of this Appearance to be a Reflection, and endeavour what they can to blaft Mrs. Bargrave's Reputation; and to laugh the Story out of Countenance. But the Circumstances thereof, and the chearful Difpofition of Mrs. Bargrave, notwithstanding the ill Usage of a very wicked Husband, there is not yet the least Sign of Dejection in her Face; nor did I ever hear her let fall a defponding or murmuring Expreffion; nay, not when actually under her Hufband's Barbarity; which I have been witness to, and feveral other Perfons of undoubted Reputation.

Now you must know, that Mrs. Veal was a Maiden Gentlewoman of about thirty Years of Age, and for fome Years laft paft, had been troubled with Fits, which were perceived coming on her, by her going off from her Difcourfe very abruptly, to fome Impertinence: She was maintained by an only Brother, and kept his House in Dover. She was a very pious Woman, and her Brother a very fober Man to all Appear ance: But now he does all he can to null or quafh the Story. Mrs. Veal was intimately acquainted with Mrs. Bargrave from her Childhood. Mrs. Veal's Circumstances were then mean; her Father did not take care of his Children as he ought, fo that they were expofed to Hardships: And Mrs. Bargrave in those Days had as unkind a Father, tho' fhe wanted neither for Food nor Cloathing, whilft Mrs. Veal wanted for both: Infomuch that the would often fay, Mrs. Bargrave, you are not only the best, but the only Friend I have in the World; and no Circumftances of Life fhall ever diffolve my Friendship. They would often condole each other's adverse Fortunes, and read together Drelincourt upon Death; and other good Books: And fo like two Chriftian Friends, they comforted each other under their Sorrow.

Some time after, Mr. Veal's Friends got him a Place in the Cuftom-Houfe at Dover, which occafioned Mrs. Veal by little and little, to fall off from her Intimacy with Mrs. Bargrave, tho' there was

never any fuch thing as a Quarrel; but an Indifferency came on by Degrees, till at laft Mrs. Bargrape had not feen her in two Years and a half; tho' above a twelve-Month of the time, Mrs. Bargrave had been absent from Dover, and this laft half Year, has been in Canterbury about two Months of the time, dwelling in a House of her own. ayıd

In this Houfe on the eighth of September, viz., 1705 he was fitting alone in the Forenoon, thinking over her unfortunate Life, and arguing her felf into a due Refignation to Providence, tho her Condition feem'd hard. And, faid fhe, I have been provided for hitherto, and doubt not but I fhall be ftill; and am well fatisfied, that my Afflictions fhall end, when it is most fit for me: And then took up her few-> ing-Work, which the had no fooner done, but the hears a knocking at the Door; fhe went to fee who it was there, and this proved to be Mrs. Veal, her old Friend, who was in a riding Habit: At that Moment of Time the Clock ftruck Twelve at Noon.

J

Madam, fays, Mrs. Bargrave, I am furpriz'd to See you, you have been fo long a Stranger; but told her, he was glad to fee her, and offered to falute her, which Mrs. Veal complied with, till their Lips almoft touched, and then Mrs. Veal drew her Hand cross her own Eyes, and faid, I am not very well, and fo waved it. She told Mrs. Bargrave the was going a Journey, and had a great Mind to fee her firft: But, fays Mrs. Bargrave, "How came you to "take a Journey alone? I am amazed at it, be"caufe I know you have a fond Brother. O! fays Mrs. Veal, I gave my Brother the Slip, and came away, because I had fo great a defire to fee you before I took my Journey. So Mrs. Bargrave went in with her, into another Room within the first, and Mrs. Veal fat her down in an Elbow-Chair, in which Mrs. Bargrave was fitting when fhe heard Mrs. Veal Knock. Then, fays Mrs. Veal, My dear Friend,

"I am come to renew our old Friendship again, and 66 beg your Pardon for my Breach of it, and if you can forgive me, you are the beft of Women. "O, fays Mrs. Bargrave, don't mention fuch a thing; "I have not had an uneafy Thought about it, I can eafily forgive it. What did you think of me, faid Mrs. Veal? Says Mrs. Bargrave, I thought you' ແ were like the rest of the World, and that Profperity had made you forget your felf and me. Then Mrs. Veal reminded Mrs. Bargrave of the many friendly Offices fhe did her in former Days, and much of the Converfation they had with each other in the times of their Adverfity; what Books they read, and what Comfort in particular they received from Drelincourt's Book of Death, which was the best, the faid, on that Subject, ever wrote. She alfo mentioned Dr. Sherlock, and two Dutch Books which were tranflated, wrote upon Death, and feveral others: But Drelincourt, the faid, had the cleareft Notions of Death, and of the future State, of any who have handled that Subject. Then the afk'd Mrs. Bargrave, whether he had Drelincourt; the faid, Yes. Says Mrs. Veal, fetch it; and fo Mrs. Bargrave goes up Stairs, and brings it down. Says Mrs. Veal," Dear Mrs. Bargrave, if the Eyes of

our Faith were as open as the Eyes of our Bo"dy, we should fee Numbers of Angels about us "for our Guard. The Notions we have of 'Hea"ven now, are nothing like what it is, as Drelin66 court fays. Therefore be comforted under your "Afflictions, and believe, that the Almighty has a "particular Regard to you; and that your Af"flictions are Marks of God's Favour ; and when "they have done the Business they are fent for, "they fhall be removed from you. And believe.

