, 1881-05-28

W
1T. A. JURS.
School BOARD PAPERs-.Sceue-Po.
lice-cou,t, Queer-stieet. Time-2 n. m
April 1, 1881. Present.-The magistrate.
clerk, usher, School Board officer, &c,
British public in the background. The
Usher.-Schooi Board summonses Call
Jeremiah Tompkins. "a poor woman
comes forward from the crowd) The
Clerk.-What is your name Woman
Martha Tompkins, Sir. C!erk.--Are you
the wife OF Jeremiah, and did he aSk you
to attend 2 Msrtha. In course he did.
NV old maj 10 at his work, and couldn't
afford to lose q days wages; and IS for
the matter of that / lose q couple of shil-
lings myself by coming here to-day.
School Board Officer Ito magistrate).-
Your Worship, this person has q boy
named Tommy, II yeaas old. Martha
In course I have. School Board Officer.
Your Worship this boy has not attend
ed school for this last ak weeks.
Martha Add you know very well
why. He had no boots to his feet, and
we have no money to buy 'em, and six
feet of slosh In the streets, and-Magis-
trate (aside to the cle'k).-School without
boots, and in foul weather (Aloud) NY
good woman, / am afraid that is no ex-
cuse. Martha.-Well Their, it ought.
Look you here. your Worship, there was
my old man out o'work for two months
at Christmas-laid up 10 hospital with
sepeIis in the head, aud me at home
with four childer, of which Tommy
=: o1look IL Toco;uoou Az Jor-a -
the measles. Aud we yves three
weeks rent, and landlord SAYS as how il
we don't pay on Saturday bell sell us up
and put US 10 the street. And the School
Board men comes a buIIyiog aud q
talking about "%stana:d this'' aud "stanard
that when there isn't a biz of bread ia
the 'ouse. School Board Officer (sternlyl-
Your Worship, l see this boy conatansly
playing about the streets ! MARTHA
Playing about the streets! Then why
done We summon Mealface the cheesemon-
are never of the streets, and plays pitch
and toss on Sundays, and--Magistrate Ito
School Board officer. l-What do you say to
that School Board Officer Isuperciliously).
The person she refers to il not on our books.
Il Op6SS q tCu VI &OV LA nOtC1
your Honor! do you call this ~jus'iosf Isn't
there one law for the likes of US as hasn't a
shoe to our feet and another law for gentle.
folks and cheesenong ers Z School Board Ola
oer.-We must draw a line somewhere. Mag
istrate aside to clrrkE-That IL what Sns
barber in Nicholas Niokleby said when be re.
fused to shave the coal.beaver. He said be
did not 60 below bakers. l suppose the School
Board draws the line at ohsessmongers. Aloud
to School Board %ofiastl. Has this boy pass
ed any standard I School Board Officer
Not yet passed Tire third. He reads and
writes fairly, but ia behind 10 arithmetic. He
has not done the rule OF three. Magistrate.
-Tommy Tomkins Is not singular ia that
respect, for I am credibly informed that
George Canning. though he came to he Prime
Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequsr.
could sever do the rule Of three; 80 that dis.
tinguishsd man could never have passed
the third standard. / think you have
now increased the number of standards to
six School Board Officer sohserfully salts.
fsdi.-That is so. Msgistrate.-WslI Mar.
tina Fomkins, { am sorry for you. l have no
doubt you are very poor. and may not have the
means of buying boots for your boy. But /
am bound to tell you that that 10 90 legal excuse
for his non. attendance. 1 am bound to see
tina. the Law is obsyed, aud your husband must
pay . One of i've ~shillings, aud as you are poor
people there will bs no costs. Martha-Fiys
shilIiugsl Yoa might just - Lief ask him 10