to rob the neighbours to obtain a greater number. These depredations
were not unknown to the neighbours, but they good-naturedly excused the
boys, as they knew they were urged to them by Mrs. Nicholson. She gave
the boys a penny a score for all the eggs they could bring. She would
then say, "Now, boys, I have such nice apples; I will give you a good
pennyworth of apples for your penny; do have a pennyworth." The boys
durst not object, and bought the apples. But still she was not
satisfied, but would say, "Come, I will play you a game at push-pin for
your apples, and I daresay you will win." However, as may be supposed,
they never were suffered to win, so that she obtained eggs, penny,
apples, and pins also. She committed various other depredations on the
property of her neighbours, such as taking coals, corn, goslings--and,
in short, anything that came within her reach. One Sunday morning, while
the neighbours were at church, she made some of the boys assist her in
stealing a hen and fourteen chickens. These she confined in a brick oven
till the following morning, when she took them to Selby and disposed of
them in the market.
For many years she regularly attended Selby market with her butter,
which more than once was seized and taken from her for being light
weight. She employed the boys in collecting rags, old iron, &c., all of
which she took to Selby, because she could obtain a better price there
than at home. It was in vain that Mr. Nicholson remonstrated with her
on the disgrace her conduct brought upon him; she only replied in
abusive language.
On Sunday mornings she was always remarkably late in her attendance at
church, generally entering in the middle of the service, and her
appearance was like anything but that which became a vicar's wife, and
formed a strange contrast to that of her husband, who retained his care
to appear like a gentleman, in clean and well-brushed clothes, and with
scrupulously white cravat.
Nancy was neither clean nor well-dressed. For many years she would not
afford herself a new bonnet, until at length her mother, utterly ashamed
of her appearance, bought one for her. But Mrs. Jackson made her give up
the old bonnet before she received the new one, being convinced, if she
had the chance, that Nancy would put the new one away and continue to
wear the old one.
Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson continued in the school-house several years,
during which time they amassed a considerable sum of money, with which
they bought various lots of property in the parish, Mrs. Nicholson
always contriving to have her name inserted in the deeds as well as Mr.
Nicholson's, so that he could not deprive her of her life-interest. One
field which they purchased at Carlton she had conveyed to her for her
own use and disposal. This caused great dissension between them when
discovered by Mr. Nicholson.
At length the trustees were obliged to interfere in behalf of the
school. They did so with the utmost reluctance. All respected and pitied
Mr. Nicholson, who was a good Christian and a gentleman, and was
prepared to discharge his duty conscientiously. But it was impossible
for him to control his wife, and make her treat the boarders with
ordinary humanity. She was a genuine Mrs. Squeers; but he was a very
different sort of person to the Yorkshire schoolmaster of "Nicholas
Nickleby."
The trustees were obliged to insist on an investigation. It was
conducted with the greatest consideration for the feelings of Mr.
Nicholson; but the investigation ended in the school being taken from
him.
"Oh, Nancy, Nancy!" Mr. Nicholson would repeat, "you have disgraced me
terribly!"
The humiliations he was obliged to undergo broke his spirit, and his
self-respect, which had battled against adverse circumstances, gradually
gave way. She used the most insulting language to him, not only in
private, but in public, making the most odious insinuations, and
bringing the scarlet spot of shame to his cheek. The unfortunate man was
made to drink to the dregs the cup of degradation.
At last, maddened beyond self-control, he beat her with his horse-whip.
A friend, whose house was situated a mile from that of the Nicholsons,
has told me that his father has often heard at that distance the screams
of rage uttered by Nancy when in a passion with her husband. Their
quarrels became the gossip and scandal of Drax. Mr. Nicholson at last,
driven of an evening from his home, would visit farmers, or sometimes
the public-house, and forget his humiliation in the society of his
inferiors. On these occasions he sometimes took too much.
When they lost the school-house the Nicholsons built a new house for
themselves on some ground they had purchased at a place called Newland,
near Drax, where Mrs. Nicholson had full opportunity for keeping cows,
pigs, and poultry, her favourite occupation. But having no family, she
would not be at the expense of a servant, and soon gave herself up to
sloth and dirt, both in her person and house.
