“Is there anything wrong with the schoolhouse?”
“Well,” said the old man, “I don't think it's just exactly safe.”
“Not safe for the children?”
“Well, no, it mightn't he safe for the children.”
“What is wrong with the schoolhouse?” said the School-teacher.
The old man began to talk. “Well,” he said, “it's got a good roof. Old Dix put that roof on. Every one of the clapboards is planed with a drawin' knife. An' the weatherboardin' is good. It was seasoned weatherboardin'. But the floor might be bad.”
“I have mended the floor,” replied the School-teacher.
“It ain't so much the floor,” continued the old man. “It's the sills. The sills might be rotten.”
“I have examined the sills,” replied the School-teacher. “The sills are sound.”
“Well,” said the old man, “failin' weather's comin' on. I think the school had better stop anyway.”