shy of conversing with one another,
when actually infected, as they were at first: no, though they knew it.

I acknowledge I was one of those thoughtless ones that had made so
little provision that my servants were obliged to go out of doors to buy
every trifle by penny and halfpenny, just as before it began, even till
my experience showing me the folly, I began to be wiser so late that I
had scarce time to store myself sufficient for our common subsistence
for a month.

I had in family only an ancient woman that managed the house, a
maid-servant, two apprentices, and myself; and the plague beginning to
increase about us, I had many sad thoughts about what course I should
take, and how I should act. The many dismal objects which happened
everywhere as I went about the streets, had filled my mind with a great
deal of horror for fear of the distemper, which was indeed very horrible
in itself, and in some more than in others. The swellings, which were
generally in the neck or groin, when they grew hard and would not break,
grew so painful that it was equal to the most exquisite torture; and
some, not able to bear the torment, threw themselves out at windows or
shot themselves, or otherwise made themselves away, and I saw several
dismal objects of that kind. Others, unable to contain themselves,
vented their pain by incessant roarings, and such loud and lamentable
cries were to be heard as we walked along the streets that would pierce
the very heart to think of, especially when it was to be considered that
the same dreadful scourge might be expected every moment to seize upon
ourselves.

I cannot say but that now I began to faint in my resolutions; my heart
failed me very much, and sorely I repented of my rashness. When I had
been out, and met with such terrible things as these I have talked of, I
say I repented my rashness in venturing to abide in town. I wished often
that I had not taken upon me to stay, but had gone away with my brother
and his family.

Terrified by those frightful objects, I would retire home sometimes and
resolve to go out no more; and perhaps I would keep those resolutions
for three or four days, which time I spent in the most serious
thankfulness for my preservation and the preservation of my family, and
the constant confession of my sins, giving myself up to God every day,
and applying to Him with fasting, humiliation, and meditation. Such
intervals as I had I employed in reading books and in wr