I have only had one child, a daughter, who is now six years. I had been
married eight years when she was born, but have had no miscarriages. I
was very well when I was pregnant. The mothers in the Guild were most
kind in advising me during pregnancy, at the time and after. I weaned
her at nine months, and she is one of the bonniest girls one can see.
My husband, _when in work_, earns a good wage. It has been his
experience to be out of work many times, for varying lengths of
time--once for fourteen weeks--that soon after our child was born.
In an agricultural district, large families and small wages
predominate. I am the second child of a family of twelve, and as my
father’s earnings were very small it always meant my mother working
too--hop-tying, gathering fruit, harvesting, and even picking stones
off fields. As soon as each of us was old enough we had to work very
hard; at ten and eleven years of age I worked in the fields, and
did shaving poles, etc. My mother had to pay 9d. and 11d. per week
school money, out of her little, for us, and I am thankful to her for
educating us as she did, never keeping us away to mind babies, as a
great many did in those days. I am nearly thirty-nine now, and free
education had not come in then.
_Wages 24s. to 40s.; one child._