flew out in a rage, and her passion would not give her leave to say it out.

Bro. She says she intended to have discoursed at large with you quietly and calmly, but you provoked her, and would not give her time.

Sist. Indeed I was vexed that we might not go out as we used to do, and I think it was reason; but that was over; and I was only humming to myself the tune of the last opera, and she flung at me, and struck me, because it was the Sabbath-day, forsooth. For my own part, I know no harm in it, not I. I did not sing the song out, as I told you, I only hummed it softly. It might be a psalm tune for aught she knew.

Bro. Well, but come, sister, what shall we do next? Sist. We must take our measures according as the conduct of my father and mother shall direct.

Bro. Yonder's Pru; I warrant she brings some news, she stays at the garden gate.

[Her mistress goes towards her.]

Mist. Well, what is the matter, Pru?

Maid. Matter, madam! I beseech you come in! I fear ny master will go distracted, and you'll be ruined. Mist. Pr'ythee don't tell me of that. if he pleases. Did they ask for us? culars.

Let him be mad Tell me the parti

Maid. Ask for you, madam! Yes, you may be sure of it.

Mist. Well, how! Tell us all Pru?

Maid. Why, Madam, about half an hour after you were gone, your mother sent Mrs. Betty, your sister, up to your chamber for you: she asked for you, and I said, as you bid me, you were gone out. She asked whither; I told her, I did not know. Why, said she, she is not gone to the Park, is she? I told her-Yes, Madam, I believe she is; for I heard her speak of it.

Mist. Well, that was right. What said Betty?
Maid. Poor young lady! She fell out into the great-

est passion imaginable, weeping and crying out for her dear sister, meaning you, and that you were lost and undone both soul and body.

Mist. Poor child! what followed that scene?

Maid. She went down stairs to your mother, and the old lady came up immediately; and soon after her came your father, all into your chamber.

Mist. Very well, it works as I would have it now. What said they to you, Pru?

Maid. First, they examined me where you were; then, when you went out; and whether you were alone, or your brother with you. I told them, I believed you were gone together, but I was not sure, or you did not tell me whither you went.

Mist. Well, that was right again, Pru. What said they then?

Maid. Your father made few words; but it might easily be observed they were both very angry. Your mother said you would repent it: and I perceived, Madam, though your mother said roost, yet your father seemed most provoked. He said he would not discompose himself then about it, for he had other work before him; but he would take a course to prevent his being insulted at this rate, and so went down.

Mist. And is that all, Pru?

Maid. No, no, Madam, that is not all, I assure

you.

Mist. Well, go on, then.

Maid. Why, Madam, my master called all the family together, and

Mist. What! and made a long preaching to you all, did he?

I

Maid. Dear Madam, do not mock at your father. am sure there was not a child, nor a servant in the house, but wept; and I am persuaded, had you been there, you could not have refrained.

Mist. What, are they grown godly too, Pru?

Bro. Nay, sister, come, don't let us jeer them to the servants, neither.

Mist. Well, but, Pru, come tell us the whole matter. Maid. I cannot repeat particulars, Madam. But when your father had called us all in, the minister (for my master had sent for him on purpose) made a discourse for about half an hour about family-worship, and took his text in Jer. x. 25-" Pour out thy fury upon the heathen that know thee not, and upon the families that call not on thy name."

Mist. Why, then, you have had a sermon, Pru? What, has my father set up a meeting-house?

Maid. Good Madam, do not let me tell you any more; it grieves me for you, to hear you make a jest at good things, and your own father too.

Mist. Go on, Mrs. Pru, you were not sent to preach too, were you?

Maid. I wish you had heard what I have heard. If you had had a heart of flint, it would have moved you. Bus my telling you will do no good, I fear. I wish you would excuse me, Madam; and, if you love your own welfare, I beseech you come in: there is one step left you to save all still, and but one; if you miss it, I am sure you are undone.

Mist. Pr'ythee, Pru, first tell us the history, and give your advice when you are asked for it.

Ho

Maid. I will, Madam, if you will have patience with me. The minister, I told you, made a discourse about familyworship, and directed himself chiefly to us servants. told us that our master and mistress, being sensible that they had too long neglected the instruction of their children and servants, and omitted the worship of God, and setting up good order in the family, were resolved to alter the same; and he desired us to consider the reasonableness of it, and how much it would be our advantage, that we would all yield a cheerful obedience to such orders as should now be set up in the family, and behave ourselves

soberly and modestly in the house, avoiding loose profane talk, wicked words, oaths, drunkenness, and the like; and, if we were all willing and desirous to be thus reformed, he desired we would signify our willingness by standing up.

Mist. And did you stand up, Pru?

Maid. Yes, Madam, do you think I would not? And every servant in the house stood up too; but Thomas the coachman went farther than any of us.

Mist. What did he do?

Maid. He stood up, and making a bow to the minister, he said, he agreed to it with all his heart; and he thanked God that he had heard such a proposal in the house, and a great deal more that I can't remember.

Bro. He is a hypocritical rascal. I owe him a caning for all this.

Mist. Let us hear it all, brother. Well, and what then, Pru?

Maid. Why, Madam, after the minister had done, my master, directing his speech to the minister, said, he thought it his duty to acknowledge, with shame, that he had, in a great measure, been the ruin of his family; that he had totally neglected either the worship of God in his house, or the teaching and instructing his children. What he meant by what followed, I cannot tell; but he held your little brother Tommy in his hand, and lifting up the child, and kissing it, he said these words:-This little creature has been the blessed messenger from God to alarm me, and convince me of the great breach of my paternal duty, and has innocently reproached me with not praying to God for it, or with it, and with not instructing it or teaching it to pray for itself. Then turning to us all, he said, Ye have all cause to reproach me with it, as well as this child, and more too; for he is not too old to receive impressions yet, as I doubt some of you are, and as appears by their absence, my eldest children seem to be, whose ruin both of soul and body lies at my door.

Mist. Did my father say all this?

Maid. Yes, Madam, and a great deal more that I cannot repeat.

Mist. It was very moving, I confess.

Maid. It was so; and that made me say, Madam, I wish you had heard it, as I did.

Mist. It is as well from thy mouth, Pru; for I see thou art affected with it; and so am I a little too, I think, in spite of my resolutions to the contrary.

Maid. How would you then, Madam, to have seen your father, when he spoke of you two that were absent? how the tears ran down his face, and he was fain to stop speaking a good while. Do you think you could have contained? I assure you, Madam, there is not a servant in the house could refrain weeping.

Mist. You almost persuade me to cry, Pru; but go on. Maid. When he had said this, Madam, he told us how he was resolved to live, and that since we had all expressed our readiness to comply with it, he was very thankful that he should have so little trouble. He told us, that all he expected was easy and reasonable, and nothing but what every one would acknowledge was most suitable to the happiness of as all, as men and women, as well as Christians; that he required nothing uneasy, nothing but that all manner of vice might be refrained, and a sober well ordered life might be our rule; that the Sabbath-day might be strictly observed; and that all his servants should attend family prayer, which he resolved to have kept up every night and morning. After this, the minister went to prayers, and after the minister, my master, Madam; but had you heard him!

Mist. What then, Pru?

Maid. I would have gone a mile on my bare knees that you had heard him.

Mist. Heard what, Pru? what should I have heard? Maid. You would have heard what you never heard in your life.