Lydlinch Bells

When skies wer peaele wi' twinklen stars,An' whislen air a-risen keen;An' birds did leaeve the icy barsTo vind, in woods, their mossy screen;When vrozen grass, so white's a sheet,Did scrunchy sharp below our veet,An' water, that did sparkle redAt zunzet, wer a-vrozen dead;The ringers then did spend an hourA-ringen changes up in tow'r;Vor Lydlinch bells be good vor sound,An' liked by all the naighbours round.

An' while along the leafless boughsO' ruslen hedges, win's did pass,An' orts ov hay, a-left by cows,Did russle on the vrozen grass,An' maidens' pails, wi' all their workA-done, did hang upon their vurk,An' they, avore the fleaemen brand,Did teaeke their needle-work in hand,The men did cheer their heart an hourA-ringen changes up in tow'r;Vor Lydlinch bells be good vor sound,An' liked by all the naighbours round.

There sons did pull the bells that rungTheir mothers' wedden peals avore,The while their fathers led em youngAn' blushen vrom the churches door,An' still did cheem, wi' happy sound,As time did bring the Zundays round,An' call em to the holy pleaeceVor heav'nly gifts o' peace an' greaece;An' vo'k did come, a-streamen slowAlong below the trees in row,While they, in merry peals, did soundThe bells vor all the naighbours round.

An' when the bells, wi' changen peal,Did smite their own vo'ks window-peaenes,Their sof'en'd sound did often stealWi' west winds drough the Bagber leaenes;Or, as the win' did shift, mid gooWhere woody Stock do nessle lew,Or where the risen moon did lightThe walls o' Thornhill on the height;An' zoo, whatever time mid bringTo meaeke their vive clear vaices zing,Still Lydlinch bells wer good vor sound,An' liked by all the naighbours round.