ndrel to do this, but actually seemed to
encourage him. Soon they placed themselves upon a sofa, in full view of
my gaze; and I was both mortified and enraged to observe the wantonness
of my mother, and the lasciviousness of her _pious_ friend. After
indulging in the most obscene and lecherous preliminaries, the full
measure of their iniquity was consummated, I being a witness to the
whole disgraceful scene. Horrified, and sick at heart, I left the spot
and repaired to my own room, where I shed many bitter tears, for the
dishonor of my mother and the hypocrisy of the minister filled me with
shame and grief. From that moment, I ceased to love and respect my
mother, as formerly; but she failed to perceive any alteration in my
conduct towards her, and at that time was far from suspecting that I had
witnessed the act of her dishonor and disgrace.

'I had always regarded my father as one of the best and most exemplary
of men; and after my mother's crime, I comforted myself with the
reflection that _he_, at least, was no hypocrite! but in every sense a
good and sincere Christian. Nothing happened to shake this belief, until
I had reached my fourteenth year; and then, alas! I became too painfully
convinced that all _his_ professions of piety and holiness were but a
cloak to conceal the real wickedness of his heart. It chanced, about
this time, that a young woman was received into our family, as a
domestic: this person was far from being handsome or in the slightest
degree interesting, in countenance--yet her figure was rather good than
otherwise. She was a bold, wanton-looking wench; and soon after she came
to live with us, I noticed that my father frequently eyed her with
something sensual in his glances. He frequently sought opportunities of
being alone with her; and one evening, hearing a noise in the kitchen, I
went to the head of the stairs, and listened--there was the sound of a
tussle, and I heard Jane (the name of the young woman,) exclaim--'Have
done, sire--take away your hands--how dare you?' And then she laughed,
in a manner that indicated her words were not very seriously meant. My
father's voice next reached me; what he said I could not clearly
distinguish; but he seemed to be remonstrating with the girl, and
entreating her to grant him some favor; what that favor was, I could
readily guess; and that she _did_ grant it to him, without much further
coaxing, was soon evident to my mind, by certain unmistakable sounds