Two weddings in Marple - 4 Joe and Martha get engaged

Monday Jan 8^th

Poplar Square, off Church Lane

 

“Ma and Pa, Joe and I have something to tell you. We want to be married,” said Martha.

Fanny replied, “Well, I knew you were seriously courting, but didn't expect it quite so soon. You aren't in the family way, are you, Martha?”

“No, Ma.”

“You had better not be,” said James, her father.

“Oh Pa, just leave off.”

“I really do love Martha and will take good care of her,” said Joe.

“You're only a lad yet. How old are you?” put in James.

“Nineteen.”

With a laugh James said, “And our Martha is 23 - she's robbing the cradle.”

“Age doesn't have anything to do with it. We get along fine, and have been going out together for over a year now, and it just seems right to do it now.”

“Well, I don't suppose we can stop you, even if we wanted to,” said her mother. “What date do you have in mind?”

“Sooner the better, now that we've made our decision.”

“Well, it would be good if you could do it when you have time off work anyway. What about Easter time?” asked her mother.

“When's that?” asked Joe.

“The end of March - only two months. If you can't wait that long, I really will get suspicious,” said Fanny.

“Tell me something more about yourself, lad,” said James. “What does your father do?”

“My real dad's dead, but my ma remarried and Thomas Chadwick, the bloke she married, is a good man. He's a blacksmith.”

“And do you have brothers and sisters?”

“Just my sister Mary Jane whose last name is Lund, like me. We didn't want to change our names. She's 15. She works as a card room hand, and my ma is a spinner.”

“And where will you live?” asked James.

“I think we'd stay with my folks in Stone Row." (pictured above)

“And your step Pa is okay with that?”

“I haven't asked him yet, but I'm sure he will be.”

“Well, you couldn't really stay here - not with only having the two bedrooms, and Martha sharing with her sister at the moment,” said her father.

“I have my own room at home, so that would suit us better.”

“And what exactly are your prospects, young man?” went on James.

“I'm a cotton grinder now, but I am ambitious and will get to be an overlooker in time, I'm sure of it.”

“Well, that's it then,” said Fanny. “You had better get the beer out, James, and we can have a toast to it.”

“Can I be your bridesmaid, Martha?” asked her little sister, also called Fanny.

“Of course you can, Fanny, I was just about to ask you that.”

“Well best see about a date, and then check with the minister about the church, and we can plan the rest from there,” added her mother.

“Will you have a new dress and all?” asked little Fanny.

“Maybe I can get one made by then, but we need to watch all our money now, and whatever I make I have to use as best for years to come.”

Joe and Martha stepped outside.

“Did you hear anything about that friend of yours, Thomas Glakley?”

“He was found guilty for stealing some small bits from the farm and sent to jail.”

“Did he have to go to court?”

“Only Stockport Police Court where he was seen by Mr. AH Sykes. He only got a month this time, I think.”

“Did you hear about the problems at Elmley Street?”

“No, what was that about?”

“Apparently some old biddy complained of overcrowding and disorder. When the police went to investigate, they found 20 people living in a house with only two bedrooms.”

“What's it to the neighbours if they want to live all together like that?”

“I expect they were noisy or something. Maybe they were having a permanent party.”

Joe (pulling Martha close to him) said, “Sounds like fun. Wall to wall bodies.”

“Get off, Joe. You heard what I told Ma. No more of that until we are firmly hitched. I wouldn't hear the end of it if I got in the family way now.”