The Dialect of the West of England Particularly Somersetshire

tituted for f, as vo

ied to the distance employed to increase the in

a. To rece

. s. F

A species

orth young: applied to pi

t. s. A

part.

, And dear

etched, and

f dung or earth pr

o go. This word is, most probably, derived fr

To Vaze. v. n. To move about a room,

e. s. A

eld; corn lan

l. v.

. part

ach of a calf used for m

j. Few,

er'dit. s

ore persons read verses altern

o point out the letters to

old writers make this wor

. v.

adj.

Mouldy; humour

s. [i long

j. Spiteful

s. See

dv. Prope

To burn wil

. s.

n. s. F

. part.

Incoherent ta

anner. From voco, Latin. The verb to voc'ate, to go about fro

. s.

. v. a. T

ething which fol

h; out. To goo vo

e. v. a.

dv. adj.

pron. F

dj. Blunt; c

. Fo

Strong, nerv

t. s.

To strike wi

ust or blow w

adv

. adv.

. adv.

h. adv. F

adj.

. The double large walnut. The ordin

d fro in an irregular and awkward manner;

ly to mechani

take care! War-whing!

of the verb to be, in almost all the

. v. n.

o Warnd. a.

. The bird c

alt.] To play at the game of w

wo persons stand back to back, with their arms

ounding with s

adj. Appease

ll-at-eased. adj

dj. Wet in

. A spide

a. To beat

s. A lo

r. pron. W

adv.

o laugh in a low vul

adv.

Property, e

. s.

. s.

r. adj. Active

time; the time betwee

a. See

A smart blow on th

r. v. n.

s. A term o

To strike wi

. A hea

A wandering report; an

adj.

adv.

Wit

. s. A

rally to those holding about a bushel. So called from their be

winnow. Wim-sheet

which corn

dust. s

. s. A

. s.

. pron.

ess. adj.

The plant bindwe

adj.

se. adj.

. s.

clubs; most probably from havin

s. A

e, s. A m

p, s. A

sinuous path made b

t. s. A w

d. [Transpositi

stick or spill may be thrust. The spill and worra are attached to the common spinning-wheel, which, with those and the turn-string, for

ly. W

. To spread ab

Any narrow,

y wringing cloth, or by foldi

ss. A cyder-wrin

a. To discomp

. s. A

adj.

r. s.

s.

. adj.

. s. An a

. s. An

adj.

. s.

. s.

s. An

n instrument fo

An ear

adj.

s. pl.

pron.

cede the letter S, relative to

adv.

v.

adj.

oftish: applied to

for some time over the

for a long time time in a low heat so as to

that this word is a compound of semi, Latin, half; and to seethe,

. s.

adj.

. s. A s

et. and part. Zi

d. Zee?d-lip.

pron.

s. Wild

sénevé, French, from sinapi, Latin, contr

r. See

d. v. See

. adj

. s.

, boggy land

adj. Bog

. adv.

Zoun'dy. v.

v. n. See

ise meaning of which it is not easy to define. I dare say it is a c

ment used for ploug

pron.

on. Somewha

adv.

about with the arms ex

d v. n. To swing;

s. A

o swell; to swall

. s.

wsy and stupid sta

bably, from sudor

ECES EXEMPLIFYING

f Somers

perhaps, useful here to remind the reader, that many mere inversions of sound, and differences in pronunciation, are not noted in the Glossary. That it did not appear necessary to explain such words as_ wine, wind; za, say; qut, coat; bwile, boil; hoss, horse; hirches, ric

YE TA T

l, An' shakin ther whings, tha vleed voo?th an' awa. [Footnote: The humble-bee, bombilius major, or dumbledore, makes holes very commonly in mud wall

e Cot!-on thy d

oor sholl my

ver thy porch

goo, I sholl

lillies, that bl

too, that I u

ha honeyzucks ra

think o' nif

at oten I pick

y qut-tha war t

tell o'm-vor al

ook'd back-ther smi

e Ash! which my

pleasure, tha

a tear when I cea

a droo tha w

Tree! an thy caw

who ool be lo

t thy boughs sifes a

e for me, or one

lves! who, on whin

orch whiver an'

-horted, unvee

g nests, an your

e Bower!-ta thy

hat aroun thee a

thou grieve?-bit '

t's shower in th

Cot! whaur my mo

e war droo er

kindness, wi' t

he dead, what

Cot! whaur tha n

o' Ma-time, rawz

awak'd, wi' tha

dirsh, in a voic

ee Cot! I must

hat the smawk makes

true, I'm afea

henk on tha cot

Cot! there is On

a wordle, wi'

