OLD MIRFIELD DAYS - Mirfield - A Second Look

JIM DEAN
They left poor old Hartshead on a raw winter's day,
They had no money, but they left no bills to pay.
They were tramping to Skipton, and then forrard to Settle,
And they were just taking with them aye; two tin pots and a kettle,
They didn't tarry at Skipton, then forrard to Settle.
They slept in a stable through the long winter's night,
Then up in the morning, at the first steely light.
Jim sang near some houses, his poor wife begged,
For old boots, or coppers, or just dry bread.
They're on the way now to Wild Shap on the Fell,
Hear the old tramping colliers, and the tales that they tell.
They found an old house and a big torn cat,
Two chairs, no table, and a big mucky mat.
They camped here a day, and boiled the old kettle,
Ate dry bread, drank hot tea, and felt in fair fettle.
Then up in the morning and away 'oer the Fell,
When they were over they heard the church bell.
It was just striking twelve, another day half gone,
They were near the pit now where the sun never shone.
They got to the gate, it was bolted and barred,
They saw a notice on a big white card,
It was closed down for ever, no work for them here.
His wife had to cry and shed the odd tear,
"Come on lass doant cry, I could blast and swear,
For folks like us lass, nobody cares, we'll get back to Hartshead,
We know 'em all there."
They picked up their traps, two tins and a kettle.
They scrambled over Shap, then forward to Settle,
Hot meals for ever now, they boiled the old kettle.
Two days to Skipton, a night on the road,
Nearer now to their own little abode.
Away 'oer the fields their own cracked bell tolling,
No more tramping to Skipton and forward to Settle,
Back home for ever now, and they just brought with them,
Aye, two tin pots and a kettle.
27
F. G. PILLING.