Country rambles in England : $b or, Journal of a naturalistKnapp, J. L. (John Leonard)
History
Country rambles in England : $b or, Journal of a naturalist
Knapp, J. L. (John Leonard)
Natural history -- England; Natural history -- Outdoor books
I may perhaps be pardoned in relating here the good conduct of a
villager, deserving more approbation than my simple record will bestow;
and it affords an eminent example of what may be accomplished by
industry and economy, and a manifestation that high wages are not always
essential, or solely contributive to the welfare of the laborer.—When I
first knew A. B., he was in a state of poverty, possessing, it is true,
a cottage of his own, with a very small garden; but his constitution
being delicate, and health precarious, so that he was not a profitable
laborer, the farmers were unwilling to employ him. In this condition he
came into my service: his wife at that time having a young child
contributed very little to the general maintenance of the family: his
wages were ten shillings per week, dieting himself, and with little
besides that could be considered as profitable. We soon perceived that
the clothing of the family became more neat and improved; certain
gradations of bodily health appeared; the cottage was whitewashed, and
inclosed with a rough wall and gate; the rose and the corchorus began to
blossom about it; the pig became two; and a few sheep marked A. B. were
running about the lanes: then his wife had a little cow, which it was
“hoped his honor would let eat some of the rough grass in the upper
field;” but this was not entirely given: this cow, in spring, was joined
by a better; but finding such cattle difficult to maintain through the
winter, they were disposed of, and the sheep augmented. After about six
years’ service, my honest, quiet, sober laborer died, leaving his wife
and two children surviving: a third had recently died. We found him
possessed of some money, though I know not the amount; two fine hogs,
and a flock of forty-nine good sheep, many far advanced in lamb; and all
this stock was acquired solely with the regular wages of ten shillings a
week, in conjunction with the simple aids of rigid sobriety and economy,
without a murmur, a complaint, or a grievance!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account