h stool,
scrat, scratting with a pen, and my nose almost growing to the papper.
So I bethowt me as I'd larn to be a knife-grinder. It'd just suit me.
I could wander about from place to place, and have plenty of fresh air,
and my liberty too. So I paid a chap to teach me the trade, and set
myself up with my cart and all complete. But after a bit, my fayther
and mother died; and I felt there were one thing as I were short on, and
that were a wife. My brothers and sisters had all gotten married; so I
wanted a home. But I wasn't going to take up with any sort; I meant to
get a real good wife, or I'd have none at all. Well, I found one just
the right make for me--a tidy, loving Christian she were. I loved my
home, and were seldom off more nor two or three days at a time, when I
took my cart a little further nor usual. We never had but one child;
and she were a girl, and as likely a wench as were to be found in all
the country round. She were a good daughter to me, Jacob, for many a
long year; for her mother died when she were but ten year old, and I
didn't wed again. Poor Rachel! she were no ordinary wench, you may be
sure. She were quite a little woman afore she were as high as my
waistcoat. All the neighbours used to say, `He'll get a good wife as
gets your Rachel;' and I used to say, `Well, I don't want her to leave
me, but I'll ne'er say No if she keeps company with a fellow as loves
his Bible and hates the drink.' Well, there were an old widow in our
village as made a great profession of religion. She were always at
chapel and meeting, and as full of pious talk as an egg's full of meat.
Our Rachel thought her almost too good for this sinful world; but
somehow I couldn't take to her myself. I feared she were not the right
side out. I had many a talk with Ruth Canters--for that were her name.
She were always a-sighing o'er the wickedness of the neighbours, and
wishing she knew where she could find a young woman as'd suit her son
for a wife. I didn't like her looks always, and I thought as there were
a smell of spirits sometimes, as didn't suit me at all. But she were
ever clean and tidy, and I never see'd any drink in the house. There
were always the Bible or some other good book at hand, and I couldn't
prove as all were not right. Howsever, her Jim took a fancy to our
Rachel, and she to him. So they kept company, and were married: and the
widow came to live with us, for Rachel wouldn't hear of leaving