“Oct. 30, 1843. Pleasant. This is to me a memorable day. It completes my twenty-first year, and, of course, closes my apprenticeship. This is with me, as with most others, an event of no small interest, and one to which I have long looked forward with hope and pleasure, though occasionally with some anxiety and fear. I have devoted six years, six months and nineteen days to the acquisition of a trade, all of which time I have spent in the office of W. S. Damrell. But now my apprenticeship is finished; and, according to the testimony of some of my older fellow-printers, I have seen the pleasantest days of my life. Last Saturday evening I entered into an agreement to work for Mr. Damrell, and he promised to employ me as long as he could supply any journeyman with work. As I have always liked my trade, I hope and trust I shall always find enough to do at it.” (He never failed in that respect. Trades are like folks,—they like those that like them.) “As to ‘freedom presents,’ I have received to-day a handsome pocket-Bible from a friend who has worked in the office some time, but recently left; and also two cents and one copper from three other friends belonging to the office! Verily, charity aboundeth!”
Among his papers has been found the subjoined, dated October 31, 1843; that is, the next day after he had completed his twenty-first year:—
“Believing it is my duty to give what assistance I am able to the benevolent and religious objects with which I conscientiously sympathize, I have thought a systematic plan of laying by, as the Lord shall prosper me, what I am able to give these objects, might now be well adopted, as I am commencing life for myself; consequently, I have determined, so long as the Lord shall prosper me and enable me to do it, to lay by one-twentieth of all the means I earn from this date, and consider it as sacredly devoted to objects of charity, especially religious benevolence.”
“Dec. 31, 1843. Sabbath. I have seldom heard a sermon in which I was so intensely interested.... The argumentative part was instructive, new and interesting; and the persuasive and admonitory, intensely solemn. The whole was characterized by a beauty of expression and purity of language which I seldom hear. But much as I admired the preacher, I think the man was comparatively lost amid the impressions that his sermon produced.” It was a stranger who preached.
“Jan. 1, 1844. The new year was ushered in with a clear sky and a bright sun; and brought with it its usual salutations and good wishes. As usual, I received enough of the latter, though favored with nothing of a more substantial character. I had the pleasure, however, of making three presents.” These were to his mother, his room-mate, and a young lady who had previously shown him kindness.
During a part of January and of February of the year 1844, the weather was unusually cold, and nearly all the harbors of New England were frozen up.
“Feb. 1. The British steamer was to have sailed to-day, but could not get out of the harbor. The proprietors of the ice establishment at Fresh Pond have entered into a contract to cut a channel out of the harbor, and commenced this morning. They have completed about three miles to-day, and seven more remain to be done. Thousands of persons have been out on the harbor to-day, and the skating which it affords has been well improved. After work in the evening, there being a good moon, I went down with L. P. H. nearly as far as the Castle; and, after wandering about some time, we went over to Cunard Wharf and looked at the Britannia; after which I returned, and read the whole of a new book.”
February 16th he went to Salem, and “first of all,” he called upon Sarah Mugford, with whom he “spent half an hour most pleasantly.” Sarah Mugford had once formed a part of his mother’s household.
During the spring of this year he lost the pastor of whom he had been saying almost continually since he joined the church, he “preached an excellent sermon.” It seems to have been a great loss to him; and it is doubtful if any other quite took his place in the estimation of Walter Aimwell.
“May 27. After supper I went out to attend the annual meeting of the Peace Society. On my way I was detained for a short time, in consequence of meeting the Phalanx with the Brigade Band. The meeting at Winter Street being rather dull, I came out and dropped into Park Street, where the Education Society were holding their anniversary. On my way home I encountered another strong temptation,—the Brass Band at the head of a Temperance procession,—and, after listening to their music for a while, I again started home, but encountered one more company on my way.”