Advice to an Apprentice: James Glass of Armagh writes to his brother David in Newry 1844

 

This 1844 letter from Armagh to Newry was not written using AI but the author does acknowledge at the end that he has borrowed from a book; if you scanned his words through the right program you might conceivably discover the source. If you felt that Uriah Heep was over-done in the 1850 novel you might well have the same reaction to this 1844 letter.

A genealogist could probably the identify the Glass family to which the writer and recipient of this letter belonged but at this period  there were several Glass families  in this part of northern Ireland.

 Transcription

Addressed to: Master David S. Glass   at Mr Dalzells   Newry

Datelined: 24 English Street Armagh 4 October 1844

Despatch postmark NEWRY OC 5 1844 endorsed Paid

My Dear David

I now procied to the 3 head [third head?] which I was to write concerning your duty to your Master and It consists in faithfulness to him this is the last branch of your duty to him and since Moses has obtained an honourable testimony on this account, be you faihtfull in all his house, you may find this, as indeed all the qualifications of a good servant described by St Pauls  leters 2 Chapter 10 vers “ Not purloining but showing all good fidelity” you are charged not to purloin that is not to keep from your Master nor to put into your own pocket nor convert to your own use any of that money which in the way of traid, passes through your hands you wear taught from your Childhood to keep your hand from Picking and stealing and I hope you abhor such abominable practises from the bottom of your heart you must not sell at a cheaper rate nor buy at a dearer rate n order to have some valuable consideration made to you privily by any person these differ from robbing on the high-way only because this is open and notorious they are flagrant acts if dishonesty and will cry to heaven for vengeance such tricks and villainous devises do the same thing by craft and violence, therefore dear Brother enounce detest and fly from them as much as from fire, arrows and death. Besides you are not only to abstain from such Clandestine knavery but also to show all good fidelity what is ment by this you may understand by reading how Jospeh conducted himself in Potephurs service your Master it is likely will commit the management of some of his affairs to you and you must endeavour by a discreet behaviour and pious life to bring the blessing of the Lord upon all that you take i hand you must lay out your time and labour and give all diligence to answer the trust reposed in you you must not delay the business which is urgent nor do your work by halves nor transfer that to others which is expected you should do yourself. “The sloathful Man” says Solemen “ is brother to him that is a great waster” [Proverbs 18:9]  therefore you must avoid idleness and carelessness In a word you must do noting knowingly and willfully that is likely to impoverish your Master \but seek by all lawful and laudible means to increase his substance. All this you must observe not only when he stands by you and inspects you but when his back is turned and you re removed from his view otherwise your service is nothing bit eye service and already condemned by god for if you appear to be industrious and in earnest  before your Master but loiter and trifle when he is out of sight you will be chargeable with hypocrisy and extremely hateful to Christ and greviously  pernicious to the soul but I am afraid I tire you this one sentence and I am done, you must carry your self through this whole corse of your apprenticeship so  respectfully that at the end of it you may say with Jacob “with all my power I have served you Father

Dear Brother now that I have come to a close you must not look upon the whole of this as my own production I happened on it by mer chance and I find it has been of much service to me and hopeing it may be of the same to you I

Remai Dear Brother your affectionately James [?] Glass

Ps write sone and you might let me now if you are  joined the sabath school if you are not I would advise you to go soon and go as a scholar not a teacher and in a short term you will see the advantage of it let me know if you have formed any acquaintances yet let your companions be such as you can gain some instruction from and let them be always few and choice

I am &c &c &c  James Glass