Yorkshire Dialect Poems Part 20

To-night it is the New-year's night, to-morrow is the day,"

And we are come for our right, and for our ray,(2) As we used to do in old King Henry's day.

Sing', fellows, sing, Hagman-heigh.

If you go to the bacon-flick, cut me a good bit; Cut, cut and low, beware of your maw; Cut, cut and round, beware of your thumb, That me and my merry men may have some.

Sing, fellows, sing, Hagman-heigh.

If you go to the Black-ark, bring me ten mark; Ten mark, ten pound, throw it down upon the ground, That me and my merry men may have some.

Sing, fellows, sing, Hagman-heigh.

1. Hagmena, or Hogmanay, is a north-country name for New Year's eve; the name is also applied to the offering for which children go round and beg on that evening.

2. A Portuguese coin of emall value.

Round the Year

New Year's Day

Lucky-bird, lucky-bird, chuck, chuck, chuck!

Maister an' mistress, it's time to git up.

If you don't git up, you'll have nea luck; Lucky- bird, lucky-bird, chuck, chuck, chuck!

Candlemas

On Can'lemas, a February day, Throw can'le an' can'lestick away.

A Can'lemas crack Lays mony a sailor on his back.

If Can'lemas be lound(1) an' fair, Ya hauf o' t' winter's to coom an' mair.

If Can'lemas day be murk an' foul, Ya hauf o' t' winter's gean at Yule.

1. Calm.

February Fill-Dike

February fill-d.y.k.e, Fill it wi' eyther black or white.

March muck it oot, Wi' a besom an' a cloot.

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday, palm away; Next Sunday's Easter-day.

Good Friday

On Good Friday rist thy pleaf,(1) Start nowt, end nowt, that's eneaf.

Lang Friday's niver dean, Sea lig i' bed whal Setterday nean.

1. Rest thy plough.

Royal Oak Day

It's Royal Oak Day, T' twenty-naanth o' May.

An' if ye dean't gie us holiday, We'll all run away.

Harvest Home and the Mell-Sheaf(1)

1. The " mell " is the last sheaf of corn left in the field when the harvest is gathered in.

We have her, we have her, A coo iv a tether.

At oor toon-end.

A yowe(1) an' a lamb, A pot an' a pan.

May we git seafe in Wiv oor harvest-yam, Wiv a sup o' good yal, An' some ha'pence to spend.

3. Ewe.