The Land is Bright by Unknown

Author:Unknown
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781788631082
Publisher: Canelo Books
Published: 2019-01-21T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four

Sally still kept to the same high standard in her sewing, although she was now so busy, and she was rewarded when one of her customers from Ogden’s showed a blouse that Sally had made to her aunt, who worked for an exclusive Bold Street dress shop. It was arranged that Sally would be employed as an outworker, for rush orders or when they were exceptionally busy. The standard demanded was high and the work had to be done rapidly in the short time allowed, but it was well paid. She was thankful that Susan was always willing to look after the children, so that she could concentrate on the sewing.

Sally saved most of the money, and she was glad that she had when Lawrie arrived home in the middle of the afternoon of a day in May 1897. He had been in high spirits during the earlier part of the week, because a meeting of the men at work had been addressed by Thomas Mann, and they had decided to form a union branch. Lawrie and a man named Jim Baty had been elected shop stewards.

Sally was sewing in the parlour when he arrived home, and was instantly alarmed by his white face and grim expression.

‘Whatever’s wrong, love? Are you poorly?’ she said.

Lawrie laid a handful of coins of the table, and sank into a chair. ‘No. I’ve got the sack, Sal. I’m sorry, love.’

‘But why? What happened?’ Sally said.

‘What I should have known would happen,’ Lawrie said bitterly. ‘The excuse was a burst sack, but anything would have done.’

‘How could he sack you for a burst bag?’ she asked.

‘The bag was only an excuse, Sal. He sacked Jim Baty as well, and he was nowhere near the bag. No, it’s because of the Union. I’m a fool, love. I should have thought of you and the children.’ Sally could not bear to see him so upset, and she put her arm round his neck and bent to kiss him.

‘Don’t be daft,’ she said stoutly. ‘Someone had to make a stand, and we’re better off than most of the lads. Anyway, you’ll soon find something else.’

Some colour had returned to Lawrie’s face, and he hugged her and picked up his cap.

‘I will, Sal,’ he said. ‘I’ll go right away before the word gets round.’

‘Wait for a cup of tea,’ Sally said. ‘Five minutes won’t make any difference, and I’ve got something to show you.’ She poked the fire and pushed the kettle closer to it, then she took down the old handleless teapot from the mantelpiece, and tipped out the contents on to the table.

‘Forty-eight pounds, three and six,’ she said proudly. ‘I’ve been saving my sewing money. I used a lot for the house but I’ve built it up again.’

‘Good God,’ Lawrie said, staring at the coins in disbelief. ‘Forty- eight pounds – how? – I mean, it’s only shillings, isn’t it?’

‘Sometimes, but I charge half a crown for a costume, and the Bold Street money has made it mount up.

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