mother argued upon, viz., that to speak of the plague beforehand as in view, and make preparations for it as a thing certain, was so far from being a needless alarm to the people and frighting and terrifying them, that it was the only way to preserve them; and was the only way to keep the public peace, as he called it, by keeping the people composed and free from the confusions and tumultuous hurries which they are otherwise apt to fall into on such occasions.

But the scene was not, as it were, yet spread, or the tragedy begun; there was another prelude to appear, even in the narrow compass of this one family. Oh, may it not be the case of many among us, upon the present view of things of the like kind.

When the first disorders of the thing were a little abated, and this gentleman come a little more to himself, things took a new turn with him; he was necessarily embarrassed in his business in the day, and in company in the evening; but in the morning had always a little conversation with his sister, and she soon observed that after the first two or three days, in which he continued much affected with the danger they were all in, and his own unprepared condition also, as he owned it to be, I say, after this she observed that he dropped the discourse by little and little, till at last he said nothing at all of it to her for three or four days. Upon this, one morning as they were talking together, she broke in upon him with it thus: "Dear brother," says she, "you tell me no news now, nor how we stand as to this terrible stroke that is coming upon us; I cannot but be very

-

much concerned to hear what condition we are in; pray how does it go on?"

"God be praised," says he, "the distemper is stopped again. They say it was only a violent fever seized one or two families, and that the people have been in such a fright about it, by the rashness of some old women that set up a cry of the plague, that it has put all the town in an uproar; but 't is stopped, and I saw the weekly bill to-day; the number of burials in St. Giles's are decreased again, and none of the plague or fever more than usual."

Sister. I am glad to hear it, brother; I wish it may hold.

Brother. I hope it will, sister. Come, do not be like my mother.

Sister. I wish I could be like my mother.

Brother. Ay, but do not be like her in this; do not be always foreboding.

Sister. Dear brother, I forebode to nobody but myself. I do not take upon me to teach you, or say anything but just when you ask me.

Brother. Well, but do not forebode to yourself, sister. Why, you will bring yourself to mope, and be dull upon it till you come to have the vapours and be half mad.

Sister. I hope not, brother; I do not think so disconsolately upon it. I hope I am in the hands of God, and 't is my mercy that I am so. I only want more strength to bring my faith to an entire dependence upon Him.

Brother. But still you go upon the old story, that the distemper will certainly come upon us.

Sister. Nay, I cannot but say I expect it as certainly as if it were here just now; that I cannot go from.

Brother. No, no, I hope not. Come, God may be better to us than our fears allow us to suggest; it may go off.

Sister. Then I hope I shall be thankful, but

Brother. But what, prithee, girl? Do not be always prophesying evil tidings, that is, ringing knells over us before we are dead.

Sister. Oh dear! how can you talk so, brother ? I prophesy nothing. I do not pretend to it, but the thing foretells itself. God has given us notice of it several times, and as good as bid us expect it. Shall I be so blind, and not take the warning? God forbid! Indeed, brother, I cannot help believing that it will certainly come still.

Brother. Well, and is not this, as I say, prophesying evil tidings?

Sister. No, brother, it is not, because I do not trouble anybody with my talk. I should not have said so much to you, but that you extort it. These are notices to myself only.

Brother. But I would have you be encouraged, and have you encourage us all. You are our governess, and when you are dull and melancholy all the family will be so.

Sister. I am not dull and melancholy, but sure, brother, this is not a time to be thoughtless. Nobody can be so that has any common-sense. You was alarmed enough yourself but a week ago. I do not think you have lost those just impressions it

made upon you then, though you are not willing they should be seen so plain as they were then.

Brother. It was all without reason, I think verily. I see 't is all nothing but the fright of old women, and of foolish people, worse than old women, that raised the tumult all over the city.

Sister. Well, brother, if it prove so, it will be well; but I am sorry to see you cool so fast upon it, before you are sure the danger is over.

Brother. Child, the danger cannot be said to be over, because it was never a real danger. As an alarm and fright it never had a foundation but in the imagination of a few foolish people, I say, who have so long talked the town into expectation of the plague that, like wildfire, they take at the first touch, and away they run headlong with a story, as if they would have it be so; for fright and wishes equally impose upon people, and make us believe anything. When we either desire to have a thing, or are terribly afraid of it, we believe it at first word, nay, we believe the very rumour of it.

Sister. But you are not sure, brother, that you have been imposed upon in this.

Brother. Yes, very sure, very sure. I am satisfied 't is all a rumour, a mere noise, and there is nothing at all in it but what I tell you.

Sister. You do not know it of your own knowledge, brother?

Brother. I have not been up there indeed, but if you will, I'll go to the very houses and inquire into all the particulars, though I think I am very well

informed how it is.

Sister. By no means, brother; I would not have you go for a thousand pounds.

Brother. I don't think there is any danger in it at all. I would not value going there a farthing; the people that were sick are in their graves, or well again, and all is over.

Sister. Well, brother, I can say nothing to it, you know those things better than I. However, as you have no occasion to go thither, don't talk of that, I entreat you.

Brother. There is no occasion, indeed, for I am satisfied of the thing, and so is the whole city in general.

Sister. Well, God fit us all for His will, and grant we may be prepared to meet Him with a due submission in all His providences of what kind soever.

Brother. You are mighty solemn, child, about it; 't is strange you cannot be satisfied as other people are. Why, your fright might be over by this time, one would think. Why, 't is almost a fortnight ago.

Sister. Dear brother, I hope I should not be frighted if it were already come; but I desire to be seriously looking up to Heaven for needful courage against the time, for I am fully persuaded it is not far off.

Brother. Well, I see you won't be beaten off of it, you will be prophetic; but if it were to be so, child, we cannot put it off. To what purpose should we anticipate our sorrow and be mourning about it, whether it comes or no?

Sister. Oh, brother, let us remember my mother's words; when it is upon us it will be no time to make our preparations, then the weight will be too heavy,