thanks to you, young man, from poor Belle, for the honour you did her
in making that same offer; for, after all, it is an honour to receive
an honourable offer, which she could see clearly yours was, with no
floriness nor chaff in it; but, on the contrary, entire sincerity.
She assures you that she shall always bear it and yourself in mind,
whether on land or water; and as a proof of the good-will she bears
to you, she has sent you a lock of the hair which she wears on her
head, which you were often looking at, and were pleased to call flax,
which word she supposes you meant as a compliment, even as the old
people meant to pass a compliment to their great folks, when they
called them bears; though she cannot help thinking that they might
have found an animal as strong as a bear, and somewhat less uncouth,
to call their great folks after: even as she thinks yourself, amongst
your great store of words, might have found something a little more
genteel to call her hair after than flax, which, though strong and
useful, is rather a coarse and common kind of article.

'And as another proof of the goodwill she bears to you, she sends
you, along with the lock, a piece of advice, which is worth all the
hair in the world, to say nothing of the flax.

'_Fear God_, and take your own part. {108} There's Bible in that,
young man; see how Moses feared God, and how he took his own part
against everybody who meddled with him. And see how David feared
God, and took his own part against all the bloody enemies which
surrounded him--so fear God, young man, and never give in! The world
can bully, and is fond, provided it sees a man in a kind of
difficulty, of getting about him, calling him coarse names, and even
going so far as to hustle him; but the world, like all bullies,
carries a white feather in its tail, and no sooner sees a man taking
off his coat, and offering to fight his best, than it scatters here
and there, and is always civil to him afterwards. So when folks are
disposed to ill-treat you, young man, say, "Lord have mercy upon me!"
and then tip them Long Melford, {109} to which, as the saying goes,
there is nothing comparable for shortness all the world over; and
these last words, young man, are the last you will ever have from her
who is, nevertheless,