Ellen Gill's Diary

urn:iso:std:iso:639:ed-3:eng

7

text excerpt

[The author was the eldest of ten children. Her youngest siblings, twin boys, were born in 1909, when she was 21. She was 26 when she married Arthur Gill on 11 March 1914] 

Later when the children grew up [my parents] were both in the choir (not very high class) and they enjoyed singing Sankey’s hymns and once part of ‘Messiah’– Dad bought a copy. Before I was married Woodhouse Temperance [where the family attended] bought a new harmonium and dad bought the old one for 10/-. Both Dad and I fiddled out tunes on it and in time I was able to play a few hymns (both hands!—what a thrill). We almost had a family choir and I remember on Sundays, one of the family would strike up a hymn and we would all join in without any music played, as at that time we had no musical instrument. Later after I was married, Mother and Dad were able to buy a piano and [my sister] Edith had lessons. Dad used to say “Come on now, lets have 607 whether we know it or not”, a great favourite of his in Sankey’s. We all sung the different parts at the top of our voices, all going on with any job we were doing. Mother and I were sopranos and would perhaps be getting the dinner ready. I don’t know what the neighbours said about us, but we were all happy and didn’t mind. 

excerpt from 'Ellen Gill's Diary' pp. 7 (253 words)

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1528621646481