Clearin house

—Ahr shepherd Now what is it says the gridchecker More on sheep?

—I didna want to worry you so I came back

—Ye needn’t have

—I been thinkin what with the Anglo-Saxon words on the grid an all

—Get to it what be the question this time

—If a body on t’other parts of Angland came up with an other word for the same thing then what would happen say if one calls a mess o cows some kine an t’other calls em cattle

—What for would they call em cattle says the gridchecker that’s a fine name for a mess of cats not cows

—But if

—It won’t happen says the gridchecker

— For what cause

—Be cause we have what’s called a clearin house for all t’words each day we have runners goin back an forth among all the villages with updates

—Why can ye na have two representatives from each county two bright and pleasant folk meet in a central place to gather and vote on the strongest words with best spellin an put em all in a book

—All one book you say

—Aye

—I say there’s no such thing as a book that long says the gridchecker

—Call it the OED Olde English Dictionary

—I’ll call it no such thing

—It may keep the hard words from gargling in the mouth when young folk try to sound them out in their learnin what d’ ye say t’ that

—I say shepherds must needs go back and count their sheep good night