I mang, wi' tha

ship in Him, an

e Cot! shood I n

thank thee vor

helter'd-while mot

y comfort vrom

e Cot; vor the t

y drashall aga

l blossom, an

n-zaw good bwy

NY

the following story, actually occ

-vawk! an i

en to m

tis a jit

ye zumm

hoozay ta

i' ort

u cry, or whe

r not a

tale vor

hip be it

all, begum

eese, an

ight name wa

body

brew, and sh

bwile, and s

he like

Zunday

the door

chubby che

lilies roun

rawze he

hort good;

an bright,

lads could

ha must-sh

-tha timi

r to her de

d er well

good advic

e niver tos

, thawf po

yarly upp

n o' th

ng'd loudly

birshed the

om as a

s happy a

ess moor

t-eased coo

er head up

athin a

a dessent

'd to he

don'd in z

k en zumme

so desper

ar like a

the birds

od nature di

sides, an

ant promis

r sawber,

haste sh

d long rep

rt 'twar bes

id make

ass'd the

ny stood

red hiz ple

n if she ha

d athin

n hulder lon

ough iv'

Lort tha wa

a moor iz v

'em must

than, one

er how a

a zed to

ul than to

ad long ap

us blishin,

ist not b

tell ther

seely maid

t like ta

be you no

've for

dwont veel

ha caze, I

na moor

gin'd their

l liv'd in

a met bezide

t look an t

each with

time oten

and Fann

voo?s'd to z

ain, wi' dr

ood pwint

tha das-th

till whiv

reams high pl

thawts the

too th

an had not

er eet

when poor

straint how

zum an

live in h

i' much p

t, ma-be, c

itch tender

nor how

varmer vou

haups da

man of h

iz hunsma

's hort d

zed he, "n

er thee

ol gee me

oo zum v

dork eyes

thee, my F

sholl

poor, 'tool

an vor a b

en da a

gently i

er za zw

jay, not a wo

n tear rawl'd

thawf er ho

ordly then

hunsman g

s behind

cap-his whip'

prancin wi'

, horn, an

all mal

a dork an w

my wine

e a naise an

vawk za da de

le loud

wakid an d

ta keep

opped izze

n iz shirt v

a dirdf

night a did n

tha dogs

ha look'd on th

cover'd wi'

all vrom '

r left-the

hiz Fann

gossip, a

' ther awn bi

y went

she vleed ta

er dear J

zeed en all

own speechles

she had

com'd ta

ses left he

zed, ba d

left her ey

e goo in the ca

! sholl I ze

Edward Band, on this subj

Y; OR THE M

l yer tale

l storry

zumthin

s much d

oo, bevaur

in, live

NUTTY-sp

avaur

r in a l

ver-right

kipt a vlo

though

ch'd tha cr

of hi

angst the r

appruv

umtimes wen

tha Paso

hat pity t

cood'n

a zunday

le, or

ompanion v

'd therei

han tha nai

e moor co

oose-aggs

tha moor

ok'd upon

le mount

izzel upon

hts a oo

d moo?st iz

ssenber

zeed it w

i' tha mo

ate church a

cy war

hawt that

ey ta i

berry's To

y blowth

om one and

war nev

' this I n

went Jer

ht hon a w

iz qut

y-zee! in

chearful

moor not

a zudde

goo a cood

e war ma

ght iz wal

ta tha

hard than

tha tur

' blissom

te: Cos

tha cotta

ns o' tha

strange v

and stood a

er'd wha

m whecker'd, z

it!" Je

a think tha

d to 'm

ha wa to Gl

ed tha h

ere by zum

r Christ

mine ta

a blowth

an you, a

ely jour

t ye knaw t

e midst

horn at Kir

x months

gain, yea

a dams

mornin l

wide di

zed he, "I

s!-while

ck now I

sholl no

e Torr an h

ssenbe

u'll put m

rate thank

ic veel an

tha lift

s Crossman's

g ye up

haur you do

Veal's l

Jan Lide, th

tha best

n short behi

ght droo

'll pass a

ed by t

ck than is

ll strait

ff'd his ha

d er vor

' this I n

went Jer

ht hand a

iz qut

got to za

el wi'

bird an che

war o'

got upon

linch

climmer'd

it ve

stomick wa

a hor

war wi' w

d zoon d

d power o'

uver iv

whiverin w

y infl

Jerry Nu

om mant

app'd in zwe

hel by

nasty stou

iz hap

hick, nor vl

z hons

a had; or

asant drea

oose-aggs, du

ly, vu

lmen war

ded cawc

en lyin d

the cawc

ha hoop'd-a

n there w

"Nif you li

a a litt

en zatly i

en ta B

l can't g'i

mysel zo

once: vor n

r wine or

rawl'd the

as any

aur'd za lou

elmen di

a mind ta

amin o' h

morkit da

h athin

p ta the Cro

ame man c

ter Water!

