As Richard and I passed along the streets, people made scornful remarks about us.
On the next Friday, June 1st, my attention was called to the following article, which appeared in the Middlesbrough News, published that morning:
"SATURDAY.—Before W. Fallows, Esq.
"OFF TO MORMONDOM.—At this court, two youths, named Richard Sedgwick and Robert Aveson, the former an apprentice with Mr. Carter of Gosford Street, and the latter with Mr. Gould of South Street, printer, were charged with absconding on the 18th ult. The lads, in company with a young man who has joined the Mormons and succeeded in converting the lads to his views, went from Sunderland and from thence to London by the steamer Lady Havelock, en route for Utah. A warrant was sent after them, and they were apprehended in London and brought back to Middlesbrough.— Ordered to go back to their work, and the expenses to be deducted out of their wages."
The next day, after finishing my work at 4 o'clock, Mr. Gould brought my week's wages, but instead of my usual seven shillings and sixpence he gave me five shillings and sixpence. He said he was going to deduct two shillings per week until the full amount of my expenses from London was paid. This did not meet my approval, but as it was according to the decision of the court it could not be prevented.
On the following Sunday, shortly after dinner, I told my parents I wished to go for a walk. Permission was granted, but my father accompanied me.
Richard Sedgwick's parents did not take the same course with him as my parents did with me. He could attend any meetings he wished and was permitted to go where he pleased; but a strict watch was kept over me by my mother, so that I was always in a miserable suspense. Besides this, my mother was all the time talking to me when I was at home, which made me dread to see her.
On Saturday, June 9th, my mother asked me to go with her next day to a meeting of the Wesleyan Reformers.
"Mother," I replied, "I can't serve two religions at once."
"Yours is the devil's religion!" she replied.