Ben o' Bill's, the Luddite: A Yorkshire Tale

by D. F. E. Sykes; George Henry Walker

“More fool yo’.”

“And ’oo said ’oo’d heard aw’d ta’en up wi’ Ben here an’ axed me if it wer’ true.”

“An’ of course tha’d thi answer to that too,” said my mother triumphantly.

“Well, yes,” admitted Mary.

“So that put a spoke i’ that wheel,” said my father, knocking his pipe head on the fire–grate bar.

“Not a bit on it,” quoth Mary. “On th’ contrary she seemed rayther glad to hear it. But ’oo said he’d noan ha’ to ha’ me.”

“Who, ya’r Ben?”

“Aye, yo’r Ben.”

“Who’s to stop him?”

“Mrs. Walker o’ th’ Brigg, by yo’r good leave, aunt. She said ’oo’d gie me a month to think on it, an’ if aw didn’t gi’e mi word to ha’ their Ben, she’d just speak a word to th’ Government ovver that Rawfolds job as ’ud send Ben here to keep George Mellor company.”