you mi

snauren i

rcome w

not jitchy

cunje

-hill we vo

stif in

cover'd th

y stouts

pumple vo

ck vor'n to

mid be thaw

a kit o'

n why d'ye b

all tha

! nif we fr

er-dro th

ur, to take

iz teeth

r Christ-loo

chify Be

man stood

ha bussl

roo-out tha

wor gwon

ut tha cawch

ryman and

awld, an m

tan, an her

rowd to gap

and a g

e an bothe

mless Je

tunn'd;-a c

'd war i

in his l

athin B

an if a w

et war th

cling'd t

elmen an

h's, brazier'

whauriver

com'd at

az'd at

or sartin,

ome wi'

nif a'd pl

a yalhou

cloo?se abo

'n goo

r 'em or

oath grate

g'auver, g'

n than

ye! gennel-v

to Glas

Torr an H

s ye look

wizard? dw

n is call'

a whipper-

ust out i

wizard, z

le titch'd; [Fo

wise, you m

anow, be

war, vor al

ry zel

z blood ta

hy zort

ump'd aman

desperd

awa-zum m

a had

sar'd 'em j

tough g

heads a

about d

a raur'd, tha

oun rum

d be reven

a judge

brawk navy-

m bloody

maids war

ther cheak

me gennelme

o Glass

ha jitch a

y cost b

clear'd i

m went Je

d roun iz w

'd awa i

OF GLAS

n "Graphic Illus

m books, but from oral tradition once very prevalent in and near Glastonbury, whic

not hir'd

Isle of ancient

d o' much a

s o' tha H

oon ater Chr

nted war b

that com'd

ted Kir

t whun a l

war in God'

staff int

shoulder l

mid iz lo

oud "Now,

et budded a

bloom'd tha

blooms at K

a za at dor

his nif pru

ha name o' W

umparles o

tauld iz vo

nd credulous. There is a species of White Thorn which blossoms about C

.

the early part of the last century; hence the allusion to

war a g

pill, we

zier, a

ns o'

went ta

tle vor

horses t

ded hadge

eard o'

made h

r vawk, av

tle vor

a'd bin

iz catt

awa a powe

a hire

t night a

o a unk

wze vrom o

avaur e

d za piti

hiz ho

a wonderin

in jitch

runk war i

vur gwon

n nif a'd

her a

a man o

man in d

k er up

'n do

er trunk

z belt o

wld vast; o

uch tak,

a went ava

le loud

uy, thawt v

too zim'd

er dog, she

whissl

led Mr. Gu

s upon

ed she; b

beginn'd

rawze upo

d a com

rawd alo

ssled.

z knife an c

'd er off

he took

rs, war

zaw ad lad

zier to

stap ta te

in ooman

d all o'm

you mid

swaur, tha d

er Mr

all; 'twar ni

s along

droo dales,

-light n

inn a sta

what he

, nothin-bu

moor ad

e trunk a

g'lore

uy war hi

r hirche

er o' tha

ers went

Mr. Guy

awld tha

i' jitch

n, soce,

ROOK

il, which is greatly overbalanced by the positive good which it effects in the destruction of insects. It is a remarkable fact, and not, perhaps, generally known, that this bird rarely roosts at the rookery, except for a few months during the period of incubation, and rearing its young. In the winter season it more commonly takes flights of no ordinary length, to roost on the trees of some

is o' th

ch as I

trees wi' l

veo i

place tha L

er an t

h a got

ha han't

o' jitch

en, pump o

d Rooks, vor

e, curiou

is o'

er's co

ars ater,

g tha por

ok'd up lik

chy yarms

umes wavin

each lof

pectur ou

nce, zid

hatch'd Form-h

in on t

o, cloo?se

kle coos

an trout a

ntimes

un this a pl

her youn

ten plea

'em droo

ha da o'

e or th

a vast begi

n, make

n May's a c

g tha gun

an bin, as

dship in

a did'n shu

n desert

hic reason v

id nif th

g I o' th

s it war

place, bi

in moor

a Rooks av

'em droo

young while

in jist

m when my

ins kin

wa when I

war fit

m at tha c

in, in th

in youth an

beginn'

