To add to his
troubles, young Sidney was giving signs of an unstable character; at
fifteen he had grown tired of his drawing, wanted to be this, that,
and the other thing, was self-willed, and showed no consideration
for his father's difficulties. It was necessary to take a decided
step, and, though against his will, Sidney was apprenticed to an
uncle, a Mr. Roach, who also lived in Clerkenwell, and was a working
jeweller. Two years later the father died, all but bankrupt. The few
pounds realised from his effects passed into the hands of Mr. Roach,
and were soon expended in payment for Sidney's board and lodging.
His bereavement possibly saved Sidney from a young-manhood of
foolishness and worse. In the upper world a youth may 'sow his wild
oats' and have done with it; in the nether, 'to have your fling' is
almost necessarily to fall among criminals. The death was sudden; it
affected the lad profoundly, and filled him with a remorse which was
to influence the whole of his life. Mr. Roach, a thick-skinned and
rather thick-headed person, did not spare to remind his apprentice
of the most painful things wherewith the latter had to reproach
himself.
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