ommost
browt mi heart up."

"If that's all tha hadn't mich to bring up, but if tha wor like other
husbands tha'd set to wark an fix that cellar up, an buy some hens an
then tha'd know who laid em. But tha'll do nowt nobbut sit o' thi
backside an smook or else spend thi time i' some public wi a glass anent
thi. Aw wonder sometimes ha tha can fashion to pool up to th' table an
ait at all. But ther's nowt trubbles thee soa long as tha gets thi belly
full an has a shillin i' thi pocket an a gooid bed to come to at neet."

"Why, when aw mentioned keepin hens last spring, tha flew up in a
tantrum, an sed tha'd have nooan sich powse abaat th' haase, but if tha
thinks we could do wi some aw'll get some to-day. This is Setterdy an
ther's allus plenty to be had i'th market. Aw think it ud be a gooid
idea for ther's nowt awm fonder on nor a fresh egg in a drop o' rum in a
mornin."

"Rum agean! It's th' topmost thowt i' thi mind. If aw live longer nor
thee, aw'll put a bottle into thi coffin. Tho' if aw did, aw do believe
tha'd get up an sup it. But if tha likes to goa an buy a couple o' nice
hens an fix a place up for em, tha can tak this five shillin an see what
tha can do. An if tha brings me mi reight change an doesn't stop long,
aw'll see if aw cannot have summat for thi at tha'll like."

"Aw'll hunt up old blind Billy, an get a couple off him, becoss aw know
he's honest, an ther's net monny honest fowk i'th hen trade."

Sammywell worn't long befoor he wor off, an as he wor passin th' Market
Tavern, he saw blind Billy commin aght. He tell'd him just what he
wanted, an Billy sed, "As far as aw can see, tha's just come at th'
reight time, for aw've three grand young pullets at's all ready for
layin, an aw'll let thi have em cheap. Six shillin for three; and
they're cheap at seven an sixpence."

"Nay, tha axes too much, they're sich little ens."

"Aw nivver saw three bigger at that price," he sed, an as he wor born
stooan blind that wor true.

"Aw'll gie thi five shillin, an strike th' bargain just nah," sed
Sammywell.

"Tha'rt a hard customer, but as we've had monny a drink together, tha
shall have em."

Soa th' brass an th' chickens changed hands an Sammywell wor sooin back
hooam wi his bargain.

"Tha hasn't been long," sed Mally, as shoo lukt at th' hens, "an whear's
mi change?"

"Ha mich change did ta expect aght o' five shillin, when aw've browt thi
three layin pullets?"

"If awd gien thi ten it ud just ha