_{-e}am_), which is rather common in Middle English, but has seldom appeared in our literature since the tune of Drayton.

Yet it is well known in our Northern dialects, and Sir Walter Scott puts the expression "Didna his _eme_ die" in the mouth of Davie Deans (_Heart of Midlothian_, ch.

XII).

In fact, few things are more extraordinary in the history of our language than the singularly capricious manner in which good and useful words emerge into or disappear from use in "standard" talk, for no very obvious reason.

Such a word as _yonder_ is common enough still; but its corresponding adjective _yon_, as in the phrase "yon man," is usually relegated to our dialects.