ight, and dream that I am with you, in my dear,
dear, happy loft once more.

So good night again, my dear father and mother, says

Your poor honest DAUGHTER.

Perhaps I mayn't come this week, because I must get up the linen, and
leave in order every thing belonging to my place. So send me a line, if
you can, to let me know if I shall be welcome, by John, who will call
for it as he returns. But say nothing of my coming away to him, as yet:
for it will be said I blab every thing.

LETTER XVII

MY DEAREST DAUGHTER,

Welcome, welcome, ten times welcome shall you be to us; for you come
to us innocent, and happy, and honest; and you are the staff of our old
age, and our comfort. And though we cannot do for you as we would, yet,
fear not, we shall live happily together; and what with my diligent
labour, and your poor mother's spinning, and your needle-work, I make no
doubt we shall do better and better. Only your poor mother's eyes begin
to fail her; though, I bless God, I am as strong and able, and willing
to labour as ever; and, O my dear child! your virtue has made me, I
think, stronger and better than I was before. What blessed things are
trials and temptations, when we have the strength to resist and subdue
them!

But I am uneasy about those same four guineas; I think you should give
them back again to your master; and yet I have broken them. Alas! I have
only three left; but I will borrow the fourth, if I can, part upon my
wages, and part of Mrs. Mumford, and send the whole sum back to you,
that you may return it, against John comes next, if he comes again
before you.

I want to know how you come. I fancy honest John will be glad to bear
you company part of the way, if your master is not so cross as to forbid
him. And if I know time enough, your mother will go one five miles, and
I will go ten on the way, or till I meet you, as far as one holiday will
go; for that I can get leave to make on such an occasion.

And we shall receive you with more pleasure than we had at your birth,
when all the worst was over; or than we ever had in our lives.

And so God bless you till the happy time comes! say both your mother and
I, which is all at present, from

Your truly loving PARENTS.

LETTER XVIII

DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,

I thank you a thousand tines for your goodness to me, expressed in your
last letter. I now long to get my