North Walsham, 30th Oct. 1846.
My dear Friend,
“I cannot delay to put you in possession of my ‘love-passages' with your heroine, albeit, at this present writing, suffering much pain from asthma and chronic bronchitis, which are both aggravated by our foggy air for some days past.
“In my early childhood I had an uncle, an aged widower with no family, who did me the favour of being very fond of me. He had one domestic in his house, and another out of it, the former a female, the latter a male. The former rejoiced in the name of Nanny, I suppose there was another postfixed to it, but of this I am not cognizant: but Nanny had a niece, or cousin, or something of the kind, named Peggy Catchpole; and whenever the old uncle’s favourite paid him a visit, the maid’s paid a visit to her, 'for,’ as Nanny used to say, ‘it was so comfortable for the children, like; and the little dears helped to amuse one another;' and so it was that Peg and I walked together, played together, and slept together.
“I wish I could give you dates, which are the sinews of history, you know. There is one event which my mind connects very exactly with this period, and which will afford you one date. Peggy and her young swain were going on philandering at supper, at the time of the loss of the Royal George, at Spithead. The newspaper came in while my good relative was playing a hit at backgammon with his neighbour, the doctor, as was their frequent practice; and by dint of spelling, and a lift or two over hard words, I read to them the mournful narrative. For this I received sixpence, and laid it out in figs, of which Peg and her swain each ate so many as to make themselves ill.
“Now all this would unquestionably have been forgotten, had it been made fresh in the memory from Peggy’s subsequent career. Whilst she was in Ipswich Gaol I made interest with the personage, then usually called ‘Old Rip,’ to see her, intending to give her money. I must then have been a young man. She, however, would not know anything of me—in fact, ‘cut me:’ and so I kept my money. But I afterwards learned that Ripshaw would not have permitted it to be given! ‘And that’s all.'
“I am afraid that, with all the exuberance of your imagination, would be puzzled to concoct a chapter out of this.
“I am beginning to long for our young friend’s visit [ in order to [ ] my introduction] to your other heroine.
| "Meanwhile I am, |
| "My dear Sir, |
| "Yours very truly, |
| "W. T. Spurdens." |
There is no need to concoct a chapter out of this letter. It is the genuine offering of a kind heart and clear head, and sufficiently explains the purpose in view; viz. that Margaret was regarded in her early career with respect and pure affection, by one who sought to relieve her in her distress, and in a day of degradation and adversity owned her as his early playmate, and would have ministered to her necessity. Both, I trust, are now awaiting that final day when the cup of cold water, given with a good heart for Christ’s sake, shall meet with a blessed reward.