'Tis singular, the Love that _Jack_ and _Cecy_ have for one another; it resembleth that of Twins. _Jack_ is not forward at his Booke; on the other Hand, he hath a Resolution of Character which _Cecy_ altogether wants. Last Night, when _Erasmus_ spake of Children's Sins, I observed her squeeze _Jack's_ Hand with alle her Mighte. I know what she was thinking of. Having bothe beene forbidden to approach a favourite Part of the River Bank which had given way from too much Use, one or the other of 'em transgressed, as was proven by the smalle Footprints in the Mud, as well as by a Nosegay of Flowers, that grow not, save by the River; to wit, Purple Loosestrife, Cream-and-codlins, Scorpion-grass, Water Plantain, and the like. Neither of 'em woulde confesse, and _Jack_ was, therefore, sentenced to be whipt. As he walked off with Mr. _Drew_, I observed _Cecy_ turn soe pale, that I whispered _Father_ I was certayn she was guilty. He made Answer, "Never mind, we cannot beat a Girl, and 'twill answer the same Purpose; in flogging him, we flog both." _Jack_ bore the firste Stripe or two, I suppose, well enow, but at lengthe we hearde him cry out, on which _Cecy_ coulde not forbeare to doe the same, and then stopt bothe her Ears. I expected everie Moment to heare her say, "_Father_, 'twas I;" but no, she had not Courage for that; onlie, when _Jack_ came forthe all smirched with Tears, she put her Arm about his Neck, and they walked off together into the Nuttery. Since that Hour, she hath beene more devoted to him than ever, if possible; and he, Boy-like, finds Satisfaction in making her his little Slave. But the Beauty lay in my _Father's_ Improvement of the Circumstance. Taking _Cecy_ on his Knee that Evening, (for she was not ostensiblie in Disgrace,) he beganne to talk of Atonement and Mediation for Sin, and who it was that bare our Sins for us on the Tree. 'Tis thus he turns the daylie Accidents of our quiet Lives into Lessons of deepe Import, not pedanticallie delivered, _ex cathedrâ_, but welling forthe from a full and fresh Mind. [Illustration: Jack and Cecy.] This Morn I had risen before Dawn, being minded to meditate on sundrie Matters before _Bess_ was up and doing, she being given to much Talk during her dressing, and made my Way to the Pavilion, where, methought, I should be quiet enow; but beholde! _Father_ and _Erasmus_ were there before me, in fluent and earneste Discourse. I would have withdrawne, but _Father_, without interrupting his Sentence, puts his Arm rounde me and draweth me to him; soe there I sit, my Head on 's Shoulder, and mine Eyes on _Erasmus_ his Face. From much they spake, and othermuch I guessed, they had beene conversing on the present State of the Church, and how much it needed Renovation. _Erasmus_ sayd, the Vices of the Clergy and Ignorance of the Vulgar had now come to a Poynt, at the which, a Remedie must be founde, or the whole Fabric would falle to Pieces.