Oh, for the time when the Maternity Scheme becomes law, and the Divorce
Reform. No one will welcome it more than I, for the sake of those who
have not got true companionship in life. I am afraid I cannot tell you
much about myself during pregnancy, as I have only had one child and no
miscarriage. Perhaps my husband and myself have taken a different view
from most people. You see, we both belong to a large family of brothers
and sisters, and both had a drunken father, who did not care for their
wife and offspring as much as the beast of the field.
My mother, whom I loved with all my heart, brought fifteen little lives
into the world; twelve are still living. I remember many a time she
has gone without food before and after confinement, and without fire
in winter. I have gone round the house many a time to try and find a
few rags to sell for food. I have seen my father strike my mother just
before confinement, and known her be up again at four days’ end to look
after us. You see, my mother had no education, and had been brought up
to obey her husband. But, poor dear, she left the cares of this world
some years ago now, at the age of fifty-nine. My father has always been
in business for himself, and used to have plenty of money, but spent
it on himself, and is still living at the age of seventy-four. When I
got married to the man I loved, and who loves me, he said I should
never suffer as our dear mothers had done, and that we would only have
what little lives we could make happy, and give a chance in life. My
son will be eighteen years of age in June, and is still at Technical
College, for which he won a scholarship. I get no grant-in-aid, and my
husband is only a working man, so I go out to work for two hours every
morning to help to keep him, as he is a good lad.
Please excuse my ramble, as I only wish I was better educated. I think
a lot, but cannot express it, as I had to leave school at the age of
ten years, to go into farm service. I have found the Guild a great help.
_Wages 26s.; one child._