And think it is unsafe to stay;
But meeting with their wicked Train,
Return with them to sin again:
With them the Paths of Vice explore;
With them are ruin'd ever more.

CHAP. IV.

_What happened at Farmer Grove's;
and how she gratified him for the Use
of his Room_.

While at Mr. _Grove's_, which was in the Heart of the Village,
she not only taught the Children in the Day Time, but the Farmer's
Servants, and all the Neighbours, to read and write in the Evening;
and it was a constant Practice before they went away, to make them all
go to Prayers, and sing Psalms. By this Means, the People grew
extremely regular, his Servants were always at Home, instead of being
at the Ale-house, and he had more Work done than ever. This gave not
only Mr. _Grove_, but all the Neighbours, an high Opinion of her
good Sense and prudent Behaviour: And she was so much esteemed, that
most of the Differences in the Parish were left to her Decision; and
if a Man and Wife quarrelled (which sometimes happened in that Part of
the Kingdom) both Parties certainly came to her for Advice. Every Body
knows, that _Martha Wilson_ was a passionate scolding Jade, and
that _John_ her husband, was a surly ill-tempered Fellow. These
were one Day brought by the Neighbours for _Margery_ to talk to
them, when they fairly quarrelled before her, and were going to Blows;
but she stepping between them, thus addressed the Husband;
_John_, says she, you are a Man, and ought to have more Sense
than to fly in a Passion, at every Word that is said amiss by your
Wife; and _Martha_, says she, you ought to know your Duty better,
than to say any Thing to aggravate your Husband's Resentment. These
frequent Quarrels, arise from the Indulgence of your violent Passions;
for I know, you both love one another, notwithstanding what has passed
between you. Now, pray tell me _John_, and tell me _Martha_,
when you have had a Quarrel the over Night, are you not both sorry for
it the next Day? They both declared that they were: Why then, says
she, I'll tell you how to prevent this for the future, if you will
both promise to take my Advice. They both promised her. You know, says
she, that a small Spark will set Fire to Tinder, and that Tinder
properly placed will fire a House; an angry Word is with you as that
Spark, for you are both as touchy as Tinder, and very often make your