HODGE ; " THE NATERAL MAN."
IT'S nateral to wish for land in them as 'asn't any ; It's nateral to think a pound is 'appier nor a penny ; It's nateral to try and get, and gettin' not to lose it, An' mighty nateral 'avin' got for yer own good to use it.
It's nateral for them who's up to kip down them who's under; How cum that other way about 'as oilers bin my wonder ; That tother way of lyin' down for others to pass over, Like openin' gates for nayburs' cows to cum an' eat yer clover.
Yer tork o' kindness, love, an' all : it sounds all mighty grand; I knock a thistle on the 'ead when I've a stick in 'and ; Yer like to see another's crop as blooms when yer's is blited; I doan't care who ist suffers 'tong, as long as I am rited.
Yer say, I shad to others do, as I wud be done by ; Well, Zur, if yer've a nag to sell 'ere's wan as wants to buy ! Tell me 'is tricks, 'is age, an' wind, an' why 'is legs is swellin' If 'e's the 'oss yer say 'e is, then, man, why are ye sellin' ?
No, Zur, down 'ere in Hagglinton, we counts an 'onest man Is wan as oilers gets the most, an' girls the least he can : He'll swet an' haggle, aware 'e won't, brake orf, an' go 'is way ; But giv'n 'is 'and, an' sed 'is ward, 'e'll never brake 'is say.
Yer call me Hodge : my name is Jones : thare's Joneses by the score In churchyard thare they oilers ware a stiddy sort, an' allure ; But yer've two things we 'avn't got, the money an' the gab; Yer see, yer cum before us, Zur, i' the fine old game o' grab.
Its our turn now. 'Tie well for you to tork o' men as brothers : We'll do it too as well as you, when we're atop of others. But now I do as I'm dun by, an' thorns is more than flowers : loves men—Wal, a little bit, an' out o' bizness 'ours.
A. G. B.
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