The Parish of Hilby - Softcover

Mann, Mary E.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1904006418 ISBN 13: 9781904006411

Publisher: The Larks Press, 2007

Synopsis

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1883. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XVIII. HELEN INTERCEDES. Thanks to the strenuous exertions of Miss Smythe and to the power of her eloquence, the staff of volunteers on the Wood Farm increased by two or three quickly on her return. Operations began to go on swimmingly there now, and the harassed master and his staff consequently ceased to be objects of such attraction to the disaffected hands. These last, as time went on, began to attend the publichouse more, and Mr. Massey's neighbourhood less; several of them went about with something of a gloomy look, and the gatherings by the roadside or in the inn kitchen at length assumed an air the reverse of festive in spite of the concertina's persistent strains and the ribbons still streaming from the shabby hats. The strike now wore an aspect less welcome than ever in the eyes of the anxious women, and to the men themselves the prospect began to be serious. They had done very well for the first two weeks, having received from the Labourers' Union a good portion of their weekly wages, but this had gradually become less and less, and some of the most despondent began to look ahead uneasily to the time when there would be none at all. Even now the wives and children came but poorly off, and the men, miserable in the altered state of affairs at home, driven to seek comfort where, in the imagination of their-class, it can always be found, ran up long scores at the public-house, while their wives got into as much debt as was permitted to them at the village shop, and the children played about on half-rations. From the position of heroes the strikers began to sink down into something very like that of pariahs. The parson thundered at them from his pulpit--not that this affected them much, they being never there to hear--and gave them the roug...

About this edition

• Publisher: The Larks Press
• Publication date: 2007
• ISBN 10: 1904006418
• ISBN 13: 9781904006411
• Binding: Paperback