THE SEWING CLASS.
Stokebridge contained altogether a population of some three thousand
souls, of whom more than half consisted of the men and boys of the
Vaughan mine, and the families dependent upon them. It was a place
where, except as to accidents at one or other of the pits, news was
scarce, and a small thing therefore created much interest. Thus the news
that the new schoolmaster had opened a night school, and that some
sixteen or eighteen of the lads belonging to the Vaughan had joined it,
created quite an excitement. At first the statement was received with
positive disbelief. There was no precedent for such a thing, and in its
ways at least Stokebridge was strictly conservative.
When the tale was confirmed wonder took the place of unbelief. The women
were unanimous in the opinion that if the school only kept the lads from
drink it would be a blessing to the place. Drink was indeed the grand
test by which they viewed all things. To anything which led lads to
avoid this curse of their homes their approval was certain and
complete. Whether the acquisition of learning was likely to improve
their prospects in life, or to make them better men, was not considered,
the great point about the new organization was that it would keep them
from the public-houses, the curses of the working men, and still more of
the working men's wives and families, of this country.
Among the men, who were, however, disposed to view the matter as a boys'
fancy which would soon die away, the movement met with slight approval.
Newfangled notions were held in but low estimation among the miners of
Stokebridge. They had got on wi'out larning, and saw no reason why t'
lads could not do as they had done. "They'll be a cocking they noses oop
aboove their feythers, joost acause they know moore reading and writing,
but what good ul it do they I wonder?" an elderly pitman asked a circle
of workmen at the "Chequers;" and a general affirmatory grunt betokened
assent with the spirit of his words.
Among the young men, those of from eighteen to three or four and twenty,
the opposition was still stronger, for here a strong feeling of jealousy
was aroused at the thought that their juniors were, as they considered,
stealing a march upon them. Gibes and jeers were showered upon the
"Bull-dogs," and two of them were ducked in the canal by a party of five
or six of their elders. On scrambling out, however, they ran back to the
village, and the rest of the party, headed by Jack, at once started on
the war-path. Coming up to the band who had assaulted their comrades
they fell upon them with fury, and in spite of the latter's superior
individual strength, thrashed them soundly, and then gave them a ducking
in the canal, similar to that which they had inflicted. After that it
came to be understood in Stokebridge that it was best to leave the
bull-dogs alone, or at least to be content with verbal assaults, at
which indeed the lads were able to hold their own.
But it was among the girls of Stokebridge, those of from fourteen to
seventeen years old, that this movement upon the part of the boys
excited the greatest discussion and the widest divergence of opinion. Up
to the time of the strike Jack Simpson had been by no means popular
among their class. It was an anomaly in Stokebridge that a lad should
have no avowed favourite of his own age among the lasses. These
adhesions were not often of a permanent character, although later on
sometimes marriages came of them, but for a time, and until the almost
inevitable quarrel came, they were regarded as binding. The lad would
sometimes buy a ribbon or neckerchief for the lass, and she and two or
three others would accompany him as with some of his comrades he
strolled in the lanes on Sunday, or would sit by him on a wall or a balk
of timber as he smoked and talked with his friends.
Jack's rigid seclusion after his hour of play was over, his apparent
indifference to the lasses of the place, was felt as a general slight,
and resented accordingly; although the girls were not insensible to his
prowess in battle and in sports, to his quiet steadiness of character,
or to the frankness and good temper of his face. The general opinion,
therefore, among the young girls of Stokebridge was that he was "stuck
up," although in fact few boys in the place had less of conceit and
self-glorification than he had.
"Did 'ee ever hear of such a tale," asked one of a group of girls
sitting together on a bank, while the little ones, of whom they were
supposed to be in charge, played and rolled on the grass, "as for a lot
o' boys to go to school again o' their own free-will."
"I don't see no good in it," another said, "not for the schooling
they'll get. But if it teaches them to keep out o' the publics, it will
be good for their wives some day."
"It will that," put in another earnestly; "my! how feyther did beat
mother last night; he were as drunk as could be, and he went on awful."
"I think sometimes men are worse nor beasts," another said.
"Do 'ee know I've heard," Sarah Shepherd said, "that the new
schoolmistress be a-going to open a night-school for girls, to teach
sewing, and cutting out, and summat o' cooking." There was a general
exclamation of astonishment, and so strange was the news that it was
some time before any one ventured a comment on it.
"What dost think o't?" Sarah questioned at last.
"Only sewing and cutting out and cooking and such like, and not
lessons?" Bess Thompson asked doubtfully.
"Not reg'lar lessons I mean. She'll read out while the girls work, and
perhaps they will read out by turns; not lessons, you know, but stories
and tales, and travels, and that kind o' book. What dost think o't?"
"'Twould be a good thing to know how to make dresses," Fanny Jones, who
was fond of finery, remarked.
"And other things too," put in Peggy Martin, "and to cook too. Mother
ain't a good hand at cooking and it puts feyther in such tempers, and
sometimes I hardly wonder. I shall go if some others go. But be'est sure
it be true, Sally?"
"Harry told me," she said, "and I think Jack Simpson told him as the
schoolmaster said so."
The news was too important to be kept to themselves, and there was soon
a general move homewards.
