I went to bed which tho’ pretty hard Yet neet and handsome but I could get no sleep because of the Clamor of some of the Town-tope-ers in next Room who were entered into a strong debate concerning ye Signifycation of the name of their Country (viz) Narraganset. One said it was named so by ye Indians because there grew a Brier there of a prodigious Highth and bigness, the like hardly ever known, called by the Indians Narragansett. And quotes an Indian of so Barberous a name for his Author that I could not write it. His Antagonist Replyd No.--It was from a spring it had its name, which he well knew where it was, which was extreem cold in summer, and as Hott as could be imagined in the winter which was much resorted to by the natives and by them called Narragansett (Hott & Cold) and that was the originall of their places name--with a thousand Impertinances not worth notice, which He uttered with such a Roreing voice & Thundering blows with the fist of wickedness on the Table that it pierced my very head. I heartily fretted and wisht ’um tonguetyed; but with little success. They kept calling for tother Gill which while they were swallowing, was some Intermission But presently like Oyle to fire encreased the flame. I set my Candle on a Chest by the bedside, and setting up fell to my old way of composing my Resentments in the following manner:-- I ask thy aid O Potent Rum To charm these wrangling Topers Dum Thou hast their Giddy Brains possest The man confounded with the Beast And I, poor I, can get no rest Intoxicate them with thy fumes O still their Tongues till morning comes And I know not but my wishes took effect for the dispute soon ended with tother Dram. To one who, unused to venturing abroad in boats on stormy waters, has trusted her bodily safety to one of those ticklish Indian vehicles, a canoe, this vivid account of the sensations of an early female colonist in a similar situation may prove of interest; nor do I think, after the lapse of centuries, could the description be improved by the added words of our newer and more profuse vocabulary:-- The Cannoo was very small & shallow so that when we were in she seemd redy to take in water which greatly terrify’d me, and caused me to be very circumspect, sitting with my hands fast on each side, my eyes stedy, not daring so much as to lodge my tongue a hairs breadth more on one side of my mouth than tother, nor so much as think on Lotts wife, for a very thought would have oversett our wherey. We are so accustomed to hearing of the great veneration and respect always shown in olden times by children toward their parents, and the dignified reserve and absolute authority of parents towards children, that the following scene rather shocks our established notions:--