When the tale was confirmed wonder took the place of unbelief. The women were unanimous in the opinion that if the school only kept the lads from drink it would be a blessing3 to the place. Drink was indeed the grand test by which they viewed all things. To anything which led lads to avoid this curse of their [Pg 147]homes their approval was certain and complete. Whether the acquisition of learning was likely to improve their prospects4 in life, or to make them better men, was not considered, the great point about the new organization was that it would keep them from the public-houses, the curses of the working men, and still more of the working men's wives and families, of this country.
Among the men, who were, however, disposed to view the matter as a boys' fancy which would soon die away, the movement met with slight approval. Newfangled notions were held in but low estimation among the miners of Stokebridge. They had got on wi'out larning, and saw no reason why t' lads could not do as they had done. "They'll be a cocking they noses oop aboove their feythers, joost acause they know moore reading and writing, but what good ul it do they I wonder?" an elderly pitman asked a circle of workmen at the "Chequers;" and a general affirmatory grunt5 betokened6 assent7 with the spirit of his words.
Among the young men, those of from eighteen to three or four and twenty, the opposition8 was still stronger, for here a strong feeling of jealousy9 was aroused at the thought that their juniors were, as they considered, stealing a march upon them. Gibes10 and jeers11 were showered upon the "Bull-dogs," and two of them were ducked in the canal by a party of five or six of their elders. On scrambling12 out, however, they ran back to the village, and the rest of the party, [Pg 148]headed by Jack13, at once started on the war-path. Coming up to the band who had assaulted their comrades they fell upon them with fury, and in spite of the latter's superior individual strength, thrashed them soundly, and then gave them a ducking in the canal, similar to that which they had inflicted14. After that it came to be understood in Stokebridge that it was best to leave the bull-dogs alone, or at least to be content with verbal assaults, at which indeed the lads were able to hold their own.
But it was among the girls of Stokebridge, those of from fourteen to seventeen years old, that this movement upon the part of the boys excited the greatest discussion and the widest divergence15 of opinion. Up to the time of the strike Jack Simpson had been by no means popular among their class. It was an anomaly in Stokebridge that a lad should have no avowed16 favourite of his own age among the lasses. These adhesions were not often of a permanent character, although later on sometimes marriages came of them, but for a time, and until the almost inevitable17 quarrel came, they were regarded as binding18. The lad would sometimes buy a ribbon or neckerchief for the lass, and she and two or three others would accompany him as with some of his comrades he strolled in the lanes on Sunday, or would sit by him on a wall or a balk19 of timber as he smoked and talked with his friends.
Jack's rigid20 seclusion21 after his hour of play was over, his apparent indifference22 to the lasses of the place, was [Pg 149]felt as a general slight, and resented accordingly; although the girls were not insensible to his prowess in battle and in sports, to his quiet steadiness of character, or to the frankness and good temper of his face. The general opinion, therefore, among the young girls of Stokebridge was that he was "stuck up," although in fact few boys in the place had less of conceit23 and self-glorification than he had.
"Did 'ee ever hear of such a tale," asked one of a group of girls sitting together on a bank, while the little ones, of whom they were supposed to be in charge, played and rolled on the grass, "as for a lot o' boys to go to school again o' their own free-will."
"I don't see no good in it," another said, "not for the schooling24 they'll get. But if it teaches them to keep out o' the publics, it will be good for their wives some day."
"It will that," put in another earnestly; "my! how feyther did beat mother last night; he were as drunk as could be, and he went on awful."
"I think sometimes men are worse nor beasts," another said.
"Do 'ee know I've heard," Sarah Shepherd said, "that the new schoolmistress be a-going to open a night-school for girls, to teach sewing, and cutting out, and summat o' cooking." There was a general exclamation25 of astonishment26, and so strange was the news that it was some time before any one ventured a comment on it.
[Pg 150]
"What dost think o't?" Sarah questioned at last.
"Only sewing and cutting out and cooking and such like, and not lessons?" Bess Thompson asked doubtfully.
"Not reg'lar lessons I mean. She'll read out while the girls work, and perhaps they will read out by turns; not lessons, you know, but stories and tales, and travels, and that kind o' book. What dost think o't?"
"'Twould be a good thing to know how to make dresses," Fanny Jones, who was fond of finery, remarked.
