A portly, love-resisting dame,
Contemptuous, proud, and haughty;
But yet, tho' "fat, and forty," too,
She was not two-and-forty.
And Willy long had sought and sighed,
To gain this pretty maid;
"I have no trade," said he, "so, sure,
My love can't be betrayed."
To Martha, then, he trembling went,
And said, "My dear, 'tis true,
Though I have nothing in my store,
I've love in store for you.
"And if thou wilt, thou may'st become--"
But here his tongue was tied;
And then she bridled up, and said,
She ne'er would be his bride.
Then, turning Willie out of doors,
She said, "Go, go along;
I hate the man who's always Wright,
Yet always doing wrong."
"I leave you, then," said he : "farewell!
of peace I'm now bereft;
If I an always right and wrong,
You must be right--and left."
So then he closed his little store,
Shut up his door and blind;
And settled his accounts, and died,
And left no Will behind. M.
--------
RICHARD AND BETTY AT HICKLETON FAIR.
As I waur ganging out last Sat'day neet to buy half-a pound o' bakon, who shon'd I meet but my old sweet-heart, Betty Hunt, un she said, "Aye, Richard, be that thou, "an I
said, "Ees, sure it be," un she said, "Richard, wudn't thee be ganging to Hickleton Vair at morrow?" and I said, "I nowd'nt not, haply I mought," and Betty la'aught; and I said, "I wou'd," and I did, and I went to Hickleton Vair.
