Robert Goodbody Journal

not belong to that committee, but my father was active on it. Us young men attended to the sale and receiving the money, and I think on some days used to receive one hundred pounds. Most of that summer was hot and dry, and the harvest came in very early. The wheat was ripe early in the 7th mo., which I don't recollect happening since, until the year 1826. The committee also purchased potatoes that spring at a very high price, and sold them out at a reduced price, and gave away to those that had gardens but could not buy, by which means there was much more potatoes planted than usual. Plenty of them was ripe and good for use in the 7th mo. by which means the Famine was over in that month.

I think it right here to mention that my parents begun early with us to keep is from wrong things. Often do I recollect when perhaps not five years old, my father taking me aside to advise me. He used on those occasion to tell me what obligations he was under to the Almighty for providing for him in the way that he was in, mentioning his giving him a good wife and enabling him from small beginnings to provide for us so that no children were better clad, fed or cared for then us. My mother also took much pains with us, and both were constantly warning against pride and high mindedness. They would not allow the servants to call us master, but as to drinking to excess, as we grew up it was their constant subject to warn us against it, and any of their acquaintance who gave up to that vice, they showed their disapproval of it by not entertaining them or associating with them. I often think of the care my parents bestowed on us to keep us from vice. We awed them much, nut in that day fathers I think went to the extreme of restraint, I think my

Copyright © 2004 Mr Tony Lynch All rights reserved.