32: TemperanceMary Ellen and her eldest daughter, Marian became closer and, by the time Marian was eighteen, they had forged a strong alliance. Their solidarity stemmed from a shared purpose. In defiance of Jack’s occupation as a licensed victualler, mother and daughter embraced the growing Temperance movement with zeal. Where once Mary Ellen had stayed upstairs in the family drawing room, banging on the floorboards if the noise from the bar grew too loud, now she and Marian went out every evening to Temperance meetings. They became active members of the League of the Cross, urging total abstinence on everyone they met.
Mary Ellen had been the tallyman’s best customer, frittering away money from their limited household budget on knick-knacks that were neither useful nor decorative. She ha
