My life : a record of events and opinions - Wallace-online.org

SURVEYING IN BEDFORDSHIRE 67coarse fish, such as bream or pike, which were thecommonest fish in the river, but were hardly wortheating. Towards the latter part of our survey in thespring months, my brother left us a portion of thework to do by ourselves when he was away for aweek or two. I was therefore left mostly to the companionshipof our temporary pupil, and he, like themajority of the young men I met at this period ofmy life, was by no means an edifying acquaintance.But, notwithstanding that I was continually throwninto such society from the time I left school, I do notthink it produced the least bad effect upon mycharacter or habits in after-life. This was partlyowing to natural disposition, which was reflective andimaginative, but more perhaps to the quiet and orderof my home, where I never heard a rude word or anoffensive expression. The effect of this was intensifiedby my extreme shyness, which made it impossible forme to use words or discuss subjects which werealtogether foreign to my home-life, as a result ofwhich I have never been able to use an oath, althoughI have frequently felt those impulses and passionswhich in many people can only find adequate expressionin such language. This, I think, is a ratherstriking example of the effects of home influenceduring childhood, and of that kind of education onwhich Robert Owen depended for the general improvementof character and habits.It was some time in May or June of 1838 thatwe left Turvey for Silsoe, where my brother hadsome temporary work. This very small village is anappanage of Wrest Park, the seat of Earl de Grey,and is about halfway between Luton and Bedford.It consisted of a large inn with a considerable postingbusiness, a few small houses, cottages, and one or