m in tha w

oustin

ited th

verin

, youth, and

er's co

ery. Bit

t it did

me-heavy vi

n all th

raw, wi' c

d ta iv'r

ha wine-a t

war hired

o' thic gir

n into t

, an young

pt into

spwiled t

r and i

d my Fat

s war al

tha trees in

here no

's cot wa

ok'd wild

r stunted

that I

Mother, Roo

otte an

wi' tha t

ts why be

a wa o' hu

ty trees,

r up, like le

ver'd b

AND LUCK I

in tha Bag

n try ye

r luck in th

a prize v

zen ha the

ners an

got our

ers and

in ta Hunt

idge-Pawl

assions, wh

tha ver

e once a

a call'd

mazed, while

a knave

fayers an

war sho

vlother

in who

at a had a

tha vawk

' that, whe

fayer bi

much so, as not to be able to write, and, I think, could scarcely read. She lived for some years in a house belonging to my father, and while a boy, I was very often her gratuitous amanuensis, in writing letters for her to her children. She possessed, however, considerable shrewdness, energy, and perseverance, and amassed property to the

se, more intimately acquainted with it than any casual inquirer could possibly be. An additional notice of Joannah was inserted by me in the Monthly Magazine, for Nov. 1816, page 310. I had among my papers, the original song composed by her, which I copied from her dictation many ye

ere her original talents could have been improved by education,) might ha

never, that I am a

ve's death.-Edi

han't a h

me sholl

in tha Bag

nd try ye

r luck in t

a prize v

es, norr

ank, all

nife-or sc

pins-put

el nills

ze-a Rawman waiter!-I can avoord it as cheep as thic that stawl it-I a bote it ta

in tha Bag!

n try ye

r luck in th

a prize v

mine tha s

in or tha

want now a

hy zoort

r prize is-'

japann'd

ome again ta my

trust me-

in tha bag!

n try ye

r luck in th

a prize f

DY

imple annals of

iss Mortimer. As

ear

osed epistle? it is certainly an original-written in the dialect of the Co

poor, but honest and industrious cottager, but I am, nevertheless,

e, affectio

A HA

nd to Mi

a

ll-at-eased an happy. You axt I tother da ta zing a zong: now I dwont much like zum o' tha zongs that I hired thic night at squire Reevs's when we made an end o' Ha-corrin: vor, zim ta I, there war naw moril to 'em. I like zongs wi' a moril to 'em. Tha nawtes, ta be shower, war zat anow, bit, vor all that, I war looking vor tha moril, mam. Zo, when I cum'd whim, I t

r humble

DY

O

cot o'

ch tha i

at tha

pin vi?

vrom tha

a blanke

smauk clo

ring up

nter wines

dreav v

him-tha d

r er wi

g, adresst

tha bird

an robin-

the car

zides my

y work

ly, bizzy

tha zot

mertime

as das

ha sporkl

naw with

tha smill

t tha sm

is haulsom

ter Pall

'ye then

les o' t

be moor

is Ted

r Gin

r, an, zim ta I, there's naw moril to it. Nif

aw, bit I da thenk, nif I war a gennelman, that I'd vine better spoort than huntin; bezides, zim ta I 'tis desperd wicked to hunt animals vor one's spoort. Now, jitch a horrid blanscue as what happened at Shapick, niver could a bin but vor tha hun

r, your

DY

HURCH

e, naw mat

n there be

zet's gir

'twar handy

m whaur tha

a young ch

lighted wh

thawt a

iz offi

, girt vawk

en called,-a g

ead the rest

her hons iz

e en quit

coose, ta

in;-an than

an his power

try ta tu

laim'd our youn

vor ye all a c

war durty.-

in vrom tha

rin shaw'd

ce war dim an

maricle tha s

ts nawbody cood ra

nuthin in't bit "Brad

ad th

ter parfit, g

r zum one ta

' wevets-zum

a colour of a

ar stratched acr

' tha porish t

'em!-Bit aw,

is!-aw fie, tha

a Churchwarden;

, an tha pride o'

nce moor lo

, fags, a w

azier

?th his

made naw lit

in flourishe

church and al

suited to av

ments glitter'd

Lord's Prayer, w

reed 'twar m

bottom; I

e wi' Peter wa

tha c

thin an, tower

ell-dressed mai

'd wi' texts too

a left en in tha lur

ha expense tha o

birshin, pain

niver jitc

shin and jitch

money-Tha P

tzel a pi

ch all o'm t

ther drawts were nor

d pills tha

ung churchward

en, an zed, the

o' tha chur

still the burd

uld a

stry: vor 'ti

generasi

it: I d

ho war his

ayer gid en

itch vawk ben'

