‘Hear! hear!’ sed one.

‘Ov course we’ll have it here, whear else does ta want it!’ Soa they all agreed to sit daan, and Seth sent for two gallon o’ ale an’ some bacca, an’ nooan on ’em seemed to be sooary ’at things had turned aght as they had.

When they’d all had a second tot, an’ getten ther pipes let, they made Seth into th’ cheerman, an’ he sed they’d have to excuse him for net knowin ther names, but when he wanted to call anybody up he’d do his best to mak ’em understand who he meant, an’ to begin wi, he should mak bould to ax that chap wi’ th’ big nooas to sing a song.

Nubdy stirred, soa Seth pointed him aght an’ sed, ‘Will that chap wi’ th’ red peg i’th’ middle ov his face oblige the company with a song?’

Th’ chap couldn’t mistak who wor meant this time, so he gate up.

‘Mister cheerman,’ he sed, ’aw doant know ’at my nooas owes yo or onybody else owt, an’ why it should be remarked aw can’t tell.’

‘Aw should think it owes thee a gooid deal,’ sed th’ cheerman.  ’If tha doesn’t want it to be remarked tha shouldn’t paint it sich a bright colour; but get on wi’ th’ singing.’

‘Awm noa singer, aw play a offerclyde, but awm thinkin’ o’ changin, an’ leearnin th’ fiddle.’

‘That’s reight, lad, do.  Awm sure it’ll tak all th’ wind tha has to blow that peg o’ thine i’ cold weather; a fiddle ‘ll suit thee better, an’ tha’ll niver be fast for a spot to hing up thi stick.  But it’s a song we want, an’ not a speech, an’ if tha doesn’t sing tha’ll be fined a quairt.’

That settled it; soa, clearin his voice, he began—­

      Tho’ the sober shake the head,
      And drink water, boys, instead,
   And the foolish all strong liquors do decry;
      Yet the foaming glass for me,
      May we never, never see
   A friend without a draught when dry.

   Then quaff, boys, quaff, and let’s be merry;
   Why should dull care be crowned a king? 
   Let us have another drain, till the night begins to wane,
   And the bonny, bonny morn peeps in.

      Let us drown each selfish soul
      Deep in the flowing bowl;
   Let the rosy god of wine take the throne;
      And he who cannot boast
      Some good humour in his toast,
   Let him wander in the world alone. 
                Then quaff, boys, &c.

      O, I love a jolly face,
      And I love a pretty lass,
   And I love to see the young and old around;
      Then with frolic and with fun
      Let both wine and moments run,
   And the hearty, hearty laugh resound. 
                Then quaff, boys, &c.

      When man was placed on earth
      He was naked at his birth,
   But God a robe of reason round him threw;
      First he learned to blow his nose,
      Then he learned to make his clothes,
   And then he learned to bake and brew. 
                Then, quaff, boys, &c.