ssion vary, but
good sense and right principles are the same in the nineteenth that they
were in the seventeenth century.

'MY DEARES POLL,

'Yr letters by Cousin Robbert Serle arrived here not before the 27th
of Aprill, yett were they hartily wellcome to us, bringing ye joyful
news which a great while we had longed for of my most dear Mother &
all other relations & friends good health which I beseech God continue
to you all, & as I observe in yrs to yr Sister Betty ye extraordinary
kindness of (as I may truly say) the best Mothr & Gnd Mothr in the
world in pinching herself to make you fine, so I cannot but admire her
great good Housewifry in affording you so very plentifull an
allowance, & yett to increase her Stock at the rate I find she hath
done; & think I can never sufficiently mind you how very much it is yr
duty on all occasions to pay her yr gratitude in all humble submission
& obedience to all her commands soe long as you live. I must tell you
'tis to her bounty & care in ye greatest measure you are like to owe
yr well living in this world, & as you cannot but be very sensible you
are an extra-ordinary charge to her so it behoves you to take
particular heed tht in ye whole course of yr life, you render her a
proportionable comfort, especially since 'tis ye best way you can ever
hope to make her such amends as God requires of yr hands. but Poll!
it grieves me a little yt I am forced to take notice of & reprove you
for some vaine expressions in yr lettrs to yr Sister--you say
concerning yr allowance "you aime to bring yr bread & cheese even" in
this I do not discommend you, for a foule shame indeed it would be
should you out run the Constable having soe liberall a provision made
you for yr maintenance--but ye reason you give for yr resolution I
cannot at all approve for you say "to spend more you can't" thats
because you have it not to spend, otherwise it seems you would. So yt
'tis yr Grandmothrs discretion & not yours tht keeps you from
extravagancy, which plainly appears in ye close of yr sentence, saying
yt you think it simple covetousness to save out of yrs but 'tis my
opinion if you lay all on yr back 'tis ten tymes a greater sin & shame
thn to save some what out of soe large an allowance in yr purse to
help you at a dead lift. Child, we all know our beginning, but who
knows his end? Ye best use tht c