on 28/3/02 9:37 am, Arthur at [log in to unmask] wrote:


yes I like this one, Arthur, though it seems a shame to describe the loved
doll so harshly. Its a great story, and the dialect fits it perfectly.
Sally E
> Tales at my Mother's Knee #4
>
> Mi Fust Doll.
>
> Ah wuh put in a charity 'ooam
> when ah wur eight.
> Yer grandma wur 'avin' ar Leonard,
> ah 'ad a bad chest,
> an' yer Grandad wur aht a wuk, ageean.
> Ah wunt in long, nor abun eight wik,
> bur it wur ovah Chrissmus
> an' ah wuh missin' everiwun
> an cryin' a lot, they sed.
>
> 'Appen they wanted to cheeah me up or summat
> but they assed me what ah'd like Santuh to bring mi.
> Ah'd niver been assed afore
> an' ah wur a bit gobstruck at fust
> then ah bethowt mesen
> as haw ah'd niver 'ad a doll
> an' allus wanted wun,
> so ah towd 'em, a doll plees.
>
> Well come Chrissmus ah wuh fair excited
> as ony kid wud bi, feelin' rahnd fut of mi bed,
> ah cun't wait to fahnd an ferrit i' mi stockin'.
>
> An theear it wuh!! A doll.
> Huh! It were a reet bit a tat!
> A nuss's uniform wi' a red cross on't pinny
> an' a lirrul whaht 'at an' 'air
> bur it 'ad a cotton eead,
> all flat and pinched in wi stitches, ugli,
> painted and smooith,
> and t'air wuh nobbut a curl stuck on wi gloo.
>
> Yew'd a thowt ah'd ave bin upset
> but even tho ah noo it wuh tat
> ah luvved me fust doll
> an' ah gorra a cowum and ah sat
> and sang to 'er funny flat fayus
> an cowumed an cowumed that glooed tangle
> till ah got t' cowum to run throo it proper
> lahk real 'air
> but bi then thuh wuh nobbut three 'airs left
> but shi wuh mine, tha knaws.
>
> Ah lost 'er wen wi mooived 'arse latuh
> aht a 'alifax up to Ogden Fut,
> but ah sall allus rimembuh 'er,
> mi lirrul bald-'edded, flat-faced nuss.