She would rarely admit any visitors, and if Mr. Nicholson occasionally
ventured to invite a friend, she would either offend the guest at the
time (unless she saw her way to gaining some advantage by him), or
revenge herself on Mr. Nicholson after his departure. And if Mr.
Nicholson absented himself from the house without her consent, she
always upbraided him on his return with the vilest language, attributing
the visits to his neighbours or tenants to evil motives.
The following extract from the correspondence of a young lady from
Cumberland, a cousin of Mrs. Nicholson's, who was staying a few months
at Drax in the year 1837, gives a lively picture of her mode of life at
that period:--
"One evening after tea my sister and I proposed, as we frequently did,
to walk out as far as Newland, to see Mr. and Mrs. Nicholson. It was a
delightful evening, and a pleasant walk we had. Chatting over bygone
times and talking about our future prospects, we soon arrived at the
little gate, through which we entered the back grounds belonging to the
house, and passed on into the kitchen, where we found Mr. and Mrs.
Nicholson seated by the little window which looks out upon the road. As
soon as we had got seated and the usual salutations were over, Mrs.
Nicholson (who, by-the-bye, I must confess, however little to my credit,
was my cousin) began with saying, 'Well, Miss H----n, there is going to
be a confirmation at Selby to-morrow, and Mr. Nicholson will have to go
with the young people; what do you say, will you go with him? You have
never been at Selby, and it will be a nice opportunity.' 'I certainly
would like it very much,' I replied, 'if you are going also. But how are
we to go?' 'By Langrick Ferry,' said Mr. Nicholson. 'We must be up there
by nine o'clock, and meet the packet. You can be up by that time?' 'And
who do you think is going to pay a shilling a-piece to go by the packet?
Not I, nor you either,' said Mrs. Nicholson, in an angry tone. 'And as
for Mary Anne, she has more sense than to waste her money in that way.'
I replied by saying, 'Oh, a shilling is not much; and as there is no
other conveyance by which we can get, we have no alternative, as we
cannot possibly walk it.'--'No,' said she, 'we cannot walk it, but there
is a man who has a cart, and I am sure if we could get a dozen to go he
would take us at threepence a-piece. There's plenty of lasses and lads
who are going to be confirmed would be glad of the chance. Why, you see,
we should make three ourselves, and Mr. Nicholson can speak to some of
them. The man can put the shelvings on, and we'll go rarely.' 'Who do
you mean will go?' said the clergyman. 'Do you think that I will go to
Selby in a waggon, or Miss H----n either? No, you shall not bring me to
that. You have made me give up my horse and gig long since; but, go as
you will yourself, I and Miss H----n will take the packet.' At this his
amiable wife got into such a rage, and went on at such a rate, that to
make matters up I was glad to give my consent to go with her in the
waggon, and Mr. Nicholson said he would ask one of the churchwardens to
take him in his gig. This pacified her, and as we rose to take our
departure, she said she would see the man about the cart, and I was to
mind and be ready at nine o'clock, when they would call for me with it.
However, I could not bear the idea of the neighbours around seeing a
great waggon filled with country rustics stopping at our door for me to
go with them, so I told her I would come up to their house by that time,
and we would go direct from thence. But she was afraid I wanted to get
off going, and it was not without extorting a faithful promise from me
that I would not disappoint her that I succeeded in obtaining her
consent at last.
"The morning came, chill and gloomy, and I rose, hoping it was going to
rain, that I might make that an excuse for not going. So I made myself
ready, and taking an umbrella, set off for Newland. I had proceeded as
far as a turn there is in the road, when I heard such a shouting and
hurrahing that I stopped to see from whence it proceeded. I had not long
to look, for turning the corner, the waggon appeared in sight, with
about fourteen or fifteen young people in it of both sexes, and Mrs.
Nicholson in the centre, laughing and shouting as loud as the rest. She
soon saw me, and bawled out, 'Oh, yonder is Miss H----n coming! Stop the
cart!--stop the cart!' By this time I had come up to them, but was
trembling with shame at the idea of going with them, and I felt vexed at
the predicament I was in. At length I said, 'I think the cart is so full
there is no room for me, and as the rain is already falling, I would
rather not go. So do not disturb yourselves, for I will walk back again
as quick as possible.' 'Oh, it's not going to be much rain, and you
shall come,' replied Mrs. Nicholson; 'so make room for her, lasses.
