Irish washerwomen

"'Peggy, lave off yer tricks do, and mind yer work; lave off, I say. Faix, for one stroke ye give the linen ye hit the wather twice, which is a shame. My hair is wringing wet, so it is, wid yer nonsense.' 'Yarra, Nancy! there's no life left in ye, since I know who went to Austrailee. Why then, I wonder do they be beetling the linen there - this a-way?'

'Not that a-way, I'm certain,' answered Nancy, who we now perceived was 'drawing' some linen through the stream, while the lively Peggy stood with the wooden instrument called a 'beetle' uplifted in her hand ready to strike the linen - a mode of washing called 'beetling, which certainly purifies it more than any way of 'getting up' with which we are acquainted. A 'beetling stone' of ample dimensions was firmly based in the brook at her feet, and upon it the clothes of the neighbouring hamlet had doubtless been subjected to such ablutions time out of mind."

From Ireland, Its Scenery, Character, &c, by Mr & Mrs S. C. Hall, circa 1850.

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