d nobbut been havin a bit ov a joak, an'
left it behund. They gate it hooam agean an'after Billy's mother had
given him a gooid tawkin to, th' thing dropt.

But aw think aw'st niver forget a marlock some chaps played him one day:
ther wor abaat six on 'em, an' they made it up to freeten him a bit, an'
mak him believe he wor baan to dee; soa just as he coom off th' corner
o' one o' th' streets, a chap steps up to him.--"Gooid mornin, Billy! ha
does ta feel this mornin, lad?" "Oh! Furst rate!" "Why aw'm fain to hear
it," he sed, "but, by th' heart! lad! tha luk's ill'!" "Does ta think aw
do?" "Eea, aw'm sure tha does!" "Why aw dooant feel to ail owt 'at aw
know on,' but aw dooant think 'at this hawkin agrees wi me so weel."
"Happen net, Billy! it doesn't agree wi ivery body, but tha mun tak care
o' thisen, nah do!" When he'd getten a bit farther another chap met
him:--"Well Billy!" he sed, "ha's trade lukkin this mornin lad?" "Things
is lukkin rayther black this mornin." "Tha luks white enuff onyway, has
ta been havin another wick o' 'cold porrige aitin?" "Nay aw hav'nt! but
aw dooant feel quite as weel as aw do sometimes, for aw fancy this job
doesn't agree wi me." "Aw dooant think it does bi' th' luk on thi, if
tha gooas on tha'll be able ta tak a lodger i' that suit o' clooas,
tha'll ha room enuff,--but tak care o' thisen, lad." Poor Billy wor
beginnin to feel poorly already, but when another met him an' axed him
if it wor h' furst time he'd been aght latly, it knock'd th' breeath
reig aght on him. He tried to shaat "puttates!" but he nobbut gate hauf
way throo, for when he'd sed "put!" he had'nt breeath left to say
"tates." "This'll niver do," he said, "aw mun goa hooam an' to bed, its
noa gooid trailin abaat th' streets this fashion, a'a, ha badly aw do
feel! an' all's come on soa sudden! A'a, man! man! what are ta?--as
sooin as th' organ strings get aght o' tune, tha'rt noa moor fit for nor
a barrel baght bottom, nor as mich! for they could turn a barrel tother
end up; but man! a'a dear a me!" "Gee up, Neddy, aw'm feeard tha'll
sooin have to luk aght for a new maister."

When Billy gate hooam wi' his donkey, his mother wor fair capt. "What's
up, Billy," shoo sed, "Has ta sell'd up?" "Nay, mother, aw've nooan
sell'd up, but aw'm ommost done up: get that bed ready an' let me lig me
daan a bit." "Why what's th' matter? Has ta hurt thi or summat?" "Noa,
but aw'm varry poorly." "Where does ta feel to ail owt, lad!" "Aw d