dvice be se

's wherew

good bwye ta L

han at las

power let n

war auver tha

aw eese

'd what co

er necks like a

make

church

irat

te no

aise tha n

cost ta

hurch's r

et, all nais

ait ta hire

tir'd o' ji

oor not one

little

z verdi t

ed he, why

Vestry he

to some det

all in jitc

'counts. A sna

urchwarden

chain'd cloo?s

slily jit

Churchwarden

k my yarm!-w

little z

Vestry wide

d he again,

t gwain zaw

a altar-pie

paintin, vorni

war't vo

mmandments

Lord's Praye

war n

ake wi' thic

'n; eesse zor

ent our wherew

, wi on

tle zatenf

hat, not

R

ected vor tha

by tha young

MAN AND TH

ther that h

young T

man of H

ll-knaw

much moor

ny vawk

uch moor than

an all t

ell how ta

es too a

down tha

place vor

l about tha

on vor t

n an tha d

an tha M

s well known in the R

will be found in this

sary, because they

a place there: they s

pitchin-net in a proper position across t

ing salmon.-The fishing boats in the Parret, are flat- bottomed, in length about seventeen feet, about four feet and

und sticks for sides, and a long pole for a handle. It is used for the p

into the ground. Two gads are used for each boats. Their uses are to keep the b

d too iz

dle and

note:

ys bawld a

upon t

Dangerous sands so ca

et, in the Bri

, sprats,

ish a co

amangst tha

bear'd

ad hired

er zeed

actin at

went wi'

tain first d

war Tom

a mine t

'd vor ve

t act b

ond jis

still wonde

it war

lookin on

stand di

zed he, I'l

note:

a be al

MSEY'S

Mary Ramse

theng!"-Why

ut still I l

Mary Rams

heniver sh

crutch she

ve me? eese

veo vor her

veo-vor M

riends, or vo

h I had-I

t wont-nor

n'd tha cris

't word'n q

o teach'd me

words as be

nk 'twar he

read tha s

?ten use

st that ple

ha rest war

k'd up a l

war a go

y book atho

when her scholars ne

their fingers with

s gwon!-a

little scho

past.-It m

hin stable

l left is-

gift, an '

still I da

Mary Rams

d Mary, thi

, fore well! [Footn

H VER

az'd,-my Hus

h! hush! Lord

l had at Mi

n the?ze poo

maz'd.-I ve

te, an ot

a-ma-be, zu

stra vor b

az'd.-Hush!

come to er!

Father's de

die while

az'd.-Why dw

r else my ho

t dead! nor

r die while

MBRA

rap tha Reed

nawte abo

Pawets all

enk, ta dye

we like in

mimber tho

than, that I

SALLY.-Niv

've wander'd

tide-at ev

s hills-in M

banks-in zig

d mansion w

en'd Lady D

ha Ladies

s spird ther

ENHAM, the residence

story of the Magic

y generally known, a

e repe

rocks on W

a wine an w

s cave-on L

ga-at Ric

ood-in Ha

s cot wi' l

ansdown's

ur pleasure

whaur by Frie

gain my si

jay'd, wi'

llections

stapp'd my

HER.-Here e

COX; A

in the Graphi

discovered that Cox was missing, he might, probably, have been saved. The real cause of his death was, a too great abstraction of heat from the body; as the water was fresh and still, and of considerable depth, and, under the surface, much beneath the usual temperature of the human body. This fact ought to be a lesson to those who bathe in still and deep fresh water; and to warn them to continue only a short time in such a cold medium. [Footnote: Various efforts to restore the suspended animation of Cox, such as sha

bright, and d

er must not suppose

stream, or always r

ue." It is sometim

ridge, when they ar

but through the moors,

time, and at the perio

loodgates w

da and ha

pon the w

of light a

he?t the c

r water as

in yarly

her cloaths an

river, whau

r prankin,

' zilver sk

ons droo th

mtimes and

many a da

too in spri

ls are called elver

ler, says, "Young

." In what part of

s they are called yelv

are called, in Somers

lvers for their you

vers used to be obtain

f the

ls mid o'

old-the zun

than what h

agwon whun

n Time would

hundred ye

od the?ze e

face o' Bru

too in thic

bezide en

fancies wi

than one lo

o wrop us li

het war o'

t now the s

e country

or'n many a

like a duck

drownin d

r now I z

uld liet's

y brother

mid the st

e gwon an

o za what

o be you

e storry n

ns_had a

o venter vro

n vro, an

n tan did

e with the

wi' a ma?

rs dree, th

zwimmers

reen bonk

a stook let

time of

space thic

faithful t

d mang'd wi'

ell I mine

-lond and

only war

addled nea

hon and co

Cox div'd,

s in the z

skaiters

ircles wil

moment he

rment of

e dree and

at Blanscue

sign, or na

splash, or g

h a zwimme

Yet we gaz

right and w

and calm-no

f the zwimm

not, we ze

water zim

s, he of c

led as he

fears our si

war, and c

o goo an zu

carelissly

s up the r

n ool be b

' cyder, ze

an drenk a

e resided near Newb

he accident occurred;

is cy

e anty as

he het's fa

k up his fat

w! he begi

s vrom the

vawk'll c

short way v

hat zeed w

f Doctor C

d in the w

t war he, a

he sartain

the water!-

'st of a s

-pointed to

sh'd-Cox w

he dog's lag

e, an het w

do I re

le I sholl

ightened an

nk'd at onc

, gallid

once, vor f

t work vor

e old Highb

l, but 'mus

vawk ool zo

gid the hu

boo?t wi' m

ll auver!

