Rock.'"

To this testimony to his mother's worth The General added:--

"To those whose eyes may fall on these lines, may I not be excused
saying, 'See to it that you honour your father and your mother, not
only that your days may be long in the land, but that you may not,
in after years, be disturbed by useless longings to have back again
the precious ones who so ceaselessly and unselfishly toiled with
heart and brain for your profoundest well-being.'

"My mother and father were both Derbyshire people. They were born
within a few miles of each other, the former at Somercotes, a small
village within a mile or two of Alfreton and the latter at Belper.
My mother's father was a well-to-do farmer. Her mother died when
she was three years of age; and, her father marrying again, she
was taken to the heart and home of a kind uncle and aunt, who
reared and educated her, giving her at the same time a sound
religious training.

"Years passed of which we have but imperfect knowledge during
which, by some means, she drifted to the small town of
Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Here she met my father, who was availing himself
of the waters as a remedy for his chronic enemy, rheumatism. He
offered her marriage. She refused. He left the town indignant, but
returned to renew his proposal, which she ultimately accepted.
Their marriage followed. Up to this date her path through life had
been comparatively a smooth one; but from this hour onward through
many long and painful years, it was crowded with difficulties and
anxieties.