mproving, yet we
think we shall be able to make a man of him."

"Well, if that's all aw think he'll get better on it, an' as for spellin
a word wrang nah an' then aw dooant see 'at that maks mich difference
soa long as yo know what it meeans. But what do yo think troubles him
t'mooast?"

"Well at the present time it's with the which's, but you must excuse me
just now for a very important customer has called and I must see him."
Soa he jumpt up an' left her. It didn't tak her long to get hooam, an'
as shoo'd allus been ov a superstitious way o' thinkin, her mind wor
filled wi' anxiety abaat her lad.

"Just to think," shoo sed, as shoo trudged along, "'at he should be
bewitched! A grand lad like him-but it's somdy at's done it just aght o'
spite, an' aw've a varry gooid noation who's done it. It's that nasty
gooid-for-nowt 'at lives at t'back o' awr haase,--shoo's niver been able
to bide t'seet on him sin' he cut her cat tail off, an' shoo knew well
enuff he nobbut did it for fun. But awl see if aw connot braik t'spell."
As shoo had to pass a smithy on her way hooam shoo went in, an' axed if
they'd an old horseshoe to give her, for shoo knew that wor a thing 'at
witches couldn't bide t'seet on.

"Why, Meary, what dun yo want it for. Are yo freetened o' t'boggards?"

"Awst nooan be freetened o' thee if tha wor a boggard," shoo sed, "but
has ta getten one?"

"Well, aw dooant know, but aw've a pair o' donkey shooin here, if tha
thinks they'll fit yor Sammy tha can have' em an' welcome."

"Aw think they'd be a deeal moor likely to fit thee, judgin bi t'length
o' thi ears," shoo sed; "but aw want a horseshoe if tha's getten one,
an' if tha hasn't say soa, an' dooant keep me waitin here."

He hunted abaat till he rooited one aght, an' he gave it her, an' shoo
put it in her pocket an' went off withaat iver stoppin to thank him for
it. When Sammy had getten his supper shoo sent him to bed, an' tell'd
him to leave her his waistcoit, as shoo wanted to do summat at it. As
sooin as shoo wor bi hersen shoo pool'd t'horseshoe aght ov her pocket
an' began to plan hah shoo could fasten it to t'back ov his waistcoit,
for shoo thowt that wod be t'best place for it, an' although it wor a
nasty thing to hug up an daan, yet it wor a deeal better nor havin to
live under t'influence ov a evil eye. It tuk her a bit o' seheamin
befoor shoo gate it stitched on to her fancy, but patience won t'battle,
an' when shoo went to bed she felt eas