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 340 me the same pleasure they used to do. Though I am sincerely thankful for them, yet the lazy body which I drag about, and which is never free from pain in my best estate, nor hath been, I may truly say, for some years past, soon palls my joy, and makes me believe I have arrived at those days mentioned by Solomon, in which I can say, I take no pleasure except in the promises of the Gospel, which I have sincerely believed from my youth up until now, and in prospect of a blessed eternity, through the merits and mediation of my Blessed Redeemer. God is now my only comfort and stay; a comfort so powerful through his infinite goodness, that it affords me relief in my most violent agonies, and chases away all melancholy and desponding thoughts from my heart; a blessing I can never sufficiently thank him for.

I shall now give you some account of my family. My son Moses, the oldest by my second marriage, is going in his twelfth year. My daughter Sarah is going in ten. These two can read and write, and are beginning to cipher. My daughter Elizabeth, going in seven, can spell pretty well. My son Joseph is going in six, and my last, Aaron, is about four months old. Three days ago I received an account from Peter, that his wife was delivered of a third son, named William. My daughter Winston, hath three fine boys. Peter, a month older than my Moses; Isaac, about nine years old, and William, about six. Their father, Mr. Isaac Winston, is the very best of husbands, a man of strict honesty, and possessed of a very plentiful estate. With regard to my worldly estate, I am full; I abound with every valuable blessing my heart can desire or wish for. I look upon a competency, I mean a small estate which will, with a man's industry, maintain himself and family, and