mistress was angry; the girl very foolishly answer'd her again, which
made her worse, and she call'd upon God to damn her.--I was vastly
concern'd to hear this, as she was a fine young lady, and very good to
me, insomuch that I could not help speaking to her, "Madam, says I, you
must not say so," Why, says she? Because there is a black man call'd the
Devil that lives in hell, and he will put you in the fire and burn you,
and I shall be very sorry for that. Who told you this replied my lady?
Old Ned, says I. Very well was all her answer; but she told my master of
it, and he order'd that old Ned should be tyed up and whipp'd, and was
never suffer'd to come into the kitchen with the rest of the servants
afterwards.--My mistress was not angry with me, but rather diverted with
my simplicity and, by way of talk, She repeated what I had said, to many
of her acquaintance that visited her; among the rest, Mr. Freelandhouse,
a very gracious, good Minister, heard it, and he took a great deal of
notice of me, and desired my master to part with me to him. He would not
hear of it at first, but, being greatly persuaded, he let me go, and Mr.
Freelandhouse gave £50. for me.--He took me home with him, and made me
kneel down, and put my two hands together, and pray'd for me, and every
night and morning he did the same.--I could not make out what it was
for, nor the meaning of it, nor what they spoke to when they talk'd--I
thought it comical, but I lik'd it very well.--After I had been a little
while with my new master I grew more familiar, and ask'd him the meaning
of prayer: (I could hardly speak english to be understood) he took great
pains with me, and made me understand that he pray'd to God, who liv'd
in Heaven; that He was my Father and best Friend.--I told him that this
must be a mistake; that _my_ father liv'd at Bournou, and I wanted very
much to see him, and likewise my dear mother, and sister, and I wish'd
he would be so good as to send me home to them; and I added, all I could
think of to induce him to convey me back. I appeared in great trouble,
and my good master was so much affected that the tears ran down his