three o'clock in the morning
On the night before my departure I slept but little for thinking of the novel and wonderful scenes I expected to go through , and I am pretty sure that my kind mother did not close her eyes , but from a different cause . She was thinking of parting from me , and of the dangers to which I was to be exposed . She was praying that I might be preserved from them I know , for she told me so . At three o'clock in the morning she called me up , that I might be ready to start with my father by the mail coach for Margate , whence we were to go up the river to London by steamer . How earnestly did my pious father at family prayers , which he never omitted , commend me to the care of Him who watches over all the creatures of His hands ! I felt that there was a reality in that prayer , such as I had never before comprehended . Breakfast over , and parting embraces given , we started , and rattling away to Margate , were soon on board the `` Royal Adelaide '' on our way up the Thames .