part8-第15章
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he was; I had no habitation。 He told me I should go home
with him; and live with him; if I pleased; as long as I lived;
that as to his father; he knew nobody; and would never so
much as guess at me。 I considered of that a little; and told
him; that though it was really no concern to me to live at a
distance from him; yet I could not say it would be the most
comfortable thing in the world to me to live in the house with
him; and to have that unhappy object always before me; which
had been such a blow to my peace before; that though I should
be glad to have his company (my son); or to be as near him as
possible while I stayed; yet I could not think of being in the
house where I should be also under constant restraint for fear
of betraying myself in my discourse; nor should I be able to
refrain some expressions in my conversing with him as my
son; that might discover the whole affair; which would by no
means be convenient。
He acknowledged that I was right in all this。 'But then; dear
mother;' says he; 'you shall be as near me as you can。' So he
took me with him on horseback to a plantation next to his own;
and where I was as well entertained as I could have been in his
own。 Having left me there he went away home; telling me we
would talk of the main business the next day; and having first
called me his aunt; and given a charge to the people; who it
seems were his tenants; to treat me with all possible respect。
About two hours after he was gone; he sent me a maid…servant
and a Negro boy to wait on me; and provisions ready dressed
for my supper; and thus I was as if I had been in a new world;
and began secretly now to wish that I had not brought my
Lancashire husband from England at all。
However; that wish was not hearty neither; for I lived my
Lancashire husband entirely; as indeed I had ever done from
the beginning; and he merited from me as much as it was
possible for a man to do; but that by the way。
The next morning my son came to visit me again almost as
soon as I was up。 After a little discourse; he first of all pulled
out a deerskin bag; and gave it me; with five…and…fifty Spanish
pistoles in it; and told me that was to supply my expenses from
England; for though it was not his business to inquire; yet he
ought to think I did not bring a great deal of money out with
me; it not being usual to bring much money into that country。
Then he pulled out his grandmother's will; and read it over to
me; whereby it appeared that she had left a small plantation;
as he called it; on York River; that is; where my mother lived;
to me; with the stock of servants and cattle upon it; and given
it in trust to this son of mine for my use; whenever he should
hear of my being alive; and to my heirs; if I had any children;
and in default of heirs; to whomsoever I should by will dispose
of it; but gave the income of it; till I should be heard of; or
found; to my said son; and if I should not be living; then it was
to him; and his heirs。
This plantation; though remote from him; he said he did not
let out; but managed it by a head…clerk (steward); as he did
another that was his father's; that lay hard by it; and went over
himself three or four times a year to look after it。 I asked him
what he thought the plantation might be worth。 He said; if I
would let it out; he would give me about 60 a year for it; but
if I would live on it; then it would be worth much more; and;
he believed; would bring me in about #150 a year。 But seeing
I was likely either to settle on the other side of the bay; or
might perhaps have a mind to go back to England again; if I
would let him be my steward he would manage it for me; as
he had done for himself; and that he believed he should be
able to send me as much tobacco to England from it as would
yield me about #100 a year; sometimes more。
This was all strange news to me; and things I had not been
used to; and really my heart began to look up more seriously
than I think it ever did before; and to look with great thankfulness
to the hand of Providence; which had done such wonders for
me; who had been myself the greatest wonder of wickedness
perhaps that had been suffered to live in the world。 And I must
again observe; that not on this occasion only; but even on all
other occasions of thankfulness; my past wicked and abominable
life never looked so monstrous to me; and I never so completely
abhorred it; and reproached myself with it; as when I had a
sense upon me of Providence doing good to me; while I had
been making those vile returns on my part。
But I leave the reader to improve these thoughts; as no doubt
they will see cause; and I go on to the fact。 My son's tender
carriage and kind offers fetched tears from me; almost all the
while he talked with me。 Indeed; I could scarce discourse
with him but in the intervals of my passion; however; at length
I began; and expressing myself with wonder at my being so
happy to have the trust of what I had left; put into the hands
of my own child; I told him ;that as to the inheritance of it; I
had no child but him in the world; and was now past having
any if I should marry; and therefore would desire him to get
a writing drawn; which I was ready to execute; by which I
would; after me; give it wholly to him and to his heirs。 And
in the meantime; smiling; I asked him what made him continue
a bachelor so long。 His answer was kind and ready; that
Virginia did not yield any great plenty of wives; and that since
I talked of going back to England; I should send him a wife
from London。
This was the substance of our first day's conversation; the
pleasantest day that ever passed over my head in my life; and
which gave me the truest satisfaction。 He came every day
after this; and spent great part of his time with me; and carried
me about to several of his friends' houses; where I was
entertained with great respect。 Also I dines several times at
his own house; when he took care always to see his half…dead
father so out of the way that I never saw him; or he me。 I
made him one present; and it was all I had of value; and that
was one of the gold watches; of which I mentioned above;
that I had two in my chest; and this I happened to have with
me; and I gave it him at his third visit。 I told him I had nothing
of any value to bestow but that; and I desired he would now
and then kiss it for my sake。 I did not indeed tell him that I
had stole it from a gentlewoman's side; at a meeting…house in
London。 That's by the way。
He stood a little while hesitating; as if doubtful whether to
take it or no; but I pressed it on him; and made him accept it;
and it was not much less worth than his leather pouch full of
Spanish gold; no; though it were to be reckoned as if at London;
whereas it was worth twice as much there; where I gave it him。
At length he took it; kissed it; told me the watch should be a
debt upon him that he would be paying as long as I lived。
A few days after he brought the writings of gift; and the
scrivener with them; and I signed them very freely; and
delivered them to him with a hundred kisses; for sure nothing
ever passed between a mother and a tender; dutiful child with
more affection。 The next day he brings me an obligation
under his hand and seal; whereby he engaged himself to
manage and improve the plantation for my account; and with
his utmost skill; and to remit the produce to my order wherever
I should be; and withal; to be obliged himself to make up the
produce #100 a year to me。 When he had done so; he told me
that as I came to demand it before the crop was off; I had a
right to produce of the current year; and so he paid me #100
in Spanish pieces of eight; and desired me to give him a receipt
for it as in full for that year; ending a