Mary Ann Sate, Imbecile, page 29
None of this comes as all new to me
There is always wild talk
How such money as is paid for cloth or flour
Is rightfully theirs how it must be took
Yet I never thought any fool enough to do it
Those who run will not get far
Soon be wearing the county livery
At Horsley gaol or Gloucester
Hear also then a name I heard afore
Twas that of William Morris Moore
A young stockinger and commercial traveller
Of Tewkesbury once so they say
But a man gone to the bad
In dissolute idleness
Spreading of Jacobin talk
As they go into the house I am following
Ready to find bandages and water all
When a hand lays firm on my arm
Where go you Mary Ann say Ambrose
I do go to help Master Ned I say
Why are you helping he Ambrose say
For he is my employers son I say cold
I do not care for Ambroses voice
Nay nay Mary Ann he say
You never were a fool
Do you really think this story true
Even as he speaks some cog in my mind
Does slip into place
Turn the wheel about
Another way
Master Ned did no a ways help that man
So say Ambrose
He was one of those who did attack
How can you know I say
You should not say it
Ambrose say nothing more
Only stare at me
Oh so so I say
You are such a teller of the truth
Go you and say all to the constable
Ambrose shrugs turns away
I would not spend my time to say such
I would not be believd
I do care naught for Master Ned
The law is not need to deal
With a fool such as he
A rich mans son who meddles in affairs
He not understand
Others will swing His hands always clean
Yet we have only to wait Mary Ann
Time and the natural justice of the world
Will soon bring Master Ned to right
You had best look to yr own affairs
As I have told you oft afore
Tis true he has said much to me
About my position at Stocton Hill
Why I not seek myself some better employ
I have no a ways listend to he
And do not now
For Stocton Hill
Is all my home
His words have not settld
Afore Master Blyth steps out of the house
Mary Ann will you help me
Sorry Sir Yes Sir I should not have tarry
So I am about to go in
Yet Ambrose has Master Blyth fixd with a stare
Which stops all
Let me tell you now Ambrose says
Yr brother Ned will claim he helpd that man
But he did not
Tis as likely he was part of the gang
As did organize the attack
The silence follows is long
Master Blyth look Ambrose straight in the eye
He never would have afore
Then he say calm and clear
Yes I had supposd it may be so
Then is silence again
I watch Master Blyth
Oh my heart could break
For he does love his brother
Yet what then can any of us do
When love is not enough
Later that evening all is dark
I take water up to Master Ned
Whose ribs is broke and wrist too
Bleeding inside so they say
Master Blyth sit with he in the candle lit
I hear but scraps of their words
Master Ned say You will speak for me
Master Blyth reply
I was not there I did not see
But you could have been
I need yr help
I know right well you will help
But Master Blyth say
I will dress yr wounds
I will not say naught
Of things I never saw
I will not speak for you
So tis that Ambrose Master Blyth and me
We keep our silence
All through that dragging winter
The damp slow spring follow
Though the constable come to ask
The Master from the mill
All around name of William Morris Moore
He and some others who were certainly
At the heart of all that pass
Much is the braggards talk
Men can never keep their mouths shut
They do not heed the words of the Good Book
Wherefore let every man be swift to hear
Slow to speak slow to wrath
I am afeard guilty confusd hurt
I never have wantd to lie
Yet he is my employers son
If I say aught I will be put out
Also I never saw any myself
Have only Ambroses word in the matter
Though I know what he say must be true
Never did then speak again to him
Of what does pass
Think with sadness how I love he deep
Always have He is such a dear friend to me
Yet we are so oft set gainst each other
About matters are not our own
Not since that eve did Ambrose evr speak
One word more to Master Ned
The breach tween them never mend
Part of the reason why Master Ned is believd
Is because of who his father is
And that father speak for him
Many the town of Stroud
Critical of Mr Harland Cottrell
His reputation betwixt and betwixt
Quality do not like him for he say too much
About wages education doctors and all
Yet there is no one who disputes
He is an honest man
Holds the hearts of all other men dear
So tis believd his son must be the same
Others are sent for hard labour
To Horsley gaol
Yet Master Ned is a hero
Among the respectable of the Valleys
For he did defend that mans life
The doubts squat on us
A black cloud of flies
All around rot
I long to be gone
Spend my time dreaming
Of that fine neat yeller cottage
Where I will be with my sister and Master Blyth
I feel it a coming close
I see it in Master Blyths eyes
He does not bother to hide
From his father his anger now
The future is within our reach
That zummer
Twas then the Reform Act finally passd
Stroudwater now representd in the Parlement
Sheep roastd ale drunk
Many chasing a pig with a greasd tail
All through the town
The prize a pair of buckskin gloves
Some of the low type women
Organizing a smoking competition
As to who could puff through
The most quantity of tobacco in an hour
A barrel of gin the prize
So the scandal were told
Though soon enough it come clear
That no new world has been brought to birth
The next spring I remember the day
I had been that morning into Stroud
For to take a letter from Mr Harland Cottrell
To that lawyer Mr Paul Hawkins Fisher
Much wickd laughter in Stroud
For what was said cannot surely be true
That Mr William Ratcliffe of Woodchester
Had mountd his fine horse at the Swan Inn
Has rode right up the scaffold
Which around the new subscription rooms
Higher up than twenty men
There he dismountd and the horse
Which was worth fifty pounds
Did fall from the scaffold
Mr William Ratcliffe it were said
Were rather fresh when he rode from the Swan
Yet quite sober when he saw his horse all dead
This I did hurry home to tell Mr Birch Nazareth
For he and I did always enjoy a good story
