But, perhaps, the narration of those circumstances would seem to be a digression, yet they are to my mind full of interest, and so closely interwoven among my early associations that I cannot easily pass over them. I well remember the exhibition which took place in my native village. On one of the large painted pictures was displayed a figure of the queen in her robes, and beneath was the brilliant motto,
“Regina” still, in spite of them,
Here then we rest. The universal cause
Acts to one end, but acts by various laws;
Let this great truth be present night and day,
But most be present if we preach or pray.Pope’s Essay on Man.
There was nearly as much for me to do on a Sunday, during the winter season, as on other days; the cattle must be fed; turnips within, and straw without, must be placed ready for the cows to eat, and the fat pigs were to be attended to, of which there was a good number, but sometimes I had an opportunity of going to chapel, on an afternoon, when my work was forward; and there were reading services in the family on Sunday evenings, implying there was a desire to serve and obey the true and living God.
Thus much for a beginning. I soon learned to drive the tumbril, the harrow, the roller, and the wagon, and was, perhaps, nearly as useful as was expected to be; and on one occasion the master made me draw a furrow across a field with a pair of horses, he following, and pronounced himself satisfied with the result.
During my sojourn here, I was several times mercifully preserved from death. On one occasion I was driving a loaded tumbril from the yard, where it was filled, to the manure heap, about a quarter-of-a mile on the road, and then on to the meadow. A horse which I was using, a wild young creature, annoyed by the flies, started off as soon as I got upon his back. I was quite powerless, and lost all control over him. He went at full gallop straight home, and though a cart shed, that was standing by the road-side, having beams across, and so constructed that there was little height more than was required for an empty wagon. I pressed my head down as low as I could, and the interposing mercy of my God preserved me, or I should have been dashed to pieces. The horse ran quite through, and then stopped as if by magic. The men came out of the yard, seeing the danger, and expected to have seen me killed, or seriously injured; but neither myself nor the horse suffered any harm. I did not think much about it at the time, but I have many times looked back with a thankful heart.—“Thou shalt remember all the way the Lord thy God hath led thee.”
Another instance of great danger I will relate. One summer’s morning, being ordered to fetch the cows from the meadow, amongst them being a furious bull, I found on my arrival that one of the cows had calved during the night, close to which the dangerous male had taken up a position. I hastened home with the rest, and told the master what I had seen. It was considered that if I had attempted to drive him he might have killed me. The master directed me to take the barrow, and he would go with me to the meadow, and take with him a hay-fork. We went and found them as I have stated, and no sooner had I placed the barrow near the bull than the infuriated creature at once drove at me, and knocked me down, but the master beat him off, and I was thus preserved from further danger at that time, and escaped unharmed.
At another time, later on, the same beast attacked me in the cow-yard, drove me against the faggots, and had got me completely in his power. My peril was witnessed by Josh Miles, who was thrashing in a barn. He came with his flail—a very formidable instrument—and the beast fled immediately, and leaped over a high gate like a hunting horse, and then looked about him for the next point of attack. These, then, are some of the deliverances extended unto me by the great and unceasing favour of my God, for the which I desire to be devoutly thankful.
I am unable to enumerate all the dangers from which I have been providentially delivered. That same horse which ran away with me kicked me afterwards in the side, but my hand caught the blow, and thus warded off serious injury. I was accustomed to have one-footed kicks from the cows, but found the horse struck out with more effect. Another peril was: As myself and one of my young masters (Suffolk) were scarifying a pea-stubble field we had two horses at length, and took turns, one to ride on the scarifier, and the other to drive the horses. We were going on very cheerful and comfortable, when, suddenly, something distasted the fore horse, and it came round to where I was sitting, and was entangled among the counters with the horse’s feet. In the fright and the danger we had some little difficulty to extricate the poor horse, but we did accomplish it. I escaped with a few slight scratches on my hands and legs, and what was better the horse was not much hurt, so that ultimately we were able to accomplish our work, and to give an account of our mishap to the master, without incurring much blame. Here, again, I feel good cause for thankfulness that I was so mercifully preserved, so that—
“I muse on the years that are past,
Wherein my defence Thou hast proved,
Nor wilt Thou relinquish at last
A sinner so signally lov’d.”—Toplady.
I might here be permitted to state my master, Mr. Garrard, at this time, occupied a small farm in the parish of Stradbroke, distant about three miles, to which myself and others were often sent, to do different kinds of work, such as putting in the corn with the drill, sometimes getting in a good lot of turnips, at other times getting up the hay and the corn in harvest, when we had a wagon to be conveyed through the pleasant journey. Adjoining our farm was one occupied by Mr. William Davey, and he also kept a lad a year or two older than myself. He felt himself sometimes aggrieved, because he had so much to do in waiting upon his young masters, so he thought he would cut the matter short, and, being sorely irritated, he got up early one morning (oh! most dreadful act) and set fire to the straw in the barn, which burnt and consumed the whole premises, except the dwelling-house—an alarming conflagration; I saw it blazing. He was taken upon suspicion, tried, and found guilty, and sentenced to be executed, which sentence was carried into effect at Ipswich, on the 20th April, 1822. A terrible example to all young men was the death of William Aldous, late of Stradbroke.