Dear Brother,—­I believe it is above half a year since I wrote to you, and yet, though it is so long since, you never were so good as to write to me again; and you have written several times since to my sisters, but have perfectly neglected your loving sister Martha, as if you had not known there was such a person in the world; at which I pretended to be so angry that I resolved I would never write to you more.  Yet my anger soon gave way to my love, as it always does whenever I chance to be angry with you.  But you only confirm me in the truth of an observation I have since made; which is, that if ever I love any person very well, and desire to be loved by them in return—­as, to be sure, whoever loves desires to be loved—­I always meet with unkind returns.  I shall be exceedingly glad if you get the Fellowship you stand for; which if you do, I shall hope that one of the family besides my brother Sam will be provided for.  I believe you very well deserve to be happy, and I sincerely wish you may be so both in this life and the next.

For my own particular I have long looked upon myself to be what the world calls ruined—­that is, I believe there will never be any provision made for me, but when my father dies I shall have my choice of three things—­starving, going to a common service, or marrying meanly as my sisters have done:  none of which I like, nor do I think it possible for a woman to be happy with a man that is not a gentleman, for he whose mind is virtuous is alone of noble kind.  Yet what can a woman expect but misery?  My brother Ellison wants all but riches; my brother Lambert, I hope, has a little religion; poor brother Wright has abundance of good-nature, and, I hope, is religious; and yet sister Hetty is, I fear, entirely ruined, though it is not her husband’s fault.

If you would be so good as to let me hear from you, you would
add much to my satisfaction.  But nothing can make me more than
I am already, dear brother, your sincere friend and loving
sister

          
                                                          Martha Wesley.

P.S.—­I hope you will be so kind as to pardon the many faults in my letter.  You must not expect I can write like sister Emily or sister Hetty.  I hope, too, that when I have the pleasure of seeing you at Wroote you will set me some more copies, that I may not write so miserably.

From Samuel Wesley to his son John

Wroote, March 21, 1726.

Dear Mr. Fellow-Elect of Lincoln,—­I have done more than I could
for you.  On your waiting on Dr. Morley with this he will pay
you 12 pounds.  You are inexpressibly obliged to that generous
man.  We are all as well as can be expected.  Your loving
father,

          
                                                          Samuel Wesley.