David heads to Bridgnorth to seek his fortune
How will a farm labourer get on as a railway navvy?
The Story Continues
 David has heard that the new railway being built in the Severn Valley is hiring workers in Bridgnorth. He has also heard that the wages are good, paying up to 2 shillings a day. The work of constructing the railway was done entirely by hand and was very hard physical work. The foundations for the track had to be dug, stones laid and the track moved and fixed. Tunnels and bridges also needed constructing. David knew that the work was dangerous and physically very demanding, but it would be regular well paid work.
He talks it over with his wife May. She does not want him to go because it is long way away and she doesn't know if she can manage the house and the children on her own. May is also concerned about the bad reputation of the other 'Navvies.' The Navvy was a term originally used for the men constructing the canals and was short for Inland Navigators. Victorian society lived in fear of the Navvies as they lived according to their own laws.
David decides to walk to Bridgnorth to seek work. On the way he has second thoughts and is unable to decide what to do.
Continue
What should David do?:
- Continue on the road: Go
- Return home: Go
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