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William Sandys 1792 - 1874

William Sandys used the pseudonym of Uncle Jan Trenoodle for his dialect writing. He was also very well known for his work on Cornish Christmas Carols and music.

Tom Trelore and Mal
From Specimens of Cornish Provincial Dialect
Published in 1846 by John Russell Smith, London.

Tom Trelore and Mal

As Tom was a walking one fine summer’s morn,
When the dazies and goldcups the fields did adorn;
He met cozen Mal, with the tub on her head.
Says Tom, “Cosen Mal, thee might speak if you we’d.”

But Mal, stamp’d along, and appear’d to be shy;
And Tom sing’d out, “Zounds, I’ll knaw of thee why.”
So back he tore a’ter in terrible fuss,
And ask’d cozen Mal, “What’s the reason of thus?”

“Tom Trelore,” cried out Mal, “I’ll nothing do wi’ee,
Go to Fanny Trembath, she do knaw how I’m shy:
Tom there’s here t’other daa, down the hill thou didst stap,
And dab’d a great doat fig in Fan Trembaa’s lap.”

“Why Mal, cozen Mal,” cried Trelore, “‘tes a shaame,
Thee we’st leave me, and cry like I’d ca’ald thee bad naame,
But, blame me, I’d heave thee stain bang in the detch,
Ef the roads warn ‘t so slottery, thee stramming young wretch.

Has for Fanny Trembaa, I ne’er talk’d with her twice,
And giv’d her a doat fig they sure are so nice!
So, I’ll tell thee, I went to the Fear t’other day,
And the doat figs I boft, I saved them away.”

Says Mal, “Tom Trelore, ef that be the caase,
May the Lord bless for ever thy sweet pretty faace,
Ef thee’st give me thy doat figs thee’st boft in the Fear,
I’le swear to thee now, thee shu’st marry me here.”