~ “ploughs and threshes, 
402 
T ami going; sir, to try to get a job of 
work. 
Why do-you go so far—is there no work 
ia your own parish? 
. None, sir; money is so scarce that our 
gentry cannot afford to employ so.many 
pecple as they used to do; and there are 
some manufactories in Mitcham which 
have lately been standing still for want 
of trade, and in consequence many of 
the poor are starving. 
How long is it since you had eee 
ment? 
Lord bless me, sir, I have not sfrack 
a stroke this fortnight, and my poor wife 
and three children want bread. I can’t 
hear to stay at home to hear their com- 
plaints, and I do nothing but walk about 
from morning till night to get a job, but 
in vain. 
You seem strong a 
your employment? 
Why, sir, I have been brought up to 
eountry work; | hedges and ditches, and 
and mows, and 
does any thing that’s wanted on a poor 
man. 
You say you have a wife and three 
ehildren—how much do you get a day 
when you are in work? 
I gets three shillings a-day, but it’s 
mortal little as times “0; every thing’s 
and hearty, what's 
beeaertiation dear to keep oneself and family 
‘ 
y 
upon. 
Whatdo you pay for rent? 
Halfa-crown a week for a cottage of 
two rooms, 
What is your general food? 
- Lack-a-day; sir, we gets nothing but 
bread and potatoes, an. onion or so to 
relish it, and now and then a bit of 
eheese, or when we can afford it, a 
sheep’s head and pluck; but that’s not 
eften. 
Flow much bread do you consume in 
a week? 
My share is about two quartern loaves 
and a half, ae we use nearly Sve loaves 
every week.: 
~ And those east you between seven and 
@ieht shillings? 
“Yes. 
And how do you buy potatoes? 
Gur gentry subscribe, and we get them 
at a cheap shop for 2s. 3d. 
and. your farmily. 
“About a ree ght. 
~ 
So then your rent, bread, and potatoes, 
gone to about tis. ewe? 
Age, th pope 
- ed 
Condition of ihe Labouring Poor. 
a bushel, 
~~. which is abouta ‘hundred weight. 
' And how long does a bus hel last you: 
: ie bl 
[ Dec. Ay 
And you have 7s. left to buy clothes 
and other necessaries ? 
Aye, sir, but a poor man wants many 
things besides those; we use a bushel of 
coals every week, which costs above a 
shilling, and we want soap and candles, 
which cost a shilling more; and what 
with a pluck now and then, a bit of 
cheese, and a little small beer, to enable. 
n to do his work, as one may say, 
1€ ere’s not much left on a Saturday 
nig ie. 
‘Liow much do you pay for milk by the, 
uart? 
Zooks, I have not the luck ta get any, 
—there’ s none to be had near Mitcham ; 
it’s all used to fatten calves for the great 
folks in London. 
Do you ever get a pot of poets or - 
ale? 
Lord save 2 you, sir, how’s a man to a 
that; it’s very little porter or ale that 
serves us. It's plaguy hard to be sure, 
to work from morning to night without - 
a drop of strong beer ; but it can’t be 
got now-a- days. 
How do you ‘cook your potatoes? 
We boil them two or three times & 
week, and on other days eat ’em cold. © 
Would it not be better to: boil bows 
every day, or reast them? 
It might, but where’s the fire to come 
from? Coals are mortal dear, and we 
can’t afford to cook above two or — 
times a-week. 
Well, but how do you contrive to boy 
shoes and clothes? 
Aye, sir, we gets mighty vibe of them, 
The coat I have on is my heat ; I bough 
it twelve years ago, when dame and 
were married. It must last me for a 
bettermost as long as I live, As to 
shoes, they’re nation dear things; these I 
have on cost me 1s, and when they are 
gone, I dont know how I shall get anos 
ther pair. 
But your wife and children ? 
Pshaw ! they do as well as they can.— 
I keeps damie in a pair to be sure, but 
the children runs about al common boy 
foot. 
Does dame, as aie all her, earn 
nothing? 
She has got nothing this three miorithisi 
sometimes in summer she picks. up 1s. 6d; 
or 25. a-week,. but-its awkward for her 
to go ont and lock up the children’ in 
the house ail day without food. et 
Have you had more than three sat 
dren? 
No; and I am glad of it, I hay 
one too many. 
