Supplement to Chapters II and III This supplement is another account by James Samuel Page Bowler of some of the events he related in chapters II and III. We have placed a number-letter combination in the text of this typed account next to these events. The numbers refer to pages on which these events may be located. The letters pinpoint the location of the event on the referenced page.
Approximately five pages had been torn off the beginning of this account so its continuation starts with the last three verses of J. S. P.’s poem, MEMORY RECALLS. Later on in the account he includes the first two verses of his poem, THEN AND NOW. The complete poems can be found in the Book of Poems section.
She rushed into her mothers arms with sobs and moans aloud
Sorrow and joy was mingled, then contrition there avowed
Her aged father soon appeared, amazed beyond degree;
A solemn group in silence stoop upon their bended knee.As reason reasserts herself, tranquility now reigns,
The whys and wherefores, pros and cons in time are all explained,
Attention then centers on me; what brought me on the scene?
Providence, 0 kind Providence, or I’d have drowned I ween,Her parents thought I ought to wed the daughter they admired
But I was only just fifteen; it set my brain on fire.
Their friendship knew no earthly bounds, I felt myself well paid,
Their high esteem seemed but a dream, I walked away dismayed.I had only done my duty but they lost sight of my age when they suggested marriage of course. I should here state that at that particular time I was studying music and phonography and went down in the Abbey Meadow (11-A) in the quiet morning air and it was a blessing for Miss Adams that I was there on that occasion.
Part 2
Christmas eve 1860 found me in Kegworth (10-B) some 30 miles from my home in Leicester. There with the lads and lasses about my age were invited to spend the evening with my cousin and if I should live to be a hundred years old I could not forget the reception. The mother sat alone in the further room and as we went trooping in in single file she exclaimed, “good Lord and who the devil next.” I thought what an odd expression for an elderly lady to be sure but nevertheless there was a warm welcome behind it. Now this town Kegworth was the birth place of my step-mother Mary Moore who had one son of her own born the 6th of March (10-B) previous to the time just mentioned. I remember also that the Prince of Wales died and there was a general mourning through all the (10-B) country. 1861 was spent in Long Whatton where my father John Bowler (10-B) was born Nov. 15th 1820. Corrected date. The author had written November 19, 1819. Residing here with my uncle Benjamin I learned much of the Bowler and Barker families and here in Sept. of that year I had an experience that boys living in cities know but little about. It had been rumored that there was to be a fox hunt and I decided to be one of the spectators but little did I understand of the chase until late that night when I discovered that I was several miles from anywhere and no object to point me homeward. The fox had been caught and so was I but I had no share in the festivities but must wander around until home appeared in sight. Tired is a mild expression of my feelings for a few days after the hunt but as I was not the only one the matter passed off as do all things in common. My mind reverts back to the first time I came to Long Whatton when about seven years old (7-C) at which time I met my cousin Will Burrows (6-C) the only boy near my age who lived with his parents at Dry Pot Lodge near Sheepshed. Will and I became fast friends but he played on me a trick that he enjoyed to the limit that was another part of country life I did not quite understand. Will invited me to stroll with him in the field where he knew but I didn’t that a certain animal was just as full of fun as he was but I soon had an introduction to Mr. Ram. (7-C) Just imagine the city lad walking unconcernedly along enjoying the pure air and spring of water close by when lo a charge from behind came so suddenly that I landed on the other side not hurt very badly only in feeling. My next change was at home and during the Christmas holidays everything put on its best appearance but in less than three months there was a gloomy aspect for many as I recall those dreary days and restless nights. My step-mother died (1 1-D) and left her son but two years old and I walked fifteen miles (1 1-D) without tasting food for 24 hours. The next day Grandmother took the return trip with me. The funeral over and then what? Father said he did not know what course to pursue but thought it might be best to quit trying to retain our home with no one there to care for the child which he finally did but he also said that if he was young he would enlist in the army (11-A) but little did he know the effect it had on me or he never would have said that in my hearing at that particular moment the sequel I will here give in verse.
Twice I crossed the ocean wide,
Twice I have left my home;
Once with bayonet at my side,
And now in peace I roam.
First my country called me forth
To scenes of blood and strife,
Leaving all I had on earth;
Yet God preserved my life.Out in far off Africa;
Well do I mark the spot,
Where I lay---in metaphorA target for each shot.
There beneath the torrid sun
By musket shot I fell;True, the battle had been won, But surely war is hell.
This is a brief sketch of my early experience excepting that of my first journey by train in the year 1852 when I left Leicester in open car for the market town Loughborough distance 11 miles and it seemed like 11 hours traveling that distance. At the Station I was met by prearrangement of my parents by the carrier as he was known there and such a meeting it was that I never saw before or since. It was simply a dog and cart (6-C) that hauled freight and passengers four miles each way but of course the road was all that it should be.
(Approximately eleven pages were torn out and missing at this point).
William Taylor an officer in the British Army after considerable war service was wounded in the battle of Waterloo. He married Ann Wanmer from Kent and they made their home in Preston where the new religion “Mormonism” was introduced in England. They were among the first to embrace the Gospel and became greatly enthused with the principles made plain to them by the missionaries from America.
(Next page--also the last one).
Leicester, England auspicious date of my advent in this world