The Two Lamplighters

I niver thowt when I grew owd          I'd tak to leetin' lamps;     I sud have said, I'd rayther pad          My hoof on t' road wi' tramps.     But sin I gate that skelp(1) i' t' mine,          I'm wankle(2) i' my heead;     So gaffer said, I'd give ower wark          An' leet town lamps atsteead.     At first, when I were liggin' snug          I' bed, warm as a bee,     'T were hard to rise and get agate          As sooin as t' clock strake three.     An' I were flaid to hear my steps          Echoin' on ivery wall;     An' flaider yet when down by t' church          Ullets would skreek and call.     But now I'm flaid o' nowt; I love          All unkerd(3) sounds o' t' neet,     Frae childer talkin' i' their dreams          To t' tramp o' p'licemen' feet.     But most of all I love to hark          To t' song o' t' birds at dawn;     They wakken up afore it gloams,          When t' dew ligs thick on t' lawn.     If I feel lonesome, up I look          To t' sky aboon my heead;     An' theer's yon stars all glestrin' breet,          Like daisies in a mead.     But sometimes, when I'm glowerin' up,          I see the Lord hissen;     He's doutin' all yon lamps o' Heaven          That shines on mortal men.     He lowps alang frae star to star,          As cobby(4) as can be;     Mebbe He reckons fowk's asleep,          Wi' niver an eye to see.     But I hae catched Him at his wark,          For all He maks no din;     He leaves a track o' powder'd gowd(5)          To show where He has bin.     He's got big lamps an' laatle lamps,          An' lamps that twinkles red;     Im capped to see Him dout 'em all          Afore I'm back i' bed.     But He don't laik about His wark,          Or stop to hark to t' birds;     He minds His business, does the Lord,          An' wastes no gaumless words.     I grow more like Him ivery day,          For all I walk so lame;     An', happen, there will coom a time          I'll beat Him at His game.     Thrang as Throp's wife, I'll dout my lamps          Afore He's gotten so far;     An' then I'll shout--"I've won my race,          I've bet Him by a star."