"And other things too," put in Peggy Martin, "and to cook too. Mother ain't a good hand at cooking and it puts feyther in such tempers, and sometimes I hardly wonder. I shall go if some others go. But be'est sure it be true, Sally?"
The news was too important to be kept to themselves, and there was soon a general move homewards.
There Sally Shepherd's story received confirmation29. The schoolmistress had been going from house to house, asking all the women who had daughters between the ages of fifteen and eighteen, to let them attend a working class in the schoolroom two evenings a week, and the answer she almost always received was, "Well, I ha' no objection to my lass going if she be willing; and I think it would be very good for her to know how to make her clothes; I can hardly do a stitch myself."
[Pg 151]
Mrs. Dodgson had also informed the women that any of them who liked to supply the material for undergarments or for children's dresses, could have them for the present made up without charge by the class.
"But suppose they spiles 'em?"
"They wont30 spoil them. The work may not be very neat at first, but the things will be well cut out and strongly put together. I will see to that."
In a short time the class was opened, and forty girls at once attended. So pleased were these with their teacher, and with the pleasant books that Mr. Dodgson read to them—for his wife was far too much occupied to read, and too wise to give the girls a distaste for the class by asking them to do so—that the number of applicants31 for admission soon far exceeded the number who could be received.
Mr. Brook32 heard shortly afterwards from Mr. Dodgson of the success of the scheme and the great benefit which was likely to accrue33 from it, and at once offered to contribute twenty pounds a year to secure the services of a young woman capable of assisting in the girls' school by day and of teaching needlework.
Thenceforth the number of class evenings was raised to three a week, and sixty girls in all were admitted. The books chosen for reading were not always tales, but for a portion of each evening books treating on domestic matters, the care of a house, the management of illness, cottage gardening, &c., were read; and these were found greatly to interest the hearers. The book [Pg 152]on gardening was a special favourite, and soon the pitmen were astonished to see changes in the tiny plots of ground behind their houses. The men in charge of the pit horses were coaxed34 for baskets of manure35, pennies were saved and devoted36 to the purchase of seed, and the boys found that the most acceptable present was no longer a gay handkerchief or ribbon, but a pot of flowers.
Revolutions are not made in a day, but as month passed after month the change in Stokebridge became marked. The place assumed a smarter and brighter aspect; it was rare to hear bad language from lads or girls in the streets, for the young ones naturally followed the fashion set by their elder brothers and sisters, and as a foul37 expression not unfrequently cost its utterer a cuff38 on the head, they soon became rare.
The girls became more quiet in demeanour, neater in dress, the boys less noisy and aggressive.
The boys' night-school had increased greatly in number. The Bull-dogs, after much deliberation, had declined to increase their numbers, but at Jack Simpson's suggestion it had been agreed that any of them might join other similar associations, in order that these might be conducted on the same lines as their own, and the benefits of which they were conscious be thus distributed more widely. Four other "clubs" were in consequence established, all looking upon the Bull-dogs as their central association.
The vicar of the parish aided the efforts of the school [Pg 153]master and mistress for the improvement of the rising generation of Stokebridge. Hitherto all efforts that way had failed, but he now got over a magic lantern from Birmingham, hiring sets of slides of scenery in foreign countries, astronomical39 subjects, &c., and gave lectures once a fortnight. These were well attended, and the quiet attention with which he was listened to by the younger portion of his audience, contrasted so strongly with the indifference or uproar40 with which a similar attempt had been met some two years before, that he told Mr. Brook something like a miracle was being wrought41 in the parish.
Mr. Brook warmly congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Dodgson on the change, but these frankly42 said that although they had done their best, the change was in no slight degree due to the influence of one of the pit lads, with whom Mr. Merton had taken great pains, and who was certainly a remarkable43 lad.
"Ah, indeed," Mr. Brook said. "I have a faint recollection of his speaking to me some years ago of one of the boys; and, now I think of it, he is the same boy who behaved so bravely in going down that old shaft44 to save another boy's life. The men gave him a gold watch; of course, I remember all about it now. I am glad to hear that he is turning out so well. In a few years I must see what I can do for him."
Mr. Dodgson would have said much more, but Mr. Merton had impressed upon him that Jack would object, above all things, to be brought forward, and [Pg 154]that it was better to let him work his way steadily45 and bide46 his time.
It was not for some months after the sewing classes had been instituted that those for cooking were established. The difficulty was not as to the necessary outlay47 for stoves and utensils48, for these Mr. Brook at once offered to provide, but as to the food to be cooked.
