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Moth. What ist like?
Daugh. Like, it like! Like, its like! nay I knaw nut
what its like; its like whey-whig, and drink, but far
finer.
Moth. Hang the cine and wider, an the lakes; an thou
hasnt roven the cleighs, nor worn the stocking-heels out, I
kair nut. Gitt te cloggs on, an doff that fine gown, an ligg
by the hatt an aw things: thou mun full muck to-mowrn, or
gath toth' moss for this skelpin to-day; its far better for
tha.
Daugh. O mother! yon talear Gweardy is a canny
fellow.
Moth. Gitt awat with the an thy canny fellow.
Simple as this scene may appear, we may perceive from it
that awkward imitations are not confined to cities; the
country hoyden can ape the fine lady in every thing but
dissimulation. Geordy had got possession of her
heart, and she winds up the burden of the song, - O, mother!
yon talear Gwaerdy is a canny fellow. Nature! Nature! Woman!
Woman *!
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Upon Lord's Island, the Radcliffs, Earls of
Derwentwater, formerly had a seat, which, according to
Nicholson and Burn, was built of stones that came from a
castle founded by the Romans upon Castrigg, or
Castle-Rigg. I do not believe the story, which I
shall endeavour to prove when we pass it. There are some
remains of the building upon the island to be seen,
but the whole is now covered with wood.
This once-flourishing family lost their estates in the year
1715, which were given by his Majesty King George I. to
Greenwich Hospital. There is nothing upon this island worth
landing for, except the refreshing shade upon a very hot
day. It is planted with Scots firs, about twenty-seven years
standing; amongst which there is room to walk, and seldom
wants a fine cooling breeze. At the first planting of these
trees, the island was so much infested with vermin,
particularly mice, that they totally defeated all labours of
the planters. So numerous and mischievous were these vermin,
that after the trees had been planted three or four years,
they were almost entirely destroyed by them: some,
(particularly the firs,) were totally gnawed through a
little above the ground; and others stripped of their bark,
and thereby deprived of nutriment. Upon this, Mr Nicholson,
who was Agent and Bailiff for Greenwich Hospital, collected
several cats, whom he turned loose upon the island, and who
soon overcame the mice. Afterwards some of the cats boldly
swam to shore, and run wild amongst the woods; others
perished with hunger, and some remained for several years.
Stable-Hills, which are near to Lord's Island,
seem to have taken their name from the stables built near
them: they have been connected with the house by no other
means than boats, as the channel that divides them is
upwards of an hundred yards broad.
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* GLOSSARY. Wench, a young girl. Cloggs, shoes with
thick wooden soles, armed at the heels and toes with plates
of iron called cawkers. Sarvant, servant. Yan, one. Mud,
must. Gang, go. Dud feah, did for. Wud, would. Ha, have.
Seek, such. Wark, work. Efter, after. Eigh, yea. Lake, in
the Cumberland dialect is playing. Rive o thy cleighs, tear
all they cloathes. I war'n, warrand or suppose. Luik, look.
Nin, none. Roven, torn. Ontuet, upon it. Booat, boat. Hed,
had. Battelter, a piece of wood made not much unlike an oar,
about four feet long, which the country beat their linen
with when they wash and bleach them. Carrit it on, moved the
boat in a manner she could not understand. Cawt, called.
Cine and wider, meant for wine and cyder. Uman, woman. Tatt,
that. Nut, not. Whey-whig, a liquor made of whey, into which
is put mint, balm, walnut-leaves, &c. which, when
properly managed, drinks pleasantly in Summer. Thoou hasnt,
thou hath not. I kair nut, I care not. Doff, put off. Ligg,
lay. Aw, all. Mun, must. Muck, dung. To-mowrn, to-morrow.
Gang, go. Toth' moss, the place where peat fuel is dug.
Skelpin; jumping, romping. Tha, thou. O, mother, yon talear
Gweardy is a canny fellow. Oh, mother! tailor George, or
George the tailor, is a pretty, or handsome fellow.
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