I drew off this morning for Dadda _Gumby_ a List of his Children, & their respective ages--He himself is 94--For this office I had as many _Thanks_, As I have had _blessings_ before now from a Beggar for Sixpence--Thank you, thank you, thank you Master, was the language of the old Greyheaded pair.--Call on us at any time, you shall have _Eggs_, _Apples_, _Potatoes_--You shall have every thing we can get for you--Master!--In this Torrent of Expressions of Gratitude I was rung to Breakfast; I bow'd to the venerable old Negroes, thank'd them in my Turn for their Offers, & left them-- [Illustration: man greeting elderly pair] Indeed, said the Colonel at Breakfast, cool as it was last Night, I kept my Window up the whole night--I am not fond of your hot a dust Air--Was yours up Mr Fithian no truly; so long as I can breath without panting I am for keeping my Window down, & my Room close on summer nights; especially here in Virginia, Madam, where the Dews are so heavy, and so dangerous--The Postilion keeps a fox at the Stable & I am often much diverted with his Cunning Tricks. The other Day, Mrs Carter was lying in the long room among the Books on the Couch; In jumps Reynard, through a broken Pane of Glass, & begins to frisk & hue about the Room like a Bedlam--How is Nurse, pray, says the Colonel at Dinner? She has her Ague & Fever again to Day, Sir--This is a fine Sheeps-Head, Mr Stadly shall I help you?--Or would you prefer a _Bass_ or a _Perch_?--Or perhaps you will rather help yourself to some picked _Crab_--It is all extremely fine, Sir, I'll help myself--Well says the Colonel when we had almost finished our Dinner with a Glass of sparkling Porter on the Table before him, we have but fasted to Day; here stands a fine Ham, & a Shoulder of excellent Mutton yet untouched--At least, says the merry, good-hearted Man, we have kept _Lent_--Yesterday evening I scribled a little for _Laura_, & to Day I drank her Health from my Heart in generous Medaira--Yes, best of Women, when you are the Toast I drink wine with Pleasure-- _Thursday 14._