|
The case of the schoolboard disturbance in Loxton must have provoked a lot of interest at the time because an anonymous poem was written as a broadsheet, published in March 1886, it sold for 6d.(1)
The Great School Board Fight |
Who struck the Parson, |
I said farmer Dibble, |
I hit the old cuss |
Right in the middle.
|
Who else was assaulted, |
I said Charlie House, |
I was hit in a corner, |
And I squeaked like a mouse.
|
Who else saw the melee, |
I said Charlie Fry Wade, |
To interfere I was afraid, |
But I enjoyed the spree.
|
Who applauded the fight, |
I said the squire, |
For he called me a liar, |
And I said serve him right.
|
Who else enjoyed the spree, |
I said John Henry C. |
Webster, and I nailed the fee, |
'Twas a good thing for we.
|
Who else had to speak, |
I said the Axbridge Beak, |
For hitting the Parson's nob |
Dibble you'r fined a bob!(2) |
Cheap to that said farmer Dibble, |
To pay that I don't quibble!
|
* * * * * * * * |
So ended the great Loxton School Board fight,
And when all the children went home for the night,
And got tucked up in their little beds,
"Some Curious thoughts came into their heads"
To think after all their "Pastors and Masters"
Should fight and meet with such sad disasters.
Squire Galton says good manner he'll insist on,
So he's made Mr. Dibble, Lord Bishop of Christon.
|
Notes:
(1) 1d (1 penny) is equivalent to 0.4167 new pence. There were 12 old pennies to the shilling.
(2) The slang word for shilling was 'bob'.
For information or comments contact marion@loxtonsomerset.org.uk  or please drop a note in the visitors' book just to let us know that you have called. If you have an interest in the site and would like to be kept informed of any future additions, amendments etc., please subscribe to our mailing list by entering your e-mail address in the box on the homepage. You can always choose to unsubcribe later by making the necessary amendment to the selection and entering the e-mail address that you wish removed.
|
next