240 OLD WEST SURREY 



market and put it down in Farnham market within rive 

 hours. The distance is ten miles. A sack of wheat is four 

 bushels and weighs over two hundredweight. 



A crowd of people followed him out of Guildford ; 

 down the High Street, over the bridge, and up the very 

 steep ascent of the old road on to the Hog's Back. Twice 

 only he put down his burden and rested for twenty 

 minutes ; on Guild-down and by the railing of Poyle Park. 



He finished well within the time, and as he put down 

 his sack in Farnham market he merely said : ' Well, I 

 won it.' Then, looking round he said, ' Would any one 

 like to lay me I don't take it back ? ' 



Neither men nor women spared themselves as to labour 

 or long hours. I know of a carpenter with his two sons, 

 Godalming men, who finished a fencing job at Portsmouth 

 one evening at half-past five, and walked all night the 

 thirty-seven miles back to Godalming to be ready at the 

 master's place at six the next morning to see about the 

 next job. They not only walked but trundled a hand- 

 cart with their tools, including spades and iron bars. They 

 thought nothing of walking to jobs at Putney, Wimbledon, 

 or Wandsworth. 



Mothers of labourers' families Avere 2flad to get their 



o o 



girls out at an early age into any respectable family where 

 they would be fed in return for their work. 



One old woman that I knew well told me that she 

 went out at the age of twelve. 



' It was a carpenter's family,' she said, ' and there was 

 eleven children. Yes, that was my first place, for a year. 

 I didn't get no wages, only my food, one frock and one 

 bonnet, and a shillin' to take home. 



