1846.] 



EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYED, 



33 



they would take from me what they would not from another, 

 since every one thinks that I am going because the rich did 

 not like me. It is true some of the worst said afterwards that 

 I was paid by the masters to keep the men quiet ; but the bulk 

 knew that I had no interest to serve, and would hear some 

 wholesome truths that they are not in the habit of hearing. 

 And yet I spoke quite as plainly as I wished of the masters, 

 and have eased my conscience. ... It is lamentable to see 

 how a large part of the working classes are at the mercy of 

 demagogues and unionists : they distrust plain doctrine as 

 much as the rich do. Only the thinking part among them 

 produce truly noble characters, who shine in great contrast to 

 the masters in this neighbourhood. The second lecture was 

 worse attended, partly because it was Simnel (mid-Lent) Sunday \ 

 the people there were very attentive, and particularly interested 

 in the account of Mr. Hollins's mill at Stockport, with which I 

 closed. We had one of Mr. Greg's knights of the silver cross * 

 present. I feel glad at having done what I can towards 

 diffusing just views on this (here) most important question ; for 

 I am persuaded that the direct influence of Christian feeling is 

 the only cure for these awful evils. . . . 



" You would be entertained to see the scholars at dinner. No 

 sooner do I give notice of the half-past twelve, than they scamper 

 to the little room, bring out stools in a circle round the fire, and 

 fall to. Some bring a pudding in a basin or tin, and eat it with 

 a stick-knife ; others, bread and meat ; others, eggs and bread ; 

 now and then a black-pudding makes its appearance, with a 

 nudge of bread, or a delicate omelette in a saucer. Then 

 some have bottles of milk or treacle-beer ; while others come 

 to my water-jug with, ' Please, sir, may I sup? ' I sit on an 

 elevated stool, smiling benignly on my young family, and joking 

 the greedy ones 3 and feed sometimes on currant-bread, some- 

 times on rice or oatmeal, or such other concoctions as the 

 wonderful art of Susan suggests. Sometimes she gives me her 

 company at this period, when I walk with her in the field or 

 garden, eating en chetnin ; then I sometimes play a bit with the 



* See " A Layman's Legacy : Samuel Greg," p. 330. 