The experiments began on a small scale. At first Mrs. Dodgson sent round to say that in all cases of illness, she would have broths49, puddings, and cooling drinks prepared at the schools free of charge, upon the necessary materials being sent to her. This was followed by the plan of buying the materials for food for invalids50, which was to be supplied at a price that just paid the cost. Then little steak puddings and pies were made, and these commanded a ready sale; excellent soups from cheap materials were also provided, and for this in winter the demand was greater than they could supply; and so the work was extended until the two stoves were fully27 occupied for three days a week.
Eight girls at a time were instructed in cookery, doing the whole work under the supervision51 of the mistress. Two fresh hands came as two left each week; thus each received a month's teaching. On the first week the new-comers simply cleaned and washed the utensils, stoves, &c., during the remaining three weeks they learned to make simple soups, puddings, and pies, to cook meat and vegetables. The time was short for the purpose, but the girls were delighted with their lessons, and [Pg 155]took the greatest pride in keeping up the reputation of the school kitchens, and learned at any rate sufficient to enable them to assist their mothers at home with such effect, that the pitmen of Stokebridge were astonished at the variety and improvement of their fare.
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1
precedent
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| n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的 | |
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strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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blessing
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| n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿 | |
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prospects
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| n.希望，前途(恒为复数) | |
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5
grunt
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| v.嘟哝；作呼噜声；n.呼噜声，嘟哝 | |
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6
betokened
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| v.预示，表示( betoken的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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assent
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| v.批准，认可；n.批准，认可 | |
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opposition
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| n.反对，敌对 | |
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jealousy
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| n.妒忌，嫉妒，猜忌 | |
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gibes
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| vi.嘲笑，嘲弄（gibe的第三人称单数形式） | |
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jeers
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| n.操纵帆桁下部（使其上下的）索具；嘲讽( jeer的名词复数 )v.嘲笑( jeer的第三人称单数 ) | |
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12
scrambling
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的现在分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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13
jack
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| n.插座，千斤顶，男人；v.抬起，提醒，扛举；n.（Jake）杰克 | |
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14
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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divergence
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| n.分歧，岔开 | |
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avowed
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| adj.公开声明的，承认的v.公开声明，承认( avow的过去式和过去分词) | |
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17
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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18
binding
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| 有约束力的，有效的，应遵守的 | |
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balk
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| n.大方木料；v.妨碍；不愿前进或从事某事 | |
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rigid
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| adj.严格的，死板的；刚硬的，僵硬的 | |
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seclusion
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| n.隐遁，隔离 | |
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indifference
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| n.不感兴趣，不关心，冷淡，不在乎 | |
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conceit
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| n.自负，自高自大 | |
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schooling
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| n.教育；正规学校教育 | |
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25
exclamation
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| n.感叹号，惊呼，惊叹词 | |
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26
astonishment
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| n.惊奇，惊异 | |
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27
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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28
harry
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| vt.掠夺，蹂躏，使苦恼 | |
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29
confirmation
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| n.证实，确认，批准 | |
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wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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applicants
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| 申请人，求职人( applicant的名词复数 ) | |
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32
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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33
accrue
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| v.(利息等)增大，增多 | |
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34
coaxed
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| v.哄，用好话劝说( coax的过去式和过去分词 )；巧言骗取；哄劝，劝诱 | |
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35
manure
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| n.粪，肥，肥粒；vt.施肥 | |
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devoted
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| adj.忠诚的，忠实的，热心的，献身于...的 | |
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foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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38
cuff
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| n.袖口；手铐；护腕；vt.用手铐铐；上袖口 | |
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39
astronomical
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| adj.天文学的，（数字）极大的 | |
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40
uproar
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| n.骚动，喧嚣，鼎沸 | |
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41
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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42
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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43
remarkable
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| adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的 | |
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44
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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45
steadily
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| adv.稳定地；不变地；持续地 | |
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46
bide
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| v.忍耐；等候；住 | |
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47
outlay
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| n.费用，经费，支出；v.花费 | |
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48
utensils
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| 器具，用具，器皿( utensil的名词复数 )； 器物 | |
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49
broths
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| n.肉汤( broth的名词复数 )；厨师多了烧坏汤；人多手杂反坏事；人多添乱 | |
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50
invalids
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| 病人，残疾者( invalid的名词复数 ) | |
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51
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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