What tho' th' claads aboon luk dark, Th' sun's just waitin to peep throo, Let us buckle to awr wark, For ther's lots o' jobs to do: Tho' all th' world luks dark an' drear, Let's ha' faith, an' persevere. He's a fooil 'at sits an' mumps 'Coss some troubles hem him raand! Man mud allus be i'th dumps, If he sulk'd coss fortun fraand; Th' time 'll come for th' sky to clear:-- Let's ha' faith, an' persevere. If we think awr lot is hard, Niver let us mak a fuss; Lukkin raand, at ivery yard, We'st find others war nor us; We have still noa cause to fear! Let's ha' faith, an' persevere. A faint heart, aw've heeard 'em say, Niver won a lady fair: Have a will! yo'll find a way! Honest men ne'er need despair. Better days are drawin' near:-- Then ha' faith, an' persevere. Workin men,--nah we've a voice, An' con help to mak new laws; Let us iver show awr choice Lains to strengthen virtue's cause, Wrangs to reighten,--griefs to cheer; This awr motto--'persevere.' Let us show to foreign empires Loyalty's noa empty booast; We can scorn the thirsty vampires If they dar molest awr cooast: To awr Queen an' country dear Still we'll cling an' persevere. But as on throo life we hurry, By whativer path we rooam, Let us ne'er forget i'th' worry, True reform begins at hooam: Then, to prove yorsens sincere, Start at once; an' persevere. Hard wark, happen yo may find it, Some dear folly to forsake, Be detarmined ne'er to mind it! Think, yor honor's nah at stake. Th' gooid time's drawin varry near! Then ha' faith, an' persevere. To a Roadside Flower Tha bonny little pooasy! aw'm inclined To tak thee wi' me: But yet aw think if tha could spaik thi mind, Tha'd ne'er forgie me; For I' mi jacket button-hoil tha'd quickly dee, An' life is short enough, boath for mi-sen an' thee. Here, if aw leeave thee bi th' rooadside to flourish, Whear scoors may pass thee, Some heart 'at has few other joys to cherish May stop an' bless thee: Then bloom, mi little pooasy! Tha'rt a beauty, Sent here to bless: Smile on--tha does thi duty. Aw wodn't rob another of a joy Sich as tha's gien me; For aw felt varry sad, mi little doy Until aw'd seen thee. An' may each passin', careworn, lowly brother, Feel cheered like me, an' leave thee for another. Prose. Hartley's Cream of Wit and Humour The New Year What a charm ther is abaat owt new; whether it's a new year or a new waist-coit. Aw sometimes try to fancy what sooart ov a world ther'd be if ther wor nowt new.