James Bentley by Heritage Trail sculpture number ten: PLUS sound recording and text of 'The Sh"

Etna Park, Buckley

13 December 2001

"THE SHINY GOLD PIECE"

"THEE CAN EAT OFF YON FLOOR," WAS MAGGIE'S COMMENT:

WHEN OO' ASKED US INTO HERWOM

AND IT'S TRUE TO SAY AS THOU ENTERED THROUGH,

IT WOR' THE NEATEST HOUSE IN THE ROW.

HER LEADED GRATE SPARKLED SPOTLESS CLEAN,

AND THE KETTLE ON THE HOB WERE ALLUS IN STEAM.

BUT, HOW OO' DID IT, I COULD'NT TELL

FOR THE BRASS SITUATION WASN'T ALL THAT WELL.

OO'D GOT THE OLD MAN IN BED, ALL BEAT -

AN' SIX LITTLE BAIRNS WI' NOWT MUCH TO EAT -

BUT ONE THING OO' KEPT AND WOULDN'T RELEASE

WAS THE FOST THING OO' EARNED - A SHINY GOLD PIECE.

WHEN THINGS WERE RIGHT LOW: NO RENT TO BE HAD,

OO'D NOT BE MOIDERED WI' THE LANDLORD'S LAD.

FOR OO' HAD HER OWN WAY TO BIDE O'ER THE DAY

AN' I'LL TELL THEE THIS - THOU'LL NOT SAY NAY.

OO'D COVER THE BARE TABLE WI' THE BEST TASSELLED CLOTH

THEN BRING OUT HER PURSE, ALL CRINKLED AND SOFT,

AND, TAKING THE GOLD PIECE FROM ITS PLACE, WITH PRIDE.

OO' OPENED WIDE THE RENT BOOK AND LAID IT BY THE SIDE.

THEN GATHERING ALL HER CHILDER TOGETHER

THEY'D SET OUT IN THE ICY COLD NIGHT.

AND LEAVE THE WOM DARK, EMPTY, AND QUIET,

WITH THE DOOR LOCKED SNUG, AND TIGHT.

THE BRASS WOULD COME WHEN THE TONTINE PAID.

'TIL THEN SHE COULD MANAGE WITHOUT ONNY AID,

AND WHEN THE RENT MAN CAME, SAW THE RENT BOOK CLEAR

"OO'S OUT", HE THINKS, "BUT THE MONEY'S THEER".

"I NEEDN'T WERRIT, SCRAKE, OR KABE,

FOR OO'S NAY TAYGER, AND I'LL BE PAID.

"I'LL NOT WAIT, AND I DON'T NEED TO SPEAK.

SO, I'LL COME AGAIN AND SEE HER - NEXT WEEK!"

Author: Bentley, James