Temperance > Autobiography and personal recollections of John B. Gough

YOUTHFUL DAYS.
13
he scarcely ever reverted to this circumstance in after
days without tears.
During my father’s absence, seeking employment, he
obtained a situation as gentleman’s servant. My mother’s
circumstances were very much straitened, although, in
addition to school-keeping, she worked industriously at
making a kind of lace, then very fashionable, and in the
manufacture of which she excelled. On one occasion,
when our necessities absolutely required extra exertion,
she took her basket of work and travelled eight and
a half weary miles to the town of Dover. Arrived there,
foot-sore and heart-weary, she threaded the streets and
lanes with her lace, seeking for customers, and not finding
one; and after reluctantly abandoning the pursuit, she
once more turned her face towards home—a home deso¬
late indeed! Painful, bitterly painful, were my mother’s
reflections as she drew near her door; and when she rested
her fatigued frame, she had nothing in the house with
which to recruit her strength. During her absence a
gentleman had sent for me to the library, and was so
pleased with my reading, that he made me a present of
five shillings; and Mr. Purday, in addition, gave me
sixpence. O, how rich I was! Never had I possessed so
vast an amount before; and all imaginable modes of
spending it flitted before my fancy. I went to play with
some other boys until my mother’s return from Dover;
and soon afterwards, on entering our house, I found her
sitting in her chair, bathed in tears. I asked her what
was the matter ?—when she drew me close to her, and,
looking in my face with a mournful expression which I
shall never forget, told me that all her weary journey had
been fruitless—she had sold nothing. Oh! with what joy
I drew the crown-piece and the sixpence from my pocket,
and placed them in her hand; and with what delightful