allen upon his eyes, and
could but just see well enough to walk about, and not run against a
tree or into a ditch. The woman that was with me had told me that by a
mere accident, knowing nothing of what importance it was to me. As
they drew near to us, I said, 'Does he know you, Mrs. Owen?' (so they
called the woman). 'Yes,' said she, 'if he hears me speak, he will
know me; but he can't see well enough to know me or anybody else'; and
so she told me the story of his sight, as I have related. This made me
secure, and so I threw open my hoods again, and let them pass by me.
It was a wretched thing for a mother thus to see her own son, a
handsome, comely young gentleman in flourishing circumstances, and
durst not make herself known to him, and durst not take any notice of
him. Let any mother of children that reads this consider it, and but
think with what anguish of mind I restrained myself; what yearnings of
soul I had in me to embrace him, and weep over him; and how I thought
all my entrails turned within me, that my very bowels moved, and I knew
not what to do, as I now know not how to express those agonies! When
he went from me I stood gazing and trembling, and looking after him as
long as I could see him; then sitting down to rest me, but turned from
her, and lying on my face, wept, and kissed the ground that he had set
his foot on.

I could not conceal my disorder so much from the woman but that she
perceived it, and thought I was not well, which I was obliged to
pretend was true; upon which she pressed me to rise, the ground being
damp and dangerous, which I did accordingly, and walked away.

As I was going back again, and still talking of this gentleman and his
son, a new occasion of melancholy offered itself thus. The woman
began, as if she would tell me a story to divert me: 'There goes,' says
she, 'a very odd tale among the neighbours where this gentleman
formerly live.' 'What was that?' said I. 'Why,' says she, 'that old
gentleman going to England, when he was a young man, fell in love with
a young lady there, one of the finest women that ever was seen, and
married her, and brought her over hither to his mother who was then
living. He lived here several years with her,' continued she, 'and had
several children by her, of which the young gentleman that was with him
now was one; but after some time, the old gentlewoman, his mother,
talking to her of something relating to herself when she was in
Englan