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me, my dear Friend, believe what I fay to 66 you, One Minute of future Happiness will infi"nitely reward you for all your Sufferings. For I ແ can never believe (and claps her Hand upon

her

1

her Knee with great Earneftnefs, which indeed ran through most of her Difcourfe) that ever God will fuffer you to spend all your Days in this afflicted State; But be affured, that your Afflictions fhall leave you, or you them in a fhort time. She fpake in that pathetical and heavenly Manner, that Mrs. Bargrave wept feveral times, fhe was fo deeply affected with

it.

Then Mrs. Veal mentioned Dr. Horneck's Afcetick, at the End of which he gives an Account of the Lives of the primitive Chriftians. Their Pattern fhe recommended to our Imitation, and faid, Their Converfation was not like this of our Age. For now (fays fhe) there is nothing but frothy, vain Difcourfe, which is far different from theirs. Theirs was to Edification, and to build one another up in Faith; fo that they were not as we are, nor are we as they were; but, faid fhe, we ought to do as they did. There was an hearty Friendfhip among them; but where is it now to be found? Says Mrs. Bargrave, 'Tis hard indeed, to find a true Friend in thefe Days. Says Mrs. Veal, Mr. Norris has a fine Copy of Verfes, call'd, Friendship in Perfection, which I wonderfully admire; have you seen the Book? fays Mrs. Veal: No, fays Mrs. Bargrave; but I have the Verfes of my own writing out. Have you? fays Mrs. Veal, then fetch them; which she did from above Stairs, and offer'd them to Mrs. Veal to read, who refused, and waved the thing, faying, holding down her Head would make it ake; and then defired Mrs. Bargrave to read them to her, which he did. As they were admiring Friendship, Mrs. Veal faid, Dear Mrs. Bargrave, I fball love you for ever. In thefe Verfes there is twice used the Word Elyfian. Ab! fays Mrs. Veal, Thefe Poets have fuch Names for Heaven. She would often draw her Hand cross her own Eyes, and fay, Mrs. Bargrave, don't you think I am mightily impaired by my Fits? No, fays Mrs. Bargrave, I think you look as well as ever I knew you.

After all this Difcourfe, which the Apparition put in much finer Words than Mrs. Bargrave faid The could pretend to, and as much more than fhe can remember; (for it cannot be thought, that an Hour and three Quarters Converfation could all be retained, though the main of it fhe thinks fhe does:) She faid to Mrs. Bargrave, She would have her write a Letter to her Brother, and tell him, he would have him give Rings to fuch and fuch and that there was a Purfe of Gold in her Cabinet, and that he would have two Broad Pieces given to her Coufin Watson.

تو

Talking at this rate, Mrs. Bargrave thought that a Fit was coming upon her, and fo plac'd her felf in a Chair juft before her Knees, to keep her from falling to the Ground, if her Fits fhould occafion it: For the Elbow-Chair, the thought, would keep her from falling on either Side. And to divert Mrs. Veal, as fhe thought, took hold of her Gown-Sleeve feveral times, and commended it. Mrs. Veal told her, it was a fcower'd Silk, and newly made up. But for all this, Mrs. Veal perfifted in her Requeft, and told Mrs. Bargrave, the muft not deny her: And she would have her tell her Brother all their Converfation when the had Opportunity. Dear Mrs. Veal, fays Mrs. Bargrave, This feems fo impertinent, that I cannot tell how to comply with it; and what a mortifying Story will our Converfation be to a young Gentleman? Why, fays Mrs. Bargrave, 'tis much better, methinks, to do it your felf. No, fays Mrs. Veal, tho it feems impertinent to you now, you will fee more Reafon for it hereafter. Mrs. Bargrave then, to fatisfy her Importunity, was going to fetch a Pen and Ink; but Mrs. Veal faid, Let it alone now, and do it when I am gone; but you must be fure to do it: Which was one of the laft things the enjoyn'd her at parting, and fo fhe promis'd her.

Then Mrs. Veal afked for Mrs. Bargrave's Daughter; She faid, fhe was not at home; but if you have a mind to see her, fays Mrs. Bargrave, I'll fend

for