Be Gradely, Lads Poem by William Baron

Be gradely, lads, one wi’ another!—'
We should get a lot better along
If mon 'ud act just to his brother,
An' th' weakest wiir helped up bi th' strong.
This world's nooan a bad place to live in,
But breeter bi far it ud he
If we'd try to be kind an' forgivin',
An' bid pride an' enmity flee.

Be gradely, lads!—th' feight for existence
Is just like a rough steeple-chase ;
Ther's odd 'uns con stay for th' full distance,
But most drop eawt early i' th' race.
Sooa, should yo be favoured bi fortune,
When th' day o' prosperity dawns
Remember, tho' th' plums be yor portion,
'At ther's lots fain to scramble for th' stones.

Be gradely, lads !—scorn a mean action
As summat to loathe an' detest;
It's nobbut a vile satisfaction
To nurture ill-thowts i' one's breast.
Allus act up to th' first law o' natur',
'At tells us to ' live an' let live';
An' if injured bi some misled craythur,
Well,—.try to forget an' forgive.

Be gradely, lads !—try to bring gladness
To someb'dy worse off than yorsel ;
Ther's mony a life cleawded wi' sadness
'At it lies in your peawer to dispel.
Dunnot spurn a less fortunate brother,
But give him what succour yo con ;
It's eawr duty to luv one another,
For we're o Adam's childer, when done !