019 hill sike a pelt._\n\n +Pelt+, _n._ The skin of a flayed animal.\n\n +Pepper-cake+, _n._ A kind of ginger loaf. _Vide_ chapter on\n \u2018Customs.\u2019\n\n +Perceivance+, _n._ Conception, acquaintance with.\n Ex.\u2014_Neea, Ah\u2019d na perceivance o\u2019 what he meant ti deea._\n\n +Perishment+, _n._ The outcome of a severe cold, a thorough chill.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve gitten a perishment o\u2019 cau\u2019d, Ah knaw that._\n\n +Pet, To take+, _v._ To be offended, to sulk, to be affronted over\n some petty misunderstanding.\n\n +Pick+, _n._ Pitch.\n\n +Pick+ = Black. An intensive, or black as pitch.\n Ex.\u2014_It war pick dark._\n\n +Pick+, _v._ 1. To trip up, pitch, or push so as to bring to the\n ground.\n 2. To give birth immaturely (of an animal).\n 3. To find fault.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah shoved mah foot oot an\u2019 pickt him ower nicely._\n 2. _Coo\u2019s pick\u2019d her cauf._\n 3. _Sha\u2019s nivver off mah beeans, sha\u2019s awlus picking at ma._\n\n +Pick-fork+, _n._ A pitch-fork.\n\n +Pickle+, +Piddle on+, _v._ To play with one\u2019s food.\n\n +Pick-mark+, _n._ The mark on sheep made with a hot iron stamp.\n\n +Pick up+, _v._ To vomit.\n\n +Pie+, _v._ To store potatoes in an earth mound for the winter, to\n peep, to pry.\n\n +Pie+, _n._ A heap of potatoes covered by earth.\n\n +Piet+, _n._ The magpie.\n\n +Piffle+, _v._ To steal in small quantities.\n\n +Piffling+, _v._ To. do anything in a silly, half-hearted way.\n\n +Pigmeat+, The refuse of the kitchen and dinner-table gathered\n together, and saved with other swill in a tub for pig-food.\n\n +Pig-nut+, _n._ The earth-nut (_Bunium flexuosum_).\n\n +Pig-swarth+, _n._ The skin of bacon.\n\n +Pike+, _n._ A number of hay-cocks made into one heap.\n\n +Pinchery+, _n._ Greediness, penuriousness.\n\n +Pin-faud+, _n._ The pound for stray cattle.\n\n +Pinnies+, _n._ Fish just hatched.\n\n +Pirl+, +Purl+, _n._ The wooden or other winder upon which cotton\n or thread is wound.\n\n +Pisking+, _v._ To lounge about.\n\n +Pit+, _v._ 1. To match.\n 2. To jeer, to quarrel.\n 3. To mark or spot.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll pit him again thoo. Let \u2019em aleean, tha\u2019re well\n pitted._\n 2. _Ther\u2019s maist o\u2019 t\u2019 street end oot, an\u2019 tha\u2019re pitting yan\n anither leyke all that._\n\n +Pit+, _n._ A mark left by small-pox.\n\n +Place+, _n._ Service.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah isn\u2019t gahin\u2019 ti pleeace yet._\n\n +\u2018Plain+, +\u2018Pleean+, +\u2018Plaan+, _v._ To complain, to be querulous.\n\n +Plaint+, _n._ A pitiful tale.\n\n +Plash+, _v._ To splash. n. A puddle.\n\n +Plate+, _v._ To clinch a nail.\n\n +Plating+, _n._ A sound thrashing.\n\n +Pleeaf+, _Vide_ +Plough+.\n\n +Pleeaf stots+, Young fellows, about twelve in number, who used to\n go about fantastically dressed on Plough Monday, headed by music;\n a kind of sword-dancer.\n\n +Pleean+, +Plaan+, _adj._ Doubtful, not handsome.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah wadn\u2019t trust yon, he\u2019s nobbut a plaan un._\n 2. _Yon\u2019s a pleean leeaking lass, hooiveer._\n\n +Plenish+, _v._ To review, to furnish.\n\n +Plesh+, +Plosh+, +Plash+, _n._ A puddle.\n\n +Plew+, _Vide_ +Plough+.\n\n +Pload+, _v._ To walk with difficulty over heavy land.\n\n +Ploader+, _n._ A plodding, diligent fellow.\n\n +Ploat+, _v._ To pluck the feathers from a fowl.\n\n +Plodge+, _v._ To wade through water.\n\n +Plook+, _n._ A small pimple.\n\n +Plooky-feeaced+, _adj._ Applied to a pimpled or blotched face.\n\n +Plosh+, _v._ To splash, to bespatter.\n\n +Ploshy+, _adj._ Splashy.\n\n +Plother+, +Plodder+, _n._ Soft mud.\n\n +Plother+, _v._ To bring into a state of soft mud.\n\n +Plothery+, +Ploddery+, +Pluthery+, _adj._ Muddy, miry.\n\n +Plough+, +Plew+, +Pleeaf+, +Plufe+, _n._ A plough.\n\n +Ploughing-day+, +Pleeafing-day+, +Plewing-day+, _n._ The day on\n which neighbouring farmers lend men, horses, and implements, to\n assist a new-comer on the land.\n\n +Ploughing iron+ or +airn+, _n._ The coulter.\n\n +Pluck+, _n._ The heart, liver, and lungs of an animal.\n\n +Pluff+, _n._ A tube to pluff with.\n\n +Pluff+, _v._ To force anything through a tube by blowing.\n\n +Plug+, _v._ To load a cart with manure.\n\n +Plugger+, _n._ Anything larger than usual.\n\n +Pluke+, _Vide_ +Plook+.\n\n +Plum+, _adj._ Perpendicular.\n Ex.\u2014_That\u2019s nut plum byv a lang waay._\n\n +Plump+, _v._ To come straight down, hence to accuse openly.\n Ex.\u20141. _It cam plump doon i\u2019 t\u2019 frunt o\u2019 ma._\n 2. _Ah plump\u2019d him wi\u2019 \u2018t tiv his feeace_, i.e. \u2018I accused him\n to his face.\u2019\n\n +Plump+, _adj._ Straightforwardly, exactly.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah tell\u2019d him plump oot what Ah thowt._\n\n +Plunder+, _n._ The legitimate profit made out of any business\n transaction.\n\n +Pluther+, _Vide_ +Plother+.\n\n +Plutherment+, _n._ Slush, water and mud, or snow and mud mixed;\n any liquid filth.\n\n +Pock-arr+, _n._ The scar left by small-pox.\n\n +Podge+, _n._ A short fat man.\n\n +Podgy+, _adj._ Little and fat.\n\n +Poke+, +Pooak+, _n._ A sack or bag.\n\n +Poringer+, _n._ A mug which widens toward the base.\n\n +Porrets+, _n._ Small onions.\n\n +Porriwiggle+, _n._ The tadpole.\n\n +Posh+, _n._ Slush, mud.\n\n +Posh+, +Poss+, _v._ To pound with a possing-stick whilst washing\n clothes. _Vide_ +Dolly-stick+.\n\n +Poshing-stick+, +Possing-stick+, _n._ The stick used to poss or\n beat with, something like a heavy club.\n\n +Poskit+, +Peggy-tub+. A large oaken tub used to poss clothes in,\n often called a +Possing-tub+.\n\n +Posy+, _n._ A bunch of flowers to carry in the hand.\n\n +Pot-blossoms+, _n._ Blotches on the face caused by excessive\n drinking.\n\n +Potherment+, _n._ Petty annoyance.\n\n +Pot-lug+, _n._ The handle of a jug.\n\n +Pot-sitten+, _adj._ Burnt whilst cooking, especially in the case\n of milk or porridge. Almost universally styled now +Setten on+.\n\n +Potch+, _n._ To throw.\n Ex.\u2014_Gi\u2019e ower potching steeans._\n\n +Potter+, _v._ To attempt in a feeble way, often followed by \u2018about.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_Hoo he diz potter aboot! Diz he ivver get owt deean?_\n\n +Pottering+, _adj._ Slow, feeble, awkward.\n\n +Preachment+, _n._ A wearying discourse.\n\n +Present+, _v._ To present.\n Ex.\u2014_Tha\u2019ve presented her wiv a clock an\u2019 a silken pess wi\u2019\n twenty pund in \u2019t._\n\n +Pretty warm+, _adj._ Comfortably off, well-to-do.\n\n +Prickle+, _v._ 1. To have a pricking sensation.\n 2. To prick.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah prickle all ower._\n 2. _Ah\u2019ve prickled my han\u2019s all ower wi\u2019 gethering bumm\u2019l-kites._\n\n +Pricky-back otch\u2019n+, _n._ The hedgehog.\n\n +Prod+, _n._ Usually a hazel stick with a sharp point.\n\n +Prod+, _v._ To prick or push with a prod.\n\n +Proddle+, _v._ To poke about, to prick, to poke about under stones,\n &c.\n\n +Proffer+, _v._ To make an offer.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah proffered ti gan ower an\u2019 give him a lift._\n\n +Prood+, _adj._ Proud.\n\n +Propped up+, _adj._ Kept alive owing to the observance of certain\n rules and other advantages.\n Ex.\u2014_Tha\u2019ve propped him up foor a bit, but it weean\u2019t be foor\n lang, he fails ivvery daay._\n\n +Pross+, _n._ A friendly gossip.\n\n +Providence+, _n._ Food, &c., provided for any kind of feast.\n Ex.\u2014_A mirical wadn\u2019t a\u2019e maad yon providence last._\n\n +Pubble+, _adj._ Plump, soft and round.\n\n +Puddings+, _n._ Entrails.\n\n +Pull+, _v._ To pick.\n Ex.\u2014_Wa mun pull t\u2019 currants ti morn._\n\n +Pulls+, _n._ The shells of ripe turnip seeds, &c.\n\n +Pulsey+, _n._ A poultice.\n\n +Pum+, +Pumm\u2019l+, _v._ To beat with the fists.\n\n +Purlings+, _n._ Ribs upon which the spars of the roof of a house\n rest.\n\n +Push+, _n._ 1. Moment.\n 2. Energy.\n Ex.\u20141. _He awlus leeaves ivvery thing ti t\u2019 last push._\n 2. _Ther\u2019s neea push i\u2019 yon youth._\n\n +Pushed+, _adj._ Hurried, inconvenienced.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah war varra mich pushed for tahm._\n\n +Put about+, _v._ To be incommoded, put out of one\u2019s ordinary\n course, disgusted.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah nivver war seea grieved an\u2019 vexed an\u2019 putten about iv\n all mah leyfe._\n\n +Put off+, +Put away+. To kill, to remove one\u2019s outer garments.\n\n +Putten+, _pp._ of \u2018Put.\u2019\n\n +Putten by+, _v._ To put away, to bury.\n\n +Putten ti reets+, _v._ 1. To put in order.\n 2. To correct.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll git things putten ti reets a bit._\n 2. _Thoo\u2019ll git thisen putten ti reets if thoo dizn\u2019t tak care._\n\n +Puzzon+, _n._ A poison.\n\n +Puzzon+, _v._ To poison.\n\n\n Q.\n\n +Quality+, _n._ Gentry.\n\n +Quart+, _v._ 1. To cross transversely, as in ploughing.\n 2. To disagree, to quarrel.\n Ex.\u20142. _Ah aim \u2019at oor Tom wad quart wiv a stuffed monkey._\n\n +Queery+, _n._ Any circumstance of an extraordinary character.\n\n +Quick-sticks+, _adv._ Sharply, at once.\n Ex.\u2014_If thoo dizn\u2019t git it deean i\u2019 quick-sticks, Ah\u2019ll wahrm\n thi jacket foor tha._\n\n +Quirk+, _n._ A trick, deception.\n\n +Quite better+, = Quite recovered.\n\n\n R.\n\n +Rabate+, _v._ To return something, in consideration of.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo gav him fahve pund foor \u2019t, an\u2019 \u2018ed ti gan foor \u2019t\n thisen, what rabate did ta git?_\n\n +Rabble+, _v._ To read or speak so hastily as to be indistinct.\n\n +Rabblement+, _n._ Indistinct, confused talk; a mob of low\n scoundrels.\n\n +Race+, _Vide_ +Mill-race+.\n\n +Rack+, _n._ Fleecy clouds driven by wind.\n\n +Rackapelt+, _n._ A worthless fellow.\n\n +Rackit+, _n._ A turbulent, boisterous noise.\n\n +Raddle+, _v._ To beat or thrash soundly.\n\n +Raddling+, _n._ A sound thrashing.\n\n +Radged+, _adj._ Furious, mad.\n\n +Raff+, _n._ 1. A confused heap.\n 2. A disreputable person.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo\u2019s gitten things all iv a raff._\n\n +Raff, After+, _n._ A second mowing, generally of clover.\n\n +Raffle+, _adj._ Idle or foolish.\n\n +Raffle+, _v._ and _n._ 1. To become confused, to wander.\n 2. To entangle.\n 3. To lead a wild, irregular life.\n Ex.\u20141. _He raffles on seea whahl yan dizn\u2019t knaw what he meeans._\n 2. _What a raffle sha\u2019s gitten t\u2019 wool inteea!_\n 3. _He\u2019ll raffle on whahl he\u2019ll gan thruff t\u2019 bit o\u2019 brass t\u2019\n au\u2019d chap left him._\n\n +Raffle-pack+, _adj._ Of loose, irregular lives.\n\n +Raffling+, _adj._ Riotous, dissolute.\n\n +Raffly+, _adj._ Applied to a confusion of ideas or weakened\n mental powers.\n Ex.\u2014_He gits a larl bit raffly at tahms._\n\n +Rag+, _v._ To enrage, to vex.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah did rag him aboot Polly._\n\n +Ragabash+, _n._ A bad character.\n\n +Ragally+, _adj._ Loose, unseemly, unprincipled.\n\n +Rageous+, _adj._ Furious.\n\n +Ragged+, _pp._ To be enraged.\n\n +Ragged+, _adj._ Borne down with fruit.\n\n +Raggel+, _n._ A worthless vagabond.\n\n +Rag out+, _n._ Passion, temper.\n Ex.\u2014_Deean\u2019t git his rag oot_, i.e. \u2018Don\u2019t vex him.\u2019 _Wa gatnhis\n rag oot_, i.e. \u2018We got him into a passion.\u2019\n\n +Rag-river+, _n._ A tomboy.\n\n +Raitch+, _n._ The white line down a horse\u2019s face.\n\n +Raited+, _pp._ Applied to hay or straw injured by wet or damp;\n peeled off after soaking.\n\n +Rain+, _Vide_ +Rein+.\n\n +Rakapelt+, _n._ A low, dissolute fellow.\n\n +Raking+, _v._ To wander about with a doubtful purpose.\n\n +Ram+, _adj._ Possessing a fetid smell.\n\n +Ram+, _v._ To push forward, to work hard.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah ram\u2019d at it, an\u2019 seean gat it deean._\n\n +Raments+, _n._ Shavings, odd bits.\n\n +Rammack+, _Vide_ +Rannack+.\n\n +Ramm\u2019l+, _v._ To idle about.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo off thoo gans; thoo\u2019s awlus ramm\u2019ling about t\u2019 pleeace._\n\n +Ramp+, _n._ A series of steps or drops on the upper part of a\n wall; the name given to garlic.\n\n +Rampageous+, _adj._ Furious, boisterous, wild.\n\n +Ramp and Rave, To+, _v._ To be mad with passion.\n\n +Ramper+, _n._ The sloping side of a raised footpath.\n\n +Ramscallion+, _n._ A filthy, loathsome person.\n\n +Ramshackle+, _adj._ Disjointed, unsteady, needing repair.\n\n +Ranch+, _adj._ Acid.\n\n +Ranch+, _v._ To sprain.\n\n +Ranch+, +Rinch+, _n._ A sprain.\n\n +Rand+, _n._ A piece cut out of or off.\n\n +Rands+, +Reeands+, _n._ The unploughed edges round a field.\n\n +Randy+, _adv._ Madly, wildly, riotous. _adj._ Mad.\n\n +Rannack+, _n._ A dissolute spendthrift.\n\n +Rann\u2019l-+ or +Randle-bauk+, _n._ The bar upon which the reckons\n hang.\n\n +Rantipole+, _n._ A romping child.\n\n +Ranty+, _adj._ Much excited, angry.\n\n +Rap+, _n._ A friendly chat.\n Ex.\u2014_Cu\u2019 thi waays, an\u2019 lets \u2019ev a pipe an\u2019 a bit o\u2019 rap._\n\n +Rap-off+, _v._ To speak on the spur of the moment.\n\n +Raps+, _n._ Gossip, news.\n\n +Rapterous+, _adj._ Ecstatic.\n\n +Rase+, _pret._ of \u2018Rise.\u2019\n\n +Rase+, _v._ To raise, to cause to move.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah rase a rabbit i\u2019 that coorner last neet. Ah rase \u2019t up\n mysen._\n\n +Raspin+, _adj._ Excellent.\n\n +Rasps+, _n._ Raspberries.\n\n +Rasselled+, _adj._ Applied to withered fruit.\n\n +Ratten+, _n._ A rat. +Rattener+, _n._ A catcher of rats.\n\n +Ratten-trap+, _n._ A rat-trap.\n\n +Rattle-beeans+ (bones), _n._ A very thin man.\n\n +Rattle-cap+, _n._ A lively, somewhat wild person.\n\n +Rattle-doon+, _adj._ Tumble-down.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s nobbut a rattle-doon spot at t\u2019 best._\n\n +Raum+, +Reeam+, _v._ To bawl at the top of one\u2019s voice.\n\n +Raun+, _n._ Fish roe.\n\n +Rave+, _Vide_ +Rive+.\n\n +Rawk+, _n._ _Vide_ +Roke+.\n\n +Rawp+, _n._ Rape (_Brassica napus_).\n\n +Rax+, _v._ To strain to the utmost.\n\n +Rax+, _n._ A strain, a twist of limb or muscle.\n\n +Razzle+, _v._ To roast on the outside before the fire, to\n hurriedly cook over a flame.\n\n +Reach+, _v._ To hand or fetch anything.\n Ex.\u2014_Reeach ma t\u2019 breead. Reeach ma yon mug o\u2019 milk._\n\n +Reach to+, _v._ To help oneself.\n Ex.\u2014_Ya\u2019re all on ya varra welcum ti t\u2019 best o\u2019 owt Ah\u2019ve gitten,\n sae reach to, and mak yersels at heeam._\n\n +Reap up+, _v._ To refer to some past misdeed.\n\n +Rear+, _v._ To raise up, to raise into a perpendicular position.\n\n +Rear+, _adj._ Applied to meat underdone.\n\n +Reckan-bauk+, _Vide_ +Gally-bauk+.\n\n +Recklin+, _Vide_ +Wrecklin+.\n\n +Reckon+, _n._ The bar suspended from the rann\u2019l-bauk.\n\n +Reckon+, _v._ To imagine, to suppose.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah reckon you\u2019ll be him. Ah reckon I knaw summat aboot it._\n\n +Reckon-crook+, _n._ The hook of the reckon.\n\n +Red up+, _Vide_ +Reet up+.\n\n +Reead-yat+, _adj._ Red-hot.\n\n +Reeak+, _n._ A rook.\n\n +Reeasty+, _adj._ Rancid, e.g. \u2018reeasty bacon.\u2019\n\n +Reeasty-cropt+, _adj._ Hoarse.\n\n +Reek+, _n._ Smoke. _v._ To smoke.\n\n +Reet+, _adj._, _adv._, and _n._ Right.\n\n +Reet up, To+, _v._ To put things in order, to tidy up.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll reet things up a bit, an\u2019 then Ah\u2019ll cum._\n\n +Reft+, _n._ A chink, a slit.\n\n +Rein+, _n._ The sides of a field overgrown with brushwood.\n\n +Reist+, _n._ A horse which refuses to move is said to have taken\n the \u2018reist.\u2019\n\n +Rench+, _v._ To rinse.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e it a rench oot._\n\n +Render+, _v._ To convert the fat of pigs to a liquid state by heat.\n\n +Renky+, _adj._ Tall, but too thin, as trees when grown too close\n together.\n\n +Resehes+, +Reashes+, _n._ The rush (_Juncus glaucus_).\n\n +Rezzil+, _n._ The weasel (_Mustela_ or _Putorius vulgaris_).\n +Wezzil+ and +Wuzzil+ are equally common.\n\n +Rick+, _n._ A quantity of hay larger than a pike.\n\n +Rickle+, _n._ A small heap of peat set to dry.\n\n +Ride+, _v._ To travel on horseback, or in any kind of vehicle.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019all rahde t\u2019 meer theear, bud rahde back i\u2019 t\u2019 cart\n wi\u2019 Billy._\n\n +Ride rough-shod ower, To+, _v._ To obtain our own ends careless of\n other people\u2019s rights.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll nut let him rahde rough-shod ower me when Ah\u2019ve\n gitten t\u2019 reet o\u2019 mah sahd._\n\n +Riding+, +Ridding+, _n._ The space made by felling trees,\n generally within a wood.\n\n +Riddle+, _n._ A sieve.\n\n +Rife+, _adj._ Inclined, ready.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s rife foor onny rackit. He war rife foor t\u2019 job._\n\n +Riff-raff+, _n._ A low mob, scum.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019ll gan wi\u2019 onny sike leyke riff-raff._\n\n +Rift+, _v._ To belch.\n\n +Rig+, _v._ To dress oneself.\n\n +Rigg+, _n._ The back of a man or beast, the rows in which turnips\n grow. Hence \u2018rigg and furr,\u2019 the latter being the raised part\n running between each rigg.\n\n +Rigged+, _v._ To be laid on the back unable to rise, applied to\n sheep; to tidy oneself, to put on one\u2019s best.\n\n +Rigging+, _n._ The framework of a roof.\n\n +Rigging tree+, _n._ The top spar of a house.\n\n +Right+, +Reet+, _adj._ True, correct.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s reet what Ah\u2019s telling on ya._\n\n +Right on end+, _adv._ Direct as to direction, in a straightforward\n manner.\n\n +Right up+, _v._ To put things in order.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve setten Janey ti reet things up a bit._\n\n +Ring-shaken+, _adj._ That part of timber which cannot be used\n owing to its being diseased.\n\n +Rise+, _n._ A steep ascent.\n\n +Rive+, +Rahve+, _v._ 1. To tear in two.\n 2. To pull with force.\n 3. To split.\n Ex.\u20141. _He gave it a snip w\u2019 t\u2019 sithers, an\u2019 then rahve it reet\n across._\n 2. _Ah rahve it up, it war deead._\n 3. _Ah s\u2019all rive t\u2019 maist o\u2019 yon wood up._\n\n +Rist+, _n._ Rust.\n\n +Rist+, _v._ To rest.\n\n +Road, Oot o\u2019 t\u2019+ = Out of the way, killed.\n\n +Rods+, _n._ Pea-rods, used to support peas when growing.\n\n +Roil+, _v._ To be noisy, turbulent.\n\n +Roist+, _adj._ Wild, dissolute.\n\n +Roistering+, _adj._ Wild, noisy, or dissolute.\n\n +Roke+, +Rawk+, _n._ A thick fog.\n\n +Roky+, +Rauky+, +Roaky+, _adj._ Foggy, damp.\n\n +Roll+, _n._ The pad of cloth worn on the head by potter women and\n others who carry a basket in that position.\n\n +Roll-egg day+, +Troll-egg day+. Easter Monday. _Vide_ chapter on\n \u2018Customs.\u2019\n\n +Roo+, +Roo on+, _v._ To work hard amidst confusion.\n Ex.\u2014_If thoo\u2019d nobbut sahd a few things by ez thoo went on, thoo\n wadn\u2019t \u2019a\u2019e ti roo on i\u2019 this fashion. Sha awlus \u2019ez ti roo on\n at t\u2019 finish._\n\n +Rooar+, _v._ To make a loud noise when crying.\n\n +Rook+, _n._ A cock of clover set up to dry.\n\n +Rook+, _v._ To set up in small heaps.\n\n +Rossil+, _n._ Resin.\n\n +Rostle+, +Rossel+, _v._ To disturb, to shake.\n\n +Rouk+, _v._ To snore loudly, as pigs.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah weean\u2019t sleep w\u2019 him na mair, he rouks warse \u2019an a pig._\n\n +Roughen+, _v._ To make rough.