CHAPTER XV 



REMARKS ON MY CHARACTER AT TWENTY-ONE 



In April, 1843, m y 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, seven- 

 teen 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 Mont- 

 gomery, 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 deter- 

 mined 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 point 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 

 time I could be said to have shown special superiority in any 

 of the higher mental faculties, but I possessed a strong desire 



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