up.' Soa they parted, an Abe grew into a man, an wheariver he wor fed he
didn't disgrace his pastur. At th' time awm tellin abaat he worked in a
warehaase wi two or three moor, an' one mornin when th' waggon coom ther
wor a big parcel for Abe, an' one o' thease chaps couldn't do but luk
what wor in it, an' yo may fancy ha suited they wor when they saw a side
o' sparrib. It wor sooin decided to have a lark, an' one o'th' chaps
propooased to send it to th' 'Three Doves,' wi orders to cook it for th'
supper, and to provide puttates &c. for a duzzen. Abe wornt long befoor
he coom, soa one on 'em tell'd him 'at they'd been tawkin abaat having a
bit ov a doo, an' they should be varry glad if he'd join 'em. Abe sed he
had an engagement, but he'd put it off, an' they mud expect him.

They knew a few chums 'at could enjoy a spree an' soa they invited 'em
to mak up th' number, an' let' em into th' secret. At eight o' clock
they wor all i' ther places, an' in coom a big dish wi' this sparrib
nicely rooasted. Abe wor vooated into th' cheer to cut it up an' deeal
it aat, an' he did it wi' a willin hand. After sarvin 'em all he helped
hissen, an' it began to disappear like magic. Abe thowt he'd niver been
at sich a jolly do in his life, ivery body seemed i' sich gooid spirits,
an' they laft wol he feeared they'd chooak. He wor as jolly as ony on
'em, but he didn't let it interfere wi' his business. Come lads,' he
sed, 'pass up yor plates! let's see if we connot finish it, for awm sure
its grand.' They wornt at all backward at bein helpt a second time, and
rare gooid suppers they made. When th' aitin stuff wor sided, glasses o'
hot punch coom in, for which ivery body paid a share, an' then one o'th'
chaps propooased th' health o'th' gentleman 'at had given em' sich a
treat. Another seconded it an' it wor carried. Abraham called for th'
name, but they sed that wor a secret, but as he didn't get up to
respond, they'd be mich obliged if Abe wod do so for him. Abe wor allus
fond o' makkin a speech, soa he wor up in a minit. 'Gentlemen,' he sed,
'awm glad to see yo,--yo've done justice to what's been provided, an'
awm sure yo're varry welcome.' When he sed this ther wor sich clappin
an' stampin wol he wor foorced to drop it an' sit daan, an' he couldn't
help thinkin 'at noa speech o' his had made sich an impression befoor.

After gettin warmed up wi punch, he tell'd 'em 'at he expected some
sparrib comin th' next day, an' it had been his i