There, Betty, you can sit on the edge of the shelves, and Polly can take
your place. Now, Miss H----n, jump in, and let us be off.' It was in
vain that I made every excuse I could think of. She appealed to them
all, and they joined her, until I was forced to consent, and off we
drove. I felt thankful that it was raining a little as we passed through
the village, so I put up my umbrella to screen myself from view,
pretending that my clothes would get wet and spoiled.
"On we went, and after we had got through Drax the young people and she
indulged themselves in conversation such as I had never heard before,
and strove in vain to get me to join them, or laugh at their low and
obscene discourse. Mrs. Nicholson at length said, 'Come, lasses, can't
you raise a song? We'll get her to laugh just now, I warrant us.' They
then inquired of her what they must sing, and she told them three or
four songs, all of which they sang with all their might, she every now
and then asking me how I liked it. At last she said, 'Give us some sea
songs; she comes from a seaport town, and will maybe like them better.'
So, first one and then another was sung, but with no better success. At
length I saw a gig coming fast after us, and begged them to give over
till it got past. They all looked, and said it was Mr. Nicholson. 'Oh,
sing away! Don't give over. Let them see how we are enjoying ourselves.
Don't stop for him,' said Mrs. Nicholson. 'Come, go on--go on!'--'No,'
replied some of the young people, 'we won't sing while Mr. Nicholson is
going past. Wait awhile.'
"Oh, how glad was I that they kept quiet while the gig was passing,
although she was urging them to sing all the time.
"Many other carriages passed us on the road, and they sang and shouted
loudly without regarding them; but I did not feel so mortified as I
should have done had I not been a stranger whom they could not know.
"At length we arrived at Selby, and I begged that I might be allowed to
get out at the entrance to the town. But no. She declared I should not
till we arrived at the inn where the cart would put up; and I was
obliged to submit. On reaching the inn many were the people that stood
looking at us as we alighted. I got out almost the first, and Mrs.
Nicholson was the last. I had then an opportunity of seeing her costume
in full. There she stood, dressed in an old dirty print gown, so
straight that it was like a sack around her, and over her shoulders was
thrown an old scarlet cloak, very short, with three small capes, the
largest of which did not reach down to her waist. Then the bonnet is
beyond description, and the cap beneath, with one plain muslin border
that had not been ironed, and sadly soiled. These, with a pair of great
dirty shoes that looked fit for a ploughman, over a pair of coarse
black, or rather brown, worsted stockings, which her short petticoats
displayed to full advantage, completed her attire. And thus, with a
great, square, butter basket hanging over her arm, stood like some gipsy
woman the wife of the Rev. Mr. Nicholson.
"We then went to the inn, where Mr. Nicholson and all the other
clergymen were to meet the children, from whence they would proceed to
church, each at the head of his own flock. We found Mr. Nicholson in a
room upstairs with some other clergymen. To these he introduced me as
his cousin, but none of them appeared to notice Mrs. Nicholson. At last
she said, 'Come, Mr. Nicholson, we have business at the bank, and we
will have time enough to get it done before you have all to walk to
church.' And bidding me come with them also, she proceeded downstairs,
and left the inn. Mr. Nicholson was dressed in his gown and bands, and
no one who was not acquainted with them would have thought for a moment
that she was his wife. However, she trotted on before us with her
basket, and, I daresay, we were neither of us sorry that she did so.
When we reached the bank Mr. Nicholson's business was soon settled, and
then she said he had better go on to the children, or he would be too
late. 'Come, then, Miss H----n,' said Mr. Nicholson, 'she can meet us at
the church.' I replied, 'I had better wait for her.' (I had been told
that she was jealous of almost every female that he spoke to, so I
feared if I went with him she might abuse me about it another time.) But
though I declined going with him till I was ashamed, she insisted that I
should go. Accordingly we left her, and went again to the inn. The
procession was just walking off when Mr. Nicholson requested me to take
his arm, and we walked before the children of his flock to the church.
At the entrance we separated. He desired me to go upstairs into the
gallery, as he would have to remain below with the children. I was shown
into a pew in the gallery, and viewed the imposing and solemn sight with
reverential feelings. I thought, how much it was to be feared, many were
there that knew not what they did. I thought of our journey to Selby;
and then I wondered why Mrs. Nicholson was not coming. Often and often
did I look to the entrance behind me to catch a glimpse of the bouncing
dame in the old red cloak. (She was then very stout, being upwards of
seventeen stones in weight.) At length the service was concluded. I
hurried down as fast as possible, and, without waiting for Mr.
