The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-10-20
The Scottish Laborer.

While the English lad, alittle more than
twenty rushes into matrimonY with girl of
sweet seventeen, their whole stock in trade
being that of love without the cottage to put
it in,) the canny Scot does not marry so soon
by six or seven years; and when he does, it is
with a dame as DID, frequently somewhat old
er than himself His sweetheart-probabIy
engaged to him for years-has managed in
service of some kind to save money enough to
buy what is called her providing which COM
prises the napery and other household linen.
The younger man never dreams OF marrying
till he has saved as much as will furnish a
small cottage, for which, however, the couple
have often to look too long, and it is often one
Of the worst as well as the commonest stories
of peasant life that their loves during the de-
lay are not entirely platonic. The young man
before resolving to marry, has no doubt earned
a.considerahle sum, but it may not be suffic-
iant to buy COW as well as to furnish house,
aud in that case masters frequently lend the
money necessary for the purpose; knowing
that in two or at the most three years, the
debt may be declared off by retaining portions of
the wages, and that in the interval the COW
can be its own security. The young plough
man thus genera ly starts free. He knows no
thing of brokers or brokers' bills; of the club
he is in total ignorance, and he never feels the
hug of the "Brown Bear" ~
ItdbuId Q6dDS dllkc Will OdIluy anu JOuu,
and their wives, if hot equally prudent, are
equally prolific In the days OF Ireland's popu-
lousness and pauperlsln there was certain
period of the year when the old crop of pota-
toes was exhausted, and the new had not yet
come in, which poor Pat used to cali the "J uly
pineh.n The chief "pinch" our ploughman
feels during his laboring life is when he has
what he would probably call "a large small
family" Whenever twuo three children have
ceased to be small the HpinchD is over and the
family begins to pay. Perhaps the most strik-
ing contrast between the two laborers is caus-
ed by the difference between the English and
Scotch poor law. In Scotland a ploughman
who retains his health would as soon expect
to be bishop as to be placed on the poor's
roll, because he happens to have dozen chill
dren. He struggles ON unaided, and he strug-
Giles successfully, In this struggle he is efiic-
iently seconded by his wife; the care of the
children and household, the management OF
the little dairy, and the feeding of the COW and
pig, furnishing her with ample employment
The English laborer is credited with two shil-
lings per week, the result of his wifa's occa-
sional labor, but the "hind's Wi}es ceases to do
any farm work from the day she is married.
During her married life and afterwards till
| her first child is born, the countrywoman is a
great church-goer, Sunday being her only OPP
portunity of seeing and being seen, and of dis
playing her inery. When baby comes, she
has to stay home and mind it---then she has
her COW to look atter-and her marriage gown
and bonnet are not so new as they were, and
she does not care about showing them off,
Sheprefers then, to sttend church by proxy, heI
husband continuing most regular attendant
while she herself turns out once or twice q
year, chiefly on sacrament Sundays Otu
ploAghman twhom we present as good aver
specimen of his cass) works on at full
wages until old age begins plainly to tell upon
him. In spite of a temperate and regular
life, this period, we regret to say, arrives early
Hard work and constant exposure to rough
weather have their way-he begins to iai
about 55, and seldom continues to hold his
place asaregular hand much attere0 But he
continues TO work At What Is called an ORA
man; that is, he dees all sorts ofodd jobs about
the farm, and frequently ploughs, which, to ar
adept, is the easiest of all works; and thus he
goes on for some years, finally dying in har
ness.--[C [Cornhill Magazine 81 Ky