have reason to condemn myself from
my own hand as it were): For all these reasons, I say, I will write as I
have time, and as matters happen, and send the scribble to you as I have
opportunity; and if I don't every time, in form, subscribe as I ought,
I am sure you will always believe, that it is not for want of duty. So I
will begin where I left off, about the talk between Mrs. Jervis and me,
for me to ask to stay.

Unknown to Mrs. Jervis, I put a project, as I may call it, in practice.
I thought with myself some days ago, Here I shall go home to my poor
father and mother, and have nothing on my back, that will be fit for
my condition; for how should your poor daughter look with a silk
night-gown, silken petticoats, cambric head-clothes, fine holland linen,
laced shoes that were my lady's; and fine stockings! And how in a little
while must these have looked, like old cast-offs, indeed, and I looked
so for wearing them! And people would have said, (for poor folks are
envious as well as rich,) See there Goody Andrews's daughter, turned
home from her fine place! What a tawdry figure she makes! And how well
that garb becomes her poor parents' circumstances!--And how would
they look upon me, thought I to myself, when they should come to be
threadbare and worn out? And how should I look, even if I could purchase
homespun clothes, to dwindle into them one by one, as I got them?--May
be, an old silk gown, and a linsey-woolsey petticoat, and the like. So,
thought I, I had better get myself at once equipped in the dress that
will become my condition; and though it may look but poor to what I have
been used to wear of late days, yet it will serve me, when I am with
you, for a good holiday and Sunday suit; and what, by a blessing on my
industry, I may, perhaps, make shift to keep up to.

So, as I was saying, unknown to any body, I bought of farmer Nichols's
wife and daughters a good sad-coloured stuff, of their own spinning,
enough to make me a gown and two petticoats; and I made robings and
facings of a pretty bit of printed calico I had by me.

I had a pretty good camblet quilted coat, that I thought might do
tolerably well; and I bought two flannel undercoats; not so good as
my swanskin and fine linen ones, but what will keep me warm, if any
neighbour should get me to go out to help 'em to milk, now and then, as
sometimes I used to do formerly; for I am resolved to do all your good
neighbours what kindness I can; and hope to