Mary Ann Sate, Imbecile, page 20
Course the difficulty being the common man
Looks desirable when you behold he at a distance
Yet is less favourable to consider
When he is closy upon you
So say Mr Birch Nazareth and Nettie
So Master Blyth when he not out with his father
Always in the school room head bend down
Anyways I see that money there
When I go up the stairs
Must go out on the roof and clear a gutter
Tis apparently the cause of water
Come down the wall
This Mr Harland Cottrell say
Though Nettie scorn laugh and say
You may clear all you like the roof is shot
Anyways I have no choice in the matter
Know only that I must go up that scaffold
As it still all about the house
Waiting for repairs that are never done
Clear out leaves and muck
So I do Tis not done quick
While there look down from that lofty height
See Master Blyth go to the Cabinet
Walking uncertainly head down crooching
Always something womanly in his stride
I climb down then the stairs
The money is gone
This circumstance is strange
For the man would have come to the door
Rung the bell I would have heard
The bell in that house is clamorous
My mind is dutherd by this
Go through to the kitchen see Nettie there
So I say to her
Who came to the house
No one she say
I look at her about to speak
Yet something tells me hold my tongue
Instead I go back to the hall
Perhaps I am mistakd
I walk to the shelf
Outside Mr Harland Cottrells study
But sure as sure the money was there
Is not now
My fingers tremble I swallow many times
A pudding which jumps a thimble as walks
No one needs know about such as these
Yet this were a goodly sum of money
Just as I stand there staring
I hear footsteps behind me
Master Ned is there
He always can do that
Appearing sudden from nowhere
Like the magic sprites in bottles
In Netties halfpenny pamphlets
His eyes now also light on the empty shelf
Come come Mary Ann say he
You have not even skill in crime
Come back to the place where the evil is done
Just to see it again
Certain you have not even botherd to hide
The money be in yr pockets still
You are a fool a thieving fool
I feel the tears flush to my eyes
My throat closes as though a hand grips it tight
I cannot speak
Straightway turn out my pockets
Master Ned watches me
His eyes shrewd and mean
Head shake back and forwards sadly
So so Mary Ann Reading and writing are you now
Stealing as well so it seems
So clever have you become
Even when my pockets are empty
He shakes his head still
So so You hide the money
No No You know Sir
Please Sir I no a ways did
Who then
I do not want to be accuse
Yet neither want to think
On the question he asks
Stare at the floor tears falling fast
The voice of Master Ned change
Mary Ann Mary Ann
Weep not he say
He looks around him secretly
You come with me
Come now he say
He push me into the squob
Under the stair where is darkly
Many buckets spades saws
Up gainst the wall press my legs
Hang close my head
He is beside me tight
I am sorry Mary Ann he say V sorry
I should not accuse you as I did
But I am placd in a difficult position
I stop crying then and listen
His eyes forage mine in the dark
You been in this house long enough he say
You not a child
Tis better I explain
You see already
You know
Yet my father does not know
Neither does Nettie
So he goes on
I do not want they know
I am sure you can keep a secret
I nod my head
For all my fear I like to be closy by like this
I like to be told a secret
I yearn to know something
As Nettie does not know
In this house say Master Ned
We have a difficulty You already know it
There are people not to be relid upon
You probably know my brother Blyth
Tis hard to say
Course he may have some healing talents
More so than my father
I know some do say that
Steadier hands certainly
This I do not deny
Yet the truth is he have his own sickness
It comes upon him silent and sudden
Father would beat him soundly if he knew
Perhaps he would be sent away
He may be a difficult type
Sad to say he will always be unnatural
Yet he is my brother
I must protect him
Try to lead him always in better ways
He means no harm
That is why tis best for him to stay
In the school room studying
Or in my fathers Cabinet
You notice even my father keeps him close
That is how it must be
My father feels something
Though he does not know
You see Do you see Mary Ann
I need not say more
No Sir No I understand
Sure I feel I do
For I have heard that screaming in the night
Which I never understood afore
Good thank you Mary Ann he say
I think I can rely upon yr help
Now come quick we must go
So he push me out
I stand blinking in the hall
Go Go say Master Ned
So I go and busy myself
Say nothing to Nettie
Never know how the money is returnd or not
Though hear the door bell ring later
Watch Master Blyth careful after that
Oh yes thought I Now tis clear
That is how it must be
The idea comes also twas
Only but two days afore
We had seed the harvest moon
A vast ball of orange hanging
But a foot or two above the horizon
The surface of it pockmarkd and scarrd
Tis well knowd course
That those who contain an infection of madness
Do always their deeds worse than evr afore
By the light of the full moon
Master Ned is wise and has good reason
He loves his brother dearly
We must all make sure to keep this secret tight
So the year turns about again
That winter as cruel as the one afore
Gnawing sore in the belly of many
Til mellow days warming butter blessd long
St Marks Eve and the dumb cakes
As some do believe
Then the sheep sheard and harvest home
Back again to autumn
Then all change
For Master Ned is now to go down
To Mr Gronah the school master in Stroud
To prepare his examens
For when he is a lawyer
So that he may set about the many reforms
As are so badly need
In this our tarnishd world
Oh how pleasd he were for that
What preparations were made
All the time Master Blyth did watch
For he were long since come of age
Yet he did go nowhere and nothing
So it seemd no a ways would
Though he did still bring back books
Hid them well under his bed
