Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-30
A WOMAN BLACKSMITH,
One Of the Sights In the Black
Country OF England.
London Telegraph

London Telegraph
At one forge later on, between nine
and ten o'clock, in fact, | discovered
a female mailer working under disad-
vantages that might have daunted an
anchor smith. Whether she had a
husband whose absence was accounted
for by his being addicted to beer shop
Jogging, or whether she had no hus-
band, | did not ask her, and she did
not tell me. Anyhow, she was work
ing alone, and she spoke OF having
all these brats" to provide for, as
though the whole responsibility rested
on her poor narrow shoulders, the
bones Of which were so sharp that
they threatened to out through the
Aimsy material that covered them
every time she tugged at the heavy
bellows. There were four little
children, the oldest about seven, the
youngest asbaby in "long clothes"-in
a calico bedgown, in fact, aud nothing
else, This solitary article of raiment
had once been white, but was now APP
preaching the complexion Of a coal
sack.
The two children who came be-
tween the eldest and the youngest
we're %disporsing in ashes, and pun
melting each others naked and awful
ly dirty little bodies in a fierce strug-
gle for the mangled remains Of a
wooden doll. There was only its car
cass left, andits hair was singed off its
head and the paint on its face all
scorched and blistered; but the two
infant nailers could not have fought
for it more ferociously had it been the
choicest prize in Mr., Cremer's %oolleo.
ton. The other two ohildren-the
oldest and the youngest, the former
acting part of nurse to the latter
were deposited in a kind of wooden
cradle, that shared with a bellows the
hearth where the fire was. The baby
was shrieking, and the boy was shout
iog out a hymn in a vain endeayor to
quiet it.
One way aud another, the mother,
poor soul-she was quite a young
woman-seemed well-nigh distracted
as she banged away at her work, bent
seemingly on getting some set task
done; the perspiration streamed down
her face as though she was crying.
She stuck TO her work, however, and
kept the sparks hying-showers of
them besprinkled the occupants of
the cradle, but without producing the
least effect on those young salaman-
ders-uutil a shriller shrek than
hitherto caused the woman to throw
down her hammer and take the child
on her lap as she sat down on the nose
Of the anvil.
Hard work.
1T is just that, master" she re-
marked, in reply to an observation OF
mine; 'and often | wish | was in
heaven, and out oft all, pom my soul
and body l do, raley get 50 sick OF
And as she took the sooty handker
chief from her head and wiped her
wet face with it a milder form Of as
s%eYeratiop would have satisfied me Of
the probability Of the change suggest
ed being to her advantage. 1t was in
vain she tried to pscify the squalling
child at her lean bosom.
Hush, then, and mammy'll spare a
a penny for halfa pint of beer present
ly, and then, perhaps, she'll tuekle
down a bit" said the poor soul, as.
protesting againstthe mCckery offered
it, the little rebel stlfened itself out
and refused either to unbend or leave
of shrieking.
Haven't | got no help in working
for EN- all2 No, matter, I've got ne
help. How much can | earn2 Well,
it's right down slavery to earn q pen
ny an hour it. More often-especially
when this young IN O mine is cross
it isn't more than ninepence for the
whole day. No; We don't live quite
on that, sir, I'm 'lowanced two loaves
a week, but it's nigh on four miles to
fetch en-, so ] don't know, reckoning
the loss Of time, that I'm much richer
after all. I'm sure l don't know
what's coming to the work, and the
price they're giving for it. It's almost
as bad as chain making"
rs that worse than nail-making."
"For the women it is. Just you 20
to Cradley and ask EN-"
II was too late to follow her advice
that night, but | did 50 next day.