Nicholson, went out to seek her. After having sought some time, I spied
her in a spirit-shop. She saw me at the same time, and called to me to
go in. She seemed quite in good humour, and asked where Mr. Nicholson
was. I replied I had left him in the church, having come out to seek
her, as I wondered she had not come according to promise. She said she
had been doing business all the time, but when she had ordered some
spirits here she had done, and would then go with me to the inn, as it
was time to be starting for home.
"When we got again to the inn, and into the room where we had been
before, she inquired for Mr. Nicholson, and was told he was in another
room. She said, 'I suppose he is tipsy; show me where he is.' The waiter
went out, and she followed him, desiring me to wait until her return. In
a short time she came back, saying, 'Aye, he is yonder, tipsy enough. He
has been dining and drinking wine with a set of them, and now he is laid
upon a sofa, and I cannot get him to stir. It will have cost him a fine
deal; but he won't tell me anything, and what is worse, I can't get his
money from him, and he has a large sum in his pocket. I expect the cart
will be here presently, and they won't wait for me. I suppose I must go,
but if I leave him, he'll be robbed. I never can walk home, and besides,
I shall have my threepence to pay. So I suppose I must go. Oh, Mary
Anne, do you go and speak to him, and see if he will come. The gentleman
with whom he came has gone for his gig, and if he won't go with him, and
we leave him, he will be robbed, and perhaps murdered.'
"'Well,' I replied, 'I'll go and see; but if he won't move for you, I
don't expect he will for me. But see, there is the waggon with its live
load at the door. For my part I would rather walk all the way than go in
that horrid thing.'
"She went out, and I followed her down a short passage, at the end of
which we entered another room, where one or two gentlemen were sitting.
We found Mr. Nicholson lying on a sofa. I went up to him and said,
'Come, Mr. Nicholson, won't you go home? The cart is at the door waiting
for Mrs. Nicholson, and she is quite distressed that you would not speak
to her.' He replied that he would go directly the gig was ready. She
then came forward and said, 'Give me your money, or you will lose or
spend it.'
"'No,' he replied, 'I won't; you shall not have it. Go away, I do not
want you here.'
"'Well, then,' said she, 'may Miss H----n stop with you?'
"'Yes,' he replied, 'I shall be glad of her company.'
"'No,' I said, 'I cannot stop, for I intend walking home, and it is time
I was going.'
"'Oh, you must not leave him,' said Mrs. Nicholson. 'He will get more to
drink, and Mr. ---- will not get him home. He will be as stupid as a
mule if he gets any more drink; so, there's a dear good girl, do stay
with him, and don't let him get any more drink, and mind and watch that
nobody robs him, and see that he does not lose his bands. Now,' she
said, addressing him, 'mind you do as Mary Anne wishes you.'
"'Yes; certainly,' he replied.
"'But,' I said, 'I shall have a long walk; so I must go directly.'
"'No,' said Mr. Nicholson, 'you had better come with us. I am sure that
Mr. ----, the churchwarden, will be glad to accommodate you with a seat
in his gig. I will go and ask him.'
"'You'll get more drink if you go,' said Mrs. Nicholson; 'he is in the
parlour below, and I'll go and ask him myself. So promise me, Mary Anne,
that you won't leave him, and then I'll be content.'
"Just then the gentleman himself entered the room, and Mr. Nicholson
asked him if he could take this young lady also. He said he could, with
the greatest pleasure. Mrs. Nicholson was delighted with this
arrangement. She charged me again not to leave him, and then hurried
away, and got into the cart, where the driver was grumbling at having to
wait so long.
"Mr. Nicholson, Mr. ----, and myself had a pleasant chat until the gig
drove up. We were soon wheeling along the road, and overtook the waggon
a short distance from the town, Mrs. Nicholson bawling out as we
passed--'Mind, Mary Anne, and take care of him; don't let him out of
your sight till I come.'"
About this time they bought some more land, and, as usual, Mrs.
