“If its ony bigger accordingly nor thy nooas awl be smoored; but tha con tak th’ Schooil Board an thi dowter too for what aw care, an’ mich gooid may shoo do thi, for awl niver be under a cheerman at spells Michael wi’ a K.

“Nah chaps,” said Dick Dardust, “dont yo fratch.”

“Simon does reight to fratch,” said another, “Michael has noa business allus to be draggin in his dowter if shoo is a schooil mistress.  My wife’s sister-i’-law had a hont ‘at wor a schooil mistress, an’ aw dooant keep reapin it up.”

As each of them had had their pints replenished a number of times during the discussion, the old saying that “when drink’s in wit is out,” began to be illustrated; and there was such an uproar in the place that the landlord was compelled to send for some policemen to assist him in turning them out, and when they had gone he muttered to himself, as he picked up the broken pints, “Schooil Booards! its time they’d summat.  What do they want wi’ Schooil Booards?  Aw niver went to th’ schooil an’ luk at me! why aw could sup a 18 gallon to mi own cheek an net mak soa mich bother.”

Whilst all this had been going on, a few of the quiet and unassuming people of the village had met at the school room for the purpose of considering the same subject.  The clergyman was in the chair, and as might be expected, the business was carried on in a very different manner, and they decided to hold a public meeting, and give all an opportunity to express their opinions.  Judge the dismay of the pot house Solomons, when they saw the village placarded with announcements on which the words “School Board,” were in very large letters.  They at once set about raising some opposition, for they felt themselves aggrieved.

Michael and Simon o’th’ Lee happened to meet as they were going to work.  “Nah Simon, tha sees what a mess thy stupid wark’s getten us into.  If tha hadn’t sed ther wornt a K i’ technical it ud niver ha’ come to this.”

“If tha hadn’t sed ‘at ther wor a K i’ Michael it would niver ha happened, an’ ther isnt a K i’ technical.”

“Well, happen net, but ther is a K i’ Michael, becoss my dowter says—­”

“Thy dowter’s a fooil! shoo taks after her faither!” said Simon, as he walked away.

“Ha ha, ha!  Well shoo hasnt lived to thy age withaat leearnin to know at ther’s a K i’ Michael,” he shouted after him.

But the public meeting was held, and there was some very strong opposition, and Michael made a very long speech against School Boards, for he said that “his dowter wor a pupil taicher, an’ shoo sed ’at Schooil Booards wor nobbut necessary i’ them places whear they required ‘em, an’ he should propooas ’at this meetin wor ov opinion ’at this question should stand ovver until his dowter wor old enuff to have a schooil ov her own, an’ if shoo couldn’t eddicate fowk up to th’ mark, it wod be time enuff to have a Schooil Booard then.”

“Gooid lad, Michael!” said one.