The Poetry Corner

Somdy's Chonce.

By John Hartley

What's a poor lass like me to do, 'At langs for a hooam ov her own? Aw'm a hale an bonny wench too, An nubdy can say aw'm heigh-flown. Aw want nawther riches nor style, Just a gradely plain felly will do; But aw'm waitin a varry long while An ov sweethearts aw've getten but two. But th' trubble's just this, - let me tell, What aw want an will have if aw can, To share wedded life wi' misel, Is a man 'at's worth callin a man. But Harry's as stiff as a stoop, An Jack, onny lass wod annoy, - Harry's nobbut a soft nin-com-poop, An Jack's just a hobble-de-hoy. If caarin at th' hob ov a neet, Wi' a softheeaded twaddlin fooil; Aw should order him aght o' mi seet, Or be cooamin his yure wi' a stooil. His wage, - what it wor, - couldn't bring Joy enuff to mak up for life's pains, If aw fan misen teed to a thing, At could work, ait an live, withaat brains. "But ther's love," yo may say, - Hi that's it! But aw nivver could love a machine; An aw'll net wed a chap 'at's baat wit, Net if he could mak me a queen. Aw'd like one booath hansum an strong, An honest, truehearted an kind, But aw'm sewer aw could ne'er get along, Wi' a felly 'at had'nt a mind. Soa Harry will ha to be seckt, For a nin-com-poop's nowt i' mi line; As for Jack, - he could nivver expect To win sich a true heart as mine. Ther's lasses enuff to be had, 'At'll jump at sich chonces wi' joy, They'll tak owt at's i'th' shape ov a lad, Quite content wi' a hobble-de-hoy. Aw dooant want to spend all mi life, Like a saar, neglected old maid; Aw'd rayther bi th' hawf be a wife, Nor to blossom an wither i'th' shade. Soa if onny young chap wants a mate, Tho' he may net be hansum nor rich, If he's getten some sense in his pate, Aw'm his chonce. - An he need'nt have mich.