and urge them to union. From Mrs Arch, however, I learnt much that was interesting concerning the origin and spirit of the movement. She was evidently the wife for a public man; self-reliant, and heartily believing in her husband's call to the work.
During the early years of Joseph Arch's married life, he was a labourer on nine shillings a week. But when his family increased he threw up his situation, and soon made more by jobbing for the farmers round. As he could not remove his home, he was obliged to be away for a long time together, and often endured great hardships, seeking to save every farthing he could, sometimes sleeping in barns or outhouses, or beneath hay-ricks, and even on wood-stacks. Thus he received a physical education inuring him to the arduous work he has now undertaken, the Bible and the weekly newspaper being his only means of mental training. Little schooling, indeed, was possible for a lad who commenced to toil on the land at nine years of age.
Mrs Arch said that they had often talked of the condition of their class, but could not see their way to do anything. They were Methodists, and Arch being a man of deep religious convictions, and gifted with natural eloquence, became a local preacher.
One day Arch, when he was engaged making a box for his son, who had gone into the army, two men from Wellesbourne came to see him. At first the wife refused to call him, and would only consent on their telling her what they wanted.
"We want," said they, "to talk to Joe about forming a union; other trades have a Union, and we don't see why we shouldn't have one."
"You form a Union!" she replied; "why, you ain't got spirit enough to do it."
"Yes, we have; only Arch must lead us."
"Very well," she answered, "you must tell him so yourselves, and he will do it."
The man they sought entered heart and soul into their wishes, and the following Wednesday he went over to the village; and then and there, on the 14th day of February 1872, was held the first of those now famous Wellesbourne meetings.
From farm to farm the tidings had been carried. The men of
