"Coom away, lads.

Thee can take a half-holiday to-day, all of you, and if thy parents ask why, say Farmer Rosher will tell them." "I'll have you prosecuted," growled Trimble, "for interfering with my--" "Dost want to be shut up in yon cupboard ?" roared the hot-headed farmer.
And the hint was quite enough.
Galloway House on that day turned a corner.

Farmer Rosher, who had sore doubts in his own mind whether he had done good or harm by his interference, spoke his mind freely to his neighbours on the subject of Jonah Trimble, a proceeding in which his two sons heartily backed him up.

The consequence was that that worthy young pedagogue found his scholastic labours materially lightened--for a dozen boys are easier to teach than fifty--and had time to wonder whether after all he would not have served his day and generation quite as well by looking after his own affairs, as after the most unprofitable affairs of somebody else..