Read Online Crooked Pieces by Sarah Grazebrook - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Sarah Grazebrook
Ads: Link
sent thanks for the money and the ham bone and says Frank was home last Sunday as his ship was docked at Tilbury. I asked Miss Annie if she had seen Pa but she said, no, he was working. Alfie, too, which is good to hear. He has employment shifting coal for Mr Turner – a shilling a day. I only hope he will not lose it coming home. Miss Annie said Evelyn begged to have her hair washed but there was not time. She has promised to do itsoon. Will has another tooth. I asked about my nan. ‘She is not so well, Maggie, but I gave your ma some mint leaves for her to ease the bloating.’
‘How could you know what to take her, miss?’
Miss Annie laughed. ‘Maggie, before I go out each day, I skim the garden. There is always something will serve and it’s cheaper than the apothecary.’
‘And did you talk to many women, miss?’
‘I did. Your ma is a regular recruiting sergeant. She took me from house to house and at every one of them we got a cup of tea. I tell you, Maggie, by the time we were done I was fair bursting for the lavvy.’
‘And will they come to the rally?’
Miss Annie shrugged. ‘Some will, I’m sure. I’m to talk to another group on Friday night – friends of your ma that she sings with, and some others at the wash-house. Oh, we shall get there by and by, but it’s a long ladder we’re climbing. Still, when I see women so wretched and worn down with work and child-bearing…’ She stopped and I knew she feared to have hurt my feelings.
‘If anyone can make my ma’s life better, I would do all I could to help them,’ I said.
She smiled. ‘I never doubted it, Maggie. And you wait. Things will get better for women soon, and it’ll be the likes of thee and me and your poor ma they’ll have to thank.’
On the day of the rally we were all up early. Me to light the fires and get my chores done, for Mrs Roe said I must certainly go to the meeting, though Cook made faces like a thundercloud and muttered all day about giddy-gaddying andwasting good working time and how I should have to make it up come Saturday.
When it was time to go she gave me a slice of currant cake wrapped in paper and threepence. ‘For your fare. Mrs Roe may do as she pleases, but you must come back and finish the pressing afore you go to bed.’ I thanked her and said I wished she was coming too. She went bright pink and said she couldn’t be doing with such nonsense and any woman with any sense should know better than to leave her family and go flibbertigibbeting all over town. Since I have done reading recipes to Cook she has taken to hearing stories from
The Ladies’ Home Journal
and her words are becoming wondrous fancy.
Such a building is Caxton Hall! It is vast like a palace and full of wooden seats – row upon row – in a great space like a theatre, and corridors and mirrors and stairs leading off all over the place.
I was charged to put a programme on each chair, while a dozen or more ladies unrolled posters and pinned them to the walls and round the stage, on which was set a table and some chairs, much like at the Albert Hall. I greatly feared we were to hear more speeches of the kind delivered there and wondered if I might creep away when I had done my work and walk about outside till the meeting was over.
In the entrance we set up trestle-tables which we covered with great white cloths and then piled high with leaflets and handbills. We uncoiled flags – glorious blood red – and hung them round the walls and over the entrance, then back to the main hall to dress the stage with white and purple banners.Miss Billington was fixing one. She asked me if it was straight. I nodded. ‘And it’s the right way up this time, miss.’ She gave me a very funny look.
By noon the hall was mostly ready and we went into a room behind the stage where lemonade and bread with potted meat and jam pastries were spread out all along one side. I did not think I should be allowed, but Miss Sylvia spotted me and led me
‘How could you know what to take her, miss?’
Miss Annie laughed. ‘Maggie, before I go out each day, I skim the garden. There is always something will serve and it’s cheaper than the apothecary.’
‘And did you talk to many women, miss?’
‘I did. Your ma is a regular recruiting sergeant. She took me from house to house and at every one of them we got a cup of tea. I tell you, Maggie, by the time we were done I was fair bursting for the lavvy.’
‘And will they come to the rally?’
Miss Annie shrugged. ‘Some will, I’m sure. I’m to talk to another group on Friday night – friends of your ma that she sings with, and some others at the wash-house. Oh, we shall get there by and by, but it’s a long ladder we’re climbing. Still, when I see women so wretched and worn down with work and child-bearing…’ She stopped and I knew she feared to have hurt my feelings.
‘If anyone can make my ma’s life better, I would do all I could to help them,’ I said.
She smiled. ‘I never doubted it, Maggie. And you wait. Things will get better for women soon, and it’ll be the likes of thee and me and your poor ma they’ll have to thank.’
On the day of the rally we were all up early. Me to light the fires and get my chores done, for Mrs Roe said I must certainly go to the meeting, though Cook made faces like a thundercloud and muttered all day about giddy-gaddying andwasting good working time and how I should have to make it up come Saturday.
When it was time to go she gave me a slice of currant cake wrapped in paper and threepence. ‘For your fare. Mrs Roe may do as she pleases, but you must come back and finish the pressing afore you go to bed.’ I thanked her and said I wished she was coming too. She went bright pink and said she couldn’t be doing with such nonsense and any woman with any sense should know better than to leave her family and go flibbertigibbeting all over town. Since I have done reading recipes to Cook she has taken to hearing stories from
The Ladies’ Home Journal
and her words are becoming wondrous fancy.
Such a building is Caxton Hall! It is vast like a palace and full of wooden seats – row upon row – in a great space like a theatre, and corridors and mirrors and stairs leading off all over the place.
I was charged to put a programme on each chair, while a dozen or more ladies unrolled posters and pinned them to the walls and round the stage, on which was set a table and some chairs, much like at the Albert Hall. I greatly feared we were to hear more speeches of the kind delivered there and wondered if I might creep away when I had done my work and walk about outside till the meeting was over.
In the entrance we set up trestle-tables which we covered with great white cloths and then piled high with leaflets and handbills. We uncoiled flags – glorious blood red – and hung them round the walls and over the entrance, then back to the main hall to dress the stage with white and purple banners.Miss Billington was fixing one. She asked me if it was straight. I nodded. ‘And it’s the right way up this time, miss.’ She gave me a very funny look.
By noon the hall was mostly ready and we went into a room behind the stage where lemonade and bread with potted meat and jam pastries were spread out all along one side. I did not think I should be allowed, but Miss Sylvia spotted me and led me
Similar Books
