Page:Famous history of the whimsical Mr Spectator.pdf/18

( 18 THIS letter came to the hands of Ananda's m then; ſhe opened and read it with great ſurpr and concern. She did not think it proper to explain herſelf to the meſſenger but deſiring him to call again the next morning, ſhe wrote to he daughter as follows,

Deareſt Child,

YOUR father and I have juſt received a lette from a gentleman who pretends love to you with a propoſal that inſults our mistortunes and would throw us to a lower degree of miſery than any thing which is come upon us How could this barbarours man think that the tendereſt of parents would be tempted to ſupply their want by giving up the beſt of children infamy and ruin? It is a mean and cruel artifica to make this propoſal at a time when he thinks our neceſſities muſt compel us to any thing but we will not eat the bread of ſhame; and therefore we charge thee not to think of us but to avoid the ſhare which is laid for thy virtue. Beware of pitying us: it is not ſo bad as you perhaps been told. All things will yet be well, and I ſhall write my child better news.

I have been interupted. I know not how I was moved to ſay things would mend. As I was going on I was ſtartled by then none of one that knocked at the door, and hath brought us an unexpected ſupply of a debt which ha long been owing. Oh! I will now tell thee all. It