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Title: Waterside School - MOT00358
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Title
Waterside School - MOT00358
Description
Letter from schoolchild at Waterside School to John Fielden, 1841, thanking him for their education.
Waterside School
December 27 1841
Mr John Fielden,
Since I came to this School I have improved much but especially since John Fielden came who is our School master now when he came at first I could write but very little but now I can write anything that comes into my mind or anything which any body says to me beside I have learnt other things I have learnt to read a deal better than when I came here at first. I feel a great privilege in coming to School for while I am here I am happy. I was very glad when all those slates came for I knew that our good Master had sent them for us. Besides we have a large Schoolroom to do our work in and there is a fine large steam pipe to keep the School warm in winter. I am sure the Masters think something about us or else they would not do all this for us. We need to be thankful to them for letting us come to School without paying for just look at those uneducated persons in the factory who think nothing about saying foul tales and lying and swearing and grieving GOD to all height. Once about a year since I use to think I had a right to swear when I was not in the School but our master taught me better. It is a sin to swear any time for GOD sees me in the dark as well as in the Antemeridian. I know wether there is not a great contrast in coming to School 2 hours a day for those who never think about nothing by saying funny tales while we are in the School are engaged in our lessons. I think however that the Manager ought to send them to School to learn more sense but there a re even at Stoneswood Mill Adults who can neither read nor write poor creatures I am sorry for them their minds must be very shallow I desire to thank you for letting me come to School for nothing.
I am you humble Servant
Henry Hirst
Bobbin Doffer
Aged 13 years Stoneswood Mill
Waterside School
December 27 1841
Mr John Fielden,
Since I came to this School I have improved much but especially since John Fielden came who is our School master now when he came at first I could write but very little but now I can write anything that comes into my mind or anything which any body says to me beside I have learnt other things I have learnt to read a deal better than when I came here at first. I feel a great privilege in coming to School for while I am here I am happy. I was very glad when all those slates came for I knew that our good Master had sent them for us. Besides we have a large Schoolroom to do our work in and there is a fine large steam pipe to keep the School warm in winter. I am sure the Masters think something about us or else they would not do all this for us. We need to be thankful to them for letting us come to School without paying for just look at those uneducated persons in the factory who think nothing about saying foul tales and lying and swearing and grieving GOD to all height. Once about a year since I use to think I had a right to swear when I was not in the School but our master taught me better. It is a sin to swear any time for GOD sees me in the dark as well as in the Antemeridian. I know wether there is not a great contrast in coming to School 2 hours a day for those who never think about nothing by saying funny tales while we are in the School are engaged in our lessons. I think however that the Manager ought to send them to School to learn more sense but there a re even at Stoneswood Mill Adults who can neither read nor write poor creatures I am sorry for them their minds must be very shallow I desire to thank you for letting me come to School for nothing.
I am you humble Servant
Henry Hirst
Bobbin Doffer
Aged 13 years Stoneswood Mill
Creator
Unknown
Source
Todmorden Information Centre Trust
Date
1841, 1840s
Rights
PHDA - Todmorden Information Centre Trust
Relation
Pennine Horizons Digital Archive
Identifier
MOT00358.tif
Collection
Citation
Unknown, “Waterside School - MOT00358,” Pennine Horizons Digital Archive, accessed April 19, 2024, https://penninehorizons.org/items/show/10675.
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