Page:Life, sufferings, and surprising adventures of Elizabeth Smith.pdf/3

 LIFE, SUFFERINGS,

A

OF

I am a native of Greenock, my parents are respectable merchants of that town. I was born of the 1st of October, 1822. About 1C10 [sic] years ago, a young man of the name of Robert Taylor, paid his addresses to me; he was then serving his apprenticeship to a cabinet maker: our love was mutual, our attachment growing stronger every hour. In the beginning of 1839 he proposed to have a secret marriage, but I would not consent withontwithout [sic] acquainting my parents. My mother consented, observing that she could not attempt to marry me contrary to my inclination: but my father refused me to marry a man without property. He said I was too young to marry, and that when I grew older he would provide a suitable match for me. He watched me closely, but we contrived to meet every evening. I told him my father’s determination, and he was sad—our grief was great, and we shed tears of sorrow. At length I consented to a private marriage—parted in sadness, fearing that my father wonldwould [sic] prevent us accomplishing our purpose, and so it proved.

On the following morning he compelled me to accompan ym ona visit to my uncle who resides in