And a fine baby he was to be sure.

His poor mother--she came of gentlefolk, ran away from home she did to marry Farmer Ironside--she died three days after he was born, which was a pity, for the old master was just wrapped up in her, and was never the same again.

Well, as I was saying, his poor mother, she'd set her heart on his being given the education of a gentleman; which he was, but he always clung to the land did Master Jeff.

He was sent to Fordstead Grammar School along with the gentry, and a fine figure he cut there.

But then his father died, and he had to settle down to farming at seventeen, and he's been farming ever since.