George discusses his future plans in an incomplete letter to Sill
Llandudno
May 10th
Saturday night
Dear
Brother
I am writing away we have only just
closed shop and it is now nearly ten oclock and I must go and get my supper or
I shall not have any. I shall not post
this letter until Monday as I have no stamps and shall not be able to get any
until then.
Your letter duly arived and I expected
with it a long eloquent exposition on the portion of Scripture referred
to. But behold my dissapointment when I
opened it and found nil. But happly for
me the teachers were changed and our usual classes were all joined and formed a
singing meeting to prepare hymns for our anniversary so my paper was not read
and I was not sorry for it was but a poor affair. My Teacher has it or I would send it you.
I should advise you to begin it in
your class, let several of you bring a paper and you will see in what points
you differ and thus promote a healthy discussion amongst the scholars, which
will enlarge their mental capabilities create a more intimate knowledge of the
scriptures and the truths that is by them contained. I am glad to hear your young horse is free
from vices and hope he is swift in speed and sound in limb for when I come home
he will have to swift whether he is sound or not.
I have come to arrangements with Uncle
I shall have £20 for the first year and my washing & mending. I did expect £25, but he says 20 was what he
got at first and I suppose he measures my value by his own. He said he would be very glad for me to stop
and advised me to do so because I was rather small and boyish to try to get
another situation. I do not think I
shall stay another year without he promises to do as he said when I came her
first for I can learn no more here and shall try to get larger experience
elsewhere.
Ofcourse this decision of mine will be
greatly influenced by the advice I get from home and the circumstances which
may transpire during the year. But I
cannot see that I shall be justified in staying here in comparitive ignorance
(even for good wages) when I could improve myself and learn more thoroughly
elsewhere. Though as I told them I had
spent 4 years of my life very happley on the whole with them and never expect
to spend 4 such happy ones again, even that should not detain me for gathering
experience and improving my talents with due care. Except he opens a Branch establishment in
some neighbouring place and sets me there, as he used to talk about and
brighten my day dreams with the thought.
Of course for that I shall be quite fit for it will be precisely the
same class of trade as we have here. I
do not wish any one to know of this only Father & Mother for I would that
Uncle & Aunt should hear about it yet.
(incomplete)
Views inside a traditional ironmongers shop courtesy of The Bygones Victorian Museum and J.B. Banks & Son Ltd.
 |
| The Bygones Victorian Museum, St Marychurch, Torquay |
J.B. Banks & Son Ltd., 13-14 Market Place, Cockermouth.
