Th' wynt blows keen through th' shiverin' thorns,
An' th' leet looks wild i'th sky;
Come, Tet, stir up that fire;
an' draw that keyther gently by;
I've done my weshin', gronny;
an' I've tidied every thing,
An', neaw I'll sit me deawn to sew,
an' hearken th' kettle sing.
Bring in some coals; an' shut that dur,—
It's quite a wintry day;
Reitch deawn that ham: for Robin likes
A relish to his tay.
Sweep th' grate; an' set yon table eawt;
Put th' tay-pot upo' th' oon;
Its gettin on for baggin'-time,
An' he'll be comin' soon.
The fire brims dear; an' th' heawse begins
A-lookin' brisk an' breet,
As th' time draws near when he gets back
Fro' teawn at th' edge o' neet;
It makes one hutch wi' glee to yer
A favourite fuut come whoam;
An' it's very fine to hearken, when
One thinks it's sure to come.
Th' cat pricks up her ears at th' sneck.
Wi' mony a leetsome toot;
An' th' owd arm-cheer i'th corner seems
As if it yerd his fuut;
Th' window blinks; an' th' clock begins
A-tickin' leawd an' fain;
An' th' tin things winkin' upo' th' wole,—
They groon as breet again.
Th' kettle's hummin' o'er wi' fun—
Just look at th' end o'th speawt;
It's like a little sooty lad
That's set his lips to sheawt:
Th' wayter-drops 'at fo'n fro' th' tap,
Are gettin' wick wi' glee;
An' yore fain, gronny, too,—I know,—
But noan as fain as me!
Keep th' rockers gooin' soft and slow,
An' shade that leet away;
I think this little duck's o'th mend,
Hoo sleeps so weel to-day;
Doze on, my darlin'; keep 'em shut, —
Those teeny windows blue;
Good Lord; if aught should happen thei
What could thi mammy do!
Here, gronny, put this cover on,
An' tuck it nicely in;
Keep th' keyther stirrin' gently; an'
Make very little din:
An' lap thoose dimpled honds away
Fro' th' frosty winter air;
They lie'n a-top o'th bit o' quilt,
Like two clock-hummers theer!
But stop; hoo's laughin'! Come, hie up,—
My bonny little puss!
God bless it! Daddy's noan far off;
Let mammy have a buss!
He's here! He's here! Tet, bring that cheer!
Eh, dear; these darlin's two!
If it wur not for this chylt an' him
What could a body do!