Ees; uncle had thik small hwomestead, The leäzes an' the bits o' mead, Besides the orcha'd in his prime, An' copse-wood vor the winter time. His wold black meäre, that draw'd his cart, An' he, wer seldom long apeärt; Vor he work'd hard an' païd his woy, An' zung so litsom as a bwoy, As he toss'd an' work'd, An' blow'd an' quirk'd, "I'm out o' debt an' out o' danger, An' I can feäce a friend or stranger; I've a vist vor friends, an' I'll vind a peäir Vor the vu'st that do meddle wi' me or my meäre."

His meäre's long vlexy vetlocks grow'd Down roun' her hoofs so black an' brode; Her head hung low, her taïl reach'd down A-bobbèn nearly to the groun'. The cwoat that uncle mwostly wore Wer long behind an' straïght avore,

Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect — Part 62

An' in his shoes he had girt buckles, An' breeches button'd round his huckles; An' he zung wi' pride, By's wold meäre's zide, "I'm out o' debt an' out o' danger, An' I can feäce a friend or stranger; I've a vist vor friends, an' I'll vind a peäir Vor the vu'st that do meddle wi' me or my meare."

Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect — Part 62

An' he would work,--an' lwoad, an' shoot, An' spur his heaps o' dung or zoot; Or car out haÿ, to sar his vew Milch cows in corners dry an' lew; Or dreve a zyve, or work a pick, To pitch or meäke his little rick; Or thatch en up wi' straw or zedge, Or stop a shard, or gap, in hedge; An' he work'd an' flung His eärms, an' zung "I'm out o' debt an' out o' danger, An' I can feäce a friend or stranger; I've a vist vor friends, an' I'll vind a peäir Vor the vu'st that do meddle wi' me or my meare."

Poems of Rural Life in the Dorset Dialect — Part 62

An' when his meäre an' he'd a-done Their work, an' tired ev'ry bwone, He zot avore the vire, to spend His evenèn wi' his wife or friend; An' wi' his lags out-stratch'd vor rest, An' woone hand in his wes'coat breast, While burnèn sticks did hiss an' crack, An' fleämes did bleäzy up the back, There he zung so proud In a bakky cloud, "I'm out o' debt an' out o' danger, An' I can feäce a friend or stranger; I've a vist vor friends, an' I'll vind a peäir Vor the vu'st that do meddle wi' me or my meare."

From market how he used to ride, Wi' pot's a-bumpèn by his zide Wi' things a-bought--but not vor trust, Vor what he had he païd vor vu'st; An' when he trotted up the yard, The calves did bleäry to be sar'd, An' pigs did scoat all drough the muck, An' geese did hiss, an' hens did cluck; An' he zung aloud, So pleased an' proud, "I'm out o' debt an' out o' danger, An' I can feäce a friend or stranger; I've a vist vor friends, an' I'll vind a peäir Vor the vu'st that do meddle wi' me or my meare."