There were two apprentices on the shop, George Nobbs and George Youngman. There was also a journeyman of the name of Edward Marjoram, all of them having died young men, while I am suffered to journey onward, amidst many difficulties, yet still supplied, protected, and sustained by the good hand of my God.
Amidst the many changes, the cares, the dangers, and the perplexities, as also the many comforts, I experienced, the year rolled away, and my experience gave me reasons to hope that I should have a fair amount of work in the establishment, with fair wages, which, to a certain extent, was realised, so that onward I continued to work for Mr. Winyard, at Lowestoft.
My sweetheart having left Mr. Norton’s family, she subsequently obtained a situation at Yarmouth, in the family of J. Hurry, Esq., as she said she thought it best to take a wider distance. I continued to work at Lowestoft, as before, and was elevated to the master’s seat, there being nearly enough for him to attend to downstairs, and at other places. I felt desirous of making the best use of my time, and being on piecework, could sometimes make long days, but at other times work did not come up so freely. Then the hands became impatient and wearied, when anxious to earn money, and could not seem to get forward. These were some of the beginnings of the trials of life, and they were to be continued, however desirous it might be to have them removed, but while permitted, they have their effects upon those whom they are designed to benefit.
The cheap postage had not yet come into operation, but letters could be enclosed in brown paper, and thus, taking the form of a parcel, were conveyed to Yarmouth, and safely delivered for the sum of twopence, by Mr. John Balls, at that time a carrier, residing at the corner of Duke’s Head Street, Lowestoft.
I continued to work in that town until drawing towards the close of the summer of 1836. I was asked by Mrs. Clarke if I would agree to come into her service; she would give me a week to think it over. I did so, and knowing them to be quiet, religious people, arranged to go to reside in their house, and be their servant. They kept a pair of ponies and a four-wheeled phæton. The family consisted of mistress (a widow lady), daughter, housekeeper, and myself, so that when all went out together, the carriage was fairly filled.
There had been several changes taken place since I left the family at Oulton Hall in 1835, the mistress having died, and in the following year the master was borne away, consequently the brother, B. Skepper, Esq., before mentioned, agreed with Mrs. Clarke, his sister, to change residences, the brother having previously, with his family occupied the smaller house, the “Cottage.” It was at the cottage, by the river side where I was to be located during the approaching winter, and soon became initiated in my new duties. The two ponies were old acquaintances, as also the superiors, but I had to make the acquaintance of the housekeeper and a furious-looking dog. This was soon accomplished, and we professed to be a family desirous of serving the Lord, the God of our fathers. There was another cottage near, occupied by John Adams, his wife, and family. They were people who for many years had been walking in the ways of the Lord, and they felt anxious that my hand should strengthened in this important matter. They belonged to the denomination called Baptists, exhibiting and illustrating the doctrine of our inability to do works meet for repentance by reason of Adam’s transgression, we must first have a good will, which is the gift of God, and then must have divine grace working in us when we have that goodwill. And these good works of ours, yea! our very best performances, are taken to go for nothing in the matter of our salvation. This must be accomplished entirety by the imputed righteousness of our Saviour Jesus Christ. That our inability to repent and believe it by reason of that spiritual death in which we are by nature so fearfully involved.
My superiors were members of the Church of England, and the housekeeper, although having lived in a clergyman’s family, yet she had been led to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and also to receive the ordinance of baptism by immersion, as the only scriptural mode on a profession of faith in God’s beloved eternal Son. Here, again, we compared these sentiments with God’s word, searched the Scriptures daily, whether things were so; many of these truths, which before had been obscured by blindness and prejudice were now like beacons shining brightly in a dark place. We, one and all, under the teaching, the comforting, the illuminating, and instructing power and guidance of the Holy Spirit went on our way rejoicing.
Mr. Charles Fisher, rector of the parish, having died in the early part of this year, a new rector Edwin Proctor Dennis, came to reside in Oulton, but as there was no rectory house suitable, a new house was, after a little time built, and it was also arranged there should be two services at the church instead of one, as formerly. We usually attended those services at least three of the four, one staying at home for a little protection to the house, and on Sabbath evenings we drove off to Lowestoft—superiors to St. Peter’s, while the servants were allowed to go to the Baptist Chapel, and to be down with the carriage in time service was over. This was the general routine: occasionally we posted off to St. Peter’s, on a Sunday morning, but not often.
We were generally very quiet and unmolested. Now and then, the mistress was somewhat annoyed by hearing the report of a gun, and used to send me to look after the intruder, and, if possible, obtain his name and authority, and bring in his statement, but they were not proceeded against, only warned to keep off the estate. I had here to attend to the garden, and walks, as also carriage road through the meadow; carriage and harness to keep in order; and many jobs indoors, so that, with going out, my time was pretty well occupied. We had evening and morning reading and prayers, and, on the whole, I had not much to complain of. There was great regularity; each evening and morning brought its work, and attention to be given at the proper time. Winter being over, and the smiling spring having arrived, the pleasant month of May, a relative of the mistress had arranged to be married. My ladies were invited to the wedding, and I was asked if the ponies could do the journey—52 miles. I thought it could he accomplished in two days, by stopping at Norwich (a distance of 24 miles) the first night, and by terminating the journey on the second day. It will be remembered that, in the days to which I am alluding, there were no railroads in these parts. Next came the necessary preparations—it was essential that the ponies should be in good health, their shoes must be strong and good, harness must not be defective, and the carriage in trim, and everything placed in readiness for the long journey.
At the appointed time, we took our departure, the weather being fine and the country charming; and, there being no necessity for fast travelling, we were enabled to admire the beauties of Nature, and to scan the various operations which were being carried on in the fields and roads as we passed. Norwich, in due time, was reached. My mistress and her daughter were driven to the residence of their friends, and I received instructions to proceed with the vehicle to a livery stable, situate in St. Giles’, where the ponies were fed and rested, I afterwards proceeding to my lodgings. The next morning we were all astir, and, after having partaken of breakfast, we again proceeded onwards. Mr. Pilgrim, coroner—whose duties might have led him thither—accompanied us to Dereham, and for the purpose of placing him down, and also for feeding the ponies, we pulled up at the Eagle Hotel. Resuming our journey, the great coach passed us as we were nearing our destination, and the Manor House, at Swaffham, was soon reached.