\n\n +Round, To get+, _v._ To cajole, to assuage.\n\n +Roundy+, _adj._ Of fairly good size, as compared with another\n sample containing much dust and small pieces; applied to a good\n sample of coal.\n\n +Rouped up, To be+, _v._ To be hoarse.\n\n +Roupy+, _adj._ Hoarse from cold.\n\n +Rout+, +Rowt+, _v._ To wander, to stray; to bellow loudly, as\n cattle.\n\n +Rout about+, _v._ To turn every place out.\n\n +Routering tahm+, Cleaning time, house-cleaning.\n\n +Roving+, _adj._ Of an unsettled nature.\n\n +Rovven+, _pp._ Riven.\n\n +Row+, _v._ To form ridges in the land for setting potatoes, &c.\n\n +Rowan-tree+, _n._ The mountain ash (_Pyrus Aucuparia_). _Vide_\n chapter on \u2018Witchcraft.\u2019\n\n +Rownd+, _Vide_ +Raun+.\n\n +Rowty+, _adj._ Rank.\n\n +Roy+, +Roy on+, _v._ To lead a fast life.\n Ex.\u2014_If he roys on leyke yon, he\u2019ll seean \u2019a\u2019e ti spell want._\n\n +Royously+, _adv._ Extravagantly.\n\n +Rud+, _n._ Red ochre, also ruddle.\n\n +Rud-stake+, _n._ The post to which a cow or ox is fastened when\n in its stall.\n\n +Rue+, _v._ To alter one\u2019s mind after making a bargain.\n\n +Rue-bargain+, _n._ A sum of money paid to cancel a bargain.\n\n +Ruffle+, _v._ To rub or raise the skin.\n\n +Rumbustical+, _adj._ Noisy, rough in play.\n\n +Runch+, _n._ The charlock (_Sinapis arvensis_).\n\n +Rung+, _n._ The step of a ladder.\n\n +Runnel+, _v._ A small stream of water, the channel it runs in, a\n funnel.\n\n +Run out+, _adj._ Exhausted, impoverished.\n\n +Runty+, _n._ Short, thick-set.\n\n +Rush+, _n._ A large concourse of people.\n\n +Russelled+, _Vide_ +Rasselled+.\n\n +Rutterkin+, _n._ A sly old fellow.\n\n +Rutting+, _n._ The sound made by deer during the pairing season.\n\n +Ruttle+, _v._ and _n._ To breathe with a rattling, gurgling sound,\n as when suffering from bronchitis, or when dying. Hence _t\u2019 deeath\n ruttle\u2019s setten in, it\u2019ll seean be owered wiv him noo._\n\n +Rutty+, _adj._ A road deeply furrowed by cart-ruts.\n\n\n S.\n\n +\u2018S+, Is, has, or as.\n\n +S\u2019+, _v._ Shall.\n\n +Sa+, _Vide_ +Seea+.\n\n +S\u2019aan\u2019t+, _v._ Shall not.\n\n +Sack, To get the+, _v._ To be turned out of or lose a situation,\n to be dismissed.\n\n +Sackless+, _adj._ Lacking common sense, foolish.\n\n +Sad+, _adj._ Heavy, as badly-risen bread, damp.\n\n +Sadden+, _v._ To make firm by stamping, treading, &c.\n Ex.\u2014_Sae monny fooak tramping on t\u2019 land sairly saddens \u2019t._\n\n +Sadly+, _adv._ Very much.\n Ex.\u2014_It sadly wants deeaing_, i.e. \u2018It wants doing very much.\u2019\n _Ah sadly wanted her ti stop a bit langer._\n\n +Sadly begone+, _adj._ Surprised and distressed at the same time.\n\n +Sadly ta\u2019en in+, _adv._ Very much deceived.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve been sadly ta\u2019en in wiv \u2019em._\n\n +Sae+, _Vide_ +Seea+.\n\n +Safe+, +Seeaf+, _adj._ and _adv._ Certain, without doubt.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s seeaf ti cum_, i.e. \u2018I am certain to come.\u2019 _Safe\n eneeaf he did it_, i.e. \u2018Without doubt he did it.\u2019\n\n +Sag+, _v._ To hang lower in the middle than at either end, as a\n rope.\n\n +Sahded by+, +Sided by+, _pp._ Buried.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s owered wiv him noo, wa\u2019ve gitten him sahded by._\n\n +Saim+, +Saam+, _n._ Lard.\n\n +Sair+, _adj._ Sore, in all its senses.\n Ex.\u2014_Wa\u2019ve \u2019ed a sair tahm_, i.e. \u2018a sad time.\u2019 _It\u2019s varra sair\n news_, i.e. \u2018sorrowful.\u2019 _T\u2019 lad\u2019s gitten a naisty sair spot_,\n i.e. \u2018sore.\u2019\n\n +Sair+, +Sairly+, _adv._ Sorely, greatly, extremely; used as an\n intensive.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019ll be sairly missed, will Jane. It war a sair mannish\u2019d\n job. Sha sairly wanted ti git yam._\n\n +Sam+, _v._ 1. To cause milk to curdle, to coagulate.\n 2. To gather in a hurry.\n 3. To pack things carelessly.\n Ex.\u20142. _Ah samm\u2019d all t\u2019 lot tigither iv a twinklin\u2019._\n 3. _Sam \u2019em in onnyhoo._\n\n +Sammer+, _adj._ Larger than usual.\n\n +Santer+, _v._ To loiter, to walk slowly.\n\n +Sappy+, _adj._ Heavy, sodden.\n\n +Sap-tree+, _n._ The rowan-tree.\n\n +Sark+, _n._ A shirt or chemise.\n\n +Sarten+, _adj._ Certain.\n\n +Sarve+, _v._ 1. To feed cattle.\n 2. To pay back revengefully.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo mun sarve t\u2019 pigs._\n 2. _Ah\u2019ll sarve him oot foor \u2019t._\n\n +Sattle+, _v._ To settle, usually followed by \u2018down\u2019; to feel at\n home.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019 sattle efter a bit. Oha, he\u2019s sattled doon neycely._\n\n +Sattle one\u2019s hash, To+, To completely discomfit.\n Ex.\u2014_If sha sez owt ti me Ah\u2019ll seean sattle her hash, an\u2019 tell\n her her neeam fur nowt an\u2019 all; sha\u2019d best leeak oot_.\n\n +Sauce+, _n._ and _v._ An impudent answer.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah tell\u2019d her what Ah thowt, an\u2019 sha sauced ma back ageean\n leyke all that._\n\n +Sau\u2019t+, _n._ Salt.\n\n +Sau\u2019t-kit+, _n._ Salt-box.\n\n +Sauve+, _n._ Ointment.\n\n +Sauve+, _v._ 1. To cajole.\n 2. To apply ointment.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo mun sauve him ower byv talking neycely._\n\n +Savelicks+, _n._ Canker of the dog-rose.\n\n +Saw-cum+, +-com+, or +-coom+, _n._ Sawdust.\n\n +Saw-hoss+, _n._ A saw-pit, or the arrangement of two tressels upon\n which the wood to be sawn is rested.\n\n +Say+, _n._ 1. Power, influence.\n 2. Opinion.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 parson \u2019ez t\u2019 maist say ov onnybody hereabouts._\n 2. _Noo let me saay mah saay noo_, i.e. \u2018Now let me express my\n opinion now.\u2019\n\n +Say+, _v._ To control or influence.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther\u2019s neea saying onny o\u2019 Martha\u2019s bairns. Ah caan\u2019t saay\n t\u2019 dog._\n\n +Scacelings+, _adv._ Scarcely.\n\n +Scaldered, To be+, _v._ To have an unhealthy skin, so that the\n surface comes off in scales. Children\u2019s heads are often said to\n be scaldered when suffering from dandruff.\n\n +Scalderings+, _n._ Nodules of half-burnt lime.\n\n +Scale+, +Scaling+, _v._ To scatter or spread, as manure; to cause\n the milk to be absorbed in the female breast.\n\n +Scale-dish+, _n._ A shallow metal pan used to skim milk.\n\n +Scallibrat+, _n._ A passionate, noisy child.\n\n +Scamp+, _v._ To execute work in a dishonest manner, not paying\n attention to details which are hidden from view.\n\n +Scar+, _n._ The face of a precipitous rock, or the rock itself.\n\n +Scart+, _v._ Frightened.\n\n +Scaud+, _n._ and _v._ A scold, a vixenish woman.\n\n +Scaud-heead+, _n._ Applied both to dandruff and ringworm.\n\n +Scau\u2019p+, _n._ The head, the skull, the bare spots of rock and\n stones on a hillside.\n\n +Sconce+, _n._ 1. A screen, usually lined with tin, which is kept\n very bright so as to reflect; this is placed in front of any\n joint roasting before the fire.\n 2. Hence the usage of the word in the sense of a \u2018ruse,\u2019\n \u2018deception,\u2019 i.e. a screen to hide one\u2019s real intentions.\n Ex.\u20142. _He aim\u2019d at wa s\u2019u\u2019d think \u2019at he\u2019d cum\u2019d ti see t\u2019 au\u2019d\n chap, bud it war nowt bud a sconce ti finnd oot what wa\u2019d\n gitten i\u2019 t\u2019 hoos._ The word is also used in the sense of\n \u2018tale-bearing\u2019 in such a way as either to hide one\u2019s own fault\n or to obtain one\u2019s own ends.\n\n +Scopperil+, _n._ A teetotum, a pierced bone button with a wooden\n peg through it.\n\n +Scourging top+, +Scurgy+, _n._ A whipping-top.\n\n +Scow+, _n._ Confusion, hurried and somewhat disorganized\n preparation for an expected event, bustle with confusion.\n\n +Scowder+, +Scowderment+, _n._ Confusion.\n\n +Scraffle+, _v._ To struggle, to strive.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah mannished ti scraffle thruff\u2019t, bud Ah s\u2019all tak t\u2019\n hedge t\u2019 next tahm. Sha\u2019s deean mair \u2019an weel ti scraffle on\n wi\u2019 a family leyke yon._\n\n +Scrag-cauf+, _n._ A name applied to females whose legs are very\n thin.\n\n +Scraggy+, _adj._ Lean.\n\n +Scran+, _n._ Food.\n\n +Scranky+, _adj._ Very lank.\n\n +Scrannel+, _adj._ Poor, worthless.\n\n +Scrap+, _v._ and _n._ To quarrel.\n\n +Scrape+, _n._ Misfortune, trouble.\n\n +Scrape the tongue, To+, _v._ To speak affectedly.\n\n +Scrat+, _v._ and _n._ 1. To scratch.\n 2. A scraping together of one\u2019s belongings by hard toil.\n Ex.\u20142. _Yan gits yan\u2019s things scratted tigither oddly by_\n _tahms. Neeaboddy\u2019s made a harder scrat foor what tha\u2019ve\n gitten \u2019an Lisa Jane._\n\n +Scrat+, _n._ A miser, the itch.\n\n +Scrat, Au\u2019d+, _n._ The devil.\n\n +Scrawm+, _v._ To scratch irregular marks on any surface, to grope\n about in the dark.\n\n +Scrawmy+, _adj._ Straggly, irregular, unshapely.\n\n +Scrawmy cauf+, _n._ A badly shaped leg. _adj._ +Scrawmy-cauf\u2019d.+\n _Ex.\u2014Mah wo\u2019d, bud Polly war sairly flowter\u2019d when Ah dropped on\n her shauming, ant Ah seeaa sha\u2019d neea call ti be, fer sha\u2019s\n owt bud a scrawmy-cauf\u2019d un._\n\n +Screed+, _v._ To run a line or border on the edge of anything.\n\n +Screed+, _n._ A shred, the border or edge of any material.\n\n +Screeve+, _v._ To mark with a screever.\n\n +Screever+, _n._ A small pointed steel tool used to mark metal,\n &c.; the sound produced by such marking.\n\n +Scriggle+, _v._ To twist about.\n\n +Scrimp+, _adj._ 1. Niggardly.\n 2. Scant.\n 3. Short.\n Ex.\u20141. _It war nobbut a scrimpy do._\n 2. _It war a varra scrimpy set oot._\n 3. _Did ta run sho\u2019t o\u2019 stuff? T\u2019 sket nobbut seems scrimpy an\u2019\n sho\u2019tish at t\u2019 back._\n\n +Scrogs+, _n._ Stunted bushes or shrubs.\n\n +Scrout+, _v._ To lengthen, as the days.\n\n +Scrow+ and +Scrowing+. _Vide_ +Scow+.\n\n +Scruff+, _n._ Scurf, either on the skin or head; scum, hence \u2018the\n rabble.\u2019\n\n +Scruffle+, +Scruffling+, _v._ 1. To push, strive, to put on one\n side by force, as pushing through a crowd.\n 2. To weed turnips.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019d a despert scruffle afoor Ah gat inti t\u2019 tent.\n Neeabody teeak na notish o\u2019 neeabody, bud iverybodd scruffled\n t\u2019 best waay tha c\u2019u\u2019d, whahl wa war all scruffling tigither._\n\n +Scruffle+, _n._ A quarrel accompanied with a struggle, an unruly\n crowd.\n\n +Scruffler+, _n._ A hoe for weeding turnip rows. Formerly it was\n fashioned from an old horse-shoe fixed to a long handle.\n\n +Scuff+, _n._ The nape of the neck.\n\n +Scuff+, _v._ To seize or shake by holding the neck.\n\n +Scumfish+, _v._ To oppress with either heat, smoke, or foul air.\n\n +Scut+ or +Scud+, _v._ To run away.\n\n +Scutter+, _v._ To run away quickly.\n\n +Scutters+, _n._ Diarrhoea.\n\n +Scuttle+, _n._ An open rough-made basket considerably narrowing\n towards the bottom, and used to gather potatoes in, &c.\n\n +Sea-fret+, _n._ Fine rain, usually commencing with the rise of\n the tide.\n\n +Seagling+, _part._ Sauntering.\n\n +Sea-tang+, _n._ Sea-weed or wrack (_Laminaria digitata_).\n\n +Seddle+, _n._ The wrist-bone.\n\n +Seea+, +Sae+, +Sa+, +Soa+, +Sooa+, _adv._ So.\n\n +Seear+, +Shower+, _adj._ and _adv._ Sure.\n\n +Seed+, _pf. part._ of \u2018Saw.\u2019\n\n +Seed-lip+, _n._ The basket from which the seed corn is cast when\n thrown on the land.\n\n +Seeing-glass+, _n._ A looking-glass.\n\n +Seeve+, +Seeave+, _n._ The common rushes (_Juncus effusus_ and\n _conglomeratus_).\n\n +Seet+, _adj._ Considerable, many.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther war a seet main fooak theear \u2019an what Ah thowt ther\u2019d\n be. He\u2019s a seet better \u2019an what Ah leeak\u2019d foor._\n\n +Segged+, _v._ To be distended, swollen, accompanied by hardness.\n\n +Seggrums+, _n._ Common ragwort.\n\n +Seggy+, _adj._ Second.\n Ex.\u2014_Bags Ah seggy_, i.e. \u2018Second turn.\u2019\n\n +Segs+, _n._ A name applied somewhat loosely to several rushes and\n flags.\n\n +Sen+, +Sin+, _adv._ Since.\n\n +Servers+, _n._ Females, generally two in number, who hand the cake,\n biscuits, and wine to mourners and others at a burial.\n\n +Set+, _v._ To accompany any one either the whole or a short way on\n a journey.\n Ex.\u2014_Tommy set ma ivver sae fur. He put t\u2019 meer in an\u2019 set ma all\n t\u2019 waay. Ah\u2019ve setten her ti t\u2019 deearstan._\n\n +Set+, _v._ To arrange or settle a price.\n Ex.\u2014_Setten at that price, he\u2019d nivver git his awn ageean. Ah\u2019ve\n setten it at less na what Ah aimed ti git._\n\n +Set a day, To+, _v._ To fix a definite appointment.\n\n +Set agate+, _v._ To set in motion, to start work, to put into\n action. _Vide_ +Agate+.\n\n +Set in+, _adj._ Applied to dirt on the clothes or skin of long\n standing; commenced and likely to continue.\n\n +Set on+, +Setten on+, _v._ To burn in the pan when cooking,\n especially when milk is used. _adj._ Small, stunted in growth.\n\n +Set on knees+, _v._ To kneel.\n\n +Set-pot+, _n._ A large iron cauldron fixed in brickwork.\n\n +Set-teea+, _n._ A fight.\n Ex.\u2014_Let \u2019em \u2019ev a set-teea, an\u2019 then tha\u2019ll git it sattled.\n Bob\u2019s \u2019ed a set-teea wi\u2019 Billy._\n\n +Set teea+, +Set on+, _v._ To begin or cause to begin.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo mun set teea at yance, an\u2019 Ah\u2019ll set Tom on ti morn at\n morn._\n\n +Setter+, _n_. A seton. Also _v._ To insert, &c.\n\n +Settle+, _n._ _Vide_ +Lang settle+.\n\n +Settled+, _v._ To be decided, satisfied, contented.\n _Vide_ +Sattle+.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve sattled that point lang sen. Ah\u2019s nobbut hauf sattled\n wi\u2019 t\u2019 waay things is gahin\u2019 on, an\u2019 Ah s\u2019aan\u2019t feel sattled\n whahl Ah\u2019ve been ti see foor mysen._\n\n +Set up+, _v._ To greatly delight.\n\n +Sez+, _v._ Says.\n Ex.\u2014_If sha sez \u2019at thoo sez what thoo sez sha sez, sha sez\n what\u2019s wrang._\n\n +Shabby+, _adj._ Disagreeable, unpleasant as to weather.\n Ex.\u2014_Wa nobbut \u2019ed a shabby hay-tahm ti year._\n\n +Shackle+, _n._ The wrist.\n\n +Shade+, _n._ A wooden or lightly constructed building, a shed.\n\n +Shades+, _n._ Lace curtains.\n\n +Shaff+, _n._ Sheaf.\n\n +Shaffle+, _v._ To shuffle in walking, to evade by subterfuge, to\n be undecided.\n\n +Shaft+, _n._ A handle, as of a fork, rake, hoe, axe.\n\n +Shaft+, _v._ To fix a handle to anything.\n\n +Shak+, _v._ To shake.\n\n +Shak-bag+ or +-back+, _n._ An untrustworthy fellow.\n\n +Shake+, _n._ A split or crack in furniture.\n\n +Shak-fork+, _n._ The fork used for lifting and shaking the\n thrashed straw.\n\n +Shak-ripe+, _adj._ So ripe that shaking will cause the fruit to\n fall. Anything likely to fall either from a shake or wind.\n\n +Shanks\u2019 nag+, +Shanks\u2019 pony+, _n._ One\u2019s own legs as a means of\n going from place to place.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019all \u2019a\u2019e ti gan on Shanks\u2019 pony_, i.e. \u2018I shall have\n to walk.\u2019\n\n +Shap+, +Shaape+, _v._ 1. To show good judgement.\n 2. To give promise.\n Ex.\u20141. _He shaps weel ti deea \u2019t, diz t\u2019 lad._\n 2. _It shaps ti mak a good un._\n\n +Sharp+, _v._ To insert nails or screws in a horse\u2019s shoe during\n frosty weather.\n\n +Sharp+, _adj._ Quick, smart, intelligent.\n Ex.\u20141. _Noo gan ez sharp ez thoo can_, i.e. \u2018quick.\u2019\n 2. _Noo that war a sharp trick ti deea_, i.e. \u2018smart.\u2019\n 3. _He\u2019s a sharp lad that_, i.e. \u2018intelligent.\u2019\n\n +Sharps+, _n._ Flour with the admixture of bran.\n\n +Shaum+, _v._ To warm the legs and knees by sitting close to the\n fire; in the case of females, with the skirts, &c., pulled above\n the knees.\n\n +Shear+, _v._ To cut corn with a sickle.\n\n +Shearling+, _n._ A sheep of the first year from the time of\n shearing.\n\n +Sheep-ked+ or +-keead+, _n._ A sheep-tick.\n\n +Shell+, _n._ A slide. _v._ To slide.\n\n +Shelvings+, _n._ Wooden frames fixed on either side of a cart to\n increase the size.\n\n +Shift+, _v._ To remove from one house to another, to change one\u2019s\n clothes, to move.\n\n +Shift+, _n._ A chemise.\n\n +Shifty+, _adj._ Deceitful, crafty.\n\n +Shill+, _n._ Scum of anything left to stand.\n\n +Shill+, _v._ 1. To shell, as peas, &c.\n 2. To cause to curdle so that the whey and curds separate.\n 3. To make a noise something between a howl and a whistle.\n Ex.\u20143. _Mah wo\u2019d, bud t\u2019 wind did shill roond t\u2019 chetch last neet.\n Its nobbut a feeal \u2019at trimm\u2019ls when t\u2019 wind shills._\n\n +Shills+, _n._ Shafts of a cart.\n\n +Shine+, _n._ The pupil of the eye; a disturbance, a quarrel.\n\n +Shinnop+, _v._ To play at hockey.\n\n +Shinny+, _n._ Hockey.\n\n +Shippy+, or +Ship starnel+, _n._ The starling.\n\n +Shiv+, _n._ A husk of corn.\n\n +Shive+, _n._ A slice.\n\n +Shoe+, _n._ The drag applied to the wagon or cart wheel when\n descending a hill.\n\n +Shog+, _v._ To shake, to be slowly driven along with a jolting\n motion.\n\n +Shoggle+, _v._ To shake with unsteady motion.\n\n +Shogglin+, _n._ An icicle.\n\n +Sholl+, _n._ Slide. _v._ To idle.\n\n +Shool+, _n._ A shovel.\n\n +Shoon+, _n._ Pl. of \u2018Shoe.\u2019\n\n +Shoot+, _v._ 1. To shout. Often implies to call without raising\n the voice.\n 2. To break into ear (of corn).\n Ex.\u20141. _Shoot on him, he\u2019s i\u2019 t\u2019 next room._\n\n +Shot+, +Shut+, _v._ To be freed from, rid, clear of.\n Ex.\u2014_Hez ta gitten shut on him?_ i.e. \u2018Have you got rid of him?\u2019\n _Ah\u2019ve gitten shot o\u2019 that claim_, i.e. \u2018I have got clear of\n that claim.\u2019\n\n +Sho\u2019t+, _adj._ Short, hasty.\n Ex.\u2014_Saay neea mair, leeave that sho\u2019t_, i.e. \u2018Don\u2019t tell or\n explain the whole.\u2019 _Ah thowt \u2019at he war a bit sho\u2019t wi\u2019 ma_,\n i.e. \u2018a trifle hasty.\u2019\n\n +Shot-ice+, _n._ Sheets of ice.\n\n +Shovven-string+, _n._ Boot-lace.\n\n +Shrag+, _v._ To lop, to trim.\n\n +Shrift+, _n._ The condition of an animal\u2019s coat after having been\n kept on soft food in the open during winter; on beginning to\n better its condition it sheds its coat.\n\n +Shudder+, +Shuther+, _v._ To shake, to tremble.\n Ex.\u2014_Yah crack o\u2019 thunner made all shuther ageean._\n\n +Shut+, _v._ To shoot with a gun, to put out or shoot out, to quit.\n\n +Shuttance+, _n._ Riddance.\n Ex.\u2014_Tha\u2019ve gane, an\u2019 good shuttance tiv \u2019em_, i.e. \u2018They have\n gone, and good riddance to them.\u2019\n\n +Shutters+, _n._ A shooting party.\n\n +Shy+, _adj._ Bitter and piercing (of the wind).\n\n +Sich+, _adv._ So.\n\n +Side-lang+, _v._ To fasten the fore and hind foot of a sheep\n together to prevent its straying.\n\n +Side up+, _v._ To put in order, to tidy.\n\n +Side-wipe+, _n._ Censure, conveyed by innuendo.\n\n +Sidling+, _adj._ Fawning, servile.\n Ex.\u2014_He awlus sidles an\u2019 maks up ti fresh fooak, bud he\u2019s a\n sidling sooart ov a chap._\n\n +Sie+, _n._ A fine sieve to strain milk, a spot, a stain left by\n anything falling in drops.\n\n +Sie+, _v._ To strain milk.\n\n +Sike+, _adj._ Such.\n\n +Sikan+, _adj._ Such (used before a vowel).\n\n +Sike-like+, _adj._ Such-like, so forth, similar.\n\n +Sile+, _n._ A strainer.\n\n +Sile-brigg+, _n._ The wooden frame upon which the sile rests when\n used.\n\n +Sill-horse+, _n._ The shaft horse.\n\n +Sin+, _adv._ Since.