Recollections Of A Maiden Aunt

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1894 edition. Excerpt: ... bowl bag and its contents into the water. "There you go," said he, "you shall not make a botch of me, I shall be master of my trade." And here is seen the future man in the boy. He had an old maiden aunt living in the village. She, like his mother, was a convert of Whitefield's, and a pious woman. In the winter nights, after shop hours, she coaxes James to read to her, and takes care that the books she puts into his hands are good and profitable. He thus gets a taste for reading, and this, coupled with the religious training at home, results in his mother's counsels to him becoming more deeply impressed on his mind. In course of time he finishes his apprenticeship; gets a certificate from his master, which he thinks overdrawn; for he is too honest to drink in flattery, and hates shams. Then he sets off to London, in order to get further insight into his trade. After a time he comes north to Wooler, where he is engaged as foreman in the shop of a Mr Morton, in whose employment he remains for four years. Here he is much pained to see the desecration of the Sabbath; the youths after the forenoon service betaking themselves to amusements as on ordinary days. His thirst for reading had not diminished, but his stock of books is small. On the Saturday evenings he would go to a secondhand book-stall, select a book, sometimes so worn that it will scarcely hold together; but he manages to bind it, and in course of time he has got together a somewhat decent library. On Sabbath afternoons, when the weather is favourable, he seeks retirement on the hill-side. These he finds seasons of pure enjoyment, and he there stores his mind with knowledge, and worships his God. In his lodgings there is no recognition of God in any way, and, though otherwise...