rn me as much; my hopes of a good Portion being
gone, my Sweet hearts quickly Vanish'd; but being a Young Maid and pretty
handsome, an old rich Batchelor that had a kindness for me in my Father's
Life-time, (whom both my Father and myself had then deny'd) thinking that
in this Ebb of Fortune he might be more Successful in his Suit, again made
his Addresses to me; and tho' I had as great an Aversation to him then as
ever, yet he was mightily Encourag'd by my Mother; who thought in our
decclining State, he might support our Family: And therefore she not only
shew'd him all the Countenance he cou'd desire, her self, (for whom indeed
he wou'd have been a fitter Match) but also charg'd me likewise to receive
him well, for he must be my Husband. And when I told her I cou'd'nt love
him, she call'd me Fool, saying, I shou'd Marry him first, and love him
afterwards: And when I farther objected our Disparity in Age she answer'd
with another Musty Proverb, _That 'twas good taking Shelter under an old
Hedge_; and that it was far better being an Old Mans Darling, then a Young
Mans Worldling: And tho' this didn't Satisfie me, yet I soon found I must
have him or none; For having been brought up too high to make a working
Tradesmans Wife, that Portion now was gone that should have helpt me to a
better Husband. And therefore making a vertue of Necessity, I began to be
more Complaisant to my Inamorato then I had been formerly; which quickly
won his heart to that degree, that in a short time after we were
married--And tho the first Night that I went to Bed with him, I was a Maid,
and so knew nothing of that which a new Married couple ought to do, more
then what Nature dictated; yet I then thought he went about his Business
like a Fumbler, and did that little which he did, at such a rate, it had
almost as good have been let alone; for what he did, serv'd only to stir up
in me greater Desire for what he couldn't do. I found the exercise he
offer'd at, had something in it that was very pleasing, which in the
heighth of the Encounter I was disappointed in. And I must own, that I
found this a very sensible Affliction, and caus'd in me a greater Aversion
to my Husband than I had before: And therefore I resolv'd to try what those
venereal Recreations were; I had but an imperfect Taste of, as soon as I
could get an opportunity.

Nor did I wait long before my good Fortune put one in my hand; For my
Husband's Prentice, a handsome brisk young Man (who