e bottom

een, as j

floatin nig

ad done his

life's last

Cox went o

, and as

th iver s

a famil

ns-one

iful as

a-ma-bi

in he

l'd now I sh

hin me 'gi

here mid

rticulars

all like o

on! tell

EN

sholl thee?z

st vor it ch

here a t

p wit, nor l

?ten by

ss'd; yet n

hought o'

death-his fl

un Brue war d

da an har

vleng'd his

all his g

iful mid

allès zi

the water's d

mid be a l

DICA

in I ood be

write the?z

haup I dw

oud ta call

voo?th, al

wi' my coun

's o' tha

r Gramfers

t is a li

Friendship'

f pruf I n

eem not li

FARE

me zunz I th

ootin moor a

e tootin m

've had o' j

to a done

war niver ze

or'm.-Goo l

vawk an vo

tes, ma-be,

n zater vr

?ester's pleas

ime tha'll co

be tha'll p

um moor an

else jist n

Reed, an t

ENNET AN

IAL

Jan! why dwon't

awker; an I can't avoord ta keep a good vier-I wish I cood-I'd zoon right your shoes and withers too-I'd zoon yarn [Footnote: Earn.] zum money, I warnt ye. Can't ye vine zum work vor me, maester, the?ze hord times-I'll do any theng t

bit Mister Boord banchond ta I jist now that tha war g

an't a bin athin tha drashel o' Maester Boord's door vor a longful time, bin I th

did Missis Boord za

to a done wi'jitch litter, or jitch stuff, or I dwon knaw what tha call'd it; bit tha war a frunted wi' Hester about it: an I zed nif tha war a frunted wi' Hester, tha mid be fru

AN YOUNG M

amoor. We've a mist ye iver zunz thic time, when we war at zea-wall, an cut aup tha girt porpus

l be out amangst ye. I'll goo wi' ta mawy, an ta ha-makin, an ta reapy-I'll come ater, an zet up tha stitches vor ye, Thomas. An if I da sta till Milemas, I'll goo ta Matthews fayer wi'.

e a haind-a'll be maw'd in veo das-you'll come an ha-maky, o'nt ye?- -eese, I knaw you ool-an I da knaw whool goo a h

-be, goo a ha-makin wi' I, as she a done avaur now; bit Sally, Miss Cox, Thomas, I wish you'd za naw moor about er.-There now, Thomas, dwon't ye zee-why shee's by tha gate-shord! I haup she han't a hird what

ster Jimmy! 'tword'n I

RAM

ONOL

Scho

on still there, an mine what I da za to ye, an whaur I da pwint.-Now;-cris-cross, [Footnote: The cris, in this compound, and in cris-cross-lain, is very often, indeed most commonly, pronou

read well thic fashion.-Here, Pal, read the?ze vesses vor yer zister. There now, Het, you mine how yerzister da read, not hum, hum, hum.-Eese you ool, ool ye?-I tell ye, you must, or I'll rub zum rue auver yer hons:-what d'ye thenk o't!-There, be gwon you Het, an dwon't ye come anuost yer zist

te: Let me see them. This is a singular expression, and is thus to be analysed; Give us to see them.] nif you please, Miss Polly.-Tha Zeven Champions-Goody Two Shoes-Pawems vor Infant minds.-The?zamy here be by vur tha best.-There is a moril ta moo?st o'm; an tha be pirty bezides.-Now, Miss, please ta read thic- Tha Notorious Glutton.-Pal Came! turn t

O' B

hildern g

UY OF B

IDLE

in the Graphi

llage too often produce. He was a comely lad, aged sixteen, employed by Farmer Tidball, a querulous and s

ing the finest cattle. Into these inclosures many of Ben Bond's charge were frequently disposed to stray. The season was June, the time mid-day, and the western breezes came over the sea, a short distance from which our scene lay, at once cool, grateful, refreshing, and playful. The rushing Parret, with its ever

h himself, interrupts his musings in the manner described hereafter. It is the history of an occurrence in real life

