MATTHEW FALLS SICK. 287

“T do these things,” said she, “that I may be rich in good works, laying up in store
for myself a good foundation against the time to come, that I may lay hold on eternal
Niles =

“Why, prithee, what doest thou with them?” said he.

“Clothe the naked,” said she.

With that, his countenance fell. So he forbore to come at her again. And when
he was asked the reason why, he said that “ Mercy was a pretty lass, but troubled
with ill conditions.”

When he had left her, Prudence said, “ Did I not tell thee that Mr. Brisk wouid
soon forsake thee? yea, he will raise up an ill report of thee; for, notwithstanding his
pretence to religion and his seeming love to Mercy, yet Mercy and he are of tempers
so different, that I believe they will never come together.”

Mer. I might have had husbands afore now, though I spake not of it to any; but
they were such as did not like my conditions, though never did any of them find fault
with my person. So they and I could not agree.

Prup. Mercy in our days is little set by, any further than as to its name: the prac-
tice, which is set forth by thy conditions, there are but few that can abide.

Mer. “ Well,” said Mercy, “if nobody will have me, I will die a maid, or my con-
ditions shall be to me as a husband; for I cannot change my nature; and to have one
that lies cross to me in this, that I purpose never to admit of as long as I live. J had
a sister, named Bountiful, that was married to one of these churls; but he and she
could never agree; but, because my sister was resolved to do as she had begun, that is,
to show kindness to the poor, therefore her husband first cried her down at the cross,
and then turned her out of his doors.”

Prup. And yet he was a professor, I warrant you?

Mer. Yes, such a one as he was; and of such as he the world is now full; but I
am for none of them at all.

Now Matthew, the eldest son of Christiana, fell sick, and his sickness was sore upon
him, for he was much pained in his bowels; so that he was with it, at times, pulled as
it were both ends together.

There dwelt also not far from thence one Mr. Skill, an ancient and well-approved
physician. So Christiana desired it, and they sent for him, and he came. When he
was entered the room, and had a little observed the boy, he concluded that he was
sick of the gripes. Then he said to his mother, “ What dict has Matthew of late fed
upon?”

“Diet!” said Christiana, “nothing but that which is wholesome.”