\n\n +Sink-hoal+, _n._ A dug-out or other hollow place in which the\n drainage from a midden-stead collects, or water from the sink.\n\n +Sinter-santer+, _v._ To idle, to dawdle.\n\n +Sipe+, _v._ To soak through, to drain away slowly, to sink away.\n\n +Sippel+, _n._ A thin slice of anything.\n\n +Sipper-sauces+, _n._ Dainty dishes.\n\n +Siss+, _v._ To hiss, as water dropping on the fire; to spit (of a\n cat); to hiss like a goose.\n\n +Sitfast+, _n._ The hard cyst of a wound or boil.\n\n +Sitha+, pronounced _Si-tha_. Calls attention to. It is a\n corruption of \u2018seest thou.\u2019 Sutha originally was \u2018saw thou.\u2019\n \u2018Sitha\u2019 and \u2018sutha\u2019 are equally common.\n\n +Sit up on end, To+, _v._ To sit up.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s mending grandly; whya, he\u2019s sitting up on end i\u2019 bed._\n\n +Sizzapur+, _n._ A heavy blow. As an _adj._ Large of its kind.\n\n +Skaff+, +Skeeaf+, _n._ A rough, steep, broken bank.\n\n +Skare on+, _v._ To overlap or splice.\n\n +Skate+, _v._ To turn sharp round.\n\n +Skaum+, _Vide_ +Skime+.\n\n +Skeeal+, _n._ School.\n\n +Skeel+, _n._ A large wooden milk-pail.\n\n +Skeg+, _n._ A glance, a cast of the eye.\n\n +Skel-beast+, _n._ Wooden partitions in the cow byre.\n\n +Skell+, _v._ To tilt, to raise up one end of anything, to shriek\n out.\n\n +Skell up+, +Skell ower+, _v._ To upset, by the lifting of one end\n or side too high.\n\n +Skeller+, _v._ To squint.\n\n +Skellered+, _adj._ Bent by heat, as the covers of a book held too\n near the fire.\n\n +Skelly+, _n._ A squint.\n\n +Skelp+, +Skelping+, _n._ A thrashing. _adj._ Quickly, with great\n speed.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah gav\u2019 him a skelp._\n 2. _He did gan wiv a skelp._\n\n +Skelp+, _v._ 1. To strike with the open palm.\n 2. To move quickly.\n Ex.\u20141. _Noo Ah\u2019ll skelp tha._\n 2. _He skelp\u2019d off yam t\u2019 minit he seed ma._\n\n +Skelper+, _n._ +Skelping+, _adj._ Huge.\n\n +Skep+, _n._ A basket made from either flags or willows.\n\n +Sket+, _n._ A skirt.\n\n +Skew+, _v._ To twist round or about, to wrench.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha skews hersen aboot warse \u2019an nowt. Skew \u2019t off if t\u2019\n weean\u2019t pull oot._\n\n +Skid+, _n._ The iron shoe used as a brake.\n\n +Skid+, _v._ To fix the iron shoe to the wheel.\n\n +Skill+, _v._ To understand, to unravel.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s putten tigither queerly, it\u2019s a bit of a rum un ti\n skill. It\u2019s a queer taal, can ta skill \u2019t?_\n\n +Skillet+, +Skellit+, _n._ A small pot for the fire with a long\n handle.\n\n +Skime+, +Skaum+, _v._ To droop the eyelids, to scowl.\n Ex.\u2014_Oppen thi e\u2019es, an\u2019 deean\u2019t gan skauming aboot leyke that.\n Noo leeak pleasant, an\u2019 dean\u2019t skaum._\n\n +Skimmering+, _adj._ Bright, sparkling, brilliant. _v._ Shining\n brightly.\n\n +Skiny+, _adj._ Greedy.\n\n +Skirl+, _v._ To scream.\n\n +Skirtling+, _n._ The lower and dressed part of a haystack.\n\n +Skirts, A pair of+, _n._ Petticoat.\n\n +Skite, To take one\u2019s+, _v._ To leave quickly.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah heeard what he\u2019d gitten ti saay, an\u2019 then Ah teeak my\n skite._\n\n +Skit+, _v._ To sneer at, to make fun of.\n\n +Skit+, _n._ A remark, or printed matter of a personal character.\n\n +Skivvers+, _n._ Wooden skewers.\n\n +Skrike+, _v._ To screech.\n\n +Skrimp+, _Vide_ +Scrimp+.\n\n +Slabby+, _Vide_ +Sleazy+.\n\n +Slack+, _adj._ Slow, lacking go or briskness.\n Ex.\u2014_It war nobbut slack deed. T\u2019 market war varra slack._\n\n +Slack+, _n._ A small valley.\n\n +Slafter+, _n._ Slaughter.\n\n +Slafter-hoos+, _n._ Slaughter-house.\n\n +Slain+, +Sleean+, _n._ The smut blight of wheat\n (_Ustilago segetum_).\n\n +Slair+, _v._ To idle away one\u2019s time.\n\n +Slairy+, _adj._ Untidy, sluttish.\n\n +Slaister+, _v._ To do anything in an idle, slovenly manner; to\n scamp work; to flog with a whip or cane.\n\n +Slaisterer+, _n._ An idle, slovenly fellow.\n\n +Slake+, _v._ To lick; to cleanse imperfectly by just wetting and\n rubbing, as licking a slate.\n\n +Slake+, _n._ A lick, a pretence of cleaning.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah just gav\u2019 things a slake ower._\n\n +Slap+, _v._ To spill.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019ll slap \u2019t if thoo hugs it leyke that, an\u2019 if thoo diz\n slap \u2019t Ah\u2019ll slap tha foor slapping \u2019t._\n\n +Slap+, _v._ To go or do anything quickly, to be energetic.\n Ex.\u2014_He went slap at it ez if he meant it. Ah\u2019ll run slap ower\n at yance._\n\n +Slape+, _adj._ Slippery; smooth, as applied to even or polished\n surfaces; untrustworthy, crafty.\n\n +Slape-feeaced+, _adj._ Applied to a hypocrite.\n\n +Slape-fingered+, _adj._ Butter-fingered.\n\n +Slapen+, _v._ To make slippery, to open the bowels by laxatives.\n\n +Slape-scalp+ or +-scaup+. A hypocrite.\n\n +Slape-shod+, _adj._ Shoes, especially of horses, are said to be\n \u2018slape-shod\u2019 when much worn and smooth.\n Ex.\u2014_Is ta slape-shod? Neea, Ah\u2019ve just gitten sharp\u2019d._\n\n +Slape-t\u2019unged+, _adj._ Plausible.\n\n +Slappy+, _adj._ Sloppy, puddly, wet.\n\n +Slaps+, _n._ Slops.\n\n +Slap-stone+ or +-steean+, _n._ The kitchen sink.\n\n +Slap up+, _v._ To eat or drink in a hurry.\n\n +Slap-up+, _adj._ First-class, exceedingly good.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s gitten a slap-up t\u2019on-oot. Noo that\u2019s a slap-upper if\n ya leyke._\n\n +Slathery+, _adj._ Continued, as applied to wet weather; puddly,\n of the roads. The word as used often embodies both ideas.\n\n +Slating+, _n._ Scolding.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah gat sike a slating foor brecking t\u2019 winder._\n\n +Slattery+, _adj._ Slovenly.\n\n +Slaup+, _v._ To eat and drink with the mouth too full.\n\n +Slaverment+, _n._ Insincerity, fawning, hypocrisy.\n\n +Sleave+, _v._ To twist. To \u2018sleave\u2019 a lass is to put one\u2019s arm\n round her waist.\n\n +Sleaved+, _part._ Twisted.\n\n +Sleazy+, _adj._ Badly made, slight, unsubstantial.\n\n +Sleck+, _v._ To quench one\u2019s thirst, to quench fire by pouring\n water on it, to remove the caustic element from lime.\n\n +Sleck+, _n._ Drink.\n Ex.\u2014_That\u2019s all reet foor them \u2019at can deea wi\u2019 \u2018t, bud Ah leyke\n a sup o\u2019 beer foor a sleck._\n\n +Sled+, _n._ A sledge.\n\n +Slem+, _adj._ Bad, applied to work put together badly.\n\n +Slem+, _v._ To do work imperfectly, to slur over, to hide work by\n an outer covering. Its usage is a trifle loose.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah slemm\u2019d it ower wi\u2019 pent._\n\n +Slew+, _v._ To swerve, to turn or twist round. In the passive, to\n be intoxicated.\n\n +Slidder+ }\n +Slither+ } _v._ 1. To slide.\n 2. To disappear unobserved.\n Ex.\u20141. _He set hissel on t\u2019 top ov a larl bit of a sled, an\u2019\n went slithering doon t\u2019 hill leyke all that._\n\n +Sliddery+ } _adj._ Slippery.\n +Slithery+ }\n\n +Slinky+, _adj._ Inclined to act evasively.\n\n +Slip+, _v._ 1. To forget.\n 2. To go, to come.\n Ex.\u20141. _It slipt my mahnd ez cleean ez nowt._\n 2. _Slip ower ti Bob an\u2019 tell him ti slip ower ti me_, i.e. \u2018Go\n to Robert\u2019s and tell him to come to me.\u2019\n\n +Slip+, _n._ A pinafore.\n\n +Slipe+, _v._ To strip off an outer covering, as bark, with a rapid\n action.\n\n +Slirt+, _v._ To squirt water.\n\n +Sloke+, _n._ Slime on the surface of stagnant water.\n\n +Slope+, _v._ To dishonestly evade payment, to defraud; to abscond,\n leaving one\u2019s debts unpaid.\n\n +Slosh+, _n._ Melted snow or mud.\n\n +Sloshy+, _adj._ Applied to a condition of general thaw.\n\n +Slot+, _n._ A slit in a garment for a tape to be run through.\n\n +Slot+, _v._ To slam.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah sed nowt, bud just slotted t\u2019 deear iv his feeace._\n\n +Slough+, +Sluff+, _n._ The outer skin, especially of fruit, as the\n gooseberry.\n\n +Slowdy+, _adj._ Flabby, soft; applied to fish out of condition and\n season.\n\n +Sluddery+, +Sluthery+, _adj._ Applied to melted snow and mud.\n\n +Slummer+, _v._ To sleep almost in a comatose state.\n\n +Slush+, _Vide_ +Slosh+.\n\n +Slutherment+, _n._ Any slimy, viscid matter.\n\n +Sluthery+, _adj._ Having to the touch a feeling of slime or viscid\n matter.\n\n +Sly-cakes+, _n._ Ordinary looking cakes, but filled with fruits.\n\n +Smally+, _adj._ Puny, thin, undergrown.\n\n +Smatch+, _n._ A savour, a trifle, a small portion.\n\n +Smeark+, _v._ To half smile.\n\n +Smere+, _n._ The membrane covering the nostrils of a foal at birth.\n\n +Smiddy+, _n._ A blacksmith\u2019s shop.\n\n +Smiddy-oom+, _n._ The sweepings of a blacksmith\u2019s bench and floor.\n\n +Smit+, _n._ Infection.\n\n +Smit+, +Smitch+, _n._ Fine particles of soot which fall from the\n smoke of the chimney.\n\n +Smitting+, _adj._ Infectious.\n\n +Smittle+, _v._ To infect.\n\n +Smock+, _n._ A chemise.\n\n +Smoor+, +Smurr+, _v._ To smother, suffocate.\n\n +Smoot+, _v._ To partially hide the face.\n\n +Smooth+, _v._ To iron clothes.\n\n +Smooth-feeaced+, _adj._ Bashful.\n\n +Smoot-hoal+, +Smoot-hole+, _n._ A hole, varying in size, in a\n hedge or wall; e.g. a rabbit smoot, a sheep smoot.\n\n +Smoot-steean+, _n._ A slab or stone used to stop a smoot-hole.\n\n +Smudge+, _v._ To smear; to emit smoke, but without any flames\n visible.\n\n +Snaffling+, _v._ To speak through the nose.\n\n +Snag+, _v._ To cut the branches from felled trees, to top and tail\n turnips.\n\n +Snahl+, _n._ Snail.\n\n +Snake-steean+, _n._ An ammonite.\n\n +Snarly+, _adj._ Biting, chilling (of the wind).\n\n +Snavvie+, _Vide_ +Snaffling+.\n\n +Sneb+, _v._ To rebuke.\n\n +Sneck+, _n._ The fastening of a gate or door.\n\n +Sneck+, _v._ To fasten, to latch.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo think on an\u2019 sneck all t\u2019 yats._\n\n +Sneeap+, _v._ To check, to put down.\n Ex.\u2014_Ya caan\u2019t sneeap \u2019em, an\u2019 they weean\u2019t be snebbed, an\u2019\n neeabody\u2019s gitten neea saay ower \u2019em at all, an\u2019 if yan diz\n call \u2019em, tha deea nowt bud snifter, snitter, an\u2019 gen at yan._\n\n +Snicker+, _Vide_ +Snitter+.\n\n +Snickle+, _v._ A slip-noose of wire used as a snare.\n\n +Snifter+, _n._ A sniff, a smell of short duration.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo it\u2019s varra neyce, just tak a snifter on \u2019t._\n\n +Snifter+, _v._ To snuff up.\n Ex.\u2014_Wipe thi snoot; deean\u2019t snifter._\n\n +Snig+, _v._ To drag timber from the wood.\n\n +Snig-cut+, _n._ A short cut, a by-path.\n\n +Sniggle+, _v._ To laugh behind one\u2019s back, to laugh derisively.\n\n +Snite+, _v._ To blow the nose, not necessarily with a handkerchief.\n\n +Snitter+, _v._ To sneer, to giggle with ill-nature and derisively.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha summut ti snitter at if thoo dizn\u2019t shift\n thisen._\n\n +Snook-snarls+, _n._ The knotty entanglements of thread, string, &c.\n\n +Snod+, _adj._ Smooth, neat-looking, trim.\n\n +Snoke+, _v._ To smell with a deep inspiration.\n\n +Snow-flag+, _n._ A snow-flake.\n\n +Snubbits+, _n._ The projecting pieces of wood at the end of a cart,\n on which it rests when tilted up.\n\n +Snubby+, _adj._ Knotted (of wood).\n\n +Snudge+, +Snuggle+, +Snowzel+, _v._ To lie close together.\n\n +Soa+, _Vide_ +Seea+.\n\n +Soamy+, _adj._ Close, oppressive (of the weather).\n\n +Sob+, _v._ To sigh as the wind does on the approach of calmer\n weather.\n\n +Sock+, _n._ The ploughshare.\n\n +Sod+, _n._ An opprobrious epithet = Ass, fool.\n\n +Sodden+, _v._ To soften by soaking in water.\n\n +Sods+, _n._ 1. Square parings of grass and earth.\n 2. A lump of earth and grass.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll hev hauf o\u2019 t\u2019 garden laid wi\u2019 sods._\n 2. _Ah\u2019ll chuck a sod at tha._\n\n +Soft+, _adj._ 1. Inclined to wet weather.\n 2. Silly, half-witted.\n Ex.\u2014_1. Ah\u2019s feeard wa\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti \u2019ev a softish back-end._\n 2. _Poor bairn! is sha a larl bit soft?_\n\n +Somerset+, _n._ Somersault.\n\n +Sooa+, _Vide_ +Seea+.\n\n +Sooart+, _n._ Sort, kind, quality.\n\n +Soond+, _v._ To faint, to sound. Also _n_.\n\n +Soonest+, _adj._ Quickest, nearest, shortest.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s gan by t\u2019 foot brigg; it\u2019s seeanest road. It\u2019ll be t\u2019\n seeanest deean i\u2019 that waay._\n\n +Sore+, _Vide_ +Sair+.\n\n +So so+ = That will do, enough, cease.\n\n +Soss+, _v._ and _n._ To fall with force into the water; to lap\n water, as a dog.\n\n +Sough+, +Soo+, _v._ To sob, to sigh (of the wind).\n\n +Soup+, _v._ To soak, to drench with water.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s fairly souped ti t\u2019 skin._\n\n +Sour-docken+, _n._ The wild sorrel (_Rumex acetosa_).\n\n +Sowl+, _v._ To give a thorough rinsing in water, to chastise.\n\n +Sowse+, _v._ 1. To cause to be wet all over.\n 2. To throw into water.\n Ex.\u20141. _He sowsed a bucket o\u2019 mucky watter cleean ower ma._\n 2. _Ah sowsed t\u2019 beggar i\u2019 t\u2019 beck._\n\n +Spade-+ or +Speead-graft+, _n._ A spade depth.\n\n +Spane+, +Speean+, _v._ To wean.\n\n +Spang+, _Vide_ +Spanker+.\n\n +Spank+, _v._ To strike with the open hand.\n\n +Spanker+, _n._ One who takes long strides; large of its kind;\n hence +Spang+, _n._ A leap.\n\n +Spanking+, _adj._ Tall and broad, rapid.\n\n +Span-new+, _adj._ Quite new.\n\n +Sparrow-feathers+, _n._ The chaff of oats is so called when used\n for beds in the place of feathers.\n\n +Spattle+, _n._ Spittle.\n\n +Speak+, _v._ Even yet the usage in an active sense of \u2018to address\u2019\n is often heard in the dales.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah seed him, bud wa didn\u2019t speeak yan anuther. What didn\u2019t\n ta speeak her foor?_\n\n +Speeak+, +Spooak+, _n._ The spoke of a wheel.\n\n +Speean+, _n._ A spoon.\n\n +Spelk+, _n._ A long thin slip of wood, a splint.\n\n +Spell+, _n._ A splinter of wood, the cross-bar of a ladder; a\n spill, either of wood or paper; a turn at work, not necessarily\n of long duration; the trap upon which the ball rests in the game\n of spell and knorr.\n\n +Spic an\u2019 span+, _adv._ New, clean, tidy; lit. new, from \u2018spike to\n span\u2019 of a knight\u2019s lance. Another form is \u2018Bran spander new.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_Ez thoo\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti see t\u2019 lass foor t\u2019 fo\u2019st tahm, thoo\n mun mak this en leeak ez spic an\u2019 span ez a new-maad pin.\n Mr. Henry war gitten up spic an\u2019 span._\n\n +Spice+, _n._ Raisins, currants, &c.\n\n +Spice-bread+, _n._ A cheaper form of plum-cake.\n\n +Spice-cake+ or +-keeak+, _n._ Plum-cake.\n\n +Spink+, _n._ The chaffinch, often named +Bull-spink+.\n\n +Spinner+, _n._ A spider\u2019s web. Also +Spinner-web+. The latter,\n however, is generally confined to the gossamer threads so\n commonly found floating in the air on a summer\u2019s evening.\n\n +Spit+, _n._ A long narrow spade used for draining.\n\n +Spittle+, _n._ A small spade.\n\n +Splatter+, _v._ To splash about, to make splashes.\n\n +Splatter-dash+, _n._ and _v._ 1. A showing-off.\n 2. Commotion.\n 3. To brag, to make a foolish display of wealth.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah caan\u2019t bahd sike splatter-dash gahins on. It\u2019s nowt\n bud a lot o\u2019 splatter-dash._\n 2. _Ah, what a splatter-dash ther is i\u2019 t\u2019 pleeace._\n\n +Splatterer+, _n._ One who splashes.\n\n +Splauder+, _v._ 1. To sprawl, to spread out one\u2019s limbs.\n 2. To display, to be vulgarly ostentatious. Hence +Splaudered+,\n +Splauderment+.\n Ex.\u20141. _Hoo yon lass diz splauder her feet oot. Talk aboot a\n splauder o\u2019 stuff, ther war mair ti eat na wa c\u2019u\u2019d \u2019a\u2019e\n mannish\u2019d if wa\u2019d \u2019ed tweea goes apiece._\n\n +Splaudy+, _adj._ Wide-spreading.\n\n +Splaws+, _n._ Pen-nibs.\n\n +Splet+, +Split+, _v._ To tell of one\u2019s doings, to break confidence.\n\n +Splutter+, _n._ Bustle, excitement, nervousness.\n Ex.\u2014_Deean\u2019t git i\u2019 sike a splutter, wa\u2019ve endless o\u2019 tahm.\n Didn\u2019t sha git intiv a splutter when sha heeard what Jin Ann\n \u2019ed sed aboot her!_\n\n +Sponge+, _n._ Leaven, a portion of leavened dough saved from each\n baking to raise the next week\u2019s kneading with.\n\n +Sponge+, _v._ To swell and froth as a dead body.\n\n +Spool+, _n._ The wooden reel upon which thread is wound.\n\n +Spout+, _n._ A small waterfall.\n\n +Spraggy+, _adj._ Thin, bony, having many sharp projections.\n\n +Spraints+, _n._ Otter\u2019s dung.\n\n +Spreead+, _v._ Spread.\n\n +Spreead+, _n._ Abundance of food and of extra quality.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah nivver war at sikan a spreead afoor, ther war ommaist\n ivverything ya c\u2019u\u2019d think on_ (imagine).\n\n +Sprent+, +Sprint+, _v._ To sprinkle, to spurt, to cause water to\n fly about by compression or striking the surface sharply.\n Ex.\u2014_Mary Jin\u2019s slapt t\u2019 slap-hoal wiv her battledooar, an\u2019 \u2018s\n sprented ma all ower wi\u2019 blash an\u2019 sluthery muckment._\n\n +Sprent+, _n._ A spot or mark left by a splash.\n\n +Spring+, _v._ \u2018To spring\u2019 is applied to cows when near calving.\n\n +Sprunt+, _n._ 1. Short, stiff, lively.\n 2. A steep road, a hill.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ya\u2019ll mannish ti trunn\u2019l yersen t\u2019 best hauf o\u2019 t\u2019 waay,\n bud efter that ya\u2019ll finnd it a bit sprunt_ (said to a cyclist).\n\n +Spurrings+, _n._ The banns.\n\n +Squab+, _n._ A rude long settle with cushions, usually with only\n one arm.\n\n +Square up, To+, _v._ To settle an account or dispute.\n\n +Squary+, _adj._ Compact, both as to size and shape.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s a neyce squary kitchen. It\u2019s just sich an (sikan) a\n squary bit ez Ah want._\n\n +Stack-bar+, _n._ A hurdle.\n\n +Stack-garth+, +Stagg\u2019ath+, _n._ The stack-yard.\n\n +Stack-prod+, _n._ A stick used in thatching, being pointed and\n thrust into the stack. The string is wound round it in such a\n way, from prod to prod, as to hold the _thack-bands_ secure.\n\n +Staddle+, _n._ The foundation of cross-beams upon which a stack\n is built, the stain left after washing out the producing cause.\n\n +Staddling+, _n._ A foundation of brushwood, brackens, &c., to\n build the stack upon.\n\n +Stag+, _n._ A gelding over a year old.\n\n +Stagnated+, _part._ Much bewildered, astonished.\n Ex.\u2014_T\u2019 whoal lot on uz wur stagnated._\n\n +Staith+, _n._ and _v._ An embankment; to protect land from\n overflowing of water by an embankment.\n\n +Staithe+, +Steeath+, +Steers+, _n._ A landing-place.\n\n +Stakker+, _v._ To stagger.\n\n +Stall+, _v._ To eat until satiated, to tire out, to weary.\n\n +Stan\u2019+, +Stand+, _v._ 1. To stand.\n 2. To be responsible for;\n to agree to maintain, uphold.\n 3. To stop, as a clock.\n 4. Remains.\n 5. Holds.\n Ex.\u20142. _Ah\u2019ll stand tiv all he diz. Thoo said thoo wad, an\u2019\n thoo\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti stan\u2019 ti \u2019t noo._\n 4. _That\u2019ll stand good_, i.e. \u2018That is settled.\u2019\n 5. _It stands a good chance ti win._\n\n +Stand again+, _v._ To withstand, oppose.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo maun\u2019t aim ti stan\u2019 agaan what\u2019s deean._\n\n +Stand for+, _v._ To act as sponsor.\n\n +Standing+, _n._ The stall for a horse or cow.