CANDLE-LIGHT AND CANDLESTICKS 



was the work of a child. 

 It was a greasy job, not 

 suited to the fingers of 

 the mother at her needle- 

 work. ' Mend the light,' 

 or ' mend the rush ' was 

 the signal for the child 

 to put up a new length. 



Two pins crossed would 

 put out a rush-light, and 

 often cottagers going to 

 bed — their undressing did 

 not take long' — would lay 

 a lighted rush-light on the 

 edge of an oak chest or 

 chest of drawers, leaving 

 an inch over the edge. 

 It would burn up to the 

 oak and then go out. 

 The edges of old furniture 

 are often found burnt into 

 shallow grooves from this 

 practice. 



There were several 

 kinds of tall rush-light 

 holders to stand on the 

 floor, both of wood and 

 iron. The iron ones have 

 nearly always a candle- 

 socket in addition, indicat- 

 ing a later date, and the r ush -Light in the Holder 



o 



105 



