At half-past ten they went to the church again, when the minister of the neighbouring parish came for the Communion Service and to preach. That done, dinner was served in the house, first for the “Psalm children”—old Mrs. Ferrar herself very often bringing in the first dish—and afterwards for the rest of the family.
Recreation or walking in the garden was permitted till two o’clock, when the bell called them together again for evening service at the nearest parish church. Supper-time was five or six o’clock, and while it was being prepared the organ was played in the great hall and an anthem was sung. After supper each one could occupy himself as he wished, indoors or walking abroad, or “passing the time with good discourse.” At eight o’clock there was more singing to the organ, followed by prayers, and then the children, after asking the “old gentlewoman’s” blessing, all bid each good night.
Mr. Ferrar also made it his special care that no
work in the house should prevent the servants attending church; there were none left behind; and on the Sundays when the Holy Communion was administered, “the servants that had feasted with them in the church were not thought unworthy to eat with them in the parlour,” sitting at the end of the same table.
It would be tedious and uninteresting to attempt to follow the week-day employments in the exact order in which they were carried out, but the general plan may be given with advantage, as illustrating the principles inculcated at Gidding.
The day began early—at four or five o’clock—by the children repeating to Mr. Ferrar what they had learnt by heart the day before. At six o’clock the recitation of the Psalms began, and it was so planned that “certain members of the family repeated certain Psalms at every hour of the day, every one knowing his turn and hour of attendance; and thus, without undue interruption of other work, the whole book of Psalms was repeated once in the twenty-four hours.” In addition to this, the children had to say one of the chapters of the Concordance, or Harmony of the Four Evangelists, which was arranged purposely by
Nicholas Ferrar, so that it might be gone through once in every month.
Three times during the day the bell rang to summon them for a short service in the church, on each occasion the proceeding being as described for Sunday.
Every hour of the day had some special employment, some of the children sitting in the great hall watched by Mrs. Ferrar, some in the new school-house with the masters. Their occupations were as varied as possible: English, Latin, and other languages, writing and ciphering, and learning by heart being interspersed with singing, playing the organ, and other instruments, making the Concordances, bookbinding and gilding, and embroidery. At stated times the boys were encouraged in active outdoor exercises, running, leaping, and archery. As the girls grew up they were made to perfect themselves in good housewifery. A month at a time each one had control of the housekeeping, all expenditure being carefully booked; at the end of the month her accounts were looked over, and her duties handed on to the next in rotation.
A room was set apart as an infirmary for any member of the family who might require nursing,