A SERVANT GIRL IN THE OLDEN TIME.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2388, 29 October 1887, Page 1 (Supplement)

A SERVANT GIRL IN THE OLDEN TIME.

Tin; following description of a Sussex farm servant girl's life fifty or sixty years ago. says the Rev. J. Coker Egcrton, rector of Burwash, writing in 1544, I got from an old parishioner as her own experience, and I have every reason to he. lieve it to he perfectly genuine, and to lie a no •••cry exaggerated instance of farmhouse service of the time of which she spoke : “ Massy !’’ she said, “ the girls now-a-days don't know nann about werk. When I was sixteen years old I was had oat, like a cow, to tin* market, and any farmer who wanted a servant conic and chooscd one. I went first as nurse girl, and I got is Si a week. Then I went to Early Farm, in Wadhurst parish, ami there I was to have Is lid a xveek ; hut then I'd more work to do I'd churning twice a week, in 1 cheesing twice a week, and brewing twice a week, besides washing and baking, and six cows to milk every night and morning, and sometimea doz- n pigs to feed. There were four men lived in the house, and I d all the bilin' to do—the oil*!,age and the p--a-and pork for their dinners—besides all the beds to make ; and sometime- I made cm in a fa-hion. that's sartin, due morning. 1 mind, I got up at four and worked till twelve at night, and then missus wanted m« to pick a couple of ducks. *' No. missus, ' I .ays, “ I really can't : I be .juite tired.” ‘‘ Tired ' ,-avs >he. “If I was a young woman like yon 1 should lie ashamed ol myself •' Ali, it was hist a treat l ■ get an hour or two to oiK.sej: oi a > mo-iv'. 1 was twelve y-. ar s servant at I- li I a week, and then I got mariitd: and when my husband died 1 went to service again, and for ali 1 1 been a mime i unman. I only got Is 0i 1 After a while ] got :N a week, and then a man who'd hin a soldier wanted somebody as conld work to kip a house for him, and he gave me "is ti J a week. Massy; the girls now-a-days don't know nann about work