On Mother and Father

Our Bristol Branch dwindled down to just a faithful few. We gave up the hall and met in homes. Dad used to visit the Saints in Stroud, Cheltenham Bath and Swindon. It was very hard for him with his failing sight and Mother became very unpleasant and uncooperative.

Father was very strict, but very just and kind. He loved the Lord with all his heart and loved the Gospel. Mother did most of the disciplining when we were growing up. Mother was an orphan at the age of 12 and had to earn her own living and help with the brothers and sisters. In the depression days she went to work as a midwife which wasn't very profitable as everyone was poor. She was a good housekeeper. Our house was always clean and well kept and Mother was also a good cook in spite of the fact that some days she had very little to cook with. But Mother was also a very proud woman and after we joined the Church, the persecution was hard for her to take. She lacked the faith and the knowledge to endure it and for a few years became embittered. The devil used her then to test the rest of us and those were hard, frustrating years.