\n\n +Stand-ups+, _n._ God-parents.\n\n +Stane+, +Steean+, _n._ A stone.\n\n +Stang+, _n._ A pole or stake.\n\n +Stang, To ride the+, _Vide_ chapter on \u2018Customs.\u2019\n\n +Stape+, _v._ To slope, to incline.\n\n +Stapple+, _n._ A staple.\n\n +Stark+, _adj._ Stiff, unyielding, powerful. The Danish word\n _st\u00e6rk_ means being strong, possessing strength. Hence \u2018Stark mad\u2019\n is quite correct.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019s starched t\u2019 things whahl they\u2019re ez stark ez a\n booard._ A very common redundancy is _Stiff stark steean deead_.\n\n +Starken+, _v._ To become stiff. _adv._ +Starkly.+\n\n +Star-slubber+ or +-blubber+, _n._ Frog-spawn.\n\n +Start+, _n._ Work, employment.\n Ex.\u2014_He sez \u2019at he\u2019ll gi\u2019e tha a start. Ah\u2019ve gitten a start at\n a pund a week._\n\n +Start+, _v._ 1. To begin.\n 2. To set going.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll start wi\u2019 t\u2019 job ti morn. He started off a gay bit\n sen. Tha\u2019ve started a pianner, \u2019ez t\u2019 fooak next doour._\n 2. _Ah\u2019ll start it fur tha._\n\n +Starvatious+, _adj._ Cold, very chilly.\n Ex.\u2014_No\u2019thallerton station\u2019s t\u2019 maist starvatious spot onnywheear._\n\n +Starve+, _v._ In the passive voice, to suffer from cold; in the\n active voice, to cause hunger.\n\n +Staup+, _v._ To walk about clumsily.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha staups aboot that okkad whahl sha\u2019ll tumm\u2019l ower her\n shadder sum daay._\n\n +Stead+, +Steead+, _n._ Common as a suffix, denoting the exact\n place, as homestead, yat-stead, middin-stead, deear- or\n dooar-steead, &c.\n\n +Steck+, _v._ To close and fasten a door or gate.\n\n +Stee+, +Stey+, +Stegh+, _n._ A ladder, a style with steps like a\n ladder.\n\n +Steead+, _pp._ Stood.\n\n +Steeal+, _n._ Stool.\n\n +Steean+, _n._ Stone.\n\n +Steer+, _n._ An ox under two years.\n\n +Steer-tree+, _n._ The left handle of a plough.\n\n +Steg+, _n._ A gander, a fool.\n\n +Stegly+, _adj._ 1. Shaky.\n 2. Unsymmetrical, unsuitable.\n Ex.\u20142. _It\u2019s a gret stegly hoos_ (said of Faucet Vicarage).\n\n +Stell+, _n._ An open ditch varying in width and depth.\n\n +Stent+, _v._ To abstain, to deny oneself.\n\n +Step+, _n._ An undefined distance.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah went a good step wiv him._\n\n +Step, A langish+ = Quite a long way off.\n\n +Steven+, _v._ To bawl out, to shout at the top of the voice; to\n howl and bluster, as the wind. NOTE.\u2014Rarely heard now.\n\n +Stick+, _v._ To kill an animal by stabbing, as a butcher.\n\n +Stickle+, _v._ To hesitate, to object.\n\n +Stickle-haired+ }\n +Stickly+ } _adj._ Bristly.\n\n +Stickler+, _n._ A difficulty, a poser.\n\n +Sticks+, _n._ Furniture, belongings.\n\n +Stick up, To+, _v._ To boldly maintain one\u2019s right.\n\n +Stiddy+, _n._ An anvil.\n\n +Stiddy+, _v._ To be steady, attentive to business.\n\n +Stife+, +Stify+, _adj._ Close, foul, as to air.\n\n +Stiff+, _adj._ 1. Steep, difficult.\n 2. Firm, obstinate.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ll tell ya what, it\u2019s a stiffish clim\u2019. Ah\u2019ve gitten\n a stiff job this tahm._\n\n +Stifler+, _n._ A bad odour; a heavy blow, such as to cause\n insensibility.\n\n +Stint+, _Vide_ +Stent+.\n\n +Stir on, Plenty to+ = Rich, well-to-do.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s gi\u2019en ten pund, bud then he\u2019s gitten plenty ti stir\n on._\n\n +Stirk+, _n._ A heifer.\n\n +Stirrings+, _n._ An unusual excitement, gaiety.\n Ex.\u2014_Ya\u2019ll be \u2019eving sthraange stirrings when t\u2019 young chap cums\n at age._\n\n +Stitch+, _n._ A sharp pain in the side.\n\n +Stithe+, _v._ To taint, to give a taste of smoke, &c.\n Ex.\u2014_What \u2019a\u2019e ya putten on t\u2019 fire? it\u2019s stithed all \u2019at\u2019s i\u2019\n yewn thruff t\u2019 crack i\u2019 t\u2019 boddum._\n\n +Stob+, _n._ Usually a short pointed stick or stake; the stump of\n a tree, a small splinter.\n\n +Stob+, _v._ To mark out land with short stakes, to dig up a fence,\n to strengthen with stobs.\n\n +Stob off+, _v._ To lop off branches of a tree or the top half of\n a hedge.\n\n +Stock+, _n._ A beam of wood, generally applied to the frame of a\n bedstead, e.g. bed-stock.\n\n +Stock+, _adv._ Quite, absolutely.\n Ex.\u2014_He steead stock still._\n\n +Stodge+, _v._ To satiate with over-eating; to make anything too\n thick, as the admixture of too much meal with water.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah caan\u2019t eat it, it\u2019s nowt bud stodge._\n\n +Stone-naked+, _adj._ Absolutely naked.\n\n +Stonies+, _n._ Common stone taws.\n\n +Stooden+, _pp._ of \u2018Stand,\u2019 but the usage is somewhat peculiar.\n Ex.\u2014_Things wad \u2019a\u2019e stooden different if t\u2019 bobby \u2019ed catched\n him_, i.e. been. _Ah\u2019ve stooden Bedale market ivver sen Ah wur\n a larl nipper_, i.e. attended.\n\n +Stook+, _n._ Twelve sheaves of corn set up against each other in\n the harvest field.\n\n +Stook+, _v._ To set up stooks, and bind the same.\n\n +Stooth+, _v._ To apply plaster on laths instead of to the wall\n itself, or to make in a room a false wall of battens, laths, and\n plaster.\n\n +Stor+, +Sturr+, _v._ and _n._ To stir; a stir, excitement.\n\n +Storm+, _n._ A continuance of frost and snow, with or without wind.\n\n +Stortioners+, _n._ The common nasturtium.\n\n +Stot+, _n._ A young ox.\n\n +Stoup+, _n._ A measure of ale.\n\n +Stour+, _v._ To blow in clouds, whether of dust, rain, hail, or\n snow; also the action of smoke as it comes from a chimney or fire.\n\n +Stour+, _n._ Dust, &c.\n\n +Stour+, +Stower+, _n._ A stake, the middle bars of a cattle rack,\n the cross-bars of a ladder.\n\n +Stout+, _adj._ Convalescent, healthy looking.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha leeaks weel an\u2019 stoot agaan._\n\n +Stoven+, _n._ The old stump of a tree not yet quite dead.\n\n +Stowp+, _n._ An upright post.\n\n +Stra+, +Streah+, _n._ Straw.\n\n +Stracklin\u2019+, _n._ A worthless fellow, a waster.\n\n +Straighten+, _v._ Often followed by \u2018up.\u2019 To put in order, to\n punish, to settle accounts.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah mun straighten things up a bit afoor t\u2019 parson\u2019s missus\n drops in. If thoo dizn\u2019t drop it, Ah\u2019ll straighten thi jacket\n foor tha. When thoo\u2019s deean, fetch thi bill in, an\u2019 wa\u2019ll\n straighten up._\n\n +Strand+, _n._ The beach.\n\n +Strapping+, _adj._ Strong, tall, big.\n\n +Strather+, _n._ Haste, excitement.\n\n +Streah+, _Vide_ +Stra+.\n\n +Streamers+, _n._ Minnows during spawning.\n\n +Streean+, +Strain+, _n._ Descent, breed.\n\n +Streean+, _v._ To do one\u2019s utmost.\n\n +Strength+, +Stren\u2019th+, _n._ 1. Security.\n 2. Belief.\n Ex.\u20141. _He \u2019ezn\u2019t t\u2019 stren\u2019th o\u2019 fifty pund_, i.e. \u2018Could not\n find security for that sum.\u2019\n 2. _On t\u2019 stren\u2019th o\u2019 what thoo sez_, i.e. \u2018Acting on the\n belief,\u2019 &c.\n\n +Strickle+, _n._ The stone or other contrivance used to sharpen a\n scythe.\n\n +Stride-whallops+, _n._ A lanky, long-legged lass. An older word,\n now fallen into disuse, was +Stridykirk+.\n\n +Stridlings+, _adv._ Astride.\n\n +Strike+, _v._ To kick with the hind leg (of a horse), to fly-blow\n meat, to balance an account, to make a line with string and chalk.\n\n +Strik\u2019-stick+, _n._ The stick used to scrape off the superfluous\n corn when measuring.\n\n +String-halt+, _n._ A twitching of the hind leg of a horse.\n\n +Strip+, _v._ To drain the udder dry.\n\n +Stritch-stick+, _n._ The bar which keeps the trace chains apart.\n Also +Stretcher+.\n\n +Stroke+, +Stroak+, _n._ A single bat, a commencement.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah \u2019evn\u2019t deean a stroak o\u2019 wark ti-daay._\n\n +Strong+, _adj._ 1. Hard, severe.\n 2. Heavy, bulky.\n 3. Stiff, clayey.\n Ex.\u20141. _Wa s\u2019 \u2018ev a strangish frost efter this._\n 2. _It\u2019s a strangish leead foor t\u2019 au\u2019d meer._\n 3. _T\u2019 land\u2019s varra strong hereaboots._\n\n +Strother+, _Vide_ +Strather+.\n\n +Strucken+, _pp._ of \u2018Strike.\u2019\n\n +Strunt+, _n._ The tail.\n\n +Strunt+, _v._ To cut the tail short.\n\n +Struts+, _n._ The posts used in the roof-frame of a house.\n\n +Stuck up+, _adj._ Proud.\n\n +Stuff+, _n._ Of very loose application, e.g. material, furniture,\n chattels, produce, &c.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo\u2019s gitten stuff eneeaf ti mak tweea coats. Thoo\u2019s gitten\n stuff i\u2019 t\u2019 chaamer eneeaf foor tweea rooms. Thoo\u2019s gitten\n mair stuff on t\u2019 land na ivver Tommy \u2019ed._\n\n +Stunning+, _adj._ First-class.\n\n +Stunt+, _adj._ Short, stumpy; stiff, unyielding.\n\n +Stunt+, _adv._ and _n._ Sulky, obstinate.\n Ex.\u2014_Tak neea notish, he taks t\u2019 stunt at nowt._\n\n +Sturdy+, +Stoddy+, _n._ A disease, i.e. hydatids in the brain.\n\n +Stut+, _v._ To stutter.\n\n +S\u2019u\u2019d+, _v._ Should.\n\n +Summat+, _n._ Something.\n\n +Summer-bink+, _n._ A seat shaded by leaves in summer-time.\n\n +Summer-colt+, _n._ Undulating vapour near the ground.\n\n +Sump+, _n._ A bog or marsh.\n\n +Sumpy+, _adj._ Wet, boggy.\n\n +Sunder+, _v._ To dry in the sun.\n\n +Sundown+, _n._ Sunset.\n\n +Sup+, _n._ A small quantity of any liquid.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah wants a sup o\u2019 milk. It leeaks nowt bud leyke a sup o\u2019\n wet._\n\n +Sup+, _v._ To drink either by sips or with a spoon.\n\n +Sup off+, _v._ To drain one\u2019s glass.\n\n +Surance+, _n._ Surety.\n Ex.\u2014_Bud what tha \u2019a\u2019e gi\u2019en, tha \u2019ez surance for \u2019t?_\n\n +Surfeit o\u2019 cold+, _n._ A very severe cold.\n\n +Swab+, _n._ A drunken sot.\n\n +Swad+, _n._ A peascod, and the like.\n\n +Swag+, _v._ 1. To swing about.\n 2. To lean towards.\n Ex.\u20142. _Ya\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti put summat at yon sahd ti balance \u2019t, it\n swags gertly ti this sahd._\n\n +Swage+, _v._ To soften, to quiet down.\n\n +Swaimish+, _adj._ Bashful.\n\n +Swale+, +Sweeal+, _v._ 1. To waste by burning unevenly, as a\n candle in a draught.\n 2. To squander.\n Ex.\u20141. _Shut t\u2019 doour, t\u2019 cann\u2019l\u2019s sweealing._\n 2. _Yon chap \u2019ud sweeal a ransom awaay._\n\n +Swang+, _n._ A boggy stretch of land.\n\n +Swangy+, _adj._ Boggy.\n\n +Swanky+, +Swanking+, _adj._ Great of its kind.\n\n +Swap+, _v._ To exchange.\n\n +Swape+, _n._ An oar of peculiar shape, a pump handle.\n\n +Swappy+, _adj._ Plump.\n\n +Swarm+, _v._ To climb by clasping a pole or tree with both arms,\n knees, and legs.\n\n +Swart+, _adj._ Black looking.\n\n +Swarth+, +Swa\u2019th+, _n._ The outer skin, rind; the quality and\n quantity of grass upon the land.\n\n +Swarve+, _v._ To swerve.\n\n +Swash+, _v._ To dash about in waves.\n\n +Swatch+, _n._ Fit, size, the precise thing required.\n Ex.\u2014_This yan\u2019ll deea, its just mah swatch. Its just t\u2019 swatch\n foor ma._ NOTE.\u2014Swatch was originally a wooden tally or other\n means by which any person might prove their claim to cloth\n which had been left to dye\u2014cloth, by-the-way, which was\n home-spun.\n\n +Swathe+, _n._ The full reach of the scythe when cutting.\n\n +Swathe-bank+, _n._ The grass left uncut by the blade at the end\n of its sweep.\n\n +Swatter+, _v._ 1. To play and splash with water.\n 2. To squander.\n Ex.\u20141. _Tho\u2019ll sprent thisen all ower, swattering on i\u2019 that\n waay._\n 2. _He\u2019ll swatter t\u2019 bit o\u2019 brass awaay._\n\n +Swelt+, _v._ To faint, to swoon; to overpower, as with heat.\n\n +Swelter+, _v._ To burn, to bear or suffer heat, to perspire\n profusely.\n\n +Swidden+, _n._ Any place on a moor which has been cleared by\n burning.\n\n +Swidden+, +Swithen+, _v._ To singe or burn off superficially.\n\n +Swidge+, _v._ To tingle, burn (of inflammation).\n Ex.\u2014_It war nobbut a bleb at t\u2019 fu\u2019st, bud it swidged an\u2019\n throbbed an\u2019 then started ti kittle, an\u2019 Ah think that wur t\u2019\n warst ov all._\n\n +Swig+, _v._ To drink at one draught.\n\n +Swill+, _n._ Pigmeat.\n\n +Swill+, _v._ To cleanse by throwing water out of a pail, as on\n flags, &c.\n\n +Swingle-tree+, _n._ _Vide_ +Stritch-stick+.\n\n +Swip+, _n._ A marrow, the image of.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s fair t\u2019 swip ov t\u2019 au\u2019d chap._\n\n +Swipple+, _n._ That part of a flail which beats out the corn.\n\n +Swirrel+, _n._ Squirrel.\n\n +Switch+, _v._ To throw, to dash.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha teeak t\u2019 paail o\u2019 mucky watter, an\u2019 switched t\u2019 lot all\n ower ma._\n\n +Switched+, _adj._ Drunk.\n\n +Switcher+, _n._ Good, better than ordinary.\n\n +Switching+, _adj._ Grand, noted, extensive.\n\n +Swither+, _v._ 1. To tingle and smart with pain.\n 2. To dissipate by slow degrees, a little at a time.\n Ex.\u20142. _If he gans on i\u2019 that road, he\u2019ll swither all t\u2019 brass\n he hez awaay._\n\n +Swittle+, _n._ A heated iron rod used to bore holes in wood.\n\n +Swizzen+, _v._ To singe. _Vide_ +Swidden+.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019ll swizzen t\u2019 clothes, t\u2019 iron\u2019s ti hot._\n\n +Sword-dancers+, _Vide_ chapter on \u2018Customs.\u2019\n\n +Syke+, _n._ A small streamlet, a gutter, a small rill draining\n from a boggy place.\n\n\n T.\n\n +\u2018T+, _pron._ It.\n\n +T\u2019+, _def art._ The.\n\n +Ta+, _per. pron._ Thou, you.\n\n +Taal+, _v._ To settle, to accommodate oneself to a new condition\n of habits, &c.\n\n +Tacket+, _n._ A tack.\n\n +Ta\u2019en+, +Takken+, _pp._ of \u2018Take.\u2019\n\n +Ta\u2019en agaan+ or +ageean+, _v._ To take a dislike to.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve ta\u2019en agaan her, an\u2019 Ah s\u2019 nivver tak up wiv her na\n mair._\n\n +Ta\u2019en tiv+, _v._ To take to, to like.\n\n +Tag+, _n._ A twist of long grass or rushes, a wisp.\n\n +Tag+, _v._ To flog with a tag.\n\n +Tahm+, _n._ 1. Time.\n 2. Life.\n Ex.\u20142. _Ah\u2019ve seen a vast i\u2019 mah tahm._\n\n +Tahm by chance+, _adv._ Occasionally.\n\n +Taistrel+, _n._ A peevish character.\n\n +Tak+, _n._ 1. A flavour somewhat pronounced.\n 2. Land which has been taken at a fixed rent.\n 3. Piecework.\n Ex.\u20142. _If he\u2019s letten tha \u2019t at nowt na mair \u2019an what thoo sez,\n its a varra cheeap tak._\n 3. Q. _Hez ta ta\u2019en \u2019em byv t\u2019 yackker or by t\u2019 week?_ A. _Neea,\n he wadn\u2019t be on byv t\u2019 week, seea Ah\u2019ve ta\u2019en \u2019em byv t\u2019 tak\n this go._\n\n +Tak+, _v._ 1. To take.\n 2. To rise to bite, as a fish.\n 3. To attract.\n 4. To gain one\u2019s esteem or regard.\n Ex.\u20142. _Are tha takkin\u2019 onny?_ i.e. biting.\n 3. _Wa mun \u2019ev a bisittle race, hooivver; tha tak t\u2019 best ov owt\n noo._\n 4. _Ah tak tiv him at yance_, i.e. \u2018He gained my esteem at once.\u2019\n\n +Tak ho\u2019d+, _v._ To undertake to do, or fill a position.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah wanted him ti preeach i\u2019 t\u2019 pleeace o\u2019 Tommy, bud he\n wadn\u2019t be on, he\u2019s shy o\u2019 takkin ho\u2019d._\n\n +Tak in, To+, _v._ 1. To understand.\n 2. To deceive.\n Ex.\u20141. _Gan on, Ah\u2019s takkin \u2019t all in._\n 2. _Noo if thoo taks ma in, Ah\u2019ll traade wi\u2019 tha na mair._\n\n +Takken ti heart+ = Giving way to any affliction.\n\n +Takkin+, _n._ 1. The actual result of labour.\n 2. A condition, a bad temper.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo\u2019s gitten a rare takkin; wheear did ta catch \u2019em?_\n 2. _Sha\u2019s iv a despert ill takkin._\n\n +Tak off+, _v._ 1. To make fun of, to ridicule, to imitate, mimic.\n 2. To leave without due notice.\n Ex.\u20142. _He niver sed nowt, bud just teeak off._\n\n +Tak on+, _v._ 1. To retake.\n 2. To re-engage.\n 3. To get excited.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ve ta\u2019en t\u2019 farm on agaan._\n 2. _He ga\u2019 ma t\u2019 sack, bud he\u2019s ta\u2019en ma on agaan._\n 3. _He did tak on when he gat ti knaw._\n\n +Tak on wi\u2019+, _v._ To engage oneself to another.\n\n +Tak tent+, _v._ To engage oneself to look after, e.g. as a boy\n keeping crows off the land.\n\n +Tak t\u2019 hig, To+, _v._ To take offence.\n\n +Takt+, _adj._ Acid, sharp to the taste.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s a lahtle bit ower takt ti mah liking._\n\n +Tak up+, _v._ 1. To become fair.\n 2. To reform one\u2019s character.\n Ex.\u20141. _If \u2019t dizn\u2019t tak up seean, t\u2019 hay\u2019ll be nut wo\u2019th\n leading._\n 2. _If he\u2019ll nobbut drop drinking an\u2019 tak up, ther\u2019s a seet o\u2019\n good iv him._\n\n +Tak up wi\u2019+, _v._ 1. To make friends with another.\n 2. To become engaged to.\n Ex.\u20141. _He\u2019s neean ower neyce whaw he gans wi\u2019, he\u2019ll tak up wi\u2019\n onny lass._\n\n +Tale+, _n._ The number agreed upon.\n Ex.\u2014_Ther dizn\u2019t leeak owt leyke a full tale, Ah s\u2019all coont \u2019em\n afoor Ah paay tha._\n\n +Talk+, _n._ Report, gossip.\n\n +Taller-cake+, _n._ Any cake made with the fat from about the\n kidney of a sheep or beast.\n\n +Taller-craps+, _Vide_ +Craps+.\n\n +T\u2019 ane+, +T\u2019 yan+ = The one of two or more followed or replied to\n by +T\u2019 other+ or +T\u2019 ither+.\n Ex.\u2014_Tha wur all feighting t\u2019 ane amang t\u2019 ither._\n\n +Tang+, _n._ The tongue of a buckle.\n\n +Tangle+, _n._ An entanglement, the long fibre of a root, sea-wrack.\n\n +Tangle+, _v._ To entangle.\n\n +Tangly+, _adj._ Slatternly, slovenly. Applied to a slut.\n\n +Tantle+, _v._ 1. To waste time.\n 2. To play on with.\n Ex.\u20141. _Noo set ti wark ez if thoo meant it, an\u2019 deean\u2019t tantle\n on leyke that._\n\n +Tappy-lappy+, _adv._ Anyhow.\n\n +Tatchy+, _adj._ Sticky, viscous, adhesive.\n\n +Tattling+, _n._ The necessary tackle or equipment of things for\n carrying out any purpose.\n Ex.\u2014_He hezn\u2019t gitten onny tattling foor a job o\u2019 yon size_,\n i.e. neither ladders, ropes, nor scaffolding poles.\n\n +Taum+, _n._ The twisted hair to which the fish-hook is attached.\n\n +Taum ower, To+, _v._ To faint.\n\n +Taws+, _n._ Boys\u2019 marbles.\n\n +Team+, +Teem+, _v._ and _n._ 1. To pour from any vessel.\n 2. To rain heavily.\n 3. To empty.\n Ex.\u20141. _Team all t\u2019 cau\u2019d tea oot._\n 2. _It teem\u2019d doon_, i.e. of rain.\n 3. _Teeam t\u2019 coals oot at t\u2019 back-side._\n\n +Tea-party+, _n._ A tea meeting given in the village school or\n barn to raise money for some object.\n\n +Teave+, _Vide_ +Tew+.\n\n +Teea+, _prep._ To. _Vide_ +Till+.\n\n +Teeagle+, _v._ To raise timber from the ground by means of a\n tripod of strong poles and a pulley.\n\n +Teeak+, _v._ Took.\n\n +Teeals+, _n._ Tools.\n\n +Tell+, _v._ 1. To recognize.\n 2. To know.\n 3. To number, to reckon up, to judge.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah c\u2019u\u2019d tell wheea \u2019t wur ez seean ez Ah clap\u2019t mah een\n on ya._\n 2. _\u2018Twur good eneeaf ti tell what he wur gahin\u2019 ti saay._\n 3. _Gan ti t\u2019 gaate an\u2019 tell t\u2019 sheep ez tha cum thruff._\n\n +Telly-pye-tit+, or +Tell-pyet+, _n._ A tale-bearer.\n\n +Tempesty+, _adj._ Thunderous, blustery, or having the appearance\n of stormy weather.\n\n +Teng+, _v._ To sting.\n\n +Tenged+, _pp._ Stung.\n\n +Tengs+, _n._ Tongs.\n\n +Tent+, _n._ Attention, care.\n Ex.\u2014_Tak tent o\u2019 what he saays, noo._\n\n +Tent+, _v._ To look after, to keep watch over.\n Ex.