Cow Hey - 12 The Birthday

With all the worry and excitement of the blizzard (as we are now calling it) I had almost forgotten about the letter we had sent to Prestwich. No letters had moved at all within the country for a week, and now there was a huge backlog. I knew that even if Dr. Percival had written straight away after he had got our letter, it might be weeks before we received it.

School returned as normal, and the rest of our lives too went back to the regular routine. And my birthday was coming up on March 30^th. I didn't know whether I should tell the Allsops about it or not, as it would seem as if I were asking for a present or a treat, but luckily Fred brought up the subject. I managed to see Fred most weeks - either by him coming down here, or me going up to visit him. Quite often I went with him to Chisworth while he did his practice stone carving on Sundays.

Mrs. Allsop asked me if I would like to go shopping with her in Marple and buy a new outfit for my birthday. She said that we could go to A.E. Howles, Market Street, Marple, who advertises her shop as Fancy Draper, Ladies and Gents and Children s' Outfitters, Hatter and Hosier, Berlin Wools.

If I wanted to buy yard goods, she said we could go to the Fent stores, run by A Richardson, where they had blouse lengths, laces, and all kinds of knitting.

She also suggested we try Mrs. Braddock on New Road, Marple where she has drapery, millinery, trimmage, etc. They are were said to have the finest selection of blouses in the district.

“What fun we shall have,” I laughed. “And one thing I should also do is send a postcard of Marple to Gran and one to my sister.”

“May I suggest W H Moore, high class newsagent, Stationer, Bookbinder and Tobacconist, Market St. Marple who has a large selection of picture postcards always in stock.”

“Oh, yes, I would love something new. Do you think I have to keep on wearing black?”

“I expect that would be the case for wealthy children, but I should think five or six months would be sufficient for most of us. So I think you should buy something in a subdued colour, perhaps a blouse of lavender and a skirt of dark blue, but you will have had enough of wearing black.”

So that weekend, as the snow had more or less gone, we caught the bus at Lane Ends, and took our long promised shopping trip into Marple. Mrs. Allsop suggested that we get off the bus on the Hollins, the stop before the termination, and then walk to the main dress shops from there. We would then pick up another bus from The Jolly Sailor for our return journey in two hours' time.

And what fun we did have. How should I describe my blouse?  The lace yoke is finished with a wide softly draping lace ruffle which carries around to the back and a high lace collar. The sleeves have an inverted pleat of lace, full at the top, and tapering to the wrist finished with a wide lace ruffle.It buttons down the back.  And my skirt was much plainer. It is called an Abigail skirt, and although it is black, it has a pattern in it which makes it very pretty. Here's what it says on the label. “The black fabric has a tone on tone floral pattern. The skirt is walking length so that the fabric doesn't drag the ground, approximately 38" in the front and in a fuller sweep at 40" in the back. No hoop or bustle is required.”

And on the Sunday after my birthday, we had a special tea and invited Fred and Florence. It was a lovely day.

It was March 24th when the letter I had been so patiently waiting for finally arrived.

It was addressed to Mrs. William Allsop, as was right - as it was she who had written it, through the help of Mr. Steward, but she didn't open it until I was back from school.

Both she and Mr. Allsop sat down with their tea while I read the letter to them.

20th March, 1891

Dear Mrs. Allsop,

Thank you for your letter of 28th February. I will concur with your wishes and arrange a meeting with you and Blanche here, and at that time will discuss Blanche's father's situation with you both.

I suggest Saturday the 2nd of May, as the weather should have ameliorated somewhat by then. I would think you could get a train from Marple to Manchester, and from there on up here to Prestwich. Shall we say 12 midday, and I will provide you with lunch at the staff dining room. Then if we have our meeting from say 1-2 p.m. that should give you sufficient time to make your way back to Marple before too late that evening.

Yours faithfully,

Dr. Frank Percevel, MRCR

"That was very brief and to the point," said Mr. Allsop.

"I was hoping he would just answer your questions and then we wouldn't have had to make that trip," said Mrs. Allsop.

"Oh, you will be fine on that trip, the two of you. Good to have a nice outting like that and ever so much more satisfying, actually seeing the place and talking to the man himself in person."

"And you can manage that day without us?"

"Of course I can, woman. It's only for a day isn't it? And you probably will be back in plenty time to make my tea," he said with a cheerful grin, showing that he didn't really expect that of her.

"I will have all your meals that day organised before we go, " she said.

"Can I take your letter with me to school tomorrow to show Mr. Steward?" I asked.

"Oh course, you can, love. I hope he will be pleased that his hard work had some reward."

The next weekend I made a point of going up to tell Fred what had transpired. He knew that we had written again to Dr. Persevel, and although he didn't think it was necessary or a useful thing to do, I think secretly he will be pleased to know more about Pa's situation as well.

"That will be the train from Marple Station, not Rosehill that you take," he said. "It's a lot closer. I expect Mr. Allsop will give you a ride down into Marple Bridge. I'll see if I can find out more about the train times and such before then."

"And I expect we will need to get a taxi from the station in Prestwich to the hospital, as I couldn't expect Mrs. Allsop to walk a long way, as well as having so much else to worry about in the trip."

"There are bound to be taxis parked at the station. Just go up to a driver and ask him to take you to Prestwich Asylum. But also make sure you ask his charge before you hire him, and if it seems unreasonable, don't take that one, but go and ask one of the others."