Church Magazine September 2020mk2

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(bargainer), as housewives who are acquainted with his system of “Dutchauction” on their doorsteps can testify. Cardiff, Newcastle, Leith, Plymouth,and Douglas (Isle of Man) are favourite ports of the Roscoff men, and thewriter has known them to dispose of sixty tons of onions in one month in theManxland capital! In this instance the “equipe” was a small one of only half adozen lads.By the time their vessel arrives they are already on the spot, having come overby mail steamer from St. Malo or Le Havre to Southampton, and thence byrailway. All are up long before sunrise unloading the little ship and carryingsacks of the onions, which are carried in the vessel’s hold in bulk, like coals orlime, across the quays to the storage sheds. These Breton boys know nothingof an eight-hour day nor believe in it, as each one of them has an interest inthe whole industry which is personal. However young he may be his share isalready calculated and secured at the great annual meeting of the “famille”when accounts are settled for the past season and wages, share-moneys, andbonuses are paid to him as a member of the “famille.” They are astir at 1 a.m.in the storage shed stringing the onions which will later appear on theshoulders of Marcel or Jules. Coffee and bread at 6 a.m. breaks their fast, andat 7 a.m. begins the days’ work—continued until five in the afternoon—ofunloading the onion-boat. A halt is called about eleven o’clock for “déjeuner”(lunch), which consists of a little soup and meat at the adjacent lodgings. Asimple cup of coffee serves until work is over, when a genuine hearty Frenchdinner is ready for all—soup, beef, a fowl, vegetables, bread and cheese, andthe everlastingly popular coffee. The tired and satisfied “equipe” are glad to sitaround and rest for an hour smoking a “caporal” or hand-rolled zouavecigarette after their seventeen-hour day! By curfew hour—8 p.m.—all are abedand fast asleep, for, until the onions are unloaded and strung on the strawropes,1 a.m. is their hour for starting the day’s toil. By the time the emptyketch hoists the Tricolour of France to the mizzen-peak and heads out of theharbour southwards for Roscoff, the gang have strung enough onions for amonth’s sale and are busy in town and country around.Good-natured, hardy, frugal, and industrious, Onion Johnny has his SabbathDay rest, and Mass sees him regularly at the nearest Catholic church everyseventh day. That afternoon is his very own, and, dressed in his best clothes,he may be seen abroad taking a sober pleasure in inspecting the local shippingor architectural “lions.” During the war he was on service to a man—either inthe famous “Fusiliers Marins” (of whom 70 per cent. are Bretons) or in theNavy as loup-de-mer (Jack Tar).His daily takings are handed over to the gang foreman to be banked, and eachspring in his native Bretagne at the great meeting of the co-operative “famille”
his share of the trading profits and his wages balance—a substantial total—rewards the participant in an honest if minor industry.1The spelling “ingan” transcribes a southern-English pronunciation of “onion.”2Rosyth is a town on the Firth of Forth, in Scotland.3Vendée is a département (administrative district) south of Brittany.4Brittany was occupied in the 5 th and 6 th centuries by Britons fleeing theSaxons.Pascal TreguerNeed for healingHeavenly Father,We bring to you all those struggling with their mental health just now.We pray:For everyone who is smiling, when inside they’re in pain.For everyone who is saying they’re fine, when inside they feel drained and empty.For everyone struggling with fear and worry as the easing of the lockdown brings newanxieties.Be with them in their suffering, as so much of their world has been stripped back andemptied.When loved family and friends have been taken by illness,Or made distant by lockdown.Pour your healing balm into their pain and sadness.May you walk with them besides still watersMay you speak to them in a still small voice.May you heal them, and fill them, and bless them with your abundant love and fullnessof life.And may they know that they are loved by you for the beautiful unique person that theyare, created in the image of their heavenly creator and loving Lord.In the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,Amen.By the Revd Peter Crumpler
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Church Magazine September 2020mk2

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