They come from Mr William Burrows
At the dispensary in Stroud
This I did know well
Though he askd me not to tell
All these decisions Mr Harland Cottrell decide
Many years afore and never would be movd
Was this because he knew something regarding
The temperament of Master Blyth as we did also
Given the words of Master Ned on that money day
I took it to be so
Though it did seem to me unjust
Master Ned off in the mornings down the Valley
Soon oft does not come back
For he has much studying
He can do better if he stays
With a friend in the town
Master Blyth busy as cat in a tripe shop
Always working for his father
Tis only allowd to the town Sunday afternoons
Perhaps I should have felt sympathy more
For he always eclipsd by Master Ned
Had not the power to speak much for hisself
Did not invite much sympathy
All this I think on only slightly
For I myself am much occupid
Study also all the days endways
Come then All Hallows Eve
When the dead do leave the grave yards
Walk among us
The winter rolls in day on day
The frost sharper rise each morning
Ice gather on paths and puddles
I am frustratd with my work
For though I can read
Tis still the childers primers
I do work on
Must figure the letters slow
Mr Harland Cottrell see my anger
Say to me Nay nay Mary Ann
You may be a challenge to the eye
Yet you are subtle in mind
Be not discouragd
All must keep on til they fully letterd
For who can live to the Glory of God
If they cannot read the Bible theysselfs
So he say and tis right
Yet my eyes close tird head nod
Still I keep on
Move from the childers school book
To copy from the Bible
Gradual the knots of the letter unfold
Then come the time just afore Christmas
I remember it well
As was oft the case I was clearing away
Certain books after all else is left
So I come to pick up
The story of How Paradise Was Lost
By Mr John Milton
I have seed it afore
Yet the words all cling together
Lock me out in misunderstanding
Now I pick it up and read
Of mans first disobedience and the fruit
Of that forbidden tree who mortal taste
Brought death into the world
Sudden it all clear as drops of dancing water
The words flow away from me
I know them all
My eyes fly down the lines
Inside I am leaping
For I can read
I can read proper without stopping
Can hear the rhythm inside me
Know what the next word is
Even afore I come to it
Ask and it shall be given
Seek and ye shall find
Knock and it shall be opend unto you
Strange the joy of it must shine
On my skin for when Mr Harland Cottrell
Come in say Come Mary Ann
Tis v late
Clear up
Then stops for he sees and comes ovr
What do you read he says
I look up at him then
Oh how I would like to
Fling my arms round he
I can read I say
Read anything any book all in this room
I can read them all now
Tis the world of the Angels I say
For I am stupid with excitement
Mr Harland Cottrell say
Oh yes my girl so tis
When he say this he sudden laughs
This I seldom seed afore
For though he has a merry enough temper
Usual something grim in his visage
Now he lays a hand on my shoulder
Which pleases me girtly
For I have noticd many a time of late
How tird and worn he is
His teeth bothering he much
His hearing failing also
Worn down in spirit more so
For though he work so hard
Tis his path in life to be evr misunderstood
So many new worlds I say
Tears is falling down my cheeks
Seeing as I am ovrcome he sit me down
In a chair by the fire
Where are yet some embers burning
Yes he say So many worlds
Then he nods his head
After that we have nothing else to say
So sit together in silence
Hear the ticking of the clock
The settling of the coals
So then it comes to me to ask
What I have long wantd to know
Sir please may I ask about a certain book
That I have seed
Yes yes he say I go to get that book
Tis a book I have lookd at oft
For it reminds me of The Heavens
That pile of yellerd paper under the boards
Some letter printed big and some small
A black line cross the bottom
I take it in my hands cautiously
Do not look at the words
For I am afeard
Hold it out Mr Harland Cottrell
Oh yes oh yes say he
The Rights Of Man by Mr Thomas Paine
Perhaps not the right book for you Mary Ann
No Sir I say
Tis just I have seed it afore Sir
Oh yes he say his head on one side
Perhaps you heard of it in connection
With our lost friend Mr Abel Woebegone
Yes Sir I say
He had a copy Sir
But twas hid
Oh aye say Mr Harland Cottrell
Well might he hide it poor man
For it were on account of that book
He was imprisond
Do you not know that
I was told Sir I say
Yet I did not like to believe it
So so say Mr Harland Cottrell
He was the son of a printer in Nailsworth
A family of dissenters and radicals
But all honest and good men
Many were sent for hard labour
In Northleach gaol for the printing
Some as long as two year
He being young it were but six month
Though that were far too long
So so it were a bad business
For there was a young woman he had
Was with child
Many such as I did speak up for he
For what crime had he committed
I do not believe that any book
Should be kept from any man
Only we educate all well
Then they shall have the wisdom
To judge for theysselfs
But others do not see it that way
So he were lockd up
When he came out
That shrew did want he
For a husband
With all her Wesleyan cant
So he were pushd upon her
In the belief she would keep him right
Many say of course he drank
Which is certainly true
Yet he never did til he was imprisond
So say Mr Harland Cottrell
Something inside me settles
For now I light upon something
I no a ways did afore
I always knew Mr Woebegone a good man
Now I am sure tis true
That a question long troubld me
Not so Mr Harland Cottrell
Whose eyes now are full of tears
As mine were just afore
Yet still I ask
What of the book Sir
Here Mr Harland Cottrell shake his head
Many of the ideas in it are interesting
We must be prepard to discuss consider all
Yet finally tis a dangerous book
Not the ideas so much the language
Now you can read yrself Mary Ann
I think you see how
One word can be laid out after next
