Read Online Journey to Bliss (Saskatchewan Saga Book #3) by Ruth Glover - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Ruth Glover
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and Tierney were impressed by this piece of information.
“Tell us,” Anne asked, “aboot wages. What may one expect to receive in the way of pay?”
“First of all, let me mention that a maximum work day of ten hours is set. I know you will be impressed by this, considering the longer hours women work in your factories, and at jobs that have no appeal for them. Here, you will be putting your womanly skills to work and need not fear that you are unqualified. A minimum wage of fifteen dollars a month is offered, and an overtime rate of fifteen cents per hour is also set. Clear enough?” Ishbel Mountjoy looked carefully around the circle of women before she continued.
“Let me read a typical contract form, in part: ‘I shall have every Sunday evening free after half-past six, unless a different arrangement has been agreed upon. I shall be addressed as ‘Miss’ and be referred to as ‘housekeeper.’”
And now it was the turn of the raggle-taggle group of women to look impressed, and they looked at each other and nodded solemnly before turning their attention back to Mrs. Mountjoy and the continued reading of the contract.
“‘I shall have the use of a suitable room one evening a week in which I may entertain guests until ten o’clock . . . comfortable lodgings shall be provided for me by my employer . . . I shall be privileged to enter the house by the front door . . .’”
“But what if a place is unacceptable, not what it was represented to be?” a hesitant listener asked. “After all, you can’t really know until you get to a place whether you want to stay and work there.”
Confirming nods could be seen all around the group, which had now swelled to a dozen women, with a few males listening disgustedly for a few seconds and moving on, shaking their heads and tapping their foreheads.
“Either party may terminate the arrangement, the contract, at any time simply by giving two weeks’ notice. As you see, everything to make for a satisfactory situation is being cared for. This is very important—a point that has helped many to make the decision to sign up. You’ll be interested to know that hundreds are responding, here and in other European countries, and we shall continue to spread the word until everyneed is met, on both sides of the ocean. Not only the men needing wives and the households needing domestic help, but the girls and women needing desperately to have a choice about their future.
“Let me ask you, seriously, ladies: Do you have a future, as things are now? If not, you may view this opening as God’s hand of guidance for your life.”
Ishbel Mountjoy was invoking powerful forces here. But it seemed to have the desired effect. Women took deep breaths and seemed relieved of some worrisome uncertainty—whether or not the Almighty would look with favor upon such a project.
“Transportation . . . travel—” The fact that it was such a huge undertaking, and at such a distance, put an edge of fear into the voice of the inquirer who had probably never been farther from home than the distance from Scottish croft to Aberdeen streets.
“All cared for by the Society. All one has to do is sign up, arrange to meet me here at a designated time, and the rest follows automatically. Now, any more questions?” Mrs. Mountjoy was all business . . . pleasant business. It seemed she believed in her Society and its objectives.
“What about the weather?” The questioner seemed to have settled the weightier problems and now honed in on secondary problems.
All heads lifted from their pamphlet reading, and all eyes waited for the answer. Everyone had heard stories of the prairies, the blizzards, the dust storms, the mosquitoes! If you knew anyone who knew anyone who knew anyone who had contact with an emigrant in the territories, you knew about these legendary problems faced by pioneers in the West.
A light laugh issued from the otherwise businesslike, rather stern mouth of Ishbel Mountjoy.
“Tell us,” Anne asked, “aboot wages. What may one expect to receive in the way of pay?”
“First of all, let me mention that a maximum work day of ten hours is set. I know you will be impressed by this, considering the longer hours women work in your factories, and at jobs that have no appeal for them. Here, you will be putting your womanly skills to work and need not fear that you are unqualified. A minimum wage of fifteen dollars a month is offered, and an overtime rate of fifteen cents per hour is also set. Clear enough?” Ishbel Mountjoy looked carefully around the circle of women before she continued.
“Let me read a typical contract form, in part: ‘I shall have every Sunday evening free after half-past six, unless a different arrangement has been agreed upon. I shall be addressed as ‘Miss’ and be referred to as ‘housekeeper.’”
And now it was the turn of the raggle-taggle group of women to look impressed, and they looked at each other and nodded solemnly before turning their attention back to Mrs. Mountjoy and the continued reading of the contract.
“‘I shall have the use of a suitable room one evening a week in which I may entertain guests until ten o’clock . . . comfortable lodgings shall be provided for me by my employer . . . I shall be privileged to enter the house by the front door . . .’”
“But what if a place is unacceptable, not what it was represented to be?” a hesitant listener asked. “After all, you can’t really know until you get to a place whether you want to stay and work there.”
Confirming nods could be seen all around the group, which had now swelled to a dozen women, with a few males listening disgustedly for a few seconds and moving on, shaking their heads and tapping their foreheads.
“Either party may terminate the arrangement, the contract, at any time simply by giving two weeks’ notice. As you see, everything to make for a satisfactory situation is being cared for. This is very important—a point that has helped many to make the decision to sign up. You’ll be interested to know that hundreds are responding, here and in other European countries, and we shall continue to spread the word until everyneed is met, on both sides of the ocean. Not only the men needing wives and the households needing domestic help, but the girls and women needing desperately to have a choice about their future.
“Let me ask you, seriously, ladies: Do you have a future, as things are now? If not, you may view this opening as God’s hand of guidance for your life.”
Ishbel Mountjoy was invoking powerful forces here. But it seemed to have the desired effect. Women took deep breaths and seemed relieved of some worrisome uncertainty—whether or not the Almighty would look with favor upon such a project.
“Transportation . . . travel—” The fact that it was such a huge undertaking, and at such a distance, put an edge of fear into the voice of the inquirer who had probably never been farther from home than the distance from Scottish croft to Aberdeen streets.
“All cared for by the Society. All one has to do is sign up, arrange to meet me here at a designated time, and the rest follows automatically. Now, any more questions?” Mrs. Mountjoy was all business . . . pleasant business. It seemed she believed in her Society and its objectives.
“What about the weather?” The questioner seemed to have settled the weightier problems and now honed in on secondary problems.
All heads lifted from their pamphlet reading, and all eyes waited for the answer. Everyone had heard stories of the prairies, the blizzards, the dust storms, the mosquitoes! If you knew anyone who knew anyone who knew anyone who had contact with an emigrant in the territories, you knew about these legendary problems faced by pioneers in the West.
A light laugh issued from the otherwise businesslike, rather stern mouth of Ishbel Mountjoy.
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