the place; others, after trying to brave it out, left Stokebridge and
obtained employment in the factories of Birmingham; while others again,
previously engaged to some of the young men who had left the village,
were sooner or later married to them, and were heard of no more in
Stokebridge.

This removal by one means or another of some forty or fifty of the young
men and women of the place most opposed to the spirit of improvement,
produced an excellent effect. Other miners came of course to the village
to take the places of those who had left, but as Mr. Brook instructed
his manager to fill up the vacant stalls as far as possible with
middle-aged men with families, and not with young men, the new-comers
were not an element of disturbance.

The price of coal was at this time high, and Mr. Brook informed the
clergyman that, as he was drawing a larger income than usual from the
mines, he was willing to give a sum for any purpose which he might
recommend as generally useful to the families of his work-people. The
vicar as usual consulted his valued assistants the Dodgsons, and after
much deliberation it was agreed that if a building were to be erected
the lower story of which should be fitted up as a laundry and wash-house
upon the plan which was then being introduced in some large towns, it
would be an immense boon to the place. The upper story was to be
furnished as a reading-room with a few papers and a small library of
useful and entertaining books for reading upon the spot or lending.
Plans were obtained and estimates given, and Mr. Brook expressed his
willingness to contribute the sum of eighteen hundred pounds for which a
contractor offered to complete the work.

CHAPTER XXI.

A KNOTTY QUESTION.

It has not been mentioned that at the fete at Mr. Brook's on the
memorable occasion of the Black Feast, Mr. Merton and his daughter were
staying as guests with Mr. Brook. Mr. Merton was much struck with the
extraordinary improvement which had taken place in the bearing and
appearance of the young people.

"Yes," Mr. Dodgson, whom he congratulated upon the change, said; "it is
entirely due to the suggestion which you made upon my arrival here. The
night-schools for lads and the sewing and cooking classes for the girls
have done wonders, and I have found in the lad you recommended to my
attention, Jack Simpson, an invaluable ally. Without him, indeed, I
think that our plan would have been a failure. He is a si