Maryland,
Sept'r 22'd 1756
Honored
Father
My
being for ever banished from your sight, will I hope pardon
the Boldness I now take of troubling you with these, my long
silence has been purely owning to my undutifullness to you,
and well knowing I had offended in the highest Degree, put a
tie to my tongue and pen, for fear I should be extinct from
your good Graces and add a further Trouble to you, but too well
knowing your care and tenderness for me so long as I retain'd
my Duty to you, induced me once again to endeavor if possible,
to kindle up that flame again. O Dear Father, believe what I
am going to relate the words of truth and sincerity, and Balance
my former bad Conduct my sufferings here, and then I am sure
you'll pity your Destress Daughter, What we unfortunate English
People suffer here is beyond the probability of you in England
to Conceive, let it suffice that I one of the unhappy Number,
am toiling almost Day and Night, and very often in the Horses
drudgery, with only this comfort that you Bitch you do not halfe
enough, and then tied up and whipp'd to that Degree that you'd
not serve an Animal, scarce any thing but Indian Corn and Salt
to eat and that even begrudged nay many Negroes are better used,
almost naked no shoes nor stockings to wear, and the comfort
after slaving during Masters pleasure, what rest we can get
is to rap ourselves up in a Blanket and ly upon the Ground,
this is the deplorable Condition your poor Betty endures, and
now I beg if you have any Bowels of Compassion left show it
by sending me some Relief, Clothing is the principal thing wanting,
which if you should condiscend to, may easily send them to me
by any of the ships bound to Baltimore Town Patapsco River Maryland,
and give me leave to conclude in Duty to you and Uncles and
Aunts, and
Respect
to all Friends
Honored Father
Your undutifull and Disobedient Child
Elizabeth Sprigs