He grew rapidly in the knowledge of God, having, as his own narrative will show , a desire to fulfil all the will of God, as soon as it was revealed to him. The energy with which he helped forward every undertaking, which could benefit others, and his extensive liberality, made him an object of general interest.
The warmth of his family affections may be judged of by the following anecdote, related by his sisters.—While fully engaged in his professional practice in Exeter, and in many public objects, he was in the habit, during the months of his beloved mother’s last illness, of setting off, every Saturday afternoon, for Hampshire, where he arrived in the middle of the night, so as to take his turn in watching her, and returning early on Monday. “Norris, you have only done too much for us,” were her last words to him. This remembrance of a beloved parent was treasured by him to the day of his death. Many were those who for years experienced under his own roof a father’s and a brother’s care. One distant relative he brought up as a younger brother; taught him his profession; and ultimately gave him his practice. He provided, also, for another son of the same family, and the sister he adopted from the age of three years, and afterwards took her with him to India. But his Christian benevolence was by no means confined to his relatives; many strangers experienced the same friendly aid, and heartfelt sympathy. An interesting instance of this occurred at Plymouth; where he became acquainted with a mason’s boy, who, from an injury received in falling from a ladder, bad become completely deaf. This individual was afterwards the well known Dr. Kitto, author of the Pictorial Bible, and other works of biblical literature. His thirst for knowledge and love of reading, convinced his friends, that he was gifted with a mind superior to his circumstances; and they with the aid of several gentlemen, belonging to the literary society before alluded to, succeeded in getting him educated. Mr. Groves kindly gave him employment; in Exeter received him into his house; and treated him as a member of his family, when but recently out of the workhouse.
