bread which we had at Epworth. In short, could I lay aside all
thoughts of the future, and be content with three things, money,
liberty, and clothes, I might live very comfortably. While my
mother lives I am inclined to stay with her; she is so very good
to me, and has so little comfort in the world beside, that I
think it barbarous to abandon her. As soon as she is in heaven,
or perhaps sooner if I am quite tired out, I have fully fixed on
a state of life; a way indeed that my parents may disapprove,
but that I do not regard. And now:

"Let Emma's hapless case be falsely told
By the rash young, or the ill-natured old."

You, that know my hard fortune, I hope will never hastily
condemn me for anything I shall be driven to do by stress of
fortune that is not directly sinful. As for Hetty, we have
heard nothing of her these three months past. Mr. Grantham, I
hear, has behaved himself very honourably towards her, _but
there are more gentlemen besides him in the world_.

I have quite tired you now. Pray be faithful to me. Let me
have one relation I can trust: never give any hint to anyone of
aught I write to you: and continue to love,

Your unhappy but affectionate sister,
Emilia Wesley.


6. From the Rev. Samuel Wesley to his son John.