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Preface
Contents
Chapter I
Chapter II
Chapter III
Chapter IV
Chapter V
Chapter VI
Chapter VII
Chapter VIII
Chapter IX
Chapter X
Chapter XI
Chapter XII
Chapter XIII
Appendix

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During my superintendence 694 scholars entered the school, many of them holding good positions; as soon as the oldest of these heard of my resigning the position which I had held for 25 years, they determined to make me a present. A committee was appointed and contributions were received sufficient to pur­chase a beautiful travelling bag, and for a purse of 21 guineas in gold, also to pay the cost of an emblazoned testimonial with their signatures. They were invited to take tea with me in the schoolroom adjoining Friends’ Meeting House at Darlington. After tea the presents were handed to me, and the testimonial read, which was as follows:-" On the 7th day of 2nd month, 1866, was presented to George Dixon, of Great Ayton, by his undermentioned old pupils, a travelling case and purse of 21 guineas, as a farewell token of esteem, on his resignation of the post of superintendent of the North of England Agricultural School, which he has held for a quarter of a century; trusting that this small tribute of respect may occasionally awaken pleasant reminiscences of part exertions in the cause of education, when his new sphere of duty in the United States and Canada removes him from those, in whose welfare he has always evinced so lively- an interest."

After the presentation, I was scarcely able to express my gratitude to my dear young friends for their great kindness. I could only say they would always be in my affectionate remembrance. They had always been remembered by me in my prayers while under my care, that they might be blessed spiritually and temporally, and I trusted they would remember me in theirs, when the Atlantic Ocean separated us from each other. Dear John Pease supplicated for a blessing upon me and those assembled, and, with tears in our eyes, he and I bid each other an affectionate farewell, little thinking then that we should see each other’s faces no more on this side of the river, but I have a hope within me that, in the near future, we may, through redeeming love and mercy, meet again beyond the river, The report of his sickness and death, kindly sent me by his brother, Joseph Pease, was a very heavy blow, when I remembered how he laboured with me in my early youth. when I wandered front the fold, to bring me back again, when the meeting was over, we assembled behind the Meeting House and formed a group, and were photographed by W. McLiesh.

The next evening I met my workmen and neighbours. The following is a copy of a report of the meeting, given in the Darlington and Stockton Times:- "PRESENTATION. On Tuesday evening last the Postgate Schoolroom, (Great Ayton, was filled by a very respectable company to witness the presentation of a valuable gold watch to Mr. George Dixon, late master of the North of England Agricultural School, who was about to leave the village early next morning for an absence of some years in America, where he is about to superintend the establishment of schools for the poor freedmen. Mr. Stephen Hunter, M.C.P, was elected chairman, and called on Mr. George Markham Tweddell, F.S.A., of Stokesley, who presented the testimonial in the name of the subscribers, many of whom like himself, had known Mr. Dixon for about a quarter of a century, and all of whom had known him long enough to appreciate his worth. Mr. Tweddell took a retrospect of, Mr. Dixon’s labours in Cleveland, and expressed a warm wish for his success in his unpaid labours amongst the poor freedmen. Mr. Dixon returned thanks in a very feeling speech, and the meeting was one of a very interesting character.”

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