As we rose from Table, I noted _Argus_ pearcht on the Window-sill, eagerlie watching for his Dinner, which he looketh for as punctuallie as if he could tell the Diall; and to please the good, patient Bird, till the Scullion broughte him his Mess of Garden-stuff, I fetched him some Pulse, which he took from mine Hand, taking good Heede not to hurt me with his sharp Beak. While I was feeding him, _Erasmus_ came up, and asked me concerning _Mercy Giggs_; and I tolde him how that she was a friendlesse Orphan, to whom deare _Father_ afforded Protection and the run of the House; and tolde him of her Gratitude, her Meekness, her Patience, her Docilitie, her Aptitude for alle goode Works and Alms-deeds; and how, in her little Chamber, she improved eache spare Moment in the Way of Studdy and Prayer. He repeated "Friendlesse? she cannot be called Friendlesse, who hath _More_ for her Protector, and his Children for Companions;" and then woulde heare more of her Parents' sad Story. Alsoe, would hear somewhat of _Rupert Allington_, and how _Father_ gained his Lawsuit. Alsoe, of _Daisy_, whose Name he tooke to be the true Abbreviation for _Margaret_, but I tolde him how that my Step-sister, and _Mercy_, and I, being all three of a Name, and I being alwaies called _Meg_, we had in Sport given one the Significative of her characteristic Virtue, and the other that of the French _Marguerite_, which may indeed be rendered either Pearl or Daisy. And _Chaucer_, speaking of our English Daisy, saith "_Si douce est la Marguerite._" _23rd._ Since the little Wisdom I have Capacitie to acquire, soe oft gives me the Headache to Distraction, I marvel not at _Jupiter's_ Payn in his Head, when the Goddess of Wisdom sprang therefrom full growne. * * * * * This Morn, to quiet the Payn brought on by too busie Application, Mr. _Gunnel_ would have me close my Book and ramble forth with _Cecy_ into the Fields. We strolled towards _Walham Greene_; and she was seeking for Shepherd's Purses and Shepherd's Needles, when she came running back to me, looking rather pale. I askt what had scared her, and she made answer that _Gammer Gurney_ was coming along the Hedge. I bade her set aside her Feares; and anon we came up with _Gammer_, who was pulling at the purple Blossoms of the Deadly Nightshade. I sayd, "_Gammer_, to what Purpose gather that Weed? knowest not 'tis Evill?" She sayth, mumbling, "What GOD hath created, that call not thou evill." "Well, but," quo' I, "'tis Poison." "Aye, and Medicine too," returns _Gammer_. "I wonder what we poor Souls might come to, if we tooke Nowt for our Ails and Aches but what we could buy o' the Potticary. We've got noe Dr. _Clement_, we poor Folks, to be our Leech o' the Household." "But hast no Feare," quo' I, "of an Over-dose?"