The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-10-04
Miscellaneous,
Sellin g a W 0 man

Inc scene Is near Birmingham, 10 tho midst Of the
coal mines and Iron works Of Slanordshire The wi,
tor says:s r.-.--.. ..|
NOW we meet strings of women, clad for the
most part in mems coats; each armed with n round
basket or 'seultle for carrying GOALS going to tho
pus win their husbands fathers or brothers. dinner
again they arc met in dozens, returning from the
pits, staggering for two three miles beneath has
ket fall focal, their daily allowance There was no
iemIninoness Of features, no womany expression. in
the appearance Of these unfortunates their elotbes
were ragged their necs and faces were crushed into
hemp by carrying heavy onds of coal, from their
nIaney,And their language infamous and disgust
! ing,
should compute that every Gdh man we met had
lost leg, or an arm or was crippled in some way;
some were blind and others had their faces burnt in
10 gmlu distortions by foul air, and explosions in
me mlnes' bot all were stout, well built biacE-Elced
ieIows' and all were clad in rough kind Of flannel
ahke' Groups OF young children followed the coach,
as we wbred up the street Of the Town some turning
Sambols others performing evoutions on their hands
ana test after the manner Of wheel in motion, and
all looking nj us eagerly, in expectation of coppcrs-
Surrounded by such motley attendants, we arrived Mt
the Turks Head Inn'' r77s -asee
Having taken possession of quariers nj the inn for
two or three days, and removed the dust aud SCOT
which had chung TO me my journey, | strolled
through the town on a tour Of discovery 1t was
market-day, bu, The hurry orthe market was over.
Several signs of life were discoyerable, as pnssed
the tavems,which were very numerous; there fddles
were scrapng with desperate energy,or the
hurdy-gnrdies' OF the Italian boys were grating
remorseless music. a horrible hubbub OF laughing.
singing, chanting and shutting OF feet proceeded from
EACH and on entering one, from motives OF curiosvI
saw mon and women with washed faces and Sunday
clothes, crowded together; women rursing huge bas
kcts containing their 'marketngs, were sitting on
the knees OF men, ,vtruse ~'',''~' 49, --~-,
pTFssl.- fi'' '''" af''-i"1 ham with horn
On ro-enicring the street, observed man with a
laced and hat, violently ringing huge bell, and
men, women and children crowding around him
with anxious looks. The tavern occupants for
mon, efl their fddling aud drinking, aud clustered
gaping round the doors The bell ceosed, and FOR a
moment there profund silence. when the town
crer looked with dignity around, and sweed out
rather larger than necessary, he said, "IIem,
this is 10 give notice--that woman-and her little
baby-wil be ofered--for sale in the market place
this a(ternoon--at four oclock--by her husband =
Moses saerer-- otherwise Rough Moey"
A universal roar Of laughter followed this announce
meni land all the people answered hurrah! The
women bent double in their convulsions of merri-
meat The men threw their heads backward, roar
ing with joy, and cnpped the women smary on their
shoulders; as if to intimate that such fun too
much for them, and quite indispensable in any other
manner. .. d,tu, aa..H st"r.. 1i.-n u-t
A little before the Time appointed for the sale, a
crowd collected in the centre ofte market place;
there were some dozens Of women, with dirty gowns
aud dir,er faces, bonnetless and cnpless and each
with child in her arms, calling loudly TO each other
and passing iests, in language, when a
far off 'hurrah' henrd and motley assembage
Of black faced people were perceived, coming down
the principal street toward the market place.
sponsye shout raised by those already there and
. numbers ofyoung men women and boys to meet
their approaching friends, while continuous cheering
summoned all the inhabitants from kher drinking cups
and their afternoon maps 800 .'.H.ta i.F' '.a '
On came the crowd with a hurricane of hurras, as
they neared the market place; in their centre three
four fellows with sticks kept back the eager crowd
from crushing upon man, woman and infant The
| lions OF the day! '7 a"t al
- The man was a stout, burly fellow, Of about forty
Eve or fifty; his face had been originally deeply mark
ed with small pex, but the smaller impress of tho dis
ease had been literally ploughod out by deep blue
burrows which the horrible fire.damp had left in his
| face and neck. lie had lost one eye, and a wooden
stump supplied the place Of his right leg. Tho ex-
preston Of his features that OF fend, "a brutal
animal Gend., e.a.' f .1 assrca 1ftia leoj. tar'1
The woman was much, younger, probably about
twenty three, with as much of goOd looks as was
compatible with her slayish occupation in iie;n young
child of about year old was in her arms, quito m
disturbed by the horrid uproar around common
hempen halter was put loosely round her Neck tho
end Of which held by her husband she was evil
IDENTIFY in her best attire; her face washed leaving
boundary line Of coal dust extending along tho edge
Of tho lower jaw, and her hair was gathered up into
knot behind, confined BY blue ribbon, which noat-
| ed in gallant slreamers, l., $40. t.,., ..... ( 81
If one might judge from appearance, her situation
was anything but unpleasant to her feelings, and in