_To Mrs. L――――._
_London, Dec. 15, 1749._
_My dear and honoured Mother_,
I Have been quite uneasy because your things have not been sent. The woman that was to procure them disappointed me. I hope you will not miss of them another week. Pray be not uneasy. I should never forgive myself, was I by my negligence, or any wrong conduct, to give you a moment’s needless pain. To-morrow will be thirty-five years since you brought unworthy me into the world. Alas! how little have I done for you, and how much less for Him who formed me, and has heaped innumerable mercies upon me ever since I was born. O that my head was water, and mine eyes fountains of tears, that I might bewail my barrenness and unfruitfulness in the church of GOD! By his grace, I hope now to begin to work for Him, who stretched himself on the cross, and groaned and died for me. His care for his tender mother, excites me to wish I could do any thing for you. This is my comfort, I hope you want for nothing. Thanks be to the LORD of all lords for his goodness to you in your old age! I hope you comfort yourself in him, who I trust will be your portion for ever. After Christmas I hope to see you. My wife sends you her most dutiful respects. If you would have any thing brought more than you have mentioned, pray write to, honoured mother,
Your ever dutiful, though unworthy son, _G. W._