It is so long ago since I had all these babies, that I almost forget,
but I was married young, and was always delicate on the chest, as I am
still. I had children very fast, seven one after another, not more than
a year and nine months between them, and in one case only one year and
two months. Then I lost a sweet little girl, aged four years and eight
months. She was ill a fortnight, and I nursed her night and day. I was
so done up with attending her and the grief, that I had a dreadful
miscarriage which nearly cost me my life. I had to work very hard to
do everything for my little family, and after that I never had any
more children to live. I either miscarried, or they were still-born. I
have had two miscarriages in a year, one in January and one in August.
My husband’s standing wage was 28s., but he made a little overtime
sometimes, which I always tried to put by for doctor and nurse. The
doctor’s fee was £1 1s., and I had no nurse under 1s. a day--viz.,
7s. or 8s. per week, and their food, etc. I looked after my husband
and children well, but I often went short of food myself, although my
husband did not know it. He used to think my appetite was bad, and that
I could not eat. I never worried him. He was steady, and gave me all he
could. You may guess I was always scheming and planning to make ends
meet, which was not good for me or the unborn baby. But I always tried
to keep a bright face, and made the best of things, and all my doctors
have called me plucky. I wish I had had the 30s. the mothers have now;
it would have taken a load off anyhow....
_Wages 28s.; seven children, three still-births, four miscarriages._