CORRESPONDENCE.
AN ESSEX LABOURER.
[A one-storied dwelling, occupied by a solitary old labourer.. Evening in early spring.]
"COME in ! I don't know who you be, but come in ! Oh, yes !" I knows you now; you's the gentleman as called about Christmas-time, and I met thee on the road one day sin' ; but I didn't speak ; I were getting home a bit o' firing ; 'tain't no harm a-picking up a bit here and there, lying about, I reckon.
" Well, no ! I hain't been over-grand this last day or two;. I hain't bin to work to-day. I've kep' on doing a little, doing a little, like; tain't much, but it's better 'n nothing. I'm none so partial to that there gravel-digging. Hard work ? I b'lieve yer ; 'tis more nor I can stand for t' whole day. A man wants more to take to than I'm got, for that work.
"No, I hain't bin down to see you : I a'most did tho', but I hadn't the heart I'm bin getting maybe three shillings, may be half-a.crown ; week afore last I only got
two The master, he is a wonder, surely ! he will have his rent ! eighteenpence a week I pays for this cottage ; he allus [always] takes it out of my pay, every week ; don't matter if that's only two shilling, he take his eighteenpence. 'Twas last week—no, I'm telling you a story, 'twas the week afore—allhe giv' me was sixpence; warn't a sixpence, nayther it were a threepenny-bit, and threepennorth o' ha'pence. I couldn't help a-laughing, but he will have his rent.
" 'Tain't much to live on, is it ? How do I manage ?
tell you the truth. I gets an ounce o' tea,—an ounce o' tea lasts me a week, so you may fancy 'tain't very strong. And I has half-a-pound o' cheese, and bread, and a little sugar, and some dripping. I generally gets what we calls gut-fat ; ' that's from the pig's innards I'll tell you the truth The neighbours is very good : they does my bit o' washing for me ; them two at the end housen hain't got no families, but. him as lives in the middle, he have ; poor people hasn't much to give away.
"Was I ever in the Union ? No, and don't want. I don't like that 'ere Union. I should be more reg'lar fed, no doubt ; but I like being my own master ; yes, I do, by George Well, I s'pose I'm going on for eighty, but I don't rightly know ; I'm some bit over seventy. Yes, I think sometimes about being ill, but not what you call to stay upon it ; I pray the good Lord to provide for me, and I allus have had a bit co' bread so far. Well, no, I never goes to church : you see, I hain't got no clothes ; how can I get clothes out o' my little- money ? Long time since I had a new coat? By George, I can't remember as ever I did have a new coat ; I've got a little oud weskit in t'other room, but that's too small for me. Master,. he giv' me this coat: I'm sure I dunno how many years that was ago. New coat ! why, I can't buy stockings, let alone coat ! I ties some bits o' rags round my feet. But I'm allus got a piece o' bread ; I'd like a little relish sometimes, but this yer frost, that have played havoc with the greens ; but I'm contented ; leastways, most times. Well, thank-you, Sir, for calling ; you can look in agin if you're passing this way."
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