\u2014_Yan\u2019s tenting craws fur Billy, an\u2019 t\u2019 other\u2019s tenting wur\n awn coos i\u2019 t\u2019 lonnin\u2019._\n\n +Tetchy+, _adj._ Cross, peevish.\n\n +Teufit+, +Teeafit+, +Tewit+, _n._ The pewit, plover, or lapwing\n (_Vanellus cristatus_).\n\n +Teugh+, +Teeaf+, _adj._ Tough.\n\n +Tew+, _v._ 1. To toil.\n 2. To tire and grow weary.\n 3. To tire by restlessness.\n 4. To crumple and crease by rough or unskilful handling.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019ve tewed all t\u2019 daay_, i.e. \u2018toiled.\u2019\n 2. _Ah\u2019ve gitten \u2019t deean, bud it\u2019s sadly tewed ma._\n 3. _Sha\u2019s tired noo, bud then sha\u2019s tewed on all t\u2019 neet._\n 4. _Put \u2019em doon, thoo\u2019s tewing \u2019em, whahl tha weean\u2019t be fit ti\n put on._\n\n +Tha+, _per. pron._ They, thou, and thee.\n\n +Thabble+, _n._ The plug which fits the hole in the milk trough.\n\n +Thack+, +Theeak+, +Theeaking+, _n._ Thatch.\n\n +Thack+, +Theeak+, +Theeaking+, _v._ To thatch.\n\n +Thacker+, +Theeaker+, _n._ A thatcher.\n\n +Thack-bands+, +Theeak-bands+, +Theeaking-bands+, _n._ Bands of\n straw for thatching.\n\n +Thack-prods+, +Theeak-prods+, +Theeaking-prods+,\n _Vide_ +Stack-prod+.\n\n +Thah+, _per. pron._ Thy.\n\n +Tharf+, +Tharfish+, _adj._ +Tharfly+, _adv._ Backward, reluctant,\n shy, bashful, unwilling.\n\n +Thauvel+, +Thivel+, _n._ A stick used for stirring or pushing down\n the contents of a pan likely to boil over.\n\n +Thee+, _n._ Thigh.\n\n +Theet+, _adj._ Water-tight.\n\n +Them+, _pron._ Those.\n\n +Thick+, _adj._ Very friendly, intimate.\n\n +Thills+, _n._ Shafts of a waggon.\n\n +Think long of, To+, _v._ To be long expectant, weary of waiting.\n\n +Think on+, _v._ To bear in mind, to remember.\n As an example of redundancy, I heard a woman say, _Noo mahnd an\u2019\n think on, an\u2019 deean\u2019t forget ti beear i\u2019 mahnd \u2019at thoo \u2019ez ti\n fetch a pund o\u2019 treacle_.\n\n +Think up+, _v._ To originate, to arrange.\n Ex.\u2014_Noo it\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ta\u2019en a lot o\u2019 thinking up, will a do leyke\n yon._\n\n +Tho+, +Thoo+, _per. pron._ Thou.\n\n +Thoff+, _conj._ Though.\n\n +Thrave+, _v._ To thrive.\n\n +Thrave+, +Trave+, +Treeav+, _n._ A stook of corn, or twelve\n battens of straw.\n\n +Thraw+, _Vide_ +Throw+.\n\n +Threead+, _n._ Thread.\n\n +Threeap+, _n._ A contentious fellow.\n\n +Threeap+, _v._ To maintain pertinaciously, to argue positively.\n\n +Threeap down+, _v._ To overpower by argument.\n\n +Threeap up+, _v._ To refer to bygone mistakes or misunderstandings\n in an unkindly manner.\n\n +Threeten+, Threaten.\n\n +Three-thrums+, _n._ The purring of a cat.\n\n +Thribble+, _adj._ Treble.\n\n +Thriver+, _n._ Healthy, strong, likely to improve.\n\n +Thro+, _Vide_ +Thruff+.\n\n +Throng+, _adj._ 1. More than usually busy or crowded.\n 2. Engaged in.\n Ex.\u20142. _T\u2019 bairn\u2019s thrang gitting its teeth._\n\n +Throng+, +Thrang+, _n._ Bustle, a great crowd, confusion,\n excitement.\n\n +Throng deed+, _n._ Excitement over some event, the bustle and\n confusion attendant on any celebration, tea party, wedding, &c.\n\n +Thropple+, _n._ The windpipe.\n\n +Thropple+, _v._ To strangle.\n\n +Throstle+, +Throssel+, _n._ The thrush.\n\n +Through+, _n._ A lathe.\n\n +Through+, +Thruff+, _prep._ At some time, at intervals.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll mebbe deea \u2019t thruff t\u2019 morning. It teeam\u2019d doon\n thruff t\u2019 neet._\n\n +Through+ or +Thruff with+, _adv._ Finished, complete. N.B.\n \u2018Through\u2019 is also pronounced \u2018throwgh\u2019 and \u2018thro.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019all be thruff wi\u2019 t\u2019 job by ti morn._\n\n +Throughly+, _adv._ Completely, fully.\n\n +Through time+ = In time, gradually, by-and-by.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah s\u2019all git better through time. If t\u2019 weather ho\u2019ds\n thoo\u2019ll git deean through time._\n\n +Through, To get+, _v._ To dispose of.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ve fetched t\u2019 coo yam ageean, bud Ah gat thruff t\u2019 sheep._\n\n +Throvven+, _pp._ To thrive.\n\n +Throw+, _v._ To vomit.\n\n +Throw back+, _v._ To have a relapse.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s warse ti-daay, he\u2019s gitten thrown back a lump sen last\n neet._\n\n +Throw over+, _v._ To turn over, to upset, to be overturned.\n\n +Thruff+, +Throw+, _prep._ Through.\n\n +Thrumble+, +Thrumm\u2019l+, _v._ To examine the quality of anything by\n the touch or rubbing action of the finger and thumb.\n\n +Thrumm\u2019l+, _n._ A rope firmly bound round a grooved iron ring.\n\n +Thrummy+, _adj._ Bulky, plump.\n\n +Thrust+, _v._ To push with some force.\n\n +Thrust out+, +Thrussen oot+, _pp._ Projecting forward, bulging,\n turned out.\n\n +Thumping+, _adj._ Big, large of its kind.\n\n +Thunner+, _n._ Thunder.\n\n +Thwack+, _v._ To administer a sharp blow.\n Ex.\u2014_Gi\u2019e it a good thwacking wiv a hezzel stick, that\u2019ll fetch\n t\u2019 dust oot on \u2019t._\n\n +Thysen+ or +Thysel+, +Thisen+ or +Thisel+, _pron._ Thyself or\n yourself.\n\n +Ti+, _prep._ To.\n\n +\u2018Tice+, _v._ To allure, induce.\n Ex.\u2014_A young widow knows hoo ti \u2019tice a chap._\n\n +\u2018Ticing+, _adj._ Alluring, seductive, winning.\n\n +\u2018Tick+, _Vide_ +Cade+.\n\n +\u2018Tick+, _v._ To mark off goods or other items, as in an invoice,\n by placing a small mark against each when called.\n\n +Tiddle+, _v._ To fondle, to finick.\n\n +Tiddy+, _adj._ Small, puny.\n\n +Tidy-betty+, _n._ A guard to prevent the ashes dirtying the hearth.\n\n +Tie+, +Tee+, +Tah+, _n._ A hair band to secure the legs of a cow\n whilst being milked.\n\n +Tie+, _n._ 1. Obligation.\n 2. Necessity.\n 3. Burden.\n 4. Care.\n Ex.\u20141. _Ah\u2019s unner neea tie tiv him._\n 2. _Ther\u2019s neea tie fur thoo ti gan._\n 3. _Thoo\u2019ll finnd her a despert tie, sen sha lost t\u2019 ewse ov her\n legs._\n\n +Tied+, +Tahd+, _v._ Obliged, constrained, compelled.\n Ex.\u2014_If sha\u2019s leyke ti dee, Ah s\u2019 be tied ti gan. He\u2019ll be tied\n ti drop a bit ower t\u2019 meer. Ah\u2019s nut tied ti deea \u2019t acoz thoo\n tells ma._\n\n +Tied, It\u2019s+ = It must, no doubt exists.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s tied ti be ez he sez. It\u2019s tied ti tumm\u2019l doon wi t\u2019\n fo\u2019st gust o\u2019 wind._\n\n +Tiffany+, _n._ Strong, fine-meshed gauze.\n\n +Tift+, _n._ A quarrel, generally of words only.\n\n +Tift+, _v._ To contend.\n\n +Tig+, _n._ A light tap.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah didn\u2019t hit, Ah nobbut tigg\u2019d him._\n\n +Tiggings+, _n._ A game played by children, the object being to\n tap each other; the one so touched must then chase the rest\n until he or she gently taps some other.\n\n +Tightish+, _adv._ and _adj._ 1. Somewhat fast or close-fitting.\n 2. Lacking means.\n 3. Difficult.\n Ex.\u20141. _It\u2019s varra well putten tigither, bud a larl bit tightish\n i\u2019 t\u2019 lid._\n 2. _Ah caan\u2019t len\u2019 tha ten pund, Ah\u2019s a bit tightish held mysel\n just noo._\n 3. _It\u2019s a tightish fix thoo\u2019s gitten thisen intul._\n\n +Till+, +Tull+, +Ti+, _prep._ To. +Tiv+ before a vowel.\n\n +Tim\u2019ered+, +Weell+, _adj._ Well built.\n\n +Tim\u2019er-toed+, _adj._ A man wearing a wooden leg is said to be\n timber-toed.\n\n +Timersome+, _adj._ Nervous, apprehensive of danger.\n\n +Ti morn+, _n._ To-morrow.\n\n +Ti morn at morn+ = To-morrow in the morning. Hence +Ti morn at\n neean+, \u2018noon\u2019; +Ti morn at neet+, \u2018night.\u2019\n\n +Tinkler+, _n._ A tinker.\n\n +Tip-trap+, _n._ An arrangement which closes the door, owing to\n the weight of the animal releasing a lever as it passes in.\n\n +Tipe+, _v._ To turn over, or fall over.\n\n +Tipple over+, _v._ To fall over.\n\n +Tipple-tail-over+, _n._ Somersault.\n\n +Tit up+, _v._ To pay one\u2019s share.\n\n +Tite+, _Vide_ +As tite+.\n\n +Titter+, _adv._ and _adj._ Sooner, first, willingly.\n\n +Titterly+, _adj._ Early, forward in growth.\n\n +Titty+, _n._ The mother\u2019s milk.\n\n +Tiv+, _Vide_ +Till+.\n\n +Tivvy+, _v._ To roam about.\n\n +To+, _prep._ Often used instead of \u2018for.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_We\u2019re gahin\u2019 ti \u2019ev dumplings ti dinner._ Common in old\n writers and the Bible.\n\n +Toft+, _n._ A small grove of trees.\n\n +Tommy-loach+, _n._ The stone-loach.\n\n +To\u2019n+, _n._ A good turn = a kindness.\n Ex.\u2014_They\u2019ll deea onnyboddy a good to\u2019n, will John an\u2019 Annie._\n\n +To\u2019n+, _v._ To turn.\n\n +Toon+, _n._ A village.\n\n +Toon street+, _n._ The village street.\n\n +Top-dressin\u2019+, _n._ Manure thrown on, not ploughed in.\n\n +Topping+, _n._ A natural standing-up roll or curl on the forehead,\n the hair of the head.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha teeak him byv t\u2019 topping an\u2019 shuvved him inti t\u2019 hollin\n bush._\n\n +Topping+, +Topper+, _adj._ First-class, very fine.\n\n +Tottering+, _adj._ Unsettled as to weather and life.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s been nobbut a tottering tahm fur hay. He\u2019s nobbut\n \u2019eving a tottering tahm on \u2019t; Ah doot he\u2019s nut lang fur here._\n\n +Tottle+, _v._ To toddle, as a child or an infirm person.\n\n +Tottling+, _pp._ Falling.\n\n +Touchous+ } _adj._ Irritable, resentful.\n +Touchy+ }\n\n +Touple+, _v._ Another form of +Tottle+. To sway or totter and then\n fall over. +Whemm\u2019l+ carries the same double meaning, but is rarely\n heard now. To fall.\n\n +Trail+, _v._ To drag along the ground.\n 2. To move with difficulty, or lazily.\n Ex.\u2014_Hoo that lass diz trail aboot. Ah can hardlin\u2019s trail yah\n leg efter t\u2019 other._\n\n +Trailtengs+, _n._ A gossiping woman.\n\n +Trailtripes+, _n._ A slatternly woman.\n\n +Trallops+, _n._ A slatternly woman.\n\n +Tramp+, _n._ and _v._ A beggar; to go on foot.\n\n +Tramping+, _part._ Trampling.\n\n +Trap+, _v._ To be severely nipped, as by a box-lid falling on\n one\u2019s finger, and the like.\n\n +Trap\u011bs+, _n._ A dirty, untidy woman.\n\n +Trapes+ or +Trapus+, _v._ To walk aimlessly about hither and\n thither.\n\n +Traps+, _n._ Belongings.\n Ex.\u2014_Pack thi traps up an\u2019 cum alang._\n\n +Trash+, _n._ Good for nothing, either of persons or things.\n\n +Travel+, _v._ To walk, to move along.\n Ex.\u2014_Theease steeans mak it bad travelling._\n\n +Trig+, _v._ To fill. As a _noun_, a stone to stop a wheel.\n\n +Trigger+, _n._ One who feeds the cattle. NOTE.\u2014Only used in the\n east of the North Riding.\n\n +Trim+, _v._ To cut a hedge, to apply the finishing touch.\n\n +Trimmer+, _adj._ Really good, first-class. _n._ A sharp fellow.\n\n +Trimm\u2019ling-gess+, _n._ Trembling grass.\n\n +Trod+, _n._ A footpath.\n\n +Troll+, _v._ To roll.\n\n +Troll-egg day+, _Vide_ chapter on \u2018Customs.\u2019\n\n +Trollibobs+, _n._ Entrails.\n\n +Trunking+, _n._ The business of lobster and crab catching.\n\n +Tu\u2019n+, _Vide_ +To\u2019n+.\n\n +Tundish+, _n._ A funnel.\n\n +Tup+, _n._ A ram.\n\n +Turve+, _n._ A block of turf to be used as fuel.\n\n +Turve-cake+, _n._ A cake baked in a pan having a tightly fitting\n lid, which is covered over with burning turves until sufficiently\n baked.\n\n +Twadgers+, _n._ A gingerbread cake.\n\n +Twangy+, _adj._ and _adv._ Affected, applied to intonation.\n\n +Twank+, _v._ To administer a sharp smack, to whip.\n\n +Twattle+, _n._ Gossip.\n\n +Twattle+, _v._ To stroke, to pet.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo twattles on wi\u2019 t\u2019 pup ez if \u2019twar a bairn._\n\n +Tweea+, _num. adj._ Two.\n\n +Twill+, _n._ A quill, as \u2018twill pen.\u2019\n\n +Twilt+, _n._ A bed-quilt.\n\n +Twilt+, _v._ To beat, to flog.\n\n +Twilting+, _v._ Cross-stitching two thicknesses together.\n\n +Twine+, _v._ 1. To twist or turn from a direct course.\n 2. To be fretful.\n Ex.\u20141. _He twisted an\u2019 twin\u2019d uz aboot whahl Ah didn\u2019t knaw\n wheear wa war._\n\n +Twiny+, _adj._ Peevish.\n\n +Twisty+, _adj._ Cross, fretful.\n\n +Twitch-bell+, _n._ The earwig (_Forficula auricularia_).\n\n +Twitters+, _n._ A state of nervousness.\n\n +Tyaak+, _Vide_ +Teeak+.\n\n +Tyke+, _n._ A disreputable fellow; the name given to a\n Yorkshireman.\n\n\n U.\n\n +\u2018Ud+, Would.\n\n +Udge+, _v._ To urge.\n\n +Un+, One.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s a good un_, i.e. \u2018She is a good one.\u2019\n\n +Unbated+, _adj._ Not repressed.\n\n +Unbeknown+, _adj._ Not known.\n\n +Unbethink+, _v._ To call to mind.\n\n +Uncomeatable+, _adj._ and _adv._ Difficult to approach or get at.\n\n +Underdraw+, _v._ To cover with lath and plaster.\n\n +Underhanded+, _adj._ Undersized, poorly developed.\n\n +Underling+, _n._ A stunted, weakly child.\n\n +Undermind+, _v._ To undermine.\n\n +Ungain+, _adj._ Distant, difficult of access, awkward.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s sik an ungain spot ti finnd, is yours._\n\n +Unmenseful+, _adj._ Unbecoming, unseemly, ill-mannered.\n\n +Unreave+, _v._ To unwind.\n\n +Unsayable+, _adj._ Not amenable to advice, self-willed.\n\n +Unslot+, _v._ To unfasten by pulling back the slot or bolt.\n\n +Unsteck+, _v._ To unfasten and push open.\n\n +Up, To speak+, _v._ To speak aloud, to defend oneself against an\n unjust charge.\n\n +Up with+ = The matter with.\n Ex.\u2014_What\u2019s up wi\u2019 t\u2019 bairn?_\n\n +Upbray+, _v._ To upbraid.\n\n +Upend+, _v._ To set on end, to stand upright.\n\n +Upgang+, _n._ A pathway up a hill or mountain.\n\n +Upgrown+, _adj._ Adult.\n\n +Uphold+, +Upho\u2019d+, _v._ 1. To maintain, to give one\u2019s unqualified\n support.\n 2. To provide those things necessary for a person\u2019s welfare, to\n sustain.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thee gan on wi\u2019 \u2018t, Ah\u2019ll upho\u2019d tha iv all thoo d\u2019z,\n \u2019coz thoo\u2019s i\u2019 t\u2019 reet on \u2019t._\n 2. _It\u2019ll tak summat ti uphold t\u2019 waay \u2019at he\u2019s gahin\u2019 on,\n i.e. living._\n\n +Upset-price+, _n._ The marked price at which an article is offered\n for sale.\n\n +Upset wiv+, _adj._ Put out, disconcerted, worried.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah nivver war sae upsetten wiv owt ez Ah war when t\u2019 au\u2019d\n meer deed._\n\n +Upshot+, _n._ Final issue, the conclusion of anything.\n Ex.\u2014_An\u2019 t\u2019 upshot on \u2019t war \u2019at he gat hissel weel bunched._\n\n +Use, To no+ = Useless, unprofitable, worthless.\n\n +Use ti c\u2019u\u2019d+ = Once was able.\n\n +Us+, _adv._ and _conj._ As. _Vide_ +Es+.\n\n\n V.\n\n +Varra+, _adv._ Very. _Vide_ +Very+.\n\n +Vast+, _n._ and _adj._ A large number.\n Ex.\u2014_A vast o\u2019 fooak cam ti t\u2019 feeast. Ther wur a vast mair\n bosses \u2019an Ah aim\u2019d ti see._\n\n +Verser+, _n._ A rhymster.\n\n +Very+, _adj._ An intensive.\n Ex.\u2014_Thoo maay slavver on, varra few \u2019ll pay onny heed ti what\n thoo sez. Aye, a varra deeal o\u2019 what he sez is o\u2019 varra larl\n matter tiv onnybody._\n\n +Vessel cups+ = Wassail cups.\n\n +Viewly+, +Viewsome+, _adj._ Pleasing to look at, handsome, neatly\n and well put together.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s a varra viewly cauf. Sha\u2019s a varra viewly lass._\n\n +Volumous+, _adj._ Large, bulky.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019s a maist volumous consarn, yon is. Ah deean\u2019t tak ti\n sike volumous things._\n\n\n W.\n\n +Wa+, _pron._ We.\n\n +Wad+, _v._ Would.\n\n +Wade+, _v._ To glimmer, as the sun does when rising if the\n atmosphere is charged with moisture.\n Ex.\u2014_It\u2019ll rain afoor neet, t\u2019 sun waded sadly ez sha peeped\n ower Rosberry._\n\n +Waff+, _n._ 1. A slight puff of wind.\n 2. The slightest scent.\n Ex.\u20141. _It\u2019s despert clooase, ther hezn\u2019t been a waff o\u2019 wind\n ti-daay._\n 2. _Noo Ah\u2019ve \u2019ed yah waff o\u2019 thi silidge, an\u2019 Ah want na mair\n on \u2019t._\n\n +Waff+, _v._ To bark as a little dog.\n\n +Waffle+, _v._ To hesitate, waver, to be undecided.\n\n +Waffly+, _adj._ 1. Undecided, wavering, vacillating.\n 2. Shaky, insecure.\n 3. Weak, dizzy, from illness.\n 4. Given to foolish talk, chatter, &c.\n Ex.\u20141. _T\u2019 wind\u2019s all roads, it\u2019ll nobbut be a waffly sooart ov\n a daay. It\u2019s a varra waffly gahin\u2019 on._\n 2. _Thoo\u2019d best prop it up wi\u2019 summat, it leeaks a bit waffly._\n 3. _Liggin\u2019 i\u2019 bed sae lang maks yan feel a bit waffly._\n 4. _Ah reckon nowt ov her waffly waays._\n\n +Waffy+, _Vide_ +Wauf+.\n\n +Waft+, _n._ A slight puff of wind; a wraith, the appearance in\n the spirit form of some known one whose death is imminent.\n\n +Wag+, _v._ To beckon with the finger or hand.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah wagg\u2019d on him, bud he w\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t cum._\n\n +Wage+, _v._ To induce by promise of payment.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t wage him ti staay efter he\u2019d seen Mally\u2019s waft._\n\n +Wahnt+ = Was not, were not.\n\n +Wain+, _n._ A wagon.\n\n +Wain hoos+, _n._ Wagon shed.\n\n +Wait of+ }\n +Wait on+ } _v._ To wait for.\n\n +Wake+, +Waak+, _adj._ Weak.\n\n +Wakken+, _v._ To awake, _active_ and _neuter_.\n\n +Wakkensome+, _adj._ Easily roused.\n\n +Wale+, +Weeal+, +Wheeal+, _v._ To flog with a stick.\n\n +Waling+, +Weealing+, _n._ Planks so fixed as to strengthen the\n bank of a river.\n\n +Walk with+, _v._ To court, to be engaged.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s gi\u2019en Tom t\u2019 go-by, an\u2019 walks wi\u2019 t\u2019 young gardener\n noo._\n\n +Walsh+, _adj._ Watery, without flavour.\n\n +Wame+, +Wheeam+, _n._ The stomach.\n\n +Wan+, _v._ Won.\n\n +Wangle+, +Wankle+, _v._ To totter preparatory to falling, or to\n totter so as to have the appearance of falling.\n Ex.\u2014_Leeak oot! cum back! sha\u2019s startin\u2019 ti wang\u2019l._\n\n +Wangle+, +Wankle+, +Wankly+, _adj._ Tottering.\n Ex.\u2014_T\u2019 larl brigg\u2019s a wankly consarn._\n\n +Want+, _v._ Its use is somewhat curious, e.g. _Does this book want\n changing?_ i.e. \u2018Is this book to be changed?\u2019 _I want my coat\n brushing_, i.e. \u2018I wish my coat to be brushed.\u2019 _Thoo wants a\n good thrashing_, i.e. \u2018You deserve,\u2019 &c. _He hezn\u2019t gitten mair\n \u2019an he wanted_, i.e. \u2018He has not got more than he deserved.\u2019\n\n +Wap-cloth+, _n._ Coarse cloth for pilot coats.\n\n +War+, +Waur+, +Wor+, +Wur+, +Wuz+, _imp. tense_ of \u2018to be.\u2019 Was or\n were.\n\n +Warbels+, _n._ Swellings on the back of a beast, caused by the\n larvae of the gadfly (_Oestrus bovis_).\n\n +War-days+, _n._ Any day save Sunday.\n\n +Wards+, A common suffix signifying direction.\n Ex.\u2014_He war cumin\u2019 fra Newton-wards._\n\n +\u2018Ware+, _v._ Beware.\n\n +Ware+, _v._ To lay out one\u2019s money, to spend.\n Ex.\u2014_He awlus wares his brass ez if he meant ti git fowr penno\u2019th\n o\u2019 stuff fur a threpenny bit._\n\n +Wark+, _v._ and _n._ Work. Its use is manifold, see below.\n\n +Wark+, _v._ To ache, also as a _noun_.\n Ex.\u2014_Mah back warks past bahding. Thoo mun wark it_ (arrange it)\n _seea ez he \u2019ez ti deea a day\u2019s wark_ (a day\u2019s labour).\n _That\u2019ll gi\u2019e him t\u2019 back-wark_ (ache). _\u2018At\u2019ll wark_ (remove)\n _all t\u2019 warks_ (pains) _\u2019at\u2019s warking_ (aching) _oot on him_.\n\n +Warm+, _adj._ In easy circumstances, well-off.\n\n +Warm+, _v._ To chastise, to flog.