Thames Ditton.
I TRUST, by the Lord thou art highly favoured, blessed art thou among women. It is true, my daughter, thou hast lost a good and a great earthly comfort, but let not thy precious soul be bowed down on that account, for my dear master will surely do the kinsman's part for thee, and be a nourisher of thy soul in thy widowhood state. Thy old father Mordecai, hath not forgot thee, but will surely sit at the king's gate, begging in sackcloth for thee, till he knows how it will go with poor Esther. Pray, my daughter, let me know how thy poor soul fares; send me a letter, send me spiritual savoury meat in it, such as thy father's soul loveth, and let it come in a lordly dish; and I will now and then send thee a spiritual bracelet, and sometimes a signet, and sometimes a staff:
Put off thy widowhood garments from thee, and call thyself Hepbzibah, for the Lord delighteth in thee. Surely I will do, in Christ Jesus, the duty of a father and a husband to thee, and if the Lord blesses my letter to thee, thou must call my name Asher, and say, he yieldeth royal dainties. I will, if thou desire it, speak to the king for thee, or the captain of the host, and when thou art permitted to touch the sceptre, thou must remember Mordecai; and if I find by thy letter thou art happy in soul, I will say it is enough, my child is yet alive. What? dost thou say bless me, even me, O my father? I have blessed thee, and will pray that thy cruse may not fail, nor the meal waste.
Where art thou, my daughter? in the tent laughing through unbelief, saying, Shall I have a son that am old? O my daughter, thou hast borne seven, thou hast a holy child in the womb of hope, and at death thou wilt see him, and laugh so, that all that hear will laugh with thee. Fear not, my daughter, thy father will give thee a good south land, and the upper and nether springs, and thy name shall be Anna, thou shalt speak of him to those that look for redemption in Israel.
Pray give my kind love to Mr. and Mrs. L. and Mrs. F., and be sure to get the room ready on the wall, and set the table in order, and the stool, and the chair, and get a candlestick ready, for I am going to Carmel next Monday, it is new moon. Fare thee well, my daughter; a full reward be given thee of the Lord, under whose wings thou art forced to trust. Let me have joy of thee, my daughter; be thou a spiritual comfort to Paul the aged.
W. HUNTINGTON.
*