The farmers were very jealous
of the interference of the Squire in the Vestry--'what he had no
call to,' and of church rates applied to any other object than the
reward of birdslayers, as thus, in the register -
Hairy Wills, 1 score sprows heds 2d.
Jems Brown, 1 poulcat 6d.
Jarge Bell, 2 howls 6d.
It was several years before this appropriation of the church rates
could be abolished. The year 1830, with a brand new squire and
parson, was too ticklish a time for many innovations.
Hillside Church was the only one in the neighbourhood where Holy
Week or Ascension Day had been observed in the memory of man. When
we proposed going to church on the latter day the gardener asked my
mother 'if it was her will to keep Thursday holy,' as if he expected
its substitution for Sunday. Monthly Communions and Baptisms after
the Second Lesson were viewed as 'not fit for a country church,' and
every attempt at even more secular improvements was treated with the
most disappointing distrust and aversion. When my father laid out
the allotment grounds, the labourers suspected some occult design
for his own profit, and the farmers objected that the gardens would
be used as an excuse for neglecting their work and stealing their
potatoes. Coal-club and clothing-club were regarded in like manner,
and while a few took advantage of these offers in a grudging manner,
the others viewed everything except absolute gifts as 'me-an' on our
part, the principle of aid to self-help being an absolute novelty.
Pages:
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137