\n\n +Warn+, _v._ To summon, to call together, to warn or swear in.\n\n +Warp+, _v._ To flood land with water, either by artificial means\n or naturally by overflowing during heavy rains, in order that a\n deposit may be left upon the surface when the water recedes.\n\n +Warridge+, _n._ The withers of a horse.\n\n +Warse+, +Wuss+, +Wees+, _adj._ Worse.\n\n +Warsen+, +Warsening+, _v._ To gradually grow worse.\n Ex.\u2014_T\u2019 crop warsens ivvery year. Tommy warsens; he\u2019s gahin\u2019 ti\n pop off if he dizn\u2019t pick up a bit._\n\n +Warzle+, +Wezzle+, _v._ To gain by craft, to cajole, to flatter,\n to wheedle.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s a queer un, sha can wezzle owt oot o\u2019 ma. He can\n warzle tha inti believing owt._\n\n +Wastrell+, _n._ An extravagant spendthrift.\n\n +Water-bleb+, _Vide_ +Bleb+.\n\n +Water-brash+, +Water-springs+, _n._ Acidity, heartburn.\n\n +Water-heck+, _n._ A rail or swing gate hung across the stream to\n prevent cattle from straying.\n\n +Wath+, _n._ A ford.\n\n +Watter+, The common pronunciation of \u2018Water.\u2019\n\n +Wauf+, +Waufish+, _adj._ Faint, weak, insipid.\n\n +Wax+, _v._ To grow.\n Ex.\u2014_He\u2019s a waxing lad that._\n\n +Wax kernel+, _n._ Swellings in the neck and hollow of the jaw.\n\n +Way-corn+, _n._ Oats or barley.\n\n +Way-wards+, _Vide_ +Wards+.\n\n +Ways+, _n._ Way. Used in such sentences as _Gan thi ways heeam.\n Noo git thi ways in. Cu\u2019 thi ways, honey._\n\n +Wean+, +Weean+, _n._ A female. An opprobrious epithet.\n\n +Weather-fast+, _adj._ Kept in or prevented from carrying out one\u2019s\n plans owing to stress of weather.\n\n +Weather-gaul+, _n._ The incomplete arc of a rainbow, only half\n being visible, the sure sign of a coming shower, if not of a bad\n spell of weather.\n Ex.\u2014_A dyer\u2019s neeaf an\u2019 a weather-gaul\n Sheppards warn \u2019at rain \u2019ll fall._\n\n +Weazand+, +Wizzan+, _n._ The windpipe. Ex.\u2014_He did shut his tung\n oot when Ah nipped his wizzan foor him._\n\n +Wed+, _v._ To marry. \u2018Marry\u2019 is rarely used in any tense or mood.\n\n +Weearish+, _adv._ Irritable.\n\n +Weeks+, _n._ Corners. I give the word because I know a few old\n people on whose lips it still lingers, but it is rarely heard now.\n I heard an old dame not so long ago say to a well-known gossip,\n _If thoo hed t\u2019 weeks o\u2019 thi mooth stitchen, an\u2019 t\u2019 weeks o\u2019 thi\n een slitten, thoo\u2019d be yabble ti see t\u2019 muck i\u2019 t\u2019 weeks o\u2019 thi\n awn hoos, an\u2019 saay less aboot uther fowk_.\n\n +Weetless+, _adj._ Lacking knowledge.\n\n +Wefted, To be+, _v._ To be closely associated with.\n\n +Weight+, +Wite+, _n._ Quantity, &c. Ex.\u2014_There warn\u2019t a gret\n weight o\u2019 taaties ti year. Neea gret weight o\u2019 rain fell thruff\n t\u2019 neet._\n\n +Welt+, _Vide_ +Rigged+.\n\n +Welting+, _n._ A sound thrashing.\n\n +Wer+, +Wern+, _poss. pron._ Our, our own.\n\n +Werrick+, _n._ and _v._ A half-smothered laugh; to laugh, to\n chuckle.\n\n +Wersells+ } _pron._ Ourselves\n +Wersens+ }\n\n +Wet, To+, _v._ To rain lightly.\n\n +Wet-shod+, _adj._ Wet as to feet, boots and stockings soaked.\n\n +Weyfe+, +Wahfe+, _n._ Wife.\n\n +Wezzel+, _Vide_ +Rezzel+.\n\n +Wezzle+, _Vide_ +Warzle+.\n\n +Whack+, _v._ To flog.\n\n +Whacker+, _adj._ Larger than ordinary.\n\n +Whahl+, _adv._ Until. _Until_, however, is never heard amongst the\n country people, _whahl_ or _while_ being general.\n\n +Whallack+, _v._ To flog with a stick or strap.\n\n +Whallacker+, _adj._ _Vide_ +Whacker+.\n\n +Whallacking+, _adj._ Very large.\n\n +Whallop+, _v._ To whip soundly.\n\n +Whang+, +Wheeang+, _n._ A thong.\n\n +Whang+, _n._ A sudden and heavy drop, or a blow; a thick slice.\n Also as a _verb_, to strike a heavy blow.\n\n +Whanging+, _adj._ _Vide_ +Whallacking+.\n\n +Whap+, _n._ A sudden movement, a jerk. Ex.\u2014_He went by wiv a whap._\n\n +Whap+, _v._ To close with a bang; to give a smart tap on the\n knuckles; to flap, as a wing.\n\n +Whapper+, +Whopper+, _adj._ Huge.\n\n +What for+, +What for not+, _adv._ Why, why not.\n\n +What mud be deean+ = No matter what precaution may have been taken.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah shuv\u2019d wi\u2019 my back, an\u2019 Billy thrust his hardest wiv a\n powl, but doon it cam, what mud be deean._\n\n +What one could+, or +\u2018Ativver he+, +Ah+, or +yan could+ = One\u2019s\n very best efforts.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah pull\u2019d \u2019ativver Ah could pull, bud it war ti neea ewse.\n Yan did what yan could, bud it war ti larl good._\n\n +Whatten+, _pron._ What. Ex.\u2014_Whatten a tahm o\u2019 daay is \u2019t? Whatten\n a sooart ov a thing diz ti call that?_\n\n +Whau+, +Wheea+, _pron._ Who.\n\n +Wheea s\u2019 ow\u2019 \u2018t?+ lit. who shall owe or own it, i.e. To whom does\n it belong? Who owns it? Ex.\u2014_Wheea s\u2019 ow\u2019 \u2018t bairn?_\n\n +Whemmel+, _v._ To rock to and fro and then fall over.\n\n +Whewling+, _adj._ Dizzy.\n\n +Whewtle+, _v._ To whistle, to squeak.\n\n +Whidder+, +Wither+, _n._ 1. A rush. 2. A sharp and swinging blow.\n Ex.\u20141. _He did gan by wiv a wither._\n 2. _Ah\u2019ll catch thee sike a wither aback o\u2019 t\u2019 lug if thoo dizn\u2019t\n mahnd._\n\n +Whiff+, _v._ To puff in short blasts, as smoke sometimes puffs\n downwards and into the room.\n\n +Whiffle-whaffle+, _n._ Idle talk.\n\n +Whiffley+, _v._ To trifle, to vacillate.\n\n +Whimly+, _adv._ Quietly, softly. _Vide_ +Whisht+.\n\n +Whimsey+, _adj._ Changeable, unstable.\n\n +Whins+, _n._ The gorse.\n\n +Whipster+, _n._ A doubtful character.\n\n +Whip-stitch+, _n._ A useless fellow.\n\n +Whirken+, _v._ To choke.\n\n +Whisht+, _adv._ Noiselessly, quietly. Ex.\u2014_Them bisittles gans\n varra whisht._\n\n +Whisht+, _adj._ Silent, noiseless.\n\n +Whisht+, _intj._ Be quiet! Hush!\n\n +Whittle+, _n._ A knife.\n\n +Whittle+, _v._ To shave or slice off with a knife.\n\n +Whizzle+, _Vide_ +Warzle+.\n\n +Whoats+, +Whots+, _n._ Oats.\n\n +Whya+, _intj._ Well. If used at the end of a remark = Very well.\n Ex.\u2014Q. _Thoo\u2019ll cum on o\u2019 Sundaay?_ A. _Whya._\n\n +Wi\u2019+, _prep._ With. +Wiv+ before a vowel.\n\n +Wick+, _adj._ Living, lively, vigorous. Ex.\u2014_Ah want yan \u2019at\u2019s\n wick, nut a deead un. By goa, sha\u2019s a wick un, is yon young miss._\n\n +Wick+, _n._ Life. Ex.\u2014_This bangs all \u2019at Ah\u2019ve seean i\u2019 mah wick._\n\n +Wicken+, _v._ To gather wickens.\n\n +Wickens+, +Wicks+, _n._ Couch grass.\n\n +Wicken-wood+, _n._ The mountain ash, the rowan-tree.\n\n +Wicker+, _v._ To neigh, whinny.\n\n +Wicks+, _n._ Seedlings of the whitethorn.\n\n +Wicksilver+, _n._ Quicksilver.\n\n +Widdle-waddling+, _v._ To waddle.\n\n +Widdy+, _n._ A young willow shoot.\n\n +Wikes+, _n._ The corners of the mouth.\n\n +Wildfire+, _n._ Erysipelas.\n\n +Win+, _v._ To attain one\u2019s object by considerable effort.\n\n +Wind+, _n._ Information, a hint. Ex.\u2014_Ah gat wind o\u2019 what he war\n efter. If he gets wind o\u2019 what thoo\u2019s deean, thoo\u2019ll drop in for\n \u2019t._\n\n +Wind, To lose one\u2019s+ = To die. \u2018Wind\u2019 is often used for \u2018breath.\u2019\n\n +Winder+, +Winn\u2019l+, _v._ To winnow.\n\n +Winder+ or +Winn\u2019ling machine+, _n._ A winnowing machine.\n\n +Windle straw+ or +Winn\u2019l streah+, _n._ A dead stalk of straw or\n grass.\n\n +Winge+, _v._ To threaten to kick (of a horse), to cry peevishly.\n\n +Winter-hedge+, _n._ A clothes-horse.\n\n +Wipe+, _n._ A sharp slap, a hurried rub. Also a _verb_.\n Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019ll wipe tha across t\u2019 feeace._\n\n +Wire-ling+, _n._ The crowberry plant.\n\n +Wire-rush+, _n._ The hard rush (_Juncus glaucus_).\n\n +Wit+, _n._ Knowledge. Ex.\u2014_He hezn\u2019t wit ti deea a job o\u2019 that\n sooart. He show\u2019d mair wit \u2019an what Ah aim\u2019d foor._\n\n +Wiv+, _prep._ With.\n\n +Wivoot+, +Widoot+, _prep._ Without, unless.\n\n +Wizen+, _v._ and _adj._ To shrivel, to dry up.\n Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s gitten an au\u2019d wizen\u2019d feeace._\n\n +Woomle+, _n._ An auger.\n\n +Wor+, _Vide_ +War+.\n\n +Worral-hole+, _n._ A draught-hole let into the wall through a\n drain-pipe at the back of the fire, used to burn sea-coal.\n\n +Worn+, _adj._ Exhausted, used up. Ex.\u2014_Ah\u2019s fairly woorn oot wi\u2019\n t\u2019 job. Ah gat weary an\u2019 worn afoor t\u2019 daay war spent._\n\n +Worry+, _v._ To kill. Ex.\u2014_Sha\u2019s nobbut a young un, bud sha\u2019s\n worried a ratten alriddy._\n\n +Worsen+, +Warsen+, _v._ 1. To make worse. 2. To gain the advantage\n of. _Vide_ +Warsen+.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo worsens owt \u2019at thoo puts thi han\u2019 teeea._\n 2. _Ah worsen\u2019d him all t\u2019 waay thruff t\u2019 bargain._\n\n +Wostler+, _n._ Hostler.\n\n +Wrang+, _adj._ Wrong.\n\n +Wrecklin+, _n._ The last and smallest of a litter or brood.\n\n +Wringe+, _v._ To whine like a dog, to cry out in pain. Often\n +Winge+.\n\n +Wrizzled+, _Vide_ +Razzelled+.\n\n +Wrong with, To get+, _v._ To quarrel, to have a misunderstanding.\n\n +Wrought+, +Wrowt+, _v._ To work, to strive. Ex.\u2014_Neea chap\u2019s wrowt\n harder \u2019an what he hez. Ah\u2019ve wrowt an\u2019 tew\u2019d all t\u2019 daay whahl\n Ah\u2019s worn oot._\n\n +Wummely+, _v._ To move in a sinuous manner.\n\n +Wur+, _Vide_ +War+.\n\n +Wurk+, _Vide_ +Wark+.\n\n +Wuz+, _Vide_ +War+.\n\n +Wye+, _n._ A heifer under three years of age.\n\n +Wyke+, +Week+, _n._ A small bay on the sea-coast.\n\n\n Y.\n\n +Yabble+, +Yabblins+. 1. Able. 2. Maybe, perhaps.\n Ex.\u20141. _Thoo\u2019ll be yabble ti deea \u2019t._\n 2. Q. _Will ta leeak in ez thoo passes?_ A. _Yabblins_ (or\n _Ablins_) _Ah will_.\n\n\n +Yaccorn+, +Yakron+, _n._ The acorn.\n\n +Yacker+, _n._ Acre.\n\n +Yaffle+, _v._ To mumble, to speak indistinctly.\n\n +Yah+, _num. adj._ One. N.B. +Yah+, unlike +Yan+, is never used\n singly, but is always followed by a word agreeing with it,\n e.g. \u2018Yah chap,\u2019 \u2018Yah tahm.\u2019\n Ex.\u2014_Yah daay Ah went wi\u2019 yan on \u2019em. Yah tahm yan o\u2019 your lads\n bunched ma. Yan\u2019s shooting yah things, &c._\n\n +Yak+, _n._ Oak.\n\n +Yal+, _n._ Ale.\n\n +Yalhoos+, Alehouse.\n\n +Yam+, _n._ Home. _Vide_ +Heeam+.\n\n +Yam+, _v._ _Vide_ +Aim+.\n\n +Yan+, _num. adj._ and _indf. pron._ One. _Vide_ +Yah+.\n\n +Yance+, _adv._ Once.\n\n +Yance ower+, Once, at that time.\n\n +Yank+, _v._ To thrash, to flog.\n\n +Yap+, _v._ To bark at one\u2019s heels, to talk foolishly.\n\n +Yark+, _v._ 1. To strike with a switch. 2. To pull out with a jerk.\n Ex.\u20142. _Thi float\u2019s blobb\u2019d unner, yark \u2019t oot._\n\n +Yarker+, _n._ The best of a sample. Ex.\u2014_Tak that un, mun, it\u2019s a\n yarker._\n\n +Yarking+, _n._ A whipping with a switch.\n\n +Yarp+, _v._ To shout, to speak loudly. _Vide_ +Yowp+.\n\n +Yat+, _adj._ Hot. Ex.\u2014_It wur that yat, Ah c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t ho\u2019d it._\n\n +Yat+, _n._ A gate.\n\n +Yat-steead+, _n._ The ground covered by the sweep of the gate.\n\n +Yat-stoop+, +Yat-stoup+, _n._ A gate-post.\n\n +Yaud+, _n._ A horse or mare, usually on its last legs.\n\n +Yearn+, _v._ To curdle milk.\n\n +Yearning+, _n._ Rennet.\n\n +Yed+, _v._ To make runs underground, as a rabbit, mole, &c.\n\n +Yedder+, +Yether+, _n._ A young shoot in a hedge, which, being\n half cut, is utilized to strengthen some weaker part.\n\n +Yeead+, +Heead+, Head.\n\n +Yer-nut+, _n._ The earth-nut (_Bunium flexuosum_).\n\n +Yet+, _adv._ Still. Ex.\u2014_Is t\u2019 wagon here yet?_ would not imply\n \u2018Has the wagon arrived?\u2019 but \u2018Is it still here?\u2019\n\n +Yeth+, _n._ Earth.\n\n +Yethwurm+, _n._ The earthworm.\n\n +Yewn+, _Vide_ +Yown+.\n\n +Yocken+, _v._ To swallow greedily.\n\n +Yoke+, _n._ The shoulder-bar by which two pails can be carried\n with ease.\n\n +Yoke+, _v._ To buckle the harness on the horse to the shafts.\n\n +Yon+, _adj._ and _adv._ That, over there. Used demonstratively of\n persons and things.\n\n +Yotten+, _Vide_ +Yocken+.\n\n +Youst+, _pp._ Used.\n\n +Yow+, _n._ A female sheep.\n\n +Yowl+, _n._ A plaintive howl.\n\n +Yowl+, _v._ To howl, to cry plaintively.\n\n +Yown+, +Yewn+, +Yuen+, _n._ An oven. Ex.\u2014_Now \u2019t\u2019s neyce, t\u2019\n yuen\u2019s nivver been yat._\n\n +Yowp+, +Yope+, _v._ To cry as a young dog when first kennelled, to\n speak in a shrill voice.\n\n +Yuck+, A curious usage is attached to this word. At any social\n gathering in the Cleveland dales, when those assembled have grown\n excited, some one will shout, _Yuck foor oor deeal_, to which\n another will instantly reply, _Yuck foor Castleton_, or _Yuck\n foor_ \u2014\u2014, mentioning his own locality. I fancy in days past it\n would be given as a challenge; it now carries with it the sense\n of \u2018To cheer,\u2019 or \u2018Here\u2019s to our dale.\u2019\n\n +Yuer+, +Ur+, _n._ The udder of a cow.\n\n +Yuk+, _v._ To beat.\n\n +Yuking+, _n._ A beating.\n\n +Yule-cake+, _n._ A rich plum-cake made for Christmastide, and cut\n into on Christmas Eve.\n\n +Yule-candle+, +-cann\u2019l+, _n._ A large wax candle lighted on\n Christmas Eve.\n\n +Yule-log+ or +-clog+, _n._ The log burnt on the fire on Christmas\n Eve.\n\n\n\n\n CONCLUDING REMARKS\n\n\nIt is a fact, and one worthy of all commendation, that every\nYorkshireman considers the dialect spoken in the immediate locality\nwherein he was reared, as being not only the best, but the purest.\nDoubtless in some cases this is quite correct, but not in all.\nContiguity to other counties has a deteriorating influence, which\nnaturally extends across both borders, and is sometimes very\nfar-reaching in its effect. Owing to this and other causes, many of\nmy readers will find the pronunciation of some words, as given both\nin the Glossary and throughout the work, not quite in tune with the\nsound in which they daily hear such words uttered. This difficulty\npresented itself at the very commencement of the work. A rule had to\nbe adopted to obtain something approaching uniformity and conciseness.\nTo accomplish this, area has been chosen; i.e. in all cases in which\na word has several pronunciations, those given in the Glossary and\nelsewhere, so far as the writer knows, are the pronunciations most\ngenerally in use throughout the riding. It may be noted, as we approach\nthe West Riding and South Lancashire, that the vowel sounds of _a_,\n_e_, and _o_ have a growing tendency to broaden in sound, often\nbecoming _u_. This, however, should be carefully guarded against in\nwriting the dialect of the North Riding[113], as there is ample proof\nthat over a very wide area the original sound of eighty years ago was\nthe same as now used in Cleveland. These gradual local alterations form\nin time what botanists call sports.\n\nMany words in such places are to-day passing through a transitional\nstage. E.g. let us compare a few words as spoken eighty years ago in\ntwo places I well know, viz. Bedale and Great Ayton. The former is much\nnearer the West Riding than the latter, and very forcibly shows the\ngradual alteration in pronunciation some words have undergone since\n1800.\n\n\nPRONUNCIATION.\n\n _As used in _As given in \u2502 _As _As pronounced\u2502\n the North a Glossary \u2502 pronounced in the \u2502 _Meaning._\n Riding, published \u2502 in Bedale, West Riding,\u2502\n 1898._ at Bedale, \u2502 1898._ 1898._ \u2502\n 1800._\n\n Chetch Ch\u016dch Church\n Deear Doour Door\n To\u2019n T\u016d\u2019n Turn\n Stor Sturr Stir\n Fo\u2019st Fust First\n Ez Uz As\n Fau\u2019k Fooak Folk\n Neeaze Nooaz Nose\n Cleease Clooase Close\n Ken _or_ Kern Chen _or_ Chun Churn\n Diz Duz Does\n Wark Wurrk Work\n War _or_ Wor Wuz Was _or_ were\n Ax\u2019d Ast, Assed Asked\n Clais, Cleeas Clooaz Clothes\n Deean\u2019t Dooan\u2019t Don\u2019t\n Fleear Flooar Floor\n Gahin\u2019 _or_ ganning Bown Bahn Going\n\n\nThe Glossary contains many words common to other dialects[114],\nespecially the folk-speech of North Lincolnshire, Cumberland,\nWestmoreland, North Lancashire, and East Anglia.\n\nIt may be of interest to note over what a wide area the dialect of the\nNorth Riding is understood and in the main spoken. As an entertainer, I\ncome in touch with the country people of many places, and I have often\nbeen surprised at the quickness with which the various points in my\ndialect sketches have been seized by those of other counties. Naturally\nI am able to indulge much more freely, both in dialect and idiom, in\nsome places than in others.\n\nThe North and West Riding dialects widely differ not only as to\nvocabulary, but in drawl and intonation; e.g. take the following\nsentences:\u2014\n\n\n NORTH RIDING. Noo, mun, wheear\u2019s ta gahin\u2019 teea? Ah\u2019s gahin\u2019 doon t\u2019\n toon.\n\n WEST RIDING. Nah, lad, whor\u2019s ta bahn tew? Ah w\u2019 bahn dahn t\u2019 tahn.\n\n\nHear each sentence uttered by men of their respective ridings, and my\nreaders will better understand my meaning than from pages of written\nexplanation. There is also another difference. Whilst many titled\npeople, and members of the best families in the North and East Ridings,\ncan, when they have a mind to, speak the dialect fluently, of only a\nfew of the leading families in the West Riding whom I have met am I\nable to say the same thing. There seems to be a feeling that in some\nway it would be _infra dig._ to admit ability to speak a word of their\nown folk-speech.\n\nReferring to the wide area over which the dialect of the North and\nEast Ridings is spoken, granting without questioning slight variation\nin pronunciation, the addition of new words, and the loss of familiar\nones as we pass along, we find that practically the same dialect exists\namongst the country folk inside the following rough boundary line. Draw\nright-lines commencing at Boston Spa, Lincolnshire, and connecting the\nfollowing places, Doncaster, Harrogate, Lancaster, along the coast-line\nto Carlisle, thence to Darlington, Stockton, Middlesborough[115], and\nalong the north-east coast. By so doing you wall in what may be aptly\ntermed, \u2018the north-east folk-speech.\u2019 But far over this imaginary\nline, in certain directions, the dialect is understood and appreciated.\nThis is not surprising when we remember the same races overran and\npeopled the whole of the country from the Wash to the Tyne and thence\nnorth-westward.\n\nThey may be easily traced by their place-names\u2014the by\u2019s, thorpes,\ncliffs, wicks, dales, &c.\n\nBut if we compare the folk-speech of the district so walled in, with\nthat of the Danes and their kinfolk, then its Norse origin is seen at a\nglance. E.g. take the few following words\u2014scores of the like could have\nbeen given:\u2014\n\n\n _North and _Cumberland _Standard\n East and _Danish._ _Scotch._ English._\n Riding._ Westmoreland._\n\n Mowdywarp Mowdywarp Muldvarp Moudie Mole\n Beck Beck B\u00e6k ... A small\n stream\n Lake Lake Lege ... Play\n Beeal Beel Bj\u00e6le ... Bellow\n Bield Bield Bylja ... A shelter\n (Swedish)\n Gah, gan Ga, gang Gaae Ga Go\n Neeaf Neif N\u00e6ve Neive Fist\n Bink Bink B\u00e6nk Bink Bench\n Gliff Gliff Glippe Gliff Quick\n glance\n Gesling Gezling Gj\u00e6sling Gesling Gosling\n Gloor Glower Glo Glower Stare\n Skrike Skrike Skrige Skreich Scream\n Teeam Teem Toomme Toom (to Pour out\n empty)\n Feck, _n._\n ability\n Feckless, Feckless Fik is the Feckless Incapable of\n _adj._ past tense providing\n of faa, to for oneself\n get[116], imp.