Question

Our Master has arrived at Cotherstone but I was sorry to learn he had no Letter for me nor any thing else which made me very unhappy, If you recollect I promised that I would write you a sly Letter which I assure you I have not forgot and now an opportunity has come at last & I hope my dear Father you will not let Mr. Smith know any thing about it for he would flog me if he knew it and I hope my dear Father you will write me a Letter as soon as you receive this but pray dont mention any thing about this in yours only put a X. at the bottom, or write to my good Friend Mr. Halmer who is very kind to me and he will give it to me when I go to Church for he lives opposite and I assure you my dear Father they are the kindest Friends I have in Yorkshire and I know he will not show it to Mr. Smith for the Letters I write you are all examined before they leave the School and I am obliged to write what Mr. Smith tells us and the letters you send me are all examined by Mr. Smith before I see them, so I hope my dear Father you will mention nothing of this when you write – It is now two years come October since I left you at Islington, but I hope my dear Father you will let me come home at Xmas that we may once more meet again alive if God permit me to live as long. Our bread is nearly black it is made of the worst Barley Meal, and our Beds are stuffed with chaff and I assure you we are used more like Bears than Christians and believe me my dear Father I would rather be obliged to work all my life time than remain here another year
Edwin is quite well but very unhappy.


How does the son use persuasive language to his father?

Answer 1

The son describes the bad conditions of the school, such as the black bread and the beds that are stuffed with chaff, which would make his father feel sympathetic towards him. he also compares himself to a bear which infers that he is treated like an animal. when caught, bears are locked in cages which could suggest that the son feels imprisoned. he then says that he would rather work all of his life than remain at the school for another year which emphasises his desperation to leave as i know that workplaces in this time were incredibly dangerous and many children were beaten and killed by machinery.