58 THE HISTORY OF

God, who has commanded Christian men to
treat the elder women as mothers; the younger
as sisters, with all purity. (1 Tim. v. 2.)

Having brought the tea-things, and prepared
every thing for the tea, my mistress bade me
bring a chair, and take my place with the
company.

I thanked her, but said, I would beg to be
excused.

‘* Nay, don’t refuse, Susan,” said one of the
young men, whose name was William Ball:
“‘we must have your company. Here, take
this chair by me; come, we are vastly merry.”

“I see you are merry,” I said; ‘but I shall
beg not to make one among you.”

«And why not?” they all cried at once.

«QO! do not oblige me to say,” I answered.

“What, we are not good enough for you, I
presume!” said Charlotte.

** None of these airs, Susan,” said my mis-
tress; ‘‘a fine lady, in truth, you are, with
scarcely a rag to your back, or a shilling in
your pocket, that you should turn up your
nose thus at your betters. Sit you down this
minute,” added she, with a very naughty word.

William Ball, at the same time, took hold of
my gown, and was going to pull me down into
the chair by him; when I, struggling hard,
escaped into the house, and, leaving my mistress
and her company to wait upon themselves, ran
into my own little room; where I shut the
door, and, throwing myself on my knees, prayed
to God to protect me. ‘O! my God,” I cried,
“[ am surrounded by snares and temptations ;