For if ma top comes badly down, Or ought else keeps me lang away, She cheers me wi' the weel-knawn soun'-- 'Thou's had a lang and weary day.'

If aw be naggy, Nanny's smile Suin myeks me blithe as ony lark; And fit to loup a yett or stile-- Ma varra byens forget to wark.

Ma Nan--ma bairns--ma happy hyem-- Set ower hard labour's bitter pill-- O Providence! but spare me them-- The warld may then wag as it will.

She waits upon me hand and foot-- Aw want for nought that she can gie me-- She fills ma pipe wi patten cut-- Leets it, and hands it kindly to me.

She tells me a' her bits o' news, Pick'd up the time aw've been away; And fra ma mouth the cuttie pous When sleep o'ercomes ma weary clay.

Sae weel she ettles what aw get-- Sae far she a'ways gars it gan-- That nyen can say we are i' debt, Or want for owther claes or scran.

Then drink about, whe minds a jot-- Let's drown wor cares i' barleycorn-- Here, la.s.s, come bring another pot, The _cawler_ dissent _call_ to morn."

"Nay, hinny Ned, ne langer stay-- We mun be hyem to little Neddy-- He's just a twel'munth awd to-day, And will be crying for his deddy.

Aw'll tyek thee hyem a pot o' beer, A nice clean pipe and backy te-- Thou knaws aw like to hae thee near-- Come, hinny, come, gan hyem wi' me."

Like music's soft and soothing powers These honey'd sounds drop on his ear: Or like the warm and fertile showers That leave the face of nature dear.

Here was the power of woman shown, When women use it properly-- He threw his pipe and reck'ning down-- "Aw will--aw will gan hyem wi' thee."

At home arriv'd, right cheerfully She set him in his easy chair-- Clapt little Neddy on his knee, And bid him see his image there.

The mother pleas'd--the father glad, Swore Neddy had twee bonny een-- "There ne'er was, Ned, a finer lad; And, then, he's like thee as a bean.

Aw've luck'd for _Wilson_ a' this day, To cut th' pig down 'fore it's dark; But he'll be guzzling at the pay, And winden on about his wark.

What lengths aw've often heard him gan, Sweering--and he's not fond of fibbin 'He'll turn his back on ne'er a man For owther killin pigs or libbin.'

Still _Jack's_ an honest, canty c.o.c.k, As ever drain'd the juice of barley; Aw've knawn him sit myest roun' the clock Swatt'ling and clatt'ring on wi' _Charley_.

Now, Deddy, let me ease yor arm; Gi'e me the bairn, lay down yor pipe, And get the supper when it's warm-- It's just a bit o' gissy's tripe.

Then come to me, ma little lammy-- Come, thou apple o' ma e'e-- Come, ma Neddy, t' the mammy-- Come, ma darlin'--come to me!"

Here, see a woman truly blest Beyond the reach of pomp and pride; Her _infant_ happy at her breast-- Her _husband_ happy by her side.

Then take a lesson, pamper'd wealth, And learn how little it requires To make us happy when we've health-- Content--and moderate desires.

"Tha father, Ned, is far frae weel, He lucks, poor body, varra bad; A' ower he hez a cawdrife feel, But thinks it but a waff o' cawd.

Aw've just been ower wi' something warm, To try to ease the weary coff, Which baffles byeth the _drugs_ and _charm_!

And threatens oft to tyek him off.

He says, 'O Nan, ma life thou's spar'd-- The good it's duin me's past beleevin'-- The Lord will richly thee rewaird-- The care o' me will win thee heeven.'

Now as his bottle's nearly tuim, Mind think me on, when at the town, To get the drop black beer and rum, As little else will now gan down.

We mebby may be awd worsel's, When poverty's cawd blast is blawin'; And want a frien' when nature fyels, And life her last few threeds is drawin'.

Besides, the bits o' good we dee The verra happiest moments gie us; And mun, aw think, still help a wee, At last, frae awfu' skaith to free us.

Let cant and rant then rave at will Agyen a' warks--aw here declare it-- We'll still the hungry belly fill, Se lang as ever we can spare it."

Here, then, we'll leave this happy pair Their "home affairs" to con and settle; Their "ways and means" with frugal care, For marketing next day to ettle.

THE NEWCASTLE BLUNDERBUSS!

Or, TRAVELLING EXTRAORDINARY.

BY R. EMERY.

Tune--"Calder Fair."

Ne mair o' grand inventions brag, 'Bout Steamers and Chain Brigs, man-- Newca.s.sel's sel' still bears the bell, An' bothers a' their wigs, man: 'Bout Gleediscowpies, silly things, Ne langer make a fuss, man-- E'en silk Balloons mun bend their croons To Reidie's Blunderbuss,[50] man.

Fal, de ral, &c.

As Geordy Fash and Dolly Raw Cam stagg'rin up the Kee, man, Wi' Teasdale's beer, an' sic like cheer, They'd rather myed ow'r free, man-- Into this Blunderbuss they gat, 'Side two outlandish chiels, man, But ere they'd time to leet their pipes, They fand theirsels i' Shields, man!

Fal, de ral, &c.

Each day on wor Sandhill it stands-- If in tid ye should pop, man, An' close yor winkers half an hour, Clean ow'r the sea ye'll hop, man!

The Kee-side Jarvies now may run, An' barbers' clerks se gay, man-- 'Twad be a spree if, fra' wor Kee, They'd cut to Bot'ny Bay, man!

Fal, de ral, &c.

This grand machine wor Tyne will clean, An' make it's sand-banks flee, man, Like Corby Craws ow'r Marsden Rock, Into the German Sea, man!-- Wor canny Mayor ne pains will spare, He'll back it out an' out, man, Till ev'ry nuisance in wor toon For Shields shall take the route, man.

Fal, de ral, &c.

Footnote 50: Omnibusses commenced running between Newcastle and Shields every hour, (from eight o'clock in the morning till eight at night,) Nov. 12, 1832.

A PITMAN'S VISIT TO NEWCASTLE ON VALENTINE'S DAY.

Tune--"Newcastle Fair."

Od smash! marra, where hast thou been, Aw been luiken for ye a yel hour; For to tell of a seet aw hae seen, Sic a seet as aw ne'er saw before: Aw straight to Newca.s.sel did gan, And gat in just as it struck ten; Then through the streets aw quickly ran, For to get heame suin agyen.

Rum ti idity, &c.

Just as aw was runnin amain!

Aw comes alangside of a shop, Wi' papers clagg'd on every pane-- To see them aw thought aw wad stop.

But oh! sic reed flames an' sic darts!

And sae mony lovers together; And sic bonny arrows and hearts-- Od zounds! they were painted quite clever.