me to announce himself: Jim didn't allow that; but by-and-bye he
managed to let Jim know who he was, and it turned out that he was a near
neighbour. I believe they managed to "mak' it up ageean." At other times
I would "toll" the door, and the poor old chap would rush unceremoniously
into a gooseberry bush which I had before-hand placed on the door-step to
give him a sort of porcupine reception.

BILL AND THE DONKEY

Still further, I recollect fastening a donkey to the handle of the door.
I knocked, and got the donkey into _my_ way of thinking: Billy would pull
for dear life and Jim also would pull to the same end, and would remain a
prisoner in his own citadel. I now feel sorry for Jim o' Jack's, I do.
But a life of all play and no work would tend to make Bill a bad boy.

SCHOOL LIFE

I was packed off to school--the National School at Keighley, of which Mr.
Balfrey was master. He was no doubt a learned man, having written several
works, including a useful book, entitled "Old Father Thames," which he
published while he was at Keighley. For some time the master regarded me
as his favourite pupil, but by writing uncouth verse and drawing
questionable pictures bearing upon himself, during school hours, I got
very much into disfavour with him. I don't wish to say anything mean of
Mr. Balfrey, but still he didn't encourage native talent as he might have
done: he might have been jealous, there's no telling!

SENT TO THE MILL

After leaving the day school, I was sent to Lund's mill, where my father
was manager over the weft department. My school career did not finish at
the National School, however. I attended a night school, which was held
in a thatched cottage in Greengate and kept by a man of no small ability
in the person of Mr. John Garnett. He was, I believe, of Scottish
extract, and a great admirer of Burns into the bargain.

TAKING TO BURNS

He had generally a volume of Burns' poems at his finger-ends and it was
through him that I began to "take to" Burns and long to pay a visit to
the Land o' Cakes. I had subsequently the pleasure of fulfilling that
visit.

TWIN COMPANIONS AT NIGHT SCHOOL

Severing my connection with the school in Greengate, I attended a night
school in Fell-lane--much nearer home. This was kept by an elderly
personage known as Mr. John Tansey, and under the guidance of that
gentleman, the present Mayor of Keighley (Alderman Ira Ickringill) and
myself spent a