Read Online Journey to Bliss (Saskatchewan Saga Book #3) by Ruth Glover - Free Book Online
Authors: Ruth Glover
Ads: Link
them. It seemed to be promotional material explaining all about employment possibilities for women in—of all places—Canada.
“Domestic Servants Wanted,” the pamphlet announced, and went on to urge the migration of young women of marriageable age. Canada’s federal government, it seemed, was actually recruiting young females.
The woman, who introduced herself as Ishbel Mountjoy, was saying in beguiling but businesslike tones, “Canada promises greater economic mobility, by far, than you may expect in your homeland. The opportunities are boundless—you see what the poster says. If you are not interested in becoming a wife, take the opportunity to get moved to a new and vital part of our world, where your skills are needed and wanted. And will be paid for! You may,” she went on in thrilling tones, “by your choice, elect to have a domestic role in the settling of the far West! Think of it!” More mildly now, but with the power of the government behind her, she continued, “The Canadian government considers women the ‘gentle tamers’ who help to equalize the ratio of women to men on the frontier.”
What a complimentary phrase: gentle tamers. It spoke of the power and strength of a woman, yet the tenderness that accompanied all that she undertook. The two words and the pride they conjured up, it was plain to see, made an impact on the hearers. But it seemed clear, in all she said and did, Mrs. Mountjoy was absolutely serious, a paragon to be trusted, an advisor to be heard.
Not said, but intimated, was the idea that marriage was more than a possibility. But when Tierney boldly asked if that’s what she meant, Mrs. Mountjoy assured her, “No, indeed! Though for those who wish it there is every possibility of it happening. That’s the excellent part of it—a woman is free to make up her own mind. She may work and support herself, helping build the great Canadian North West at the same time, or she may marry, if she so wishes, having her choice of many sturdy, hardworking but lonely bachelors, and becoming mother to the next generation of Canadians.”
Tierney heard only the part “a woman is free to make up her own mind.”
Ishbel Mountjoy was continuing. “At this time, Europe and Britain—including your corner of the world, as you very well know—offer little in the way of economic security, social position, or educational opportunity to the single woman. You will certainly wish,” she said almost sternly, “to choose immigration as a domestic servant over poverty, social ostracism, and unemployment, which are your options in your own homeland. You will certainly wish to choose immigration over subjection to male domination, which is so taken for granted. And you will opt for independence over being ground down as a woman.”
Now Anne’s pink lips parted and she seemed to breathe, for the moment, the free air and blessed opportunities of the Canadian North West. And to think it beckoned to her!
As the result of another question, Mrs. Mountjoy was asking, “How is this financed? The money—which it would take for a woman to make such a move—is advanced either by the prospective employer or the British Women’s Emigration Society. The debt incurred is cared for very simply: It is usually discharged by the employer withholding up to one-half of the monthly wage, to keep until his investment is repaid, or to send to Canadian authorities designated to collect loans on behalf of the immigration agencies.”
“How would one go aboot getting work?” Anne asked, trying to keep her interest from showing in her voice.
“The association has a standard application form,” the commanding woman confided. “It is in the form of a contract. Then, there are lists of job opportunities available, and they work on both ends, getting worker and employer together. You may be sure it is well overseen. The Y.W.C.A.—Young Women’s Christian Association—takes a very active part in all of this.”
Anne
“Domestic Servants Wanted,” the pamphlet announced, and went on to urge the migration of young women of marriageable age. Canada’s federal government, it seemed, was actually recruiting young females.
The woman, who introduced herself as Ishbel Mountjoy, was saying in beguiling but businesslike tones, “Canada promises greater economic mobility, by far, than you may expect in your homeland. The opportunities are boundless—you see what the poster says. If you are not interested in becoming a wife, take the opportunity to get moved to a new and vital part of our world, where your skills are needed and wanted. And will be paid for! You may,” she went on in thrilling tones, “by your choice, elect to have a domestic role in the settling of the far West! Think of it!” More mildly now, but with the power of the government behind her, she continued, “The Canadian government considers women the ‘gentle tamers’ who help to equalize the ratio of women to men on the frontier.”
What a complimentary phrase: gentle tamers. It spoke of the power and strength of a woman, yet the tenderness that accompanied all that she undertook. The two words and the pride they conjured up, it was plain to see, made an impact on the hearers. But it seemed clear, in all she said and did, Mrs. Mountjoy was absolutely serious, a paragon to be trusted, an advisor to be heard.
Not said, but intimated, was the idea that marriage was more than a possibility. But when Tierney boldly asked if that’s what she meant, Mrs. Mountjoy assured her, “No, indeed! Though for those who wish it there is every possibility of it happening. That’s the excellent part of it—a woman is free to make up her own mind. She may work and support herself, helping build the great Canadian North West at the same time, or she may marry, if she so wishes, having her choice of many sturdy, hardworking but lonely bachelors, and becoming mother to the next generation of Canadians.”
Tierney heard only the part “a woman is free to make up her own mind.”
Ishbel Mountjoy was continuing. “At this time, Europe and Britain—including your corner of the world, as you very well know—offer little in the way of economic security, social position, or educational opportunity to the single woman. You will certainly wish,” she said almost sternly, “to choose immigration as a domestic servant over poverty, social ostracism, and unemployment, which are your options in your own homeland. You will certainly wish to choose immigration over subjection to male domination, which is so taken for granted. And you will opt for independence over being ground down as a woman.”
Now Anne’s pink lips parted and she seemed to breathe, for the moment, the free air and blessed opportunities of the Canadian North West. And to think it beckoned to her!
As the result of another question, Mrs. Mountjoy was asking, “How is this financed? The money—which it would take for a woman to make such a move—is advanced either by the prospective employer or the British Women’s Emigration Society. The debt incurred is cared for very simply: It is usually discharged by the employer withholding up to one-half of the monthly wage, to keep until his investment is repaid, or to send to Canadian authorities designated to collect loans on behalf of the immigration agencies.”
“How would one go aboot getting work?” Anne asked, trying to keep her interest from showing in her voice.
“The association has a standard application form,” the commanding woman confided. “It is in the form of a contract. Then, there are lists of job opportunities available, and they work on both ends, getting worker and employer together. You may be sure it is well overseen. The Y.W.C.A.—Young Women’s Christian Association—takes a very active part in all of this.”
Anne
Similar Books
