DEBORAH'S DIARY,

A FRAGMENT.

***

Bunhill Fields,

Feb. 17, 1665.

** Something geniall and

foothing beyond ordinarie in the Warmth and fitfulle Lighte of the Fire, made us delaye, I know not how long, to trim the Evening Lamp, and fitt muzing in Idleneffe about the Hearth; Mary revolving her Thumbs and ftaring

B

at

1665.

Feb. 17.

1665.

at the Embers; Anne quite in the Shadowe, with her Arms behind her Head agaynft the Wall; Father in his tall Arm-chair, quite uprighte, as his Fashion is when very thoughtfulle; I on the Cushion at his Feet, with mine Head on's Knee and mine Eyes on his Shadowe on the Wall, which, as it happened, fhewed in coloffal Proportions, while ours were like Pigmies. Alle at once he exclaims, "We all feem very "comfortable-I think we shoulde "reward ourselves with fome Egg"flip!”

And then offered us Pence for our Thoughts. Anne would not

tell

tell hers; Mary owned fhe had beene trying to account for the Deficiencie of a Groat in her housekeeping Purse; and I confeft to fuch a Medley, that Father fayd I deferved Anne's Penny in addition to mine own, for my Strength of Mind in fubmitting fuch a Farrago of Nonsense to the Ridicule of my Friends.

Soe then I bade for his Thoughts, and he fayd he had beene questioning the Cricket on the Hearth, upon the Extinction of the Fairies; and I afkt, Did anie believe in 'em now? and he made Anfwer, Oh, yes, he had known a Serving-Wench in Oxon

1665.

1665.

Oxon depone she had beene nipped and haled by 'em; and, of Crickets, he fayd he had manie Times feene an old Wife in Buckinghamshire, who was foe pestered by one, that fhe cried, "I can't heare myself "talk! I'd as lief heare Nought as "heare thee;" foe poured a Kettle of boiling Water into the Cranny wherein the harmleffe Creature lay, and fcalded it to Death; and, the next Day, became as deaf as a Stone, and remained foe ever after, a Monument of God's Displeasure, at her destroying one of the moft innocent of His Creatures.

After this, he woulde tell us of

this and that worn-out Superstition, as o' the Friar's Lantern, and of Lob-lie-by-the-Fire, untill Mary, who affects not the Unreall, went off to make the Flip. Anne prefentlie exclaimed, "Father! when “you fayd—

"The Shepherds on the Lawn,

'Or e'er the Point of Dawn,

Sat fimply chatting in a rustic

• Full little thought they then

"That the mighty Pan

'Was kindly come to live with them

'below,'

“whom meant you by Pan? Sure,

1665.

"you