England -- Social life and customs -- 19th century; Great Britain -- History -- William IV, 1830-1837
Was it not great misery for you to do your work?--Yes, it was.
You could hardly get up to your bed of a-night, sometimes, could
you?--To speak the truth, my sister has carried me up many a
time; she is bigger than I am. I have gone on my hands and knees
many a time.
Have you been to the Leeds infirmary, to have, if possible, your
limbs restored?--Yes; I was nearly twelve months an outpatient,
and I rubbed my joints, but it did no good; and, last summer, I
went to the Relief, and that did me no good, and I was obliged to
have a machine; and this last winter, I have been in the
infirmary six weeks.
They have put irons on your legs?--Yes; they cost £3.
Have any of the surgeons at the infirmary told you by what your
deformity was occasioned?--Yes, one of them said it was by
standing. The marrow is dried out of the bone, so that there is
no natural strength in it.
You were quite straight till you had to labour so long at those
mills?--Yes; I was as straight as any one.
You kept at your work as long as you possibly could, with a wish
to assist in keeping your parent?--Yes; I had a step-father, and
he was not willing to keep me, and I went as long as I could; at
last I cried and used to fall back in bed when they called me, so
that they could not find it in their hearts to send me.
State whether, when your mill has been shown, and when people
have come to look at it, there has not been a great deal of
preparation before it has been seen by a stranger?--Yes, there
has.
Has there been a great deal done to make it appear clean and
nice, and the children tidy?--Yes, a great deal.
Have any other mills been prepared for people coming to them, to
your knowledge?--We live in Leeds, at the Bank, nearly opposite
Holforth's silk mill; there was a Parliament gentleman going
there on the Saturday, and the children kept on till 12 o'clock
on the Friday night, and then they had an hour given them on the
morning of Saturday to go and dress themselves.
When was this?--I can't tell rightly; two or three weeks since,
as nearly as I can recollect.
Did the children come in their Sunday clothes then?--Yes.
Were all the children there?--Yes, for anything I know.
Were any of those who were ill-looking or unwell kept
away?--There were some of them sent home.
That were not to return?--Yes.
What were they sent home for?--I do not know; but there was a
gentleman going there.
Were they sent home because they did not appear to be in good
health?--Yes, that was the purpose, I believe.
You saw those persons, did you?--Yes.
Did you not think it very wrong for people, who wish to show the
condition in which children are to make those sort of
preparations previously?--Yes; it was to deceive the gentleman."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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