Many thanks to Peter Moulding who transcribed this eText. email: p e t e r @ m o u l d i n g n a m e . i n f o http://www.mouldingname.info/00.html HOME-LIFE OF THE LANCASHIRE FACTORY FOLK DURING THE COTTON FAMINE BY EDWIN WAUGH Author of "Lancashire Sketches", "Poems and Lancashire Songs", "Tufts of Heather from the Northern Moors", etc, etc. "Hopdance cries in poor Tom's belly for two white herrings. Croak not, black angel: I have no food for thee." --King Lear. CONTENTS Chap. Page I 1 Among the Blackburn Operatives II 13 " " III 23 Among the Preston Operatives IV 32 " " V 40 " " VI 48 " " VII 59 " " VIII 69 " " IX 79 " " X 87 " " XI 97 " " XII 107 " " XIII 115 " " XIV 123 " " XV 132 Among the Wigan Operatives XVI 139 " " XVII 147 " " XVIII 155 " " XIX 163 " " XX 171 " " XXI 179 " " XXII 189 An Incident by the Wayside XXIII 197 Wandering Minstrels; or, Wails of the Workless Poor LETTERS AND SPEECHES UPON THE COTTON FAMINE 209 Letters of a Lancashire Lad 217 Mr Cobden's Speech 227 Speech of the Earl of Derby 253 Songs of Distress chiefly written during the Cotton Famine PREFACE The following chapters are reprinted from the columns of the Manchester Examiner and Times, to which Paper they were contributed by the Author during the year 1862. HOME LIFE OF THE LANCASHIRE FACTORY FOLK DURING THE COTTON FAMINE. (Reprinted from the Manchester Examiner and Times of 1862) CHAPTER I. AMONG THE BLACKBURN OPERATIVES "Poor Tom's a-cold. Who gives anything to poor Tom?" --King Lear.