IX

Naäy—let ma stroäk tha down till I maäkes tha es smooth es silk,

But if I 'ed married tha, Robby, thou'd not 'a been worth thy milk,

Thou'd niver 'a cotch'd ony mice but 'a left me the work to do,

And 'a taäen to the bottle beside, so es all that I 'ears be true;

But I loovs tha to maäke thysen 'appy, an' soa purr awaäy, my dear,

Thou 'ed wellnigh purr'd ma awaäy fro' my oän two 'oonderd a-year.