Diary of Rev Edward Stevens

Showery. Taught in School from 3 to 4 this afternoon.

Called on Rev Mr White. A young servant answered the door who said Mr White was away from home. He had gone to his mother’s at Cheltenham for a week, taking the baby which he was to leave there. Mrs White is gone to her mother, somewhere in Lancashire, for a month. The girl said she was not alone, but had a friend staying with her.

Visited Mr George Dix and John Reason.

Webb asked leave to go to Oxford this morning to return at night which I granted.

Miss Dix called this evening.

Webb asked me this morning whether I would give him a good character to go into service of Alderman Ward of Banbury Road, Oxford. I said I would, and that he had better give me a month’s notice from last Wednesday. Webb said he did not want to leave a good place and a good master whom he has served over 10 years, he was sure he would get no better; but that his wife had never been satisfied in Sibford – and led him such a life at home that he was bound to give way for the sake of peace and quietness. “Well,” I asked “suppose she becomes equally dissatisfied with the next home you get for her?”

“Then I shall turn her up sir, for I won’t stand no more of it.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“I shall send her home to her friends.”