ILO

t let thee up eet.-"Now, Lareuce! do let I up. There! bimeby maester'll

ll'd. -Naw I wun't- 'tis zaw whot: bezides I hant a had my nap out. "Larence! I da za, thee bist a bad un! Oot thee hire what I da za? Come now an let I scooce wi'. Lord a massy

a da come an vine I here, an tha shee-ape a brawk inta tha vive-an-twenty yacres, a'll

t to'n, an git'n out. There's another in tha ditch! a'll be a buddled! There's a gird'l o' trouble wi' shee

n one o' my shee-ape in tha vive-an-twenty yacres, a'd drash I za long as a cood ston auver me, an wi' a groun ash' too! There! Zum o'm be a gwon droo

ngth o' iz tongue. I da hate zitch cross vawk! Larence! what, oot niver let I up? There! zum o' tha shee-ape be gwon into Leek- beds; an zum o'm be in Hounlake; dree or vour o'm be gwon za vur as Slow-

doose thee thenk I can bear tha betwitten o' thic pirty maid? She, tha Primrawse o' Primmer-hill; tha Lily o' tha level; tha gawl-cup o' tha mead; tha zweetist honeyzuckle in tha garden; tha yarly vilet; tha rawse o' rawses; tha p

ool goo. You mus let

shower ta come an dr

y, an that's ivry va

, I mis ha

e tha name at all, thawf I dwont care vor'n a stra, nor a read moo?te; nor thatite o' a pin! What da tha call he? Why, tha upright man, cas a da ston upright; let'n; an let'n wrassly too: I dwont like zitch hoss-plas, nor singel-stic

up wi't? I dwont like norn'om? Girnin Jan too shawed iz teeth an put in his v

know.-Creeplin Philip[Footnote: Even remote districts in the country have their satirists, and would-be-wits; and Huntspill, the place alluded to in the Soliloquy, was, about half a century ago, much pestered with them. Scarcely a person of any note escaped a pariah libel, and even servants were no

xclaimed Farmer Tidball, leaping down the bank, with a stout sliv

bby, Sal

ias an R

nin

lip and the

ON SOME OF THE ANG

ES JEN

Graphic Il

HE, UTCHY, ISE, C', C

'L

gnorant and, consequently, unlettered people. That the great portion of the early Anglo-Saxons were an unlettered people, and that the rural population were particularly unlettered, and hence for the most part ignorant, we may readily admit; and even at the present time, many districts in the west will be found pretty amply besprinkled with that unlettered ignorance for which many of our forefathers were distinguished. But an enquiry into the origin and use of our provincial words will prove

ancestors up to one primitive original ought to be pleased with the literary genealogist, who demonstrates that many of our provincial words and contractions have an

to them it doubtless appears so. What induces our metropolitan literati, those at least who are, or affect to be the arbitri elegantiarum among them, to consider the Scotch dialect in another light? Simply because such able writers, as Allan Ramsay, Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott, and others, have chosen to employ it for the expression of their thoughts. Let similar able writers employ our Western Dialect in a similar way, and I doubt not the result. And why should not our Western dialects be so employed?

as the Anglo-Saxon iche, used as a dissyllable ichè, as the Westphalians, (descendants of the Anglo- Saxons,) down to this day in their Low German (Westphalian) dialect say, "Ikke" for "ich." How or when this change in the pronunciation of t

nd ees, used so commonly for I in the western parts of Somersetshire, as well as in Devonshire? In the first folio edition of tlie works of Shakspeare the ch is printed, in one instance, with a mark of elision before it thus, 'ch, a proof that the I in i

ps not more singular than that, in Somersetshire at the present time, may be heard for the pronoun I, utchy or ichè, 'ch, and ise. To the absence originall

than one modern work containing specimens of the dialect of Scotland and the North of England, and in, I believe, some of Sir Walter Scott's novels, the word ise is employed, so that the auxiliary verb will or shall is designed to be included in that word; and the printing or it thus, I'se, indicates that it is so des

of this kind. The best learning is that which conveys to us a knowledge of facts. Should any one be disposed to convince himself of the correctness of the data here laid before him, by researches among our old authors, as well as from l

e of Henry II., that is, towards the latter end of the twelfth centur

at here vel bi K

olle beginne to t

same rule as the contracts 'ch'ud, 'ch'am, and 'ch'ill. It is very remarkable that sholl, for shall, is almost invariably employed in Somersetshire, at the present time.

