8 * THE HISTORY OF

But their death seemed to be a sad evil to
their little girl, for whom I and my wife felt so
much sorrow, that had we not had many young
children of our own, we would have taken
her into our family. As soon as her dear
father and mother were dead, she was carried
to the parish poor-house; after she had remain-
ed there about two months, an old woman, her
father’s aunt, who lived in Ludlow, undertook
to maintain her till she should be twelve years
of age, if the parish would allow her twelve-
pence a week.

The parish having given their consent to this
plan, the child was carried to the town by the
old woman, and for many years I saw no more
of her; for about that time it pleased God to
afflict me with a disorder, which for some time
prevented me from attending to my parish, or
taking heed unto the flock over which the Holy
Ghost had made me an overseer.

When, at the end of twelve years, by the fa-
vour of Heaven I was restored to health, and
could ride about the country and visit my chil-
dren, (for so I call my parishioners,) I went
several times to Ludlow to enquire after Susan
Gray, but could hear nothing of her; her old
aunt was dead, and her house shut up.

Thus it was out of my power to serve the
claughter of the worthy James and Mary Gray;
but I trusted that Heaven, who vistts the
sins of the parents upon the children unto the
third and fourth generation, would not fail to
bless the child of these excellent people: and
80, as I hoped, it proved to be. God did