When Chairley went hooam that neet, he wor th’ mooast important chap, in his own estimation, at lived i’ that taan.  His mother had been uneasy for th’ past few days, for shoo saw ther wor summat wrang, an shoo nooaticed th’ change in him as sooin as he went in.  “Has things gooan reight wi thi to-day, Chairley?” shoo ventured to ax him.

“Nivver better, Mother;—­Nivver better!”

But shoo felt sewer ther wor summat undernaith, an shoo wor detarmined to find it aght.  Shoo knew at Chairley wodn’t be at th’ shop next mornin, as it wor his day to goa seekin orders, soa shoo waited till he’d getten off, an then shoo went to see his maister.

“Come this way, Mrs. Dempster,” he sed when he saw her, “what can we do for you this morning?”

“Aw wanted to spaik to yo if yo pleeas.  Awd like to know if my son has been havin onny trubble latly?”

“Well, my dear Madam, troubles come to all on us at times.  I dare say Charley has had a little trouble,—­just a minimum.”

“Aw mud ha known it!  But if yond Minnie doesn’t let my lad alooan aw’ll mak this taan too hot for her.  Shoo owt to be smoored an all sichlike.”

“Excuse me, Mrs. Dempster, but if you are alluding to my niece Minnie, I must ask you to speak with more respect, for she is as good as she is good-looking, and that is saying a great deal.”

“Yo dooan’t meean to say shoo’s yor neese sewerly.”

“She is my niece and your boy’s sweetheart.  They were engaged last night with my full consent, and a nice young couple they are.  If all goes well, they are to be married when Charley comes of age, and will then succeed me in this business.”

“Laws-a-mercy on us!  Well,—­well.  An a nice lass shoo is too,” an off shoo set to think things ovver agean.

Shoo nivver agean interfered wi his coortin.  They’re wed nah.  Shoo lives wi em, but shoo can’t understand why they allus laff if shoo sets em fresh eggs for ther braikfast.

What a Gallus Button did.

One Friday neet last summer, ther wor a braik daan at th’ shop ’at Dick Taylor worked at, just befoor stoppin time, soa th’ ovverlukker telled him ’at it wor noa use his comin i’th mornin, as they wodn’t be able to start th’ engine agean wol Mundy.

Dick worn’t sorry, for it wor fine weather, an’ he thowt a day’s halliday ud be varry pleasant.  When he gate hooam, he telled his missis ‘at he wor baan to laik th’ next day, an’ shoo sed,

“Naah, Dick, ther’s a chonce for yo to pleeas me—­yo know aw’ve axed yo all th’ summer to tak me raand to see th’ parks i’ Bradforth, for aw’ve nivver seen one on em, exceptin Lister’s, an’ that’s becoss it’s soa near—­they tell me ‘at th’ flaars i’ Peel’s park, an’ up at Horton, are reeal beautiful.”

“We’ll goa, Mary,” Dick sed, “an’ up to Bowlin Park too.”

Shoo gave him a kuss, an’ gate him his teah, an’ let him keep a shillin aght o’ his wage, to get some cigars wi’ for him to smook when they wor aght th’ next day.  After braikfast i’th mornin they set off.