I was married twenty-five years ago. My husband is an agricultural
labourer, and was then earning 10s. per week, an extra shilling because
he was the milkman, and went twice on Sundays. Could you afford more
children on that? _NO._ His wages are now 15s. per week, but we are now
forty-seven years old. I wish I could have had 30s. In my case it was
one year’s illness, nine months before and three months after. With my
last I had dropsy, and was quite unable to walk for three months before
baby was born. There was no money coming in, only barely enough to get
bread and a small piece of butter or dripping for the four of us. You
will perhaps understand we did not want any more family. We could not
afford it. We love children, both of us, and often say we wish we had
a larger grown-up family now we are getting into years. Our silver
wedding is next Christmas.
I am by trade a leather-glove maker, my earnings helped to keep the
home. The labourer of to-day is not so well off as we were, although
they now get 16s., as food is so much dearer.
With all good wishes for our nation’s welfare.
_Wages 10s. to 15s.; three children._