The family professed to serve the Lord, the house-hold were summoned to morning devotion before breakfast: a short piece being read and prayer offered; also evenings before retiring to rest, bible reading and prayer: sermon and prayer on Sunday evenings.
The services at the parish church were held alternately morning and afternoon, the other part we generally attended the church at Lowestoft, where we heard good Mr. Cunningham, or his curate, Mr. Hankinson, or Mr. Hawtry, of Pakefield; there was also a religious service held at a cottage near, conducted by Mr. Skepper, jun., who resided near with his family. At times I was permitted to attend those evening services, but that gentleman was not permitted to stay here but 42 years, he was attacked with violent typus fever during the summer of 1837, and was carried off after a short illness, leaving a widow with four sons and two daughters to mourn their loss. I wrote a few verses on the occasion of his funeral, this is a specimen.
Oh messenger, how keen thy blow,
Our worthy friend thou hast laid low:
Yet we rejoice our reason’s just,
In Jesus’ blood he placed his trust.
I did not reside with this gentleman’s father at the time of his death, he having died the previous year, 1836, the mother having died in 1835. How quickly we are gone!
I must beg to make a retrograde movement here, and go back to the duties devolving on me as gardener: the winter rolled on and spring approached, preparations were needed, there was in the garden a forcing pit, such an one I had never before seen, I sought and obtained the advice and assistance of Richard Sturman, he directed me how to proceed; acting under his advice we had a satisfactory supply of cucumbers, melons, and other garden produce.
The elder Mr. Skepper greatly admired the colony of rooks that assembled during the early spring, and when their young ones were about leaving, he used to being out his air gun and bring down the black family with great precision, my duty on those occasions was to perform the office of armour bearer, and to pump the air into the empty tube while the other was being expended; it was rather a hard job but did not last many hours at a time, and then only in fine weather. I had also to grind and deliver out small quantities of malt (not less then a peck), to the workpeople and others, the grinding was performed by a handmill, but when any extra quantity was required, I had the assistance of the lad John Adams, who was always at hand, and willing to lend a helping hand in any emergency, although often irritated by there petition of the noisy bell, which generally stood very handy to summon the out-of-door satellites.
I usually drove master out two or three times a week, sometimes to Lowestoft, or Beccles, or Yarmouth, or other places, calling upon farmers and others in the way of trade. God, in his goodness, so preserved us that we never met with any accident, although late at night getting home. Their daughter, Mrs. Clarke, had a pony and chaise for the private use of herself and daughter. I did not drive them except on Sunday to Church, to Lowestoft or Pakefield, as they felt inclined.
In the month of July of the first year I was living with this family, I lost my dear father by death, he being only 59 years off age—1833. My mother was left to sorrow for his departure, and to work her way through the various trials which bestrewed her path, supported by a watchful, kind, overruling Providence, many years.
Favoured with an excellent state of health, I did not at all regret leaving the shoe trade for a time, and perhaps this healthful employment may have been the means of lengthening out my life, under the divine favour who has guarded my steps in all my journey hitherto, and will continue to do so unto the end of my course.
Mr. Charles Fisher was rector of Oulton at this time, having been appointed in 1829. He was greatly afflicted, and had a curate, Mr. Richard Pearson, to perform the duties in the parish. I forbear to insert the prefix which clergymen of the Church of England, and many Dissenting ministers also use, because I think the appellation belongs to God rather than to His creatures, however pure and holy their office or character. Whenever I hear it spoken as applied to a creature, it grates harshly on my ear, but it may be consistent nevertheless.