The Two LamplightersI niver thowt when I grew owdI’d tak to leetin’ lamps;I sud have said, I’d rayther padMy hoof on t’ road wi’ tramps.But sin I gate that skelp[1]i’ t’ mine,I’m wankle[2]i’ my heead;So gaffer said, I’d give ower warkAn’ leet town lamps atsteead.At first, when I were liggin’ snugI’ bed, warm as a bee,’T were hard to rise and get agateAs sooin as t’ clock strake three.An’ I were flaid to hear my stepsEchoin’ on ivery wall;An’ flaider yet when down by t’ churchUllets would skreek and call.But now I’m flaid o’ nowt; I loveAll unkerd[3]sounds o’ t’ neet,Frae childer talkin’ i’ their dreamsTo t’ tramp o’ p’licemen’ feet.But most of all I love to harkTo t’ song o’ t’ birds at dawn;They wakken up afore it gloams,When t’ dew ligs thick on t’ lawn.If I feel lonesome, up I lookTo t’ sky aboon my heead;An’ theer’s yon stars all glestrin’ breet,Like daisies in a mead.But sometimes, when I’m glowerin’ up,I see the Lord hissen;He’s doutin’ all yon lamps o’ HeavenThat shines on mortal men.He lowps alang frae star to star,As cobby[4]as can be;Mebbe He reckons fowk’s asleep,Wi’ niver an eye to see.But I hae catched Him at his wark,For all He maks no din;He leaves a track o’ powder’d gowd[5]To show where He has bin.He’s got big lamps an’ laatle lamps,An’ lamps that twinkles red;Im capped to see Him dout ’em allAfore I’m back i’ bed.But He don’t laik about His wark,Or stop to hark to t’ birds;He minds His business, does the Lord,An’ wastes no gaumless words.I grow more like Him ivery day,For all I walk so lame;An’, happen, there will coom a timeI’ll beat Him at His game.Thrang as Throp’s wife, I’ll dout my lampsAfore He’s gotten so far;An’ then I’ll shout—“I’ve won my race,I’ve bet Him by a star.”[1]Blow.[2]Unsteady.[3]Strange, eerie.[4]Active.[5]The Milky Way.
I niver thowt when I grew owdI’d tak to leetin’ lamps;I sud have said, I’d rayther padMy hoof on t’ road wi’ tramps.But sin I gate that skelp[1]i’ t’ mine,I’m wankle[2]i’ my heead;So gaffer said, I’d give ower warkAn’ leet town lamps atsteead.At first, when I were liggin’ snugI’ bed, warm as a bee,’T were hard to rise and get agateAs sooin as t’ clock strake three.An’ I were flaid to hear my stepsEchoin’ on ivery wall;An’ flaider yet when down by t’ churchUllets would skreek and call.But now I’m flaid o’ nowt; I loveAll unkerd[3]sounds o’ t’ neet,Frae childer talkin’ i’ their dreamsTo t’ tramp o’ p’licemen’ feet.But most of all I love to harkTo t’ song o’ t’ birds at dawn;They wakken up afore it gloams,When t’ dew ligs thick on t’ lawn.If I feel lonesome, up I lookTo t’ sky aboon my heead;An’ theer’s yon stars all glestrin’ breet,Like daisies in a mead.But sometimes, when I’m glowerin’ up,I see the Lord hissen;He’s doutin’ all yon lamps o’ HeavenThat shines on mortal men.He lowps alang frae star to star,As cobby[4]as can be;Mebbe He reckons fowk’s asleep,Wi’ niver an eye to see.But I hae catched Him at his wark,For all He maks no din;He leaves a track o’ powder’d gowd[5]To show where He has bin.He’s got big lamps an’ laatle lamps,An’ lamps that twinkles red;Im capped to see Him dout ’em allAfore I’m back i’ bed.But He don’t laik about His wark,Or stop to hark to t’ birds;He minds His business, does the Lord,An’ wastes no gaumless words.I grow more like Him ivery day,For all I walk so lame;An’, happen, there will coom a timeI’ll beat Him at His game.Thrang as Throp’s wife, I’ll dout my lampsAfore He’s gotten so far;An’ then I’ll shout—“I’ve won my race,I’ve bet Him by a star.”
[1]Blow.
[2]Unsteady.
[3]Strange, eerie.
[4]Active.
[5]The Milky Way.