A SERVANT GIRL IN THE OLDEN TIME.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1648, 18 October 1887, Page 3

A SERVANT GIRL IN THE OLDEN TIME.

The following description of a Sussex farm servant girl’s life fifty or sixty years ago, says the Rey. J. Coker iSgerton, rector of Burflash, writing in 1844, I got from an old parishioner as her ow n experience, and I hays every reason. to believe it to be perfectly genuine, and to be A not very exaggerated instance of farm-house service of the lime of which she spoke : “ Massy 1” she paid, “ the girls now-a-days don’t know naun about work. When I was sixteen years old 1 was had out, like a cow, to the market, and any farmer who wanted a servant come and choosed one, I went first as a nurse girl, and I get Is 8d a week. Tb*n I went to Early Farm, in Wadburst parish, and there I was to have Is fid a week ; but then IM more work to do. I’d churning twice a week, and cheesing twice a week, and brewing twice a week, besides washing and baking, and six cows to milk every night and morning, and sometimes a doz°n pigs to feed. There were four men lived in the house, and I’d all the hi in’ to do—the cabbage and the peas and pork for their dinners —besides all the beds to make j and sometimes I made ’em in a fashion, that’* sartin. One morning, I mind, 1 got np at four and worked till twelve at I night, and then missus wanted me to pick a couple of ducks. ‘“No missus,’ I says, ‘ I really can’t; I be quite tired,’ « « Tired 1’ says she, ‘ if I was a young woman like you I should be ashamed of myself 1’ “ Ah, it was just a treat to get an hoar or two to oneself of a Sunday ! I was twelve years a servant at Is fid a week, and then I got married ; and when my husband died I went to service a ff aiD, and for all I’d been a married ’ooman I only got Is fid ! After a while I got 2s a week, and than a man who’d hin a soldier wanted somebody as could work o kip a house for him, and he gave me 2s fid • »•■*. Massy 1 the gals now-a-days don’t know naun about work 1 ” _____