THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT

On the higher moorlands the illegitimate births were much below the average of a country district.  When a moorland maid did get into trouble, there seemed to be a high sense of honour among the young moorland men, so that a marriage almost invariably followed.  Moreover, moorland maids were not too plentiful, and housewives were consequently in demand.  But as one descended to the lowlands, the number gradually increased to the normal average of the country.  Many were distinctly attributable to the frequent religious revivals, and the midnight services which sometimes formed part of them in summer-time.  One of the most popular preachers was a young woman who, in addition to her gift of eloquence, had considerable personal charms.  All the young men were desperately in love with her, and followed her about to the different villages in turn, some being quite a long way off, and I heard she had many offers of marriage from them.

Bishop/Patients