_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._