\n tense, feck\n\n\nThe Danish, Norwegian, Lowland Scotch, and north-east folk-speech are\nclosely allied. We must not, however, compare the spelling, but the\ngeneral sound of the words. Take the two first lines of the Danish\nnational song\u2014\n\n\n DANISH. Kong Christian stod ved hoien mast.\n NORTH RIDING. King Christian steead byv t\u2019 heegh mast.\n\n DANISH. I\u2019 Rog[117] og damp.\n NORTH RIDING. I\u2019 roke an\u2019 reek.\n\n\nAgain, take two lines from a poem in Modern Friesic published in 1834.\nThe centre lines are from the poem, with the modern North Riding\ndialect above and standard English below.\n\n\n NORTH RIDING. What be\u2019st thoo, leyfe?\n FRIESIC. Hwat bist dhow, libben?\n STANDARD ENGLISH. What art thou, life?\n\n NORTH RIDING. Fra t\u2019 scepter\u2019d king ti t\u2019 slaave.\n FRIESIC. Fen de scepterde kening ta da slave.\n STANDARD ENGLISH. From the sceptred king to the slave.\n\n\nFor a list of words common to the English, Dutch, and Scandinavian\nlanguages, see _Trans. Phil. Soc._ part i. 1858.\n\nMuch that is written and spoken at the present day is quite over the\nheads of our country people. Take the following, from one of our best\nauthors:\u2014\u2018He who performs every part of his business in due course\nand season, suffers no part of time to escape without profit. And it\nis well always to regard the quality rather than the quantity of your\nwork, and bear in mind, if you delay till to-morrow what ought to be\ndone to-day, you overcharge to-morrow with a burden which belongs not\nto it,\u2019 Our country folk would fully grasp the above if put to them\nsomething like the following:\u2014\u2018Him \u2019at diz a daay\u2019s wark iv a daay,\ndizn\u2019t waste his tahm, an\u2019 mannishes ti git a bit foor hissel. An\u2019 yan\nawlus owt ti aim ti deea t\u2019 bit \u2019at yan diz deea fo\u2019st-class, mair \u2019an\naiming ti clash thruff a seet o\u2019 wark onny road; an\u2019 think on, if ya\nlig o\u2019 yah sahd whahl ti morn what ya owt ti-deea ti daay, ya saddle ti\nmorn wiv a boddun \u2019at it\u2019s neea call ti bear.\u2019\n\n\n Hah am the rose o\u2019 Sharon and the lily o\u2019 the valley.\n\n\nIn a work kindly lent me by my friend Dr. Johnson of Lancaster, and\npublished some years ago for the Philological Society, the author,\nquoting from _Latham on the English Language_, gives the above as a\nspecimen of North Riding dialect\u2014nay, more, of Cleveland itself. Surely\nthe writer can never have spent a day in any part of Cleveland, for the\nsentence given contains but twelve words, seven of which are distinctly\nnot Clevelandic.\n\nThe country people, when speaking _naturally_, rarely use the aspirate,\nexcept as an intensive. Otherwise they have little use for it. And when\n\u2018H\u2019 is preceded by the definite article, they do not drop it in the\nsense generally understood; the fact is they cannot well sound it, for\nthis reason\u2014the definite article is \u2018t\u2019, \u2018the[118]\u2019 being but rarely\nused. They could not say \u2018t\u2019 horse,\u2019 \u2018t\u2019 house,\u2019 \u2018t\u2019 hamper,\u2019 &c.; with\nthem it is, \u2018t\u2019 hoss,\u2019 \u2018t\u2019 hoos,\u2019 \u2018t\u2019 hamper,\u2019 pronounced \u2018toss,\u2019\n\u2018toos,\u2019 \u2018tamper.\u2019\n\n\u2018The horse is yoked,\u2019 \u2018the hamper is in the wagon,\u2019 and \u2018the whip is\nunder the wheels,\u2019 as spoken, would sound to unfamiliar ears as if the\nspeaker had said \u2018toss is yoked,\u2019 \u2018tamper\u2019s i\u2019 twagon,\u2019 and \u2018twip\u2019s\nunner tweels.\u2019\n\nThe definite article, to those unaccustomed to our folk-speech, seems\nto be entirely wanting. Certainly before _b_, _m_, and _n_ it is only\nvery slightly sounded, and it becomes the merest touch of the tongue\nagainst the palate when preceding words commencing with _d_ or _t_.\n\u2018Shut the door, the bacon and the beans are on the table,\u2019 would sound\nto a stranger as though the speaker said, \u2018Shut deear, bacon an\u2019 beeans\nis on table\u2019; the speaker having in reality said, \u2018Shut t\u2019 deear, t\u2019\nbacon an\u2019 t\u2019 beeans is on t\u2019 table.\u2019\n\nTo return, however, to the line from Solomon\u2019s Song, given as a\nspecimen of Cleveland dialect. Let us see what the rendering should\nhave been.\n\n\n Hah am the rose o\u2019 Sharon and the lily o\u2019 the valley.\n Ah\u2019s t\u2019 roase o\u2019 Sharon an\u2019 t\u2019 lily o\u2019 t\u2019 valley.\n\n\nThe lower line is North Yorkshire and pure Cleveland, the upper line is\nsaid to be so.\n\nIt has been remarked that the aspirate is almost unknown\u2014so it is as\na letter, but not as an intensive. The aspirate, when misplaced by\nthose speaking naturally, is only used to add greater force. \u2018He\u2019s\nmah henemy foor hivver,\u2019 leaves no doubt that the injury sustained is\nof an unbridgeable character. Such a sentence, however, holds quite a\ndifferent place in grammar, too. \u2018Hi hallers taike shagar i\u2019 my tea.\u2019\nThe first example is Yorkshire intensified, minus any adjectives, the\nfirst \u2018H\u2019 expressing or suggesting some such feeling as implacable,\nand the \u2018hever\u2019 meaning for ever and ever. The latter is the vile and\naffected speech of the upper circles of Yorkshire flunkeys and maids,\nwho try to improve upon their mother tongue. It holds no place in our\nfolk-speech. It is hateful, and is only indulged in by those of whom\nthe old people say, \u2018When they start ti knack an\u2019 scrape ther tungs,\nwhat they saay\u2019s nowther nowt na summat,\u2019 i.e. \u2018When they begin to talk\naffectedly, what they say is neither one thing nor another.\u2019\n\nThere is one other peculiarity which must be noticed\u2014the possessive\ncase. I should imagine a hundred years ago its disuse was universal\nin both ridings. My reason for so thinking lies in the fact that in\nany old books wherein the owners have inscribed their names\u2014and they\nusually did (books were valued in those days)\u2014the names are never\nwritten in the possessive case. It is always \u2018Tom Smith book,\u2019 \u2018Ann\nScott book.\u2019 Even to-day in many places, when speaking, the observance\nof the case is conspicuous by its absence. E.g. in the Boroughbridge\nand other districts they would not say \u2018Jack Wilson\u2019s dog bit Smith\u2019s\ncalf,\u2019 and \u2018Peggy\u2019s cat flew through Nanny\u2019s window,\u2019 but \u2018Jack Wilson\ndog bit Smith cauf,\u2019 and \u2018Peggy cat flew throw Nanny window.\u2019 Such\nsentences as \u2018Ho\u2019d t\u2019 hoss heead,\u2019 \u2018Pull t\u2019 pig lug,\u2019 and \u2018Twist t\u2019\ncoo tail,\u2019 &c., are still universal in both ridings. The instances\nin which the possessive is used, and vice versa, are now about equal\nin the North Riding. The peculiar forms of redundancy are many and\ncurious. \u2018Ah nivver at neea tahm sed nowt aboot nowt ti neeabody,\u2019\nsimply means, \u2018I never said anything to any one. I think the following\nexample, which I overheard one Yorkshireman say to another just before\nthe train moved out of Guisborough station, is the finest on record.\n\u2018Whya,\u2019 said he, \u2018thoo mun saay what thoo \u2019ez a mahnd teea, bud think\non, thoo knaws, \u2019at Ah knaw \u2019at he knaws, \u2019at thoo knaws \u2019at Ah knaw,\nall aboot ivverything \u2019at\u2019s ivver been deean an\u2019 \u2018at\u2019s ivver ta\u2019en\npleeace.\u2019 I heard a man say a short time ago, \u2018Ah s\u2019 be agate ti git\nagate ti set agate Tom fo\u2019st thing ti morn at morn\u2019; i.e. \u2018Ah s\u2019 be\nagate,\u2019 I shall be about; \u2019ti git agate,\u2019 to commence work; \u2019ti set\nagate,\u2019 to set Tom to work; \u2018fo\u2019st thing ti morn at morn,\u2019 first thing\nin the morning. Said one to another, \u2018Noo Ah\u2019ll tell ya what, hard\neneeaf, he war neean ower-suited when he fan oot \u2019at he\u2019d \u2019ev ti \u2019ev\n\u2019t ower wi\u2019 ma owther thruff or by. An\u2019 noo when Ah\u2019ve fetched him up\nti t\u2019 scrat, he sez \u2019at he\u2019s putten t\u2019 dog oot o\u2019 t\u2019 road; bud Ah\u2019s\nsatisfied o\u2019 yah thing, t\u2019 dog rave mah britches, an\u2019 Ah s\u2019all leeak ti\nhim ti mak \u2019em good agaan, foor he \u2019ez a reet ti owther deea that or\n\u2019livver summat up i\u2019 lieu on\u2019t; bud Ah reckon nowt o\u2019 what he sez, an\u2019\nthat\u2019s t\u2019 len\u2019th on \u2019t.\u2019 i.e. \u2018Noo Ah\u2019ll tell ya what,\u2019 now I assure\nyou; \u2018hard eneeaf,\u2019 without doubt; \u2018he war neean ower-suited,\u2019 he was\nnot over-pleased; \u2018when he fan oot,\u2019 when he discovered; \u2018\u2019at he\u2019d \u2019ev\nti \u2019ev it ower wi\u2019 ma,\u2019 that he would have to talk it over with me;\n\u2018owther thruff or by,\u2019 either one way or the other; \u2018an\u2019 noo when Ah\u2019ve\nfetched him up ti t\u2019 scrat,\u2019 and now when I have made him toe the mark;\n\u2018he sez \u2019at he\u2019s putten t\u2019 dog oot o\u2019 t\u2019 road,\u2019 he says that he has\nkilled the dog; \u2018bud Ah\u2019s satisfied o\u2019 yah thing,\u2019 but I am certain of\none thing; \u2019t\u2019 dog rave mah britches,\u2019 the dog tore my trousers; \u2018an\u2019\nAh s\u2019all leeak ti him ti mak \u2019em good agaan,\u2019 and I shall expect him to\nreplace them; \u2018foor he \u2019ez a reet ti,\u2019 for he ought to; \u2018owther deea\nthat or \u2019livver summat up,\u2019 either do that or give something; \u2018i\u2019 lieu\non \u2019t,\u2019 in place of it (them); \u2018bud Ah reckon nowt o\u2019 what he sez,\u2019 but\nI place no confidence in anything he says; \u2018an\u2019 that\u2019s t\u2019 len\u2019th on\n\u2019t,\u2019 and that is the extent of it.\n\nIf the reader masters the abbreviations and elisions facing page 1,\nthe _pons asinorum_ will have been crossed, and the reading of our\nfolk-speech found to be a thing easy of accomplishment and a delightful\nacquisition.\n\nIt will be well to remember, when reading aloud, that a consonant\nwith an elided vowel must be joined either to the word preceding or\nfollowing, as \u2019t\u2019 hoss,\u2019 \u2019t\u2019 hens,\u2019 \u2018t\u2019 wax,\u2019 the horse, the hens, the\nwax, which would be pronounced \u2019toss,\u2019 \u2018tens,\u2019 \u2018twax.\u2019 Again, \u2018Sha\u2019s\ni\u2019 t\u2019 sulks\u2019 would be \u2019shas it sulks,\u2019 and \u2018Oot wi\u2019 \u2018t, put tane ti\nt\u2019 ither,\u2019 would be rendered as \u2019oot wit, put tane ti tither,\u2019 \u2018Ah\u2019ve\ndeean noo, t\u2019 ink\u2019s ommaist dhry i\u2019 mah pen, seea this\u2019ll \u2019a\u2019e ti be\n\n\n T\u2019 LAP UP ON \u2018T.\u2019\n\n\n OXFORD: HORACE HART\n\n PRINTER TO THE UNIVERSITY\n\n\n\n\n FOOTNOTES:\n\n[1] \u2018Nothing is the same.\u2019\n\n[2] Ask.\n\n[3] Before retiring to rest the older and more superstitious look round\nto see if there is a shadowless head thrown on the wall; should any one\ncast such a shadow, it is held they will die ere next Christmas Eve\ncomes round.\n\n[4] In many of our dales on Christmas morn, no one will leave the house\nuntil some one brings luck in by crossing the threshold with a bit of\ngreen in their hand.\n\n[5] Also called Pace-egg. The Danish word is Paaskeaeg.\n\n[6] The small stack often seen in our churches at a harvest\nthanksgiving is a survival of the mell doll.\n\n[7] The stang was ridden at Thoralby, Wensleydale, as recently as\nOctober, 1896.\n\n[8] The pole was a stang or cow-staff.\n\n[9] The original was most kindly lent to me by the Lady of the Manor,\nMrs. Chaloner.\n\n[10] A three-legged race. In this there was nothing unseemly, for a\nlong way into this century the skirts worn came but little below the\nknee. Bear in mind, both in launching and beaching their husband\u2019s or\nfather\u2019s boat, the women and girls of to-day often rush up to the waist\nin the sea to lend a helping hand.}\n\n[11] Some explanation is needed to make this task understandable. A\nlarge basket (probably a wide creel) had a strong pole thrust through\nthe wicker-work or handles improvised for the occasion; each end of the\npole was then rested upon some suitable support, leaving the basket\nfree to swing about a foot from the ground. On each support and near\nto the pole a shell or other light object was placed. The thing to be\ndone would not be easy of accomplishment. Those contending for the\nprize had in turn to seat themselves astride of the pole with both\nfeet inside the basket; thus seated, and firmly grasping the pole\nwith one hand, they had to knock off the shell with a stick (which in\nthe meantime they used to steady themselves with), then turn round,\nreseat themselves, knock off the other shell, and then get out without\noverbalancing. You try it, but have something soft to fall upon. It is\nmarvellous how soon it is the next person\u2019s turn.\n\n[12] Thirty years ago it was common.\n\n[13] The details of the plate-throwing vary slightly in different\nlocalities.\n\n[14] In some parts it was customary for the winner, after having\nremoved the garter, to enter the bridal chamber, turn down the bed\nclothes, and offer to the bride a hot pot as she entered to remove\nher bridal attire, and then salute her; did he omit the latter, he\nforfeited the garter.\n\n[15] I gather from a diary, dated 1625, which has been kindly sent\nto me as I am correcting my proof sheets, that originally it was the\nbridegroom\u2019s duty to tie on the bridal garters.\n\n[16] Lusty.\n\n[17] Sound of wind.\n\n[18] The story was given me by an eye-witness.\n\n[19] Only when returning were the guns discharged as a rule.\n\n[20] Each in turn slipped the garter over his glass on to his wrist.\nThe garters were nearly a yard long; as used above, the ends were tied\ntogether to form a loop.\n\n[21] A native of Exelby.\n\n[22] It would seem these two often worked their charms in company.\n\n[23] I have no knowledge as to the meaning of these two words; their\nreal pronunciation may have been lost, or perhaps they are simply cant\nwords.\n\n[24] My own opinion is that \u2018R. H.\u2019 was William Hird\u2019s father, though\nhe never admitted it.\n\n[25] The garland consisted of two hoops intertwined, decorated with\nwhite paper flowers and ribbons, in the centre of which was a white\nglove, often home-made, of paper or fine linen, upon which was written\nor worked in some fine stitch the initials or name in full and age of\nthe deceased. According to locality this garland was either carried in\nfront of the coffin by one of the deceased\u2019s dearest companions, or\nlaid upon it. This custom might well have been retained.\n\n[26] And many other places in Cleveland.\n\n[27] The author is quite aware some other writers state that the fire\nis never allowed to die out whilst the corpse is in the room. He never\nknew or heard of such a custom, though possibly such may exist.\n\n[28] In the North Riding, about three miles from Ripon.\n\n[29] _The Gospelles of Distaues_, published by Wynkyn de Worde about\n1530, contains the following:\u2014\u2018If it happen that somebody stride over a\nlittle childe, know ye for certain that it shall never grow more, but\nif (unless) they stride backward over it again. Gloss: Certainly, said\nSebylle, of such thing cometh dwarfs and little women.\u2019\n\n[30] Richard Kirby, who gave me the above and several other stories\nconcerning witches, still lives in Carthorpe, near Bedale.\n\n[31] Nanny must have been disguised in some way, at least one would\nthink so, otherwise Mrs. Langstaff would have recognized her at once,\nboth being natives of that part.\n\n[32] Inconvenienced, literally \u2018cost.\u2019\n\n[33] Never accomplished his life\u2019s work, i.e. committed suicide.\n\n[34] \u2018T au\u2019d un,\u2019 or the old one = the devil.\n\n[35] Possibly this meant the longer he waited there, the longer he\nwould remain in the river.\n\n[36] Boyes Wetherell lost his wife on the birth of their first child, a\nboy. Boyes tended his bairn with a mother\u2019s love and care, and when the\nchild was four years old, he tramped all the way to London with the lad\non his back. Once they slept in a grave; but the journey is a story.\n\n[37] A contemporary of the wise man of Stokesley, but having nothing\nlike the same reputation.\n\n[38] An aperient drink.\n\n[39] A worral hole is a drain-pipe let in the wall immediately at the\nback of the fire; this is to afford sufficient draught to burn the sea\ncoal which is daily gathered from the beach.\n\n[40] A sucking-pig.\n\n[41] A cant phrase of the time is used in the original.\n\n[42] The devil.\n\n[43] Hand in hand, both touch the floor together. This has already been\nreferred to.\n\n[44] Observe the lack of the possessive case.\n\n[45] The ground covered would be about twenty miles\u2014not bad.\n\n[46] A woman was adjudged the same punishment at Bedale (for a\ndifferent offence) in the year 1779, also at Thirsk and Northallerton.\n\n[47] For other interesting matter concerning Nan Hardwicke, _vide_\nHenderson\u2019s _Folklore_.\n\n[48] Observe rice is now being ousted by confetti, which is much\nbetter\u2014rice is so dangerous.\n\n[49] This statement has nothing to do with his private life, only as\nthat of a wise man. \u2018De mortuis nil nisi bonum.\u2019\n\n[50] This would be the father of the Mr. Scorer I knew, who for many\nyears lived at Basedale Abbey.\n\n[51] I know that Mr. G. Markham Tweddle holds quite contrary views. His\nidea is that Wrightson was little better than a huge swindler.\n\n[52] For other authentic stories of Wrightson, _vide_ Henderson\u2019s\n_Folklore_.\n\n[53] A small four-legged stool.\n\n[54] A hedgehog.\n\n[55] I met a man in the train the other day who said he had often seen\nthem sucking.\n\n[56] Henry Wilson, of Broughton, was a wise man of some repute after\nWrightson\u2019s time.\n\n[57] Something like Sadler and Clarke\u2019s method.\n\n[58] The usual time was midnight; this case, so far as I know, is\nunique.\n\n[59] Accuse openly.\n\n[60] To prepare a \u2018hand of glory,\u2019 the hand of a man who had been\nhanged had to be left for some days in a special kind of pickle;\nafterwards it was dried in the sun, and then parched in the smoke of\ncertain herbs. A special kind of candle had to be made from certain\nfats; with this candle lighted and stuck in the dead man\u2019s hand, a\nhypnotic sleep could be cast upon a whole household. Henderson\u2019s\n_Folklore_.\n\n[61] There was a marvellous hobman once lived near Ripon, but his deeds\nsome one writing of the West Riding must chronicle.\n\n[62] With slight variation the same story is known in other parts of\nthe riding, also in Lancashire, and is as old as the hills throughout\nScandinavia.\n\n[63] A similar story is told of Sir Francis Drake.\n\n[64] See Glossary.\n\n[65] \u2018Ower,\u2019 _prep._ over.\n\n[66] \u2018Ower,\u2019 _adv._ too; \u2018ower\u2019 nearly always takes the place of \u2018too.\u2019\n\u2018Ower mich,\u2019 \u2018ower monny apples,\u2019 \u2018ower big a load,\u2019 \u2018ower larl,\u2019 \u2018ower\nau\u2019d,\u2019 &c.\n\n[67] This peculiarity, even amongst many educated Yorkshire people, of\nrepeating the verb is further illustrated in the concluding remarks at\nthe end of the Glossary.\n\n[68] Thirsty.\n\n[69] Really the same simile, common where otters fish.\n\n[70] Snails.\n\n[71] The name by which the Grammar School boys were known.\n\n[72] I have heard children innocently repeating, as they counted each\nother out:\u2014\n\n Prest an, pop an,\n Cock on t\u2019 spire,\n Holy Alice,\n Dah mell fire.