It appears that "Sam" was equally entangled in the meshes of the law, for he answered as follows:
"DEAR MOTHER:-So am I; which prevents his duty being paid to his loving mother by her affectionate son,
"SAM FOOTE.
"P. S.-I have sent my attorney to assist you; in the mean time, let us hope for better days."
These laconic epistles are well matched by that of a French lady, who wrote to her husband this missive of intelligence, affection, &c., &c.:
"I write to you because I have nothing to do; I end my letter because I have nothing to say."
But these are left far in the rear by the correspondence of two Quakers, the one living in Edinburgh, the other in London. The former, wishing to know whether there was anything new in London, wrote in the corner of a letter-sheet a small interrogation note, and sent it to his friend. In due time he received an answer. He opened the sheet and found, simply, O, signifying that there was none.
In the London Times of January 3d, 1820, is the following, purporting to be a copy of a letter sent to a medical gentleman:
"CER: Yole oblige me uf yole kum un ce me. I hev a Bad kowld, am
Hill in my Bow Hills, and hev lost my Happy Tight."
William Cowper, the poet, being on very familiar terms with the Rev. Mr. Newton, amused himself and his friend with a letter, of which the following is a copy: