Of no account

by Ruth Lamb

The firm had advertised for a youth to assist in the office, and for skilled mechanics in the works. For the former post more than a hundred applications were made; for the latter, three. Yet the office employé would have begun at ten shillings a week with no prospect of rising beyond a guinea. The mechanics could each have made from two to three pounds, according to their skill and industry.

Adam had grieved at the disappointment of so many would-be clerks, and said to Margaret, "Didn't it seem a pity there was only one place and such a lot of likely lads after it? Think, Margaret, a hundred and eleven went away disappointed while one got a start!"

"Whose fault was that?" retorted Margaret, with some sharpness. "Doesn't it come of teaching lads too much, and making 'em all want to be gentlemen, instead of good workmen, like their fathers were content to be?"

"I shouldn't be sorry if I had a bit more learning," Adam had replied. "It helps a man on, whatever station of life he may be in. If he's poor, he can get more pleasure and satisfaction out of a spare hour with a good book to read and enjoy."

"I had no learning to speak of, and a good job too," returned Margaret. "I've no spare hours, if the house is to be cleaned, clothes are to be mended, children looked after, and meals ready in time. When my stirring work is done, if it ever is, I have to sew or knit to keep myself awake; I should only go to sleep over a book. Not that I'm against reading, writing, and doing sums. They're useful, though as to writing, you get out of practice if you seldom do it. The summing I want comes pretty regular, for I have to buy and pay for things, and reckon how far the week's money will go. I get fast now and again, when I want two shillings to buy half a crown's worth;" and she laughed heartily.

"You do make two shillings reach further than most women's half-crowns," said Adam, ever ready to praise Margaret's good management. "But you wouldn't like our lads to be behind other folks, and to lose a chance of getting on for want of a bit more learning. A lad is often stuck fast because of the want."

"And more of 'em are stuck up because they have it. No, no, Adam. Let our lads have enough for every-day use—we're bound to keep 'em at school till they're past standards enough, then get 'em in at Rutherford's, or some such place. They'll soon earn a bit, and make things easier for you. As to a working man that gets a book in his hand as soon as he comes in! He sits like a stone, and hasn't a word for anybody, or a bit o' news to cheer up the wife who has no time to go out and hear for herself."

Margaret, somehow, always silenced Adam when learning and books were in question. He had thought, poor fellow, that if he read aloud sometimes whilst she worked, after the children were in bed, she would share his innocent pleasure. After the first fruitless attempts to interest Margaret in that "Book" which had become most precious of all to himself and others of a decidedly religious tendency, he had made another effort. Mr. Drummond had lent him books of travel and adventure, and stories in which instruction and amusement were well united. But all in vain. Margaret would none of them, and even objected to the father and elder children sharing them together.

"Tales take them off their lessons, which are hard enough in all conscience for such young heads. But they've got to be done, and tale books must wait till they haven't so much learning to take up their time."

These scenes and arguments had wearied Adam, and for peace and quietness sake, he had for some time past ceased to press upon Margaret what was evidently so distasteful to her. He tried to carry home whatever news was likely to interest her, though he abstained from telling anything in the shape of mere gossip or scandal.