\n\nDid their parents or teachers but know what the youngsters were really\nsaying, they would be no little shocked.\n\n[73] Staggerum buck, or Staggerer Staggera bobtail, is the name of a\nboys\u2019 game, very commonly played. \u2018Philson,\u2019 \u2018Valson,\u2019 and \u2018Dickson\u2019\nare examples of the elision of the possessive case, i.e. Phil\u2019s son,\nVal\u2019s son, and Dick\u2019s son.\n\n[74] \u2018Knave-a\u2019 became general during the War of Independence\u2014we were a\nbit out of favour then.\n\n[75] _Vide_ Grimm\u2019s _Household Tales_.\n\n[76] As the children tell the story, they pronounce _crooked_,\n\u2018crook-ed.\u2019\n\n[77] The story in its original form was a prophetic hymn sung by the\nJews at the Passover, the animals and elements representing their\nenemies and deliverers.\n\n[78] Henderson\u2019s _Folklore_.\n\n[79] Knotted hair.\n\n[80] Both pronunciations are equally common.\n\n[81] Walk.\n\n[82] Brow.\n\n[83] Purse.\n\n[84] \u2018Trigg\u2019d his wame,\u2019 filled his stomach.\n\n[85] \u2018Lair,\u2019 a barn.\n\n[86] \u2018Streahy,\u2019 strawy.\n\n[87] \u2018Seeat,\u2019 soot.\n\n[88] \u2018Clais,\u2019 clothes.\n\n[89] E is used in the original.\n\n[90] Horse.\n\n[91] Should be \u2018wae\u2019s t\u2019 me,\u2019 lit. \u2018woe is to me.\u2019\n\n[92] Riding apparel.\n\n[93] Well dressed.\n\n[94] Designed.\n\n[95] Mind.\n\n[96] Determined.\n\n[97] False.\n\n[98] Scythe.\n\n[99] \u2018Window\u2019 is commonly pronounced _winder_, _winner_, and _windther_.\n\n[100] _At_ is often used instead of _who_, _which_, and _that_.\n\n[101] The _th_ and _dh_ sound, found in so many East Riding words, is\nnot nearly so marked in the speech of the North Riding.\n\n[102] \u2018Ya \u2019evn\u2019t\u2019 and \u2018tha \u2019evn\u2019t\u2019 are not so emphatic as \u2018ya\u2019ve nut\u2019\nor \u2018tha\u2019ve nut,\u2019 &c.\n\n[103] Throughout, save in this example, \u2018He\u2019 has been so printed, but\nwithout exception its utterance approaches nearer to that of \u2018a\u2019 or\n\u2018eh,\u2019 e.g. \u2018\u2018Ez he ta\u2019en \u2019t fra tha?\u2019 would certainly appear as if the\nspeaker had said \u2019\u2018Ez _a_ (or _eh_) ta\u2019en \u2019t fra tha?\u2019 But to save the\nreader much needless confusion, _he_ has been retained, though it is\nrarely heard save at the commencement of a sentence.\n\n[104] \u2018Divn\u2019t\u2019 is quite a common form of \u2018do not.\u2019\n\n[105] \u2018Uz,\u2019 \u2018us,\u2019 is often used for \u2018me.\u2019\n\n[106] Written _gi\u2019en_.\n\n[107] \u2018On,\u2019 prep. \u2018of.\u2019\n\n[108] Rod = red.\n\n[109] The old pronunciations of \u2018trashing\u2019 for \u2018thrashing,\u2019 \u2018trepence\u2019\nfor \u2018threepence,\u2019 \u2018trive\u2019 for \u2018thrive,\u2019 &c., are frequently heard in\nCleveland.\n\n[110] Along the borders touching the West Riding \u2018Blathery\u2019 is in\ncommon use. \u2018Bladdry\u2019 it should be.\n\n[111] \u2018Come\u2019 is always pronounced \u2018cum.\u2019\n\n[112] The same pronunciation is often used in the sense of \u2018to lose.\u2019\nEx.\u2014\u2018Thoo\u2019ll lowse thisel,\u2019 or \u2018Thoo\u2019ll loss thisel;\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s been a\nlowsin\u2019 gaame fra t\u2019 fo\u2019st ti t\u2019 last,\u2019 i.e. \u2018It has been a losing\ngame,\u2019 &c.\n\n[113] In several instances this rule has been broken, but only to give\na correct rendering of the pronunciation as spoken in a particular\ndistrict to-day.\n\n[114] The term \u2018dialect\u2019 is used throughout this work for want of a\nbetter word, and to avoid tautology. Our folk-speech is not a dialect,\nit is a language.\n\n[115] The map issued with the North-Eastern 1_d._ Time-table answers\nwell for the purpose.\n\n[116] Our dialect word _Fick_, which is the _Fik_ given, has three\ndistinct meanings: (1) to struggle under some form of restraint; (2) to\nstrive to obtain; (3) to succeed, to get.\n\n Ex.\u20141. \u2018T\u2019 pig ficked that hard whahl Ah c\u2019u\u2019dn\u2019t git it inti t\u2019\n cart,\u2019 2. \u2018He made a poor fick on \u2019t,\u2019 i.e. he made a feeble attempt.\n \u2018He weean\u2019t mak a fick for \u2019t,\u2019 he won\u2019t strive to do, obtain, or get.\n 3. \u2018He ficked it at t\u2019 finish,\u2019 he got it in the end.\n\n[117] \u2018Roke\u2019 is the common dialectic word for mist or fog. \u2018Reek\u2019 is\nthe North Riding word for smoke. \u2018Rog\u2019 is the Danish.\n\n[118] \u2018The\u2019 is always used before the name of the Deity, and often in\nconversation of a grave and sorrowful nature.\n\n\n\n\n PUBLIC AND PRIVATE\n\n HUMOROUS RECITALS\n\n OF HIS\n\n _Original Character Sketches in the Yorkshire Dialect_\n\n (AS SPOKEN IN THE NORTH RIDING)\n\n ARE GIVEN BY THE AUTHOR\n\n AT\n\n DRAWING-ROOMS IN TOWN OR THE PROVINCES,\n AT HOMES, HOUSE PARTIES,\n RECEPTIONS, PRIMROSE LEAGUES,\n LITERARY SOCIETIES, CONCERTS & BAZAARS,&c.\n\n\n _Secretaries of Literary Societies will oblige by booking their dates\n as early as possible for a Lecture entitled_,\n\n \u2018Customs and Folklore of the North Riding.\u2019\n\n\n _TERMS, VACANT DATES, TESTIMONIALS AND SYLLABUS\n FORWARDED ON APPLICATION._\n\n\nNOTE.\u2014_A reduced fee is offered to Clergymen of small parishes booking\na date during the months of September, October, or November._\n\n\n _Address_\u2014\n R. BLAKEBOROUGH, Society Humorist,\n 24 Trent Street, Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n\n\n\n Price One Shilling. 206 pp. 8vo.\n\n _MORE THAN A DREAM._\n\n (A NOVEL.)\n\n PUBLISHED BY ARROWSMITH.\n\n _BY THE AUTHOR OF \u2018WIT, CHARACTER,\n FOLKLORE, CUSTOMS,\u2019 &c._\n\n\n NOTICE.\n\nFor the last five years, to augment the funds of Bazaars, &c., when\ndesired, I have offered for sale copies of the above, giving one half\nof the amount realized towards the object of the Bazaar, &c. But the\ninconvenience of carrying a supply from place to place has been very\ngreat. Therefore I have determined to dispose of the remaining 1,000\ncopies to my readers at half-price.\n\nA COPY of \u2018More than a Dream\u2019 will be forwarded to any address on\nreceipt of\n\n EIGHT STAMPS.\n\n\n _Address_\u2014\n R. BLAKEBOROUGH,\n 24 Trent Street, Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n\n\n\nLIST OF SUBSCRIBERS\n\n\n A.\n\n ALLISON, Dr. T., 9 Picton Place, Newcastle.\n\n ALLISON, F., Church Green, Guisborough.\n\n ANDERSON, TEMPEST, M.D., J.P., St. Agnes-gate, York.\n\n ANDERSON, Major F. H., Fulford, York.\n\n ANDERSON, W., Rimswell, Thornaby-on-Tees.\n\n ARGLES, C. G., St. Clement\u2019s Vicarage, York.\n\n ASHTON, The Right Hon. Lord, Rylands, Lancaster.\n\n\n B.\n\n BACKHOUSE, C. H., J.P., Darlington.\n\n BARKER, E., Cleveland House, West Hartlepool.\n\n BARKER, G., Tancred Grange, Scorton.\n\n BARLING, Dr. A. S., Dalton Square, Lancaster.\n\n BARRACLOUGH, W., Swainby.\n\n BAYNES, Alderman JNO., J.P., Ripon.\n\n BEATTY, Dr. H. J., Van Mildert House, Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n BECK, Mrs., Carthorpe House, Bedale.\n\n BECKETT, E. W., M.P., 17 Stratton St., Piccadilly, W.\n\n BELL, HUGH, J.P., Red Barnes, Redcar.\n\n BELL BROS., Ltd., Middlesbrough.\n\n BERESFORD PIERSE, Mrs., The Hall, Bedale.\n\n BEST, Mrs., 31 Lyddon Terrace, Leeds.\n\n BETHELL, Miss L., Newton Kyme, Tadcaster (2 copies).\n\n BEVERLEY, The Right Rev. Lord Bishop of, Bolton Percy.\n\n BIRCH, Mrs., Middleham, R.S.O.\n\n BIRD, Col. C. H., Crookhey Hall, Garstang, Lancashire.\n\n BLACKETT, Capt. C. M., Newsham Hall, Darlington.\n\n BLAIR, Gen., V.C., C.B., Thorpe Hall, Wycliffe, Darlington.\n\n BLANDFORD, Dr. J. M., Norton, Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n BOHR, VON, Mill Hill, Brandsby.\n\n BOWES-WILSON, T., Enterpen Hutton, Rudby (2 copies).\n\n BOWSTEAD-WARWICK, P., Settlebeck, Sedbergh.\n\n BRAMLEY, W., Church St., Guisborough.\n\n BRIGGS, Rev. A. C., Moor Allerton.\n\n BROOKSBANK, E. C., Helaugh Old Hall, Tadcaster.\n\n BROWN, F., J.P., Norton, Stockton-on-Tees (2 copies).\n\n BROWN, W. T., Yew Court, Scarborough.\n\n BUCHANNAN, G., Whitby, Yorkshire.\n\n BURRA, R., The Hall, Gate, Sedbergh.\n\n BURRELL, Miss, Fairthorn, Botley, Hants.\n\n BURTON, Rev. B. C., The Rectory, Cherry Burton, Beverley.\n\n BURTON, D. F., The Hall, Cherry Burton, Beverley (2 copies).\n\n BUTCHER, J. S., M.P., 22 Collingham Place, S.W.\n\n\n C.\n\n CADLE, C. E., 5 North Bailey, Durham.\n\n CARLISLE, The Right Hon. Lady, Naworth Castle.\n\n CARPENTER, Admiral the Hon. W. C., Kipling Hall, Northallerton.\n\n CARTER, Rev. E. S., St. Michael\u2019s-le-Belfry, York.\n\n CARTER, T., J.P., Richmond, Yorkshire.\n\n CAYLEY, DIGBY, J.P., Brompton, R.S.O. (4 copies).\n\n CHALONER, Mrs., Long Hull, Guisborough.\n\n CHAPMAN, Mrs., The Cliff, Leyburn.\n\n CHARLTON, W., North Eastern Bank, Durham.\n\n CLARKE, A. F., The Ven. Archdeacon of Lancaster (2 copies).\n\n CLEGG, J., 1 Spring Bank, Preston.\n\n COBB, C., Clifton, York.\n\n COLLIER, Rev. CARUS, Great Ayton.\n\n COLLINSON, S., Royal Hotel, Scorton.\n\n COLLISON, W., 79 Fenchurch St., London.\n\n COMERLINE, Rev. A. S., York.\n\n CONING, T., 28 Bankment, York.\n\n COPER, Rev. J. M. A., Robin Hood\u2019s Bay.\n\n CORNEY, Miss, Newton Hall, Great Ayton.\n\n CRADDOCK, C., J.P., Grove House, Wakefield.\n\n CRUSHER, T., Forest Farm, Scorton.\n\n\n D.\n\n DALE, Sir DAVID, Bart., West Lodge, Darlington.\n\n DALTRY, The Rev. VERNON G., The Rectory, Yarm.\n\n DAWNAY, Col., The Hon., Benningbrough Hall.\n\n DENT, Miss I., Ribston Hall, Wetherby.\n\n DERBY, Right Hon. Earl, K.G., Knowsley, Prescot.\n\n DIXON, DAVID, Brotton Hall.\n\n DIXON, D. D., Coquetdale House, Rothbury.\n\n DIXON, Sir RAYLTON, Kt., Gunnegate Hall, Cleveland.\n\n DURHAM, The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of.\n\n\n E.\n\n EAVES, Mrs., The Vicarage, Lyminge.\n\n ECCLES, E. E., Fenton House, Lancaster.\n\n EDMUNDSON, C. F. P., Nutwith House, Masham.\n\n ELLERTON, Dr. J., Grove Hill, Middlesborough.\n\n ELLIOTT, C., The Lodge, Scorton.\n\n EMMERSON, J. J., Easby Hall, Great Ayton (4 copies).\n\n\n F.\n\n FALLOW, T. M., Coatham House, Redcar.\n\n FAWCET, Miss, North Bailey, Durham.\n\n FIFE, Capt., Langton Hall, Northallerton.\n\n FLINTOFF, C., The Grange, Scorton.\n\n FORBES, C. M., 14 New St., York (2 copies).\n\n FOSTER, MARTIN, Claremont, Norton.\n\n FOWLER, Rev. J. C., Whorlton, Northallerton.\n\n FRY, J., Cleveland Lodge, Great Ayton.\n\n\n G.\n\n GADDESDEN, Mrs., Hunmanby Hall, East Yorkshire (2 copies).\n\n GALLIMORE, J. S., Escrick, York.\n\n GAUSSEN, Rev., The Vicarage, Malton.\n\n GILPIN BROWN, Mrs., Sedbury Park, Richmond, Yorkshire\n (6 copies).\n\n GISBORNE FAWCETT, T., Yarm (2 copies).\n\n GRAVELY, A. C., Hutton Grange, Guisborough.\n\n GRAY, The Right Hon. Lady Mayoress, York (2 copies).\n\n GREENBANK, THOS., Bank of Liverpool, Sedbergh.\n\n GREENWOOD, Capt., Swartcliff Hall, Leeds.\n\n GREGSON, B. P., The Hall, Caton, Lancaster (2 copies).\n\n\n H.\n\n HALES, Rev., Aysgarth School, Jervaulx (2 copies).\n\n HAMILTON RUSSELL, The Hon. CONSTANCE, Brancepeth Castle.\n\n HARRISON, W., North Road, Ripon.\n\n HARTLEY, Mrs., The Rectory, Burneston.\n\n HAWKE, The Right Hon. Lady, Wighill Park, Tadcaster.\n\n HAWKINS, C., Sowerby, Thirsk.\n\n HEAD, Mrs. J., Hartburn Hall (2 copies).\n\n HEAVISIDES, J., Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n HEDLAM, Rev. A. W., Gainford (2 copies).\n\n HEPPENSTALL, Rev. F. W., East Layton (2 copies).\n\n HESLOP, R. O., 12 Arkenside Hill, Newcastle.\n\n HILL, Miss, Romanby.\n\n HILL, J., Newport, Middlesborough.\n\n HINCKS, Capt. J. C., Terrace House, Richmond (2 copies).\n\n HORSFALL, E. F. WILSON, Potto Grange (2 copies).\n\n HOWARD, Rev. R. G., Hovingham.\n\n HUDDART, Rev. G., Kirklington.\n\n HULTON, \u2014\u2014, Bolton-le-Moors, Lancaster.\n\n HUTTON DARCY, Miss E., Aldborough Hall, Masham.\n\n HULL, The Right Rev. Lord Bishop of.\n\n HUNTER, Rev. C., Seaton Carew.\n\n HUNTER, Rev. F. W., Wath.\n\n\n I.\n\n INGLEBY, Sir H., Bart., Ripley Castle.\n\n IRWIN, Rev. J., Hurworth.\n\n IRVIN, Major, Ragworth, Norton.\n\n\n J.\n\n JAMES, Rev. F. G., The Rectory, Marske.\n\n JEFFERSON, J., Dunnington Priory, York.\n\n JOHNSON, Dr., Dallas Road, Lancaster.\n\n JOHNSTONE, The Hon. Miss, Hackness Hall (8 copies).\n\n JOHNSTONE, The Rev., Hackness Hall.\n\n JONES, ED., Manor House, Scorton.\n\n\n K.\n\n KEARSLEY, Col. G., Prospect House, Ripon.\n\n KENNEDY, Mrs., Wetherby.\n\n KING, F. E., Edgley, Leyburn.\n\n KIRK, W., Norton.\n\n KITCHIN, A. E., The Firs, Great Ayton.\n\n KITCHIN, H., The Grange, Great Ayton (2 copies).\n\n KNIGHT, Rev. J. G. P., Eastgate, Darlington.\n\n\n L.\n\n LANGLEY, W. C., J.P., Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n LASCELLES, The Hon. G. E., Sion Hill, Thirsk (2 copies).\n\n LEADMAN, Dr. ALEX. D. H., Pocklington.\n\n LEE, J. B., The Worshipful the Mayor, Ripon.\n\n LEGARD, J. H., Welham, Malton.\n\n LESLEY, Mrs. A., The Hall, Little Habton.\n\n LEVETT, Rev. T. P., Richmond, Yorkshire.\n\n LOCKWOOD, P. H., Sedbergh.\n\n LODGE, Col., The Rookeries, Bishopdale.\n\n LONDESBOROUGH, The Right Hon. Lord, Londesborough Park.\n\n LONGBOTHAM, Dr. G. F., Birtley.\n\n LOVEJOY, Rev. H. T., Hamsterley, Bishop Auckland.\n\n\n M.\n\n MACCARTIE, Rev. J., Wilton.\n\n MASON, O. MATTHEWS, The Hall, Crayke.\n\n MATTHEWS, F. W., The Bank, Leyburn.\n\n MAULE-COLE, Rev. E., Wetwang.\n\n MAYNARD, A. C. HUTTON, Pickhill House, Pickhill (2 copies).\n\n M^CCRIRICK, Rev. T. W., Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n M^CKAY, W., Haldthorpe House, Scarborough.\n\n MELROSE, J., Clifton Croft, York.\n\n METCALFE, R. M. D., Leyburn.\n\n MICKLE, Dr. G., Kirklington (2 copies).\n\n MIDDLETON, Lady, The Right Hon. JULIA, Setterington House (4 copies).\n\n MILNER, Mrs., The Mount, York (2 copies).\n\n MITCHELL, Rev. A. P., The Rectory, Brotton (2 copies).\n\n MITTAN, Rev. H., Sherburn House, Durham.\n\n MOORSOM, M. MAUDE, Harewood, Leeds.\n\n MORGAN, Rev. F. H., The Rectory, Guisborough.\n\n MORRIS, Rev. M. C. F., The Rectory, Nunburnholme.\n\n\n N.\n\n NELSON, Alderman THOS., J.P., Newstadt, Norton.\n\n\n O.\n\n ORD, CHAS., Guisborough.\n\n ORNSBY, J. A., 5 North Bailey, Durham.\n\n ORTON, Mrs. E. S., Westgate, Guisborough.\n\n OXFORD, The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of.\n\n\n P.\n\n PAGE, J. W., J.P., Norton, Stockton-on-Tees (2 copies).\n\n PEARSON, H., Whitby.\n\n PEASE, A. E., M.P., Pinchingthorpe Hall (2 copies).\n\n PEASE, Mrs. G., Woodside, Darlington.\n\n PEASE, HOWARD, Arcott Hall, Dudley, Northumberland.\n\n PEASE, Sir JOSEPH W., Bart., M.P., Hutton Hall (2 copies).\n\n PEASE, PIKE, Undercliff, Great Ayton.\n\n PECKSTONE, J., Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n PEEL, The Right Hon. Lady, Potterton Hall, Barnoldswick.\n\n PEGLER, T. B., Sholebrook Avenue, Leeds.\n\n PEIRSON, Rev. W. B., Rothwell, Leeds.\n\n PLATNAUER, H. M., St. Olive\u2019s Road, York (2 copies).\n\n PLEWS, W. J., Southend End, Northallerton.\n\n POLLEXFEN, Rev. H., Stanwick, Darlington.\n\n PORTER, CHAS., Mill Vale, Great Ayton.\n\n PRINCE, E., Woodhouse Moor, Leeds (2 copies).\n\n PROUD, J., The Hall, East Layton.\n\n PURVIS, R., 6 Westoe Crescent, South Shields.\n\n\n R.\n\n RAW, Rev. G., 250 Hawthorne Road, Bootle.\n\n REYNARD, Capt., Camp Hill, Bedale.\n\n RICHARDSON, W., Guisborough.\n\n RICHMOND, The Right Rev. Lord Bishop of (4 copies).\n\n RIDDELL, E. C., J.P., The Hall, Leyburn.\n\n RIDDELL, Sir J., Bart., The Hall, Hepple, Rothbury.\n\n RIPLEY, Rev. THOS., Kirklington.\n\n RIPON, The Most Noble the Marchioness of.\n\n RIPON, The Right Rev. Lord Bishop of.\n\n RIPON, The Very Rev. the Dean of (2 copies).\n\n ROBINSON, F. J. H., Easingwold.\n\n ROBINSON, Rev. STEWART, The Rectory, Richmond, Yorkshire.\n\n ROBINSON, Rev. W., The Rectory, Tadcaster.\n\n ROPNER, G., J.P., The Grove, Richmond, Yorkshire.\n\n ROPNER, Col. R., J.P., Preston Hall, Egglescliffe.\n\n ROWCLIFFE, H. S., Guisborough.\n\n ROWSELL, Rev. Canon, Topcliffe.\n\n RUDD, A. G., The Worshipful the Mayor, Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n\n S.\n\n SALMAN, Rev. J. S., The Vicarage, Lastingham.\n\n SCOTT, Rev. ERRINGTON, The Vicarage, Norton.\n\n SEDGWICK, Miss, The Hall, Sedbergh.\n\n SHAND, Dr., Fountain Street, Guisborough.\n\n SHARP, F. J., Skelton, near Boroughbridge.\n\n SHEFFIELD, The Right Hon. Lady, Yeadon Manor, Henley-on-Thames\n (2 copies).\n\n SISSONS, D. W., North Ferriby, Brough.\n\n SISSONS, W., Nunthorpe, Jesmond Park.\n\n SLINGSBY, W., Red House, Moor Monkton, York.\n\n SMITH ALDERSON, G. A., J.P., D.L., Scarborough.\n\n SMITH, E. J., The Bank, Bridlington (4 copies).\n\n SMITH, T. RUDOLPH, 25 Bridge Road, Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n SOMERSON, J., Pocklington.\n\n SPRENT, Dr. W. S., Slingsby.\n\n STANBRIDGE, T., The Hall, Harlsey.\n\n STANNYFORTH, Capt. E., J.P., The Hall, Kirkhammerton.\n\n STARKIE, Miss S., Scarthwaite, Lancashire.\n\n STAVELEY, Miss, Old Slenningford Hall, Ripon.\n\n STIRLING-NEWALL, Mrs., The Hall, Birtley, Durham.\n\n STOBART, \u2014\u2014, The Hall, Spellow Hill (2 copies).\n\n STOBART, Col. W., Pepper Arden.\n\n STOREY, Sir THOS., D.L., Lancaster (2 copies).\n\n ST. QUINTIN, W. H., J.P., Scampston Hall (2 copies).\n\n STRICKLAND, Sir C., Bart., Boynton Hall (2 copies).\n\n STRICKLAND CONSTABLE, Mrs., The Hall, Wassand (2 copies).\n\n SUDLOW, THOS., Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n\n T.\n\n TATTERSAL, O., Green Royd, Ripon (2 copies).\n\n TAYLOR, J., Brotton Grange, Brotton.\n\n TEMPLE, Miss M., Saltergill, Yarm.\n\n TETTLEY, A., The Right Hon. Lady Mayoress, Leeds (2 copies).\n\n THOMSON, J. S., New Buildings, Thirsk (2 copies).\n\n TINDAL, Miss, Kirby Misperton Hall, Pickering.\n\n TOMLINSON, Miss, Heysham House, Lancaster.\n\n TOMLINSON, Rev. W., Vicarage, North Cave.\n\n TREVOR, W. C., Overbeck, Guisborough.\n\n\n V.\n\n VIE, E. J., Paradise Row, Stockton-on-Tees (2 copies).\n\n\n W.\n\n WADE, E. W., 5 Clyde Terrace, Hull.\n\n WADE-DALTON, Col. HAMLET COOTE, C.B., Hawxwell Hall.\n\n WAKEFIELD, The Right Rev. Lord Bishop of.\n\n WALDY, Rev. A. G., Horsley Vicarage, Derby.\n\n WALKER, Capt. GERALD, Hill House, Richmond, Yorkshire.\n\n WALKER, Sir J., Bart., 41 Belgrave Square, S.W.\n\n WARD, Rev. H., The Rectory, Amotherby.\n\n WATSON, FRED. BYERS, Stockton-on-Tees.\n\n WATSON, THOMAS, M.D., Argyle House, Stockton-on-Tees (2\n copies).\n\n WEST, Mrs., Stoneybrough, Thirsk.\n\n WHITE, Col. W. A., J.P., Clifton Green, York.\n\n WILLAN, Rev. A., The Vicarage, Copmanthorpe.\n\n WILLIAMSON, T., J.P., Fairfield, Ripon.\n\n WILSON, Miss A., Hutton House, Hutton Rudby.\n\n WILSON, Mrs. A., Rockhurst, York (2 copies).\n\n WILSON, I., Nunthorpe Hall.\n\n WILSON, Rev. J. ALDER, Craythorne Rectory, Yarm.\n\n WILSON, J. G., 12 South Bailey, Durham (2 copies).\n\n WILSON, P., Bedale.\n\n WILTON, R., The Rev. Canon, Londesborough.\n\n WIMBUSH, Rev. S., The Rectory, Terrington.\n\n WITHINGTON, Rev. R., Rectory, Great Ayton.\n\n WOOD, F. MAURICE DALE, Swainby, Northallerton.\n\n WOOD, Rev. F., The Rectory, Nunthorpe.\n\n WRIGHT, Professor J., M.A., Langdale House, Oxford (2 copies).\n\n WYNDHAM, Mrs., 31 Cambridge Street, Hyde Park, S.W.\n\n WYNNE FINCH, Mrs., Manor House, Stokesley.\n\n\n Y.\n\n YEOMAN, Miss C., Prior House, Richmond, Yorkshire.\n\n YORK, His Grace the Archbishop of.\n\n\n Z.\n\n ZETLAND, The Right Hon. Lord, Aske Hall, Richmond, Yorkshire.","title":"Wit, Character, Folklore & Customs of the North Riding of Yorkshire: With a Glossary of over 4,000 Words and Idioms Now in Use","tradition":"myth-cosmogony","translated_text":null,"word_count":146675}