A CLIPPING FROM THE "MIDDLESBROUGH NEWS"--A PROMISE MADE BUT NOT
FULFILLED--THE SECOND ATTEMPT TO LEAVE HOME.
After my return home I thought seriously over the matter of absconding.
I knew I had broken the law and also the promise I had made in my
indentures to work seven years with Mr. Gould. Had my parents been
more favorable towards me, I should not have left my home and employer
to endeavor to emigrate with the Saints until I was free to act upon
my own responsibility, and to do as I thought best. But now that I
was back again, it was my resolve to stay and finish the remainder of
my apprenticeship, providing my parents would grant me permission to
attend meetings of the Saints and not be too strict with me.
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.
The next morning, on going to my trunk to get on my Sunday clothes,
I discovered they were not there, and on asking my mother where they
were, she said:
"Those clothes you wear every day are good enough for you to go to
Mormon meetings in."
Pleased to think she would allow me to go even on those terms, I
answered that it did not matter with me what kind of clothes I had on
so long as the privilege was granted of attending "Mormon" meetings.
After breakfast, I went to the front door and sat on the step
meditating, while people passed to and fro, dressed in their Sunday
clothes. Then I looked at myself in my everyday attire, with no coat
on, as mine was not to be had. It seemed to touch me on a sore part
to go through the streets in my shirt sleeves, while all others were
dressed in their best clothes. But I revered my religion, loved the
Saints and was not going to stay in the house all day notwithstanding
the clothes worn by me were shabby for the Sabbath.
The church bells were pealing and the people passing to and fro
to their respective places of worship as I hurried to my place of
destination--Sister Scott's--and related to the folks there how my
Sunday clothes had been locked up by my mother. From one of the Saints,
a young man living at Scott's, I obtained the loan of a coat. They
asked me to come to the afternoon meeting, to be held at their house,
which I promised to do.
Returning home about noon, my father commanded that I should stay in
the house the remainder of the day. So I was prevented keeping my
promise.
That afternoon was one of the most unpleasant of my life. Oh, how
slowly the time passed away! I retired early to rest. My prayers were
not forgotten; and while on my knees big tears rolled down my cheeks.
Richard and I intended to make our second attempt to leave home; but
prior to doing so awaited an answer to a letter which had been sent
to President George J. Linford while in the Thames Police office;
containing our ship tickets. But three weeks passed away before the
expected answer came.
On Saturday evening, June 16th, we received a letter from President
Linford. It informed us that our tickets had been received all right
and contained his advice to us not to again run away from our homes,
but serve out our lawful apprenticeship.
The next day was the time fixed to leave our homes the second time. We
intended to start at 5 o'clock in the afternoon by steamer for Shields,
a town probably between forty or fifty miles northward.
In the morning of that day I attended the Presbyterian church, and it
seemed to me my mother was beginning to think I was weaning myself from
"Mormonism."
In the afternoon, Richard and I went to Sister Scott's. There we met
some of her relatives from Shields. One of them, a young lady, not
intending to return that day, gave me her ticket.
One or two acquaintances of Sister Scott were going to Shields, and we
intended, on arriving there, to stay with them that night. Where our
final destination would be we hardly knew, though we had been thinking
of going to some part of Scotland. Richard had about £1.2s. ($5.50). I
had no money, but had borrowed 5s. ($1.25) from Sister Scott.
About half past 4 o'clock we went down to a boat landing, accompanied
by nearly all of the Scott family and visiting relatives, who were
going to Shields. The steamer we intended to go by was timed to leave
at 5 o'clock; a steamer for Stockton also started at the same time.
Both the steamers were moored near each other. We were there a few
minutes before 5 o'clock and went with our friends into a waiting
room on the landing stage. Passengers were walking about the landing,
awaiting the departure of the steamers. It was our intention to go
aboard the Shields steamer; but before doing so we noticed a man named
Brooks, a printer, going on the Stockton steamer. Being acquainted with
him, we deemed it advisable to wait till the Stockton steamer should
start, for fear Brooks would see us going on the other steamer. This
placed us in a rather precarious situation, as both steamers having
to start at the same time, we were afraid of being unable to get on
the vessel without his seeing us. Anxiously we watched the two boats,
wondering which would start first, when we saw the Stockton boat make
the first move. How pleased we were! It had not got many feet away
when, turning to Richard, I said quickly:
"Now, let us go!" (meaning, of course, for us to go on the Shield's
steamer.)
No sooner had I spoken these words than a brother in the Church, named
John Parish, hurriedly approached us and in a half whisper, said:
"_Here's your mother!_"
These words perplexed and astounded me. Was it a reality that we were
stopped the second time in our attempt to leave home? To be positive
that Parish was correct in his assertion I looked in the direction he
pointed, and there, sure enough, was my mother gazing intently at the
two steamers--one on its journey and the other just ready to start.