129. An Agricultural Labourer’s Wife.
I was married twenty-five years ago. My husband is an agricultural labourer, and was then earning 10s. per week, an extra shilling because he was the milkman, and went twice on Sundays. Could you afford more children on that? NO. His wages are now 15s. per week, but we are now forty-seven years old. I wish I could have had 30s. In my case it was one year’s illness, nine months before and three months after. With my last I had dropsy, and was quite unable to walk for three months before baby was born. There was no money coming in, only barely enough to get bread and a small piece of butter or dripping for the four of us. You will perhaps understand we did not want any more family. We could not afford it. We love children, both of us, and often say we wish we had a larger grown-up family now we are getting into years. Our silver wedding is next Christmas.
I am by trade a leather-glove maker, my earnings helped to keep the home. The labourer of to-day is not so well off as we were, although they now get 16s., as food is so much dearer.
With all good wishes for our nation’s welfare.
Wages 10s. to 15s.; three children.