CHAPTER XV 



REMARKS ON MY CHARACTER AT TWENTY-ONE 



In April, 1843, my father died at Hoddesdon, at the age of 

 seventy-two, and was buried in the family vault in St. Andrew's 

 churchyard, Hertford. As my sister's school was not paying 

 very well, and it was necessary to economize as much as 

 possible, the house was given up early the following year, my 

 mother took an engagement as housekeeper in a gentleman's 

 family at Isleworth, and my sister obtained a post as teacher 

 at an episcopal college, then just founded by the Bishop of 

 Georgia (Dr. Elliott), at Montpelier Springs, seventeen miles 

 from Macon, and left England in August, 1844. In the 

 following year, at the invitation of the parents of some of the 

 pupils, she removed to Robinson, near Montgomery, Alabama, 

 as mistress of a private school much needed in the district ; 

 and she remained there till she returned to England in 1846. 



Shortly before I came of age in January, 1844, my brother 

 told me that as he had no work in prospect it was necessary 

 that I should leave him and look out for myself; so I 

 determined to go up to London and endeavour to obtain 

 some employment. 



As the period of my home and school life and subsequent 

 tutelage under my brother now came to an end, and I had 

 for the future to make my own way in the world, this affords 

 a suitable occasion for a brief review of the chief points in my 

 character, which may now be considered to have been fairly 

 determined, although some portions of it had not yet had 

 opportunity for full development. I do not think that at this 



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