I Wrote a Letter

I wrote a letter to my luve
An' posted it yestreen,
In lile red pillar box 'at stands
Nigh Wesdale village green,
I watched t' owd postman wi' his hay-
Collect it; t' hour was three;
An' then I walked home thinkin' on
It goin' ower-sea.
One amang hundreds, on a ship
Steamin' five weeks or more
Thro' weather fair, thro' weather foul
To a far furrin shore.

At port a man will call for it
An' ride wiv it a week
By forest an' by mountain tracks
Where rafflin'* torrents shriek,
An' when he sees a wooden shack
But guarded by a setter,
He will dismount an' cry aloud
"Hi, Jim, thoo's got a letter."
That neet, t' owd dog, Jim an' his pal
Will hear my news of t' dale
An' Jim will say for t' hundredth time
"I knew she wuddent fail."