But did arrive at Stocton Hill
To hear a thunderous rumble of shouting
Did soon forget horse and scaffold all
Shouting was not unusual as I told afore
But now comes with it a battering heart
For that future I do dream is perhaps come
The voice of Master Blyth
It does smash cut thrust cut
Gainst the voice of Mr Harland Cottrell
Something about the sound is welcome
It gladdens my ears
Never doubt in my mind
That Master Blyth has now said to his father
He wishes to wed to Lucetta
What now will be said
I should like v much to know
Yet cannot hear the study door being tight
If this were any respectable household
Mr Harland Cottrell be raising an objection
Basd on questions of station
She but an orphan and a mill worker
You sell yrself too cheap
Yet I known Mr Harland Cottrell long now
This an argument he will never use
No no the objection will not be that
Twill simply be that he wants no change
Master Blyth has always been his instrument
He will not let him go
Will cling to the story
Something amiss with Master Blyth
Must stay home be kept close
Only take instructions never lead
That is how twill all go
Except no one now believe that story more
Like a pile of leaves it has all blowd on
This is what I think
As I boil a pan in the kitchen
Preserving fruit tomatoes plums
Wait wait
When Master Blyth finally come out the study
He walks in the kitchen his face raw
Say with his lips knotting tight
Mary Ann I need yr help
I am leaving for London
I must pack many things
So he gives me instructions I set to
Though I have the tomatoes also
All the time I am waiting
He will say he is
Betrovd to be marrid to Lucetta
She will go with him
Leave far behind the staining mill
But he never say
This worries me yet I take strength
Perhaps he has to ask her still
I do not doubt she will say yes
All will be well
And I I
Tis so exciting I can hardly think of it
I will go on a coach to London
The idea fills me with shivering
Part of me longing part of me afeard
Yet I shall be safe if I am with Lucetta
All the time I am packing
Nothing more is said
I go on with the tomatoes
Later I will remember the smell of ripe fruit
Warm and boild down with spice
Tis a smell even now would sicken me
Oh so long I wait afore I see
Lucetta come up the lane
Even then I dare not go to her
I know she will be busy
Whatevr news she has
Surely she will come to tell me
She does not come she does not
All the lids are on the tomatoes
Their smell still swell the kitchen
Full of promises that will not be
My thoughts begin to strike me cold
Something is not right
Two young people who are promisd
Bring a lightness all around
So why now the day so burdend
I make the supper only for Mr Harland Cottrell
He says not a word
How glad I am Master Ned is not home
Then I set out cross the yard
But I do not find Lucetta
Finally I must ask Mr Birch Nazareth
I wait a while afore she comes down
As soon as I see her
I know all is undone
Her face is drawn back at the eyes and mouth
Her skin patchd red
Lines swolld under her eyes
Is it possible Mr Harland Cottrell
Has refusd their match
So my mind does question
Ah Mary Ann she say Shall we walk
So we set out into the lane
Though the evening is darkling
The weather discourage
There I can hold the words in no longer
You know I say Master Blyth go to London
Ah yes says she
I know that and I heartily glad for he
You know he goes to train to be a doctor
But how I say His father do not pay
No no so Lucetta explain to me
Of course Mr Harland Cottrell is not pleasd
Yet what right has he to decide
Master Blyth was recommend
By that Mr William Burrows
Who does work at the dispensary in Stroud
A man whose reputation is beyond question
Was askd to go most particular
For he has many skills now
As others do not
What skills I do not ask
Yet wonder again about the resurrection men
She say Master Blyth can work and train
That is the way he can progress
He has found a chirurgeon in Lambeth
A village ovr the south of London
Can take him on
Yet what of his hand I say
This I ask for that hand
As was damagd in the fall
Had heald up but still does work stiff
No no Lucetta say
He has told all and that is no problem
So they say
Oh I say Oh
But you You
I thought you would go with he
Me How Mary Ann could I go with he
I thought you and he would marry
She laughs then a bitter small laugh
Turn away from me
Oh Mary Ann she say
I do love you v much
But really you must stop
To see everything in terms
Of marriage and romance
This is childish thinking
Tis true that Master Blyth and me become close
Yet that were not a closeness of that kind
Not in the least
I think what she says is not true
I seed I know
The truth is that he has disappointd her
Yet she is too proud to say it
Already I do hate him for it
I cannot explain it to you she says
Tis a private shameful matter
Not to be spoke of
Master Blyth does labour
Under a girt pall of sin
Must forevr make amends for his nature
This he and I have now discussd
So tis right he should go to London
Become a doctor as he has always want
This he has decide I am v glad
This Mary Ann is what love really is
Tis not about marriage which only confines
But about seeing another use the gift
Which the Good Lord blessd him
I nod my head
Try to look as though I understand
Yet tears are running down my cheeks
I am so glad of the dark
She cannot see
Soon our conversation is end
She go back to the cottage
I stand outside the back door and weep
Perhaps for him perhaps for her
More for myself
For all my dreams are gone
Yet still the next day
Just at the first flush of dawn
The skye rose pink and damply mist
When Master Blyth is all packd up and ready
Will take his bags down the bottom road
Find a cart to Stroud
To meet the staging coach
Still I am dry eyd do not look at him
Only say good bye in a small voice
The least was as necessary
Not so Nettie as she does love him well
Has made cakes cut a dab of cheese
For he to take
Mr Harland Cotrell is up and working
Yet does not come out his study
So tis Master Ned who stagger out
Came home late the night afore
Still he says affectd by his injury
Though is months past now