dern date; though quoted by Mr Dibdin, in his Me

thee what,

e vriars

of the be

for vourt

y egges

both goo

e say mysel

I am n

ed, these lines would become the

T HET-THEEAZE, THEE

ORDM-WOR

lo-Saxon, are the sounds which are there generally given to the vowels A and E. A has, for the most part, the same sound as we give to that letter in the word father in our polished dialect: in the words tall, call, ball, and vall (fall), &c., it is thus pronounced. The E has the sound which we give in our polished dialect to the a in pane, cane, &c., both which sounds, it may be observed, are even now given to these letters on the Continent, in very many places, particularly in Holland and in Germany. The name of Dr. Gall, the founder of the science of phrenology, is pronounced Gall, as we of the west pronounce tall, ball, &c.] and most abundant in the county of Somerset. No sooner, however, do we cross the Parret and proceed from Combwich [Footnote: Pronounced Cummidge. We here see the disposition in our language to convert wich into idge; as Dulwich and Greenwich often pronounced by the vulgar Dullidge, Greenidge.

commonly employed; thus for, he said he would not, is u

h a dood it, she has done it; Hare zad har'd do't. She said she would do it. This dialect pervades, not only the western portion of Somersetshire, but the whole of Devonshire. As my observations in these papers apply chiefly to the dialect east of the Parret, it is not necessary to proceed further in our present course; yet as er is

has given this form of the pronoun in the speeches of many of his low characters which, of course, strikingly demonstrates its then very general use among the vulgar; but it

ove, is beyond question aboriginal Saxon; en has been probably adopted as being more euphonious than him. [Footnote: I have not met with en for him in any of our more early writers; and I am therefore disposed to consider it as of comparatively modern introduction, and one among the very few changes in language introduced by the yeomanry, a class of persons less disposed to changes of any kind than any other in society, arising, doubtless, from their isolated position. It must be admitted, nevertheless, that this change if occasionally adopted in our polished dialect would afford an agreeable variety by no means unmus

the peasantry. In early Saxon writers, i

in heav

arth beene

ord's Pray

e marked as a dissyllable, but although it is sometimes decidedly two syllables, its sounds are not always thus apparent in Somerset enunciation. What is more remarkable in this world, is its equal application to the singular and the plural. Thus we say thee?ze man and the?ze men. But in the plural are als

it. [Footnote: By the way I must just retort upon our polished dialect, that it has gone over to the other extreme in avoidance of the I, using me in many sentences where I ought most decidedly to be employed. It was me [Footnote: I am aware that some of our lexicographers have attempted a defence of this solecism by deriving it from the French c'est moi; but, I think it is from their affected dislike of direct egotism; and that, whenever they can

vails on the east side of the Parret) invariably employed for that. Thic house, that house; thic man, that man: in

and sc

hat's

and sc

ho's

d this and not the thin sound as heard in both, thin, and many other words of our polished dialect. Chaucer employed the pronoun thic very often, but he spells it thilk; he does not app

hawthorn stud How br

ead?" "Our blonket lev

on, when all is ycl

Somersetshire words, namely twordn, wordn, and zino. They are living e

called, the preterite of the verb to be, in the third person singular; [Footnote: It should be observed here that was is rathe

e k

use of his g

also

nce tha

there, and I sa

as he, and I tel

he go? I reply

e will, and _I

no

of three words; but it will be asked what business has the d in it? To this it may be replied that d and t are, as is well known, often converted in our language the one into the other; but by far the most frequently d is converted into t. Here, howe

instead of wornt, which analogy requires, a d is placed before n for a similar reason that the d

ing, may compete with any lang

rigin is, however, simply the contract of, as I know, and it is usually preceeded in Somersetshire by no. Thus, ool er do it? no, zino

NG OBSER

to the reader the observations of Miss HAM, (a Somersetshire

or ichè, used contractedly [see UTCHY in the Glossary] by the inhabitants of the Sout

the lines quoted by Miss

cheese I

ad I hav

have eaten if]

ons be supplied th

cheese ich

had ichè

would ic

, Jan.

i

that any communication it is in my power to make, will be of little use to you i

cheese 'e'

had 'e' h

wou'd '

fferent effect on that of an unprejudiced hearer, when dignified by an Anglo-Saxon pedigree. The Scotch dialect, now become qu

ave traditionary knowledge, being, I believe, now quite obsolete. Pitisanquint was used in reply to an inquiry after the health of a person, and was, I understand, equivalent to pretty well, or so so. The word Lamiger, which signifies an invalid, I have no doubt you have met with. When any one forb

o go as near the sound as possible, and I only wish it were in my power to make some communication more wort

your most

abet

rks to add to those of Miss

ry contraction. I have adone, I have a had, are examples of the first; and 'tword'n, gup, g'under, banehond, &c. [see Banehond in the Glossary] are exa

oquial and idiomatic expressions have more or less relation to agriculture, agricultural occupations, or to the most common concerns of life, hence such expressions have, in process o

that the verbal terminations, sewy, Tcnitty, &c., have no

to paper the signs of the sounds of a language, of which we have no accredited examples, nor establi