There Sally Shepherd's story received confirmation. The schoolmistress
had been going from house to house, asking all the women who had
daughters between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, to let them attend a
working class in the schoolroom two evenings a week, and the answer she
almost always received was, "Well, I ha' no objection to my lass going
if she be willing; and I think it would be very good for her to know how
to make her clothes; I can hardly do a stitch myself."
Mrs. Dodgson had also informed the women that any of them who liked to
supply the material for undergarments or for children's dresses, could
have them for the present made up without charge by the class.
"But suppose they spiles 'em?"
"They wont spoil them. The work may not be very neat at first, but the
things will be well cut out and strongly put together. I will see to
that."
In a short time the class was opened, and forty girls at once attended.
So pleased were these with their teacher, and with the pleasant books
that Mr. Dodgson read to them--for his wife was far too much occupied to
read, and too wise to give the girls a distaste for the class by asking
them to do so--that the number of applicants for admission soon far
exceeded the number who could be received.
Mr. Brook heard shortly afterwards from Mr. Dodgson of the success of
the scheme and the great benefit which was likely to accrue from it, and
at once offered to contribute twenty pounds a year to secure the
services of a young woman capable of assisting in the girls' school by
day and of teaching needlework.
Thenceforth the number of class evenings was raised to three a week, and
sixty girls in all were admitted. The books chosen for reading were not
always tales, but for a portion of each evening books treating on
domestic matters, the care of a house, the management of illness,
cottage gardening, &c., were read; and these were found greatly to
interest the hearers. The book on gardening was a special favourite,
and soon the pitmen were astonished to see changes in the tiny plots of
ground behind their houses. The men in charge of the pit horses were
coaxed for baskets of manure, pennies were saved and devoted to the
purchase of seed, and the boys found that the most acceptable present
was no longer a gay handkerchief or ribbon, but a pot of flowers.
Revolutions are not made in a day, but as month passed after month the
change in Stokebridge became marked. The place assumed a smarter and
brighter aspect; it was rare to hear bad language from lads or girls in
the streets, for the young ones naturally followed the fashion set by
their elder brothers and sisters, and as a foul expression not
unfrequently cost its utterer a cuff on the head, they soon became rare.
The girls became more quiet in demeanour, neater in dress, the boys less
noisy and aggressive.
The boys' night-school had increased greatly in number. The Bull-dogs,
after much deliberation, had declined to increase their numbers, but at
Jack Simpson's suggestion it had been agreed that any of them might join
other similar associations, in order that these might be conducted on
the same lines as their own, and the benefits of which they were
conscious be thus distributed more widely. Four other "clubs" were in
consequence established, all looking upon the Bull-dogs as their central
association.
The vicar of the parish aided the efforts of the school master and
mistress for the improvement of the rising generation of Stokebridge.
Hitherto all efforts that way had failed, but he now got over a magic
lantern from Birmingham, hiring sets of slides of scenery in foreign
countries, astronomical subjects, &c., and gave lectures once a
fortnight. These were well attended, and the quiet attention with which
he was listened to by the younger portion of his audience, contrasted so
strongly with the indifference or uproar with which a similar attempt
had been met some two years before, that he told Mr. Brook something
like a miracle was being wrought in the parish.
Mr. Brook warmly congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Dodgson on the change, but
these frankly said that although they had done their best, the change
was in no slight degree due to the influence of one of the pit lads,
with whom Mr. Merton had taken great pains, and who was certainly a
remarkable lad.
"Ah, indeed," Mr. Brook said. "I have a faint recollection of his
speaking to me some years ago of one of the boys; and, now I think of
it, he is the same boy who behaved so bravely in going down that old
shaft to save another boy's life. The men gave him a gold watch; of
course, I remember all about it now. I am glad to hear that he is
turning out so well. In a few years I must see what I can do for him."
Mr. Dodgson would have said much more, but Mr. Merton had impressed upon
him that Jack would object, above all things, to be brought forward, and
that it was better to let him work his way steadily and bide his time.
It was not for some months after the sewing classes had been instituted
that those for cooking were established. The difficulty was not as to
the necessary outlay for stoves and utensils, for these Mr. Brook at
once offered to provide, but as to the food to be cooked.
The experiments began on a small scale. At first Mrs. Dodgson sent round
to say that in all cases of illness, she would have broths, puddings,
and cooling drinks prepared at the schools free of charge, upon the
necessary materials being sent to her. This was followed by the plan of
buying the materials for food for invalids, which was to be supplied at
a price that just paid the cost. Then little steak puddings and pies
were made, and these commanded a ready sale; excellent soups from cheap
materials were also provided, and for this in winter the demand was
greater than they could supply; and so the work was extended until the
two stoves were fully occupied for three days a week.
Eight girls at a time were instructed in cookery, doing the whole work
under the supervision of the mistress. Two fresh hands came as two left
each week; thus each received a month's teaching. On the first week the
new-comers simply cleaned and washed the utensils, stoves, &c., during
the remaining three weeks they learned to make simple soups, puddings,
and pies, to cook meat and vegetables. The time was short for the
purpose, but the girls were delighted with their lessons, and took the
greatest pride in keeping up the reputation of the school kitchens, and
learned at any rate sufficient to enable them to assist their mothers at
home with such effect, that the pitmen of Stokebridge were astonished at
the variety and improvement of their fare.