Chapter II It has been truly stated that early impressions are lasting of which fact I am a living witness. Of all the heavenly music that I ever heard was when my mother sang in an unknown tongue and the interpretation thereof which thrilled every member of our family. My mother who could not part with me for a time not even to the care of my aunt who also appeared to love me most dearly. Mother had not a natural strong musical voice but on that day the music that reverberated in her room was of an heavenly nature. Shortly after that event my mother appeared to decline in health until she finally stayed in bed for several days. One day as we sat watching her she ceased to breathe and we sat there thinking her spirit had taken its flight. Even the neighbors who came in to see her pronounced her dead. My grandmother commenced to prepare her burial clothes when a voice as from the tomb said, “Mother I am not dead as you all suppose, but have heard all that has been said yet could not speak.” She then told in detail of many scenes she had witnessed in the spirit world and that she had been permitted to return for a short time to bring another child into this world but in just one year she must leave us. She speedily recovered her health to a certain degree and joy mingled with anxiety pervaded the minds of all concerned. In order to insure perfect health my mother was urged to have an extended visit with relations in Long Whatton, Leicestershire the birth place of my father that was noted for its healthy invigorating atmosphere. Mother appeared willing to comply with every request for the benefit of her health and happiness but could not be in any manner dissuaded from her conviction of the ultimatum.
While in Long Whatton Mother advised us quite frequently in such glowing terms of her health improvement that the shadow of apprehension of approaching demise was greatly dispelled. Faith and hope were not lacking in the family circle during those summer months and enjoyed also by my father’s parents and those with whom my mother was associated not withstanding her assertion of coming events. Arrangements were made for my mother to return home the first Monday in October. Two days previous to her departure she visited with her Aunt and Uncle Burrows at Dry Pot Lodge a farm by the road side about a mile from the village. She returned rather late in the afternoon. The aspect appeared to her most delightful and she sang her favorite hymn, Joy to the World the Lord will come and earth receive her king, the echoes of which reached the ears of a number of people who remarked how happy my mother must have felt at that moment. When she reached the pathway across the field it being much nearer that way than on the lane she decided to take the nearest but as she approached the entrance she saw a gray hound dog coming directly toward her and being afraid of such animals she stepped back for it to pass her. When within a few steps of where she stood the ground appeared to open and the dog disappeared from view. My mother was impressed with the meaning of that strong reminder. Upon relating the occurrence to my father’s parents they sought to evade their conviction, but my mother bade them accept the decree of heaven as she herself had done and was prepared to accept as for the best. That incident was kept secret in the family for some time but when my mother arrived home a few days later she not only made it known to her immediate family but also frankly repeated her experience many times to friends who inquired of her concerning her absence from home. During the interval between the above strange incident and September first Corrected date. The author had written March sixth (the birth date of half brother, George). following when my sister priscilla was born my mother often referred to signs pointing to the fulfillment of all that had been made known to her. After the child was born every attention was paid to my mother but without pain she did not gain strength but continued patiently looking for the time when her spirit should take its flight to that blessed mansion that she said was prepared to enter there. Just one year to the minute as mother had foretold she breathed her last so quietly and peacefully that all who were with her looked upon the scene with reverential resignation and I heard my grandmother whisper with a sigh “Thy will 0 God be done.” Grandfather took me and my sister Mary Ann to gather wild flowers and to take our attention from the death chamber and having taken a luncheon with us we did not return until evening.
Aunt and Uncle Page attended the funeral and by pleading with our family and my pleading also they took me to their local abode where I remained their idol for two weeks during which time I reigned as a prince on their throne. I was then five and a half years of age and can remember distinctly every thing of import that was said and that happened during that short period. For instance my sister who was over two years my senior came to visit me two or three times and really envied my position and left with tears on her cheeks. This was the property referred to that had been deeded to me at my birth and of which more may be said, anon. The parting at that time was made more amicably than on former occasions already referred to but nothing was said about adoption or me going to their home in London and after clasping me to her breast and fervently kissing me goodbye the carriage rolled away for London. My grandmother had promised my mother that she would be a mother to us children and well and faithfully did she keep that promise. The milk of human kindness and affection was shed around our home and all was done for us that loving thoughts could suggest but still there was a void that could not be filled and I would frequently go alone to the Hill Street Chapel grave yard where in a well built double brick grave rested that mother who in life could not part with her boy. I had to begin to realize that my mother had left us never to return and that I called to her in vain and that I should never hear her voice again on this earth and for a time nothing seemed to appeal to me as a reality or worthwhile. I was sent to the infant school where other children attended who had lost mother or father or both and where the good kind motherly governess would talk and sing to us about heaven and our loved ones there which to me was like oil upon the troubled water and I soon learned to love that dear old lady in some degree. The care of four motherless children was a tax upon grandmother and it was suggested that I be sent to Long Whatton to stay with my fathers parents for a while and when proper arrangements had been made I was placed on the train that went to Long Whatton eleven miles where I arrived about noon and was met at the station by the man that was to take me to my grandparents which he did in his dog cart. That was the mode of travel (C) in those days 1850 and even later but it was slow traveling to be sure and very unpleasant in stormy weather and also in that hot sunshine as there was no cover to train or dog cart.
