Category : Stories

Sub Category : Historical Fiction

My old nieghbour Molly Kelly once showed me a letter that was written by  Tabitha Pilkington of Toar house Estate to her head maid wrote in 1911.


Miss Byrne.
When this cums to hand, be sure to pack up in the trunk male that stands in my closet, to be sent to me in the Bristol wagon without loss of time, the following articles, viz.
My rose collard neglajay, with green robins, my yellow Damask, my black velvet suit, with the short hoop, my book quilted petticoat, my green mantel, my laced apron, my French commode, Macklin head and lappits, the litel box with my jowls, O'Reilly may bring over my bum_daffee, with the viol with the easings of Dr Hills dock water and Chowders lacksitif. The poor creature has been terribly constripated ever since we left huom. 
Pray take particular care of the house when family is absent, let there be fire constantly be kept in my chamber and my brother's chamber. The maids having nothing to do may be sat spinning. I desire you'll clap a pad_luck on the windseller, and let none of the men have access to the strong bear. Don't forget to have the gate shit before dark, the gardinir and hind may lye down in the laundry room, to partake the house with flintlock rifle and great dog. I hope you will have a watchful eye over the maids, I know that hussy Mary Jane loves to be rumping with the men.
Let me know if Alderney's calf be should yet, and what he fought should the ould goose be sitting, and if the cobbler cut his Dicky, an how the pore anemil bore the operation?.
No more at present, but rests.
Yours Tibithia Pilkington.
Molly also told me the story of a time she was employed in Toar house Estate as a maid. Another maid local to the Toar community who worked alongside Molly but she was being let go from her position after five years of service, but the head maid had, had enough of her missing time and not very good at her job. Pilkington being a fair man felt sorry the maid was loosing her position, so he generously put five shillings extra in her final pay packet, a shilling for every year of service.
When he handed her the wages and explained the extra bonus, rather than be greatful, before leaving and slamming the door after her she said, well Sir you should have given the bonus to your dog, sure it's himself that has been cleaning all your plates for the last five years, good day to you Sir.