GIRLS OF LONG AGO.

Taranaki Daily News, 29 November 1930, Page 20 (Supplement)

GIRLS OF LONG AGO.

JOANNA. When Joanna heard that the Earl of Warwick was in the city, she made up her mind what to do. - The Wars of the Roses, were, causing great distress in England, and Joanna, at the age of fourteen, was left an orphan with a little-brother and'sister to bring up. “I must feed myself and the children somehow,’’ muttered Joanna, “and why should I not eat Warwick’s meat? They

iijiitiiiiimiHitiiiiiHiuiiiHiniiiniinuHiniiiHHiintiiinmMn 1 say that these gentlemen of the north are little better than vagabonds, but beggars cannot choose.” Joanna was a saddle-maker’s daughter, and she lived in a tiny house not far from Saint Paul’s Cathedral. Bor six months she had hardly ventured further than the end of the narrow street, but now she had no more money to buy food.. The neighbours were kind, but too poor to feed three healthy children. .; ' ‘ When Joanna took her father s dagger from the wall, her little brother asked her breathlessly what she intended to do with it. “Wait and see,” replied Joanna, and she went out, locking the door behind her. With the long dagger resting on her shoulder, ehe walked proudly as far as the Cathedral, where she beheld the Earl of' Warwick’s men. There were hundreds of them about, all dressed in red, with the Earl’s emblem—a bear and a ragged staff —on their backs, and their voices; sounded unfamiliar to the London girl. “Where be you going with your dagger?” shouted one young man. Joanna did not answer. She approached a tavern where a crowd of men were waiting their turns to thrust their daggers into a great pot of meat, for the Earl of Warwick had ordered a.number of oxen to be cooked every day, and whoever was friendly to him or his'men should, take away as much meat as would hold on a dagger. It was not to Joanna’s liking to push her way through so rough a crowd, nor to listen to the jokes hurled at her. But when she reached the stew pot, the man in charge saw that she was on the verge of tears and allowed her to thrust in her dagger without question. . With the gravy, from the meat dripping down on to her gown, Joanna walked home. Her neighbours were horrified. to see so gentle a girl on such an errand, and some called shame upon her for takj,ng Warwick’s meat. “Wait till you are starving,” replied Joanna. Every day she went to the tavern, and one day the Earl saw her with the long dagger resting on her fragile shoulder. So pleased was he at the girl’s courage that he took the little family under his protection, and Joanna’s troubles were over. “MORE CORRECT.” Teacher: “I should like you all to take more pride in your personal appearance. Now, you, Jimmy! How many collars do you wear a week?” Jimmy: “Please, miss, do you mean how many weeks I wear a collar?