to his Reflections, traced with his Eye their wandring Course.

vants.

Here he enjoy'd a happy Life; he had no falfe Friend, no perfidious Miftrefs, no unfaithful' SerHis Heart had hitherto been undisturbed by bis Paffions. The Gods had beftowed this Bleffing as the Recompence of his Piety: But his Zeal began to relax, and from the Moment he perceived that his Life was too uniform, he complain'd of his Destiny.

Difquiet feiz'd upon him; his little. Inclosure was open to Defires; Ambition enter'd into this Retreat, which he had hitherto found inacceffible. And having gain'd the Poffeffion of this new Habitation, she went in Search of chimerical Projects, receiv'd them into her Retinue, and brought them into Philemon's Cottage, who was foon infected by the Contagion of their Company. The offended Gods, withdrew their Influence; he was parch'd up with the Thirft of Riches. Ambition fpurred on his Defires, fill'd him with Wishes, and engag'd him to intreat the Gods to be propitious to Plans of Fortune, little meditated, and which he had traced out in Opposition to their Will.

Philemon had neglected his Sacrifices; he now renewed them with more Fervor than ever. The choiceft of his Flocks bled on his Altars.

One Day in the Folly of his Thoughts, he befought the Gods to change into a River, the Rivulet which water'd his Retreat; and that a little Boat which he launch'd into the Stream might be

trand

transform'd into a Ship richly laden. A Clap of Thunder follow'd his Prayer; he took this for a happy Omen, and certain that the Heavens would grant his Requeft, boldly enter'd the Boat, and hafting to meet his Punishment, waited in full Security for the Effect of his Petitions. As the Moment approached in which Philemon was to have them granted, Ambition abandon'd to his Misfortunes her credulous Disciple.

The River fwell'd; the Torrents pour'd from the Tops of the neighbouring Mountains, and there united their foaming Streams. The new River no fooner appear'd, than it tore up all before it. The little Boat, chang'd miraculously into a large Veffel, was rais'd by the Waters and carried away with Rapidity. However happy Philemon might fancy himself in that Moment, (for the Ship in which he was placed was fill'd with Treasure) at a Distance he faw with Regret the Ruin of that dear Cottage in which he had lived for more than twenty Years, whilst all his Days flid on in Peace and Serenity.

The River discharging itfelf into the Sea, carried with it, Philemon and his Ship. Expofed on the vaft Ocean, and having loft Sight of Land, he recovered from his Folly; he recollected that he had forgot to fupplicate the Gods happily to conduct his Veffel to fome Port: But it was now too late: He invoked in vain, the Deities who had formerly been his Protectors; for he had juftly merited their Anger.

The

The Sea grew enraged, its Billows fwell'd; a horrible Tempeft affail'd the Veffel on all Sides; a furious Wave caft it against a Rock, the Ship fplit, and the Sea fwallow'd up the Riches it had contain'd.

Philemon, after having for a long Time ftruggled against this imperious Element, was caft on a defart Coaft, when exhausted with Fatigue, before he expired, he confefs'd himfelf worthy of the Death he fuffer'd, for the Indifcretion of his Prayers.

Let us leave the Gods the Arbiters of our Lot; Man, alas is more dear to them than he is to himfelf. Let Prudence regulate our Wishes: Otherwife we fhall have Reason to fear that we shall become, like Philemon, the Victims of our Rafhness.

I

To Mrs. MIDNIGHT.

Madam,

Wish you wou'd, in your Magazines, obferve to the Public, how neceffary 'tis that there fhou'd be a Jail-Delivery of such People as are not able to pay their Debts. 'Tis a hard Thing, Mrs. Midnight, for a Man to be ftarving in a Jail, while his Wife and Family are perifhing at Home, only because he has not wherewith to fatisfy his angry Creditors. Take Notice of that Mrs. Midnight!

I am fure I have felt a great deal for those unhappy People, and fhed many a Tear fince our

poor

poor Neighbour, John Williams, has been confin'd there; but his Cafe is remarkably hard, to be fure.'Twas he, Mrs. Midnight, that kept the Shop upon our Green: He was always a very honest Man, and every Body thought him in a good Way ; however, fince this War, he loft fo much Money by bad Debts, that he was unable to pay his Creditors fa foon as they expected. Sir Thomas (who, you know, is but a Brute of a Man, if we dar'd. fay fo) feized his Goods firft for Rent; upon which one of his Creditors arrefted and fent him to Jail. His Wife (poor Mary, I fhall never forgether!) had just lain-in a Fortnight; and when the faw the Bailiffs take her Hufband out of the House, The fell into fuch Fits as I never faw in my Lifetime: She tore her Hair, and beat her Breast to that Degree, that they were obliged to tie her Hands behind her; and on the Friday following, died stark raving mad; and left feven Children, (poor innocent Lambs!) to the merciless World. Oh, Mrs. Midnight, Sir Thomas is a fad Man, for 'twas all his Doings!

As foon as poor Mary was dead, I took the youngest Child, and put it to Hannah Underwood to nurfe, and I believe she'll take care of it. I fancy you knew Hannah, Mrs. Midnight; fhe is the young Woman who lived with me when you ufed to be at Madam Dormand's. The Parifh has hir'd Goody Curtis to look after the other Children, and I fends them a Pitcher of Milk every Morning for their Breakfast, and a Pudding every Sunday for с

Din

my

Dinner; which you know is as much as I can do 'tho? Mafter who am but a Farmer's Wife; makes as good a Hufband, I believe, as fome of your Gentlemen in Town. I comb'd and wash'd the Children clean one Day, and fent them to Sir Thomas's, to beg fome Money to buy them Shoes, but he ordered his Man to turn them out of his Yard, and told 'em he would fet the Dog at them if they came to his Houfe any more; and the poor Creatures came home crying ready to break their Hearts. The Servants, to be fure, was all forry to fee the Children in this Condition, and collected Sixpence a-piece to buy them fomething, which Jenny Thompson brought down to our Houfe; but, when this Wretch, Sir Thomas, came to hear it, he turn'd her away, which you'll fay was hard upon the poor Girl; and for that Reafon I took her into my Service; but Sir Thomas fent for my Hufband, and told him, He fhould turn out of his Farm, if he did not oblige me to turn her out of Doors. Take Notice of that Mrs. Midnight! Did you ever know fuch a Villain? but we must not Say fo

I intend to go to the Jail and fee poor John, and Madam Dormand fays fhe'll go with me; my Hufband has been already, and he fays, there are a great Number of poor Wretches who lie confin'd for very fmall Sums. As you are in London, Mrs. Midnight, amongst the great Folks who have Mo ney enough, pray try if you can do them any vice. Mrs. Westbury, who knows.fomething of

Ser

Lon