That change of taking me from the place where I had learned what real sorrow was to a child had a good effect upon my health and enjoyment. In addition to my parents in charge and their family I met for the first time my counterpart in the person of my cousin William Burrows (C) with whom I spent many days in boyish sportful fashion and for whom I formed an enduring tie of the fondest recollection. More anon.
Upon my return home in Leicester I felt more at ease in company and sought companionship with those about my own age. My Uncle James Hutchinson who married Miss Mary Hall whose parents owned the hardware and music store in Belgrave Gate Leicester had one son only, named William and we became boon companions and we together with William Hill whose parents owned the Flower-de-luce a first class Inn in the same neighborhood formed what might be called a triple alliance which while it lasted kept us comparatively carefree. I here wish to portray the leniency of our parents and guardians and our youthful and agreeable and aspirations in order to make life as useful as possible. We owned the grocery store from which I could coax supplies from my grandmother and any kind of juvenile musical instruments we needed could be obtained by the same means by cousin Will. Thus being equipped with what we considered all things necessary for social entertainment we invited our intimate friends to the room set apart for our amusement at the Inn above mentioned, what we three could not think of or contrive in order to make our show a success was not to be considered for one moment. During the period which terminated all too abruptly my Uncle Bowler an eminent lawyer and I may add a perfidious scoundrel had entered into league with my Uncle Page to defraud me of my rightful inheritance. Thus he being the attorney that drew up the body of the deed knew there should not be any defects but he claimed that it had just occurred to his mind that there was a slight omission that should be rectified without delay. Unsuspecting any duplicity the deed was handed to him and with profuse promise of returning a deed that could not be contested he left ostensibly for the court house but that was the last seen of him or the deed. My parents learned through a particular friend Mr. Breedon from London that a bribe of five thousand pounds did the work and that Uncle Bowler went to America. In a letter addressed to my father the statement was made that Uncle Page had a son and heir but that he was anxious that I should receive as my portion one thousand pounds in fee simple. That assertion was known to be false and although that letter remained unanswered the thousand pounds came to hand which also remained as a silent witness to the flagrant deception. That lesson came to me when old enough to realize fully right from wrong and although we were not affluent in wealth our financial condition was the average of those around us at least. “Should the changes of life like the tide ebb and flow” was demonstrated when very suddenly Mrs. Hill and her son William my playmate disappeared for parts at that time unknown to but a few. My Uncle James and family changed their place of residence also and it was then I began to more freely realize that I was a motherless boy and life from then did not seem to be exactly the same to me. Not that I lacked attention and the very best of care for grandmother filled her position most faithfully as she had promised my mother, before she passed away. Missionaries from Utah frequented our home anon, whom were Jacob Gates and John I. Angus from St. George, Utah and the first principles of the gospel were taught to me in childhood and became plainer as the years passed by.
Again I was taken to Long Whatton and while there many happy days were spent with my cousin William Burrows (C) at Dry Pot Lodge, days that knew no shade of sorrow, as the song gave it. Will was two years my senior and our meeting was as two kindred spirits as though we had been closely associated in the spirit world. The first trick he played on me was to invite me down to the spring at the lower end of the field, but he did not caution me to beware of the certain gentleman sheep (C) that was monarch of all he surveyed in that large enclosure. Will was as full of fun as an egg is full of meat and we were in the height of our glory when suddenly something from behind the tree came behind me with such force that it raised me up and landed me on the other side of the spring to the delight of my would be innocent companion and the dismay of the city boy as the boys called me.
The railroad trip, the ride in the dog cart and the introduction to the spring were primitive scenes that left their imprints on my mind and I suppose will last while memory serves my purposes.
Poaching or stealing game was a crime punishable by imprisonment but men would set snares in the hedges and risk being caught if only they could catch a rabbit or hare even watching half or all night for their prey. Occasionally a poacher would be daring enough to be shot by the game keeper and a song was composed on such event “Me and five more a poaching went to catch some game was our intent etc.” and my Uncle Joseph Hutchinson was one of them that were caught near the spring above named. Before my visit terminated I got even with cousin Will by making a noise imitating of a hare in the hawthorn hedge one night where I had hung a pail and he took the bait and water too and went all over him, but we simply laughed it off with a promise from him that there was one in store for me. My Uncle and Aunt Burrows related to me while at Dry Pot Lodge many things that my mother had confided to them that day when she was bidding them a final adieu as she told them for she was confined never to meet them again on earth, which was verily true. My association with cousin Will was of such congenial nature that I preferred to stay with him out there alone to being in the village with the boys and that caused some jealousy on their part but he proved equal to the occasion by inviting a number of the boys to a party and told them that was my farewell party and he wanted it understood that it was not my fault that I had been absent so much from them but because of him being alone so much. I promised the boys that my next visit to Long Whatton would be mostly with them but little did we know or think that never again should I be permitted to associate with them but little did I think I would never meet my dear cousin William Burrows again in this world, blessed be his memory.