"BRITONS NEVER WILL BE SLAVES."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVII, Issue 8264, 24 May 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

"BRITONS NEVER WILL BE SLAVES."

Mrs. Bob Bull was the wife of a British workman, and she got up at 4 o'clock in the morning.

" Must rise early," she said, "to see that my man has his breakfast." So she lighted the tire and put the kettle on to boil, and laid the cloth, and swept out the rooms. Then down came Bob rather in a bad humour, because he had been late over-night at the "Cock and Bottle," detained (as he explained to his wife) by a discussion about the rights of labour. "Of course," said Mrs. Bull, "and why shouldn't you, after a hard day's work, enjoy yourself ?" But Bob contended that he had nob enjoyed himself, although he undoubtedly had expended two shillings and eight pence upon refreshment. What Bob wanted to know was why there was a button off his coat, and why his waistcoat had not been properly mended. " Well, I was busy with the children's things," replied Mrs. Bob ; " but I will, put all straight when you have gone to work" " Gone to work, indeed !" grumbled Bob. "Yes, it's I that does all the work, and worse luck to it I"

The moment Bob was out of the house, Mrs. Bob got the children up and dressed them, and pave them their breakfast and sent them off to school. When they were gone she " tidied up" and dressed the baby. Then she did one of tho " bits of washing" that came from a family in whose service she had been before she married Bob, and that family's connection. And this occupied her fully, what with soaking, mangling, and ironing, until it was time to carry Bob his dinner. in the pauses of her work she had been able to cook it, and it was quite ready to go with her when she was prepared to take it. It was a long walk (in the rain) to Bob's place of work, and it seemed the longer because she could not leave the baby. But both got there, and the dinner, without any accident. And then Mrs. Bob hurried back to give the children, now homo from school, their midday meal. ' And Mrs. Bob had plenty of work to do afterward. She had to mend and to scrub and to sweep and to sew. She was not off her legs for a moment, and, had she been a weaker woman, she would have been thoroughly done up. Then came the children's evening toilet and the cooking of Bob's supper. Her lord and master entered in due course, and she helped him off with his coat, and when he had finished his food lighted his pipe for him. " Mended my clothes ?" asked Bob. " Of course I have."

" And washed my linen, and druv nails into my boots, and baked the bread, and pickled the walnuts, and all the rest of it?" " Yes, Bob, I have done them all—everyone of them." This put Bob into a better temper, and ho took up an evening paper and began to read. "I say," said he, what do you think ! They have got white slaves in Turkey." "You don't say so, Bob !" replied Mrs. Bob, lost in amazement. Then she said, as she paused tidying up the room, "Ah! they wouldn't allow anything of that sort in Englandwould they, Bob ?' And Bob, smoking his pipe and sprawling before the fire, agreed with Punch.