t they might have found an
animal as strong as a bear, and somewhat less uncouth, to call their
great folks after: even as she thinks yourself, amongst your great
store of words, might have found something a little more genteel to
call her hair after than flax, which, though strong and useful, is
rather a coarse and common kind of article.

"And as another proof of the good-will she bears to you, she sends
you, along with the lock, a piece of advice, which is worth all the
hair in the world, to say nothing of the flax.

"_Fear God_, and take your own part. There's Bible in that, young
man: see how Moses feared God, and how he took his own part against
everybody who meddled with him. And see how David feared God, and
took his own part against all the bloody enemies which surrounded
him--so fear God, young man, and never give in! The world can bully,
and is fond, provided it sees a man in a kind of difficulty, of
getting about him, calling him coarse names, and even going so far as
to hustle him: but the world, like all bullies, carries a white
feather in its tail, and no sooner sees the man taking off his coat,
and offering to fight its best, than it scatters here and there, and
is always civil to him afterwards. So when folks are disposed to ill-
treat you, young man, say, 'Lord have mercy upon me!' and then tip
them to Long Melford, which, as the saying goes, there is nothing
comparable for shortness all the world over; and these last words,
young man, are the last you will ever have from her who is
nevertheless,

"Your affectionate female servant,
"ISOPEL BERNERS."

After reading the letter I sat for some time motionless, holding it in my
hand. The daydream in which I had been a little time before indulging,
of marrying Isopel Berners, of going with her to America, and having by
her a large progeny, who were to assist me in felling trees, cultivating
the soil, and who would take care of me when I was old, was now
thoroughly dispelled. Isopel had deserted me, and was gone to America by
herself, where, perhaps, she would marry some other person, and would
bear him a progeny, who would do for him what in my dream I had hoped my
progeny by her would do for me. Then the thought came into my head that
though she was gone, I might follow her to America, but then I thought
that if I did I might not find her; America was a very large place