hat, once more onto th’ top ov his heead, he went ta see his owd deead friend, an’ when he saw it ligged thear wi’ nobbut three legs, he vow’d vengeance agean them ‘at had done it, an’ declared ’at if iver he fan it aght, he’d mak ’em pay for it, for it wor nowt noa less nor robbin’ th’ deead, an’ he’d have’ em tried for assasination.  Joa’s wife wor aght when they took th’ leg hooam, an’ after they cut th’ steaks off they’d hid t’ other part under th’ coils.  But they hadn’t been gooan soa varry long when shoo coom in, an’ as shoo wor gettin’ th’ pots aght o’th cubbord, shoo saw this dish’ ful o’ steaks.  “A’a!” shoo says, “it’s just like yond chap to put thease in here an’ say nowt abaght it, but aw con just relish one o’ thease to my drinkin’, an’ aw dar say he’ll want one, an’ awm sure th’ childer ‘ll do wi’ a bit.  We hav’nt had as mich fleshmait i’ awr haase afoor for many a wick.  Fotch that gridiron, Polly!  We’st ha to do it o’th’ top o’th’ coil, for ther isn’t fat enuff to fry it.”

Shoo worn’t long afoor shoo had it nicely cooked, an’ the tea made, an’ a thowt struck her’ at shoo’d ax Sam’s wife to her tea, for shoo knew ‘at they didn’t oft get steak at their haase, so Polly went an’ browt Mistress Sniggle an’ all th’ childer to ther tea, an’ as ther wor eight on’ em, they varry sooin put thersen o’th’ aghtside o’th’ steak.  They set to wark then to get some clean pots ready for Joa, an’ sent one o’th’ childer ta watch th’ miln loise, ta tell Sam ta come wi’ him.  When they come all wor nicely ready for’ em, but ther minds worn’t easy, for ther’d been a policeman axing abaght ’em at ther wark, for Labon had seen Sam at th’ bottom o’th’ steps, an’ he thowt he knew summat abaght it, soa they declared they’d niver own to it to a wick soul.  As sooin as they gate in they smell’d what wor up, for Joa knew ther wor noa mait i’ th’ haase else, an’ his wife had no brass to buy ony.  He looked at Sam, an’ thear they stooid i’ th’ middle o’ th’ floor as white as two ghosts, staring at one another, but they darn’t spaik, an’ booath waited to see what t’other did.

“Come on to your drinkin’,” said th’ women.

“A’a! tha’rt a grand un, Joa,” said his wife, “to put them steaks i’ th’ cubbord an’ niver say a word abaght it, an’ tha knows ha fond aw am ov a bit o’ steak, an’ it’s a bit o’ nice mait too, tho’ it isn’t as tender as some.  We’ve savvor’d it, aw con tell thi, for considerin’ th’ price o’ mait nah, a gooid steak’s hardly within th’ raich o’ workin’ fowk.”

Joa wor dumb struck, he stirred his tea, but he couldn’t tak his een off th’ steak.  Sam rested his head on his hand an’ complained abaght bein’ poorly.

“It’s for want o’ some gooid support, mun,” said his wife, “get some o’ that mait into thi.  It’s made me feel a different body, awm as frisky as a young foil, an’ luk at th’ childer, they’re wrastlin’ thear like young bullocks.  Mun, it puts a bit o’th’ natur o’th’ beast into ’em.”