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To the Author of the New-England Courant.

Sir,

Histories of Lives are
seldom entertaining, un-
less they contain some-
thing either admirable
or exemplar: And since
there is little or no-
thing of this Nature
in my own Adventures,
I will not tire your Rea-
ders with tedious Par-
ticulars of no Conse-
quence, but will briefly,
and in as few Words as
possible, relate the most material Occurrences of my
Life, and according to my Promise, confine all to
this Letter.

MY Reverend Master who had hitherto remained a
Batchelor, (after much Meditation on the Eighteenth
verse of the Second Charter o [f] Genesis) took up a Re-
solution to marry; and having made several unsuccess
ful fruitless Attempts on the more topping Sort of our
Sex, and being tir'd with making troublesome Journeys
and Visits to no Purpose, he began unexpectedly to
cast a loving Eye upon Me, whom he had brought
up cleverly to his Hand.

THERE is certainly scarce any Part of a Man's
Life in which he appears more silly and ridiculous,
than when he makes his first Onset in Courtship.
The aukward Manner in which my Master first dis-
cover'd his Intentions, made me, in spite of my Re-
verence to his Person, burst out into an unmannerly
Laughter: However, having ask'd his Pardon, and
with much ado compos'd my Countenance, I pro-
mis'd him I would take his Proposal into serious
Consideration, and speedily give him an Answer.

AS he had been a great Benefactor (and in a Man-
ner a Father to me) I could not well deny his Re-
quest, when I once perceived he was in earnest.
Whether it was Love, or Gratitude, or Pride, or all
Three that made me consent, I know not; but it
is certain, he found it no hard Matter, by the Help of
his Rhetorick, to conquer my Heart, and perswade
me to marry him.

This unexpected Match was very astonishing to
all the Country round about, and served to furnish
them with Discourse for a long Time after; some
approving it, others disliking it, as they were led by
their various Fancies and Inclinations.

WE lived happily together in the Heighth of
conjugal Love and mutual Endearments, for near Se-
ven Years, in which Time we added Two likely Girls
and a Boy to the Family of the Dogoods: But alas!
When my Sun was in its meridian Altitude, inexo-
rable unrelenting Death, as if he had envy'd my
Happiness and Tranquility, and resolv'd to make me
entirely miserable by the Loss of so good an Hus-
band, hastened his Flight to the Heavenly World,
by a sudden uexpected Departure from this.

I HAVE now remained in a State of Widowhood
for several Years, but it is a State I never much
admir'd, and I am apt to fancy that I could be easi-
ly perswaded to marry again, provided I was sure
of a good-humoue'd, sober, agreeable Companion:
But one, even with these few good Qualities, being
hard to find, I have lately relinquish'd all Thoughts
of that Nature.

At present I pass away my leisure Hours in Con-
versation, either with my honest Neighbor Rusti-
ous: and his Family, or with the ingenious Minister
of our Town, who now lodges at my House, and
by whose Assistance I intend now and then to beau-
tify my Writings with a Sentence or two in the
learned Languages, which will not only be fashiona-
ble, and pleasing to those who do not understand it,
but will likewise be very ornamental.

I SHALL conclude this with my own Character,
which (one would think) I should be best able to
give. Know then, That I am an Enemy to Vice, and
a Friend to Vertue. I am one of an extensive Cha-
rity, and a great Forgiver of private Injuries: A
hearty Lover of the Clergy and all good Men, and
a mortal Enemy to arbitrary Goverment & unlimited
Power. I am natural very jealous for the Rights and
Liberties of my Country; & the least appearence of an
Incroachment on those invaluable Priviledges, is apt
to make my Blood boil exceedingly. I have like-
wise a natural Inclination to observe and re-
prove the Faults of others, at which I have an ex-
cellent Faculty. I speak this by Way of Warning
to all such whose Offences shall come under my
Cognizance, for I never intend to wrap my Talent in
a Napkin. To brief; I am courteous and affa-
ble, good-humour'd (unless I am first provok'd) and
handsome, and some times witty, but always,