Family History 4.08

Robinson Story

From Joshua's diary

 

"I hope next week"

 

I told him I was sorry I had taken up his time; and we need not go further into the matter. I would not be ready in time. He reasoned with me, thought I was throwing away a splendid chance. I told him I could not give a final answer until I had consulted my wife and friends.

 

He then said I could put my wife and children on board at the docks and join the ship at Plymouth, that would give me a week or more to arrange my business. I told him my wife would not go on board any vessel where I was not, even if she would go at all.

 

He offered me an advance of money if I needed it. He then gave me the next day to consider the matter, and on the following one to let him know the result. I went home thinking it a direct interposition of Providence. Capital and labour will go together. That problem as far as I am concerned is solved.

 

But I feared my wife's attachment to home and friends would not be overcome. As soon as I got home I related all that had taken place. Her first words were, 'Father I cannot go.' I was not disappointed. She had an infant at the breast. 'How can I get ready in so short a time?' and then she pointed out many reasons, the long voyage, the recent settlement of the colony among cannibals, the impossibility of seeing her relatives any more. 'What will my father and friends say?'

 

We did not get much sleep that night. We spent the greater part of the night talking it over. In the morning she consented, provided she could have a fortnight to prepare.

 

I saw my father and friends, though at first I met with no encouragement, they at last consented and gave me what help they could. My father's friend and business customers interested themselves not only in giving me letters to some firms in Sydney and Hobart, but in ascertaining the respectability of the firm I was about to engage with.

 

I went at the appointed time as had been arranged and finally closed the agreement, he having told me it would be a fortnight before the vessel sailed.