Page:History of the blind beggar of Bethnal-Green.pdf/12

 given, with many prayers for her proſperity they took a ſad farewell.

Pretty Betty having now left her father’s houſe, or rather ſmoke-loft, went penſive along the road towards Stradford relying only on Providence to direct her. Having walked all night, at ſun-riſe ſhe came to Rumford in Eſſex, and being ready to faint, betook herfelſ to an inn, and called for ſomething to refreſh her. The miſtreſſ of the houſe taking notice of her garb, beautiful face, and modeſt behaviour, though dejected began to aſk her from whence ſhe came and whither ſhe was bound? Betty replied, I am going to ſeek my fortune; I am very well educated by my indulgent parents, who live near London, but I am now obliged, contrary to my former expectation, to get my livelihood in ſome honeſt way of working. The good woman being more and more taken with her carriage, demanded if ſhe would be content to ſtay with her till ſhe could better provide to her advantage, and that ſhe would uſe her as a daughter, rather than a ſervant; Betty thankfully accepted the offer, and in the performance of whatever ſhe undertook, diſcharged herſelf ſo well