Mary Barton | Page 3

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This etext was prepared by Les Bowler, St. Ives, Dorset. Additional
proof reading by Joseph E. Loewenstein, M.D.

MARY BARTON
by Elizabeth Gaskell

CONTENTS
I. A mysterious disappearance. II. A Manchester tea-party. III. John
Barton's great trouble. IV. Old Alice's history. V. The mill on fire--Jem
Wilson to the rescue. VI. Poverty and death. VII. Jem Wilson's repulse.
VIII. Margaret's debut as a public singer. IX. Barton's London
experiences. X. Return of the prodigal. XI. Mr. Carson's intentions
revealed. XII. Old Alice's bairn. XIII. A traveller's tales. XIV. Jem's
interview with poor Esther. XV. A violent meeting between the rivals.
XVI. Meeting between masters and workmen. XVII. Barton's night
errand. XVIII. Murder. XIX. Jem Wilson arrested on suspicion. XX.
Mary's dream--and the awakening. XXI. Esther's motive in seeking
Mary. XXII. Mary's efforts to prove an alibi. XXIII. The sub-poena.
XXIV. With the dying. XXV. Mrs. Wilson's determination. XXVI. The
journey to Liverpool. XXVII. In the Liverpool docks. XXVIII. "John
Cropper," ahoy! XXIX. A true bill against Jem. XXX. Job Legh's
deception. XXXI. How Mary passed the night. XXXII. The trial and
verdict--"Not guilty!" XXXIII. Requiescat in pace. XXXIV. The return
home. XXXV. "Forgive us our trespasses." XXXVI. Jem's interview
with Mr. Duncombe. XXXVII. Details connected with the murder.
XXXVIII. Conclusion.

I. A MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE.
"Oh! 't is hard, 't is hard to be working The whole of the live-long day,
When all the neighbours about one Are off to their jaunts and play.
"There's Richard he carries his baby, And Mary takes little Jane, And
lovingly they'll be wandering Through fields and briery lane."
--MANCHESTER SONG.
There are some fields near Manchester, well known to the inhabitants
as "Green Heys Fields," through which runs a public footpath to a little

village about two miles distant. In spite of these fields being flat, and
low, nay, in spite of the want of wood (the great and usual
recommendation of level tracts of land), there is a charm about them
which strikes even the inhabitant of a mountainous district, who sees
and feels the effect of contrast in these commonplace but thoroughly
rural fields, with the busy, bustling manufacturing town he left but
half-an-hour ago. Here and there an old black and white farmhouse,
with its rambling outbuildings, speaks of other times and other
occupations than those which now absorb the population of the
neighbourhood. Here in their seasons may be seen the country business
of haymaking, ploughing, etc., which are such pleasant mysteries for
townspeople to watch: and here the artisan, deafened with noise of
tongues and engines, may come to listen awhile to the delicious sounds
of rural life: the lowing of cattle, the milkmaid's call, the clatter and
cackle of poultry in the farmyards. You cannot