Nicholson wanted to have it secured to herself, but her husband
positively refused to hear of it. On the morning when he was going to
order the writings she endeavoured to gain her point by a little
coaxing. As she assisted him on with his coat she said, "Come, Johnny,
honey, I'll give you a glass of gin for fear you get cold. It is such a
cold morning." And when she gave it to him she added, "Now, Johnny,
honey, you'll get these deeds made the same as the others?" "No, Nancy,"
he replied, "I shall not indeed. I have been deceived by you too often."
This led to a torrent of abuse, before which Mr. Nicholson fled. He went
to Howden to order the writings, from which, however, he excluded her
name, an offence which she never forgave him, and the loss of that land
after Mr. Nicholson's death was a constant subject of regret.
A small orchard was attached to one of their houses at Drax, and at the
end of the building was a plum-tree. Mrs. Nicholson frequently cast a
longing eye on the plums, and as she was not on the best terms with the
person who occupied the premises, she determined, as the tree was not
within the orchard fence, that she would have the plums for herself.
Accordingly, by alternate scolding and coaxing, she prevailed on Mr.
Nicholson to go with her early one morning to assist in pulling the
plums. When they arrived at the place she said--"Now, Johnny, honey,
you'll be like to get into the tree." He told her the consequence of the
act, and endeavoured to dissuade her from the attempt, but in vain. She
insisted on his climbing; to this he at length consented, and commenced
pulling the plums, which Mrs. Nicholson received in her apron. While
they were thus engaged the tenant discovered them, and assembled several
other people as witnesses. He then ordered Mr. Nicholson out of the
tree, and afterwards summoned him before a magistrate for stealing the
plums.
Mr. Nicholson felt keenly the disgraceful position in which he had
placed himself by yielding to his wife's solicitations, and upbraided
her bitterly, declaring that he should die of shame if he had to appear
before a magistrate. Mrs. Nicholson advised him to feign himself ill,
and undertook to appear in his stead. Accordingly, Mrs. Nicholson set
out, and met at Langrick Ferry with the constable and witnesses, when
the constable inquired for Mr. Nicholson. She informed him he was so
poorly he would not be able to walk. The constable said he would get a
horse for him, for come he must. Having procured a horse, he went to Mr.
Nicholson's, who, finding he had no means of escape, determined to go
and endeavour to come to some arrangement with his tenant when he
arrived at the ferry.
Having proposed to settle the affair amicably, the tenant assured Mr.
Nicholson that he felt no resentment against him; and if he would pay £5
for expenses, he would proceed no further. The money was paid, and the
affair settled, but much to the vexation of Mrs. Nicholson. The tenant,
however, generously proposed to spend the five pounds, stating that he
only wanted protection, not profit. He accordingly ordered supper for
all present, and spent the remainder in drink. Mrs. Nicholson sulked for
some time, but at length joined the party, considering that she might as
well get all she could out of the £5 as let them enjoy it without her.
After Mr. Nicholson refused to let his wife's name appear in the deeds
for the property he purchased, she saved up a considerable sum of money
unknown to her husband, and with it bought some property at Rawcliffe.
The deeds for this property she ordered to be made in her mother's name,
and thus revenged herself on Mr. Nicholson for excluding her name from
his deeds. Mr. Nicholson often said it was his money which bought it,
and they had frequent altercations about it.
Her disposition for avarice seems to have increased, if possible, with
her years. Her mother frequently declared it was impossible for anyone
to live with her, and that although Nancy was her only child, she (her
mother) would rather spend her declining years in the Union than in the
house with her.
In the year 1842 Mrs. Jackson died, leaving Mrs. Nicholson the whole of
her property for her own disposal, over which he, her husband,
notwithstanding the marriage, could have no control. After her mother's
death she at once resolved to keep a separate purse, being determined
that Mr. Nicholson should not squander her money by his extravagance.
She told him she would not ask him for anything but the egg, butter, and
fruit money, just to provide groceries, &c., and she would superintend
his house for her meat without any wage. But Mr. Nicholson had to
provide a servant, and he was bound to pay for coals, taxes, butcher's
meat, drink, and extras of all kinds, without touching the profits of
the dairy. She would never let him have a single penny without insisting
on its return, but she was by no means scrupulous about helping herself
from his pockets when she had an opportunity, and if he missed anything,
she always persisted that he had lost it.