not know, but I fuppofe there was fome traditionary Superftition in it; and therefore, in Obedience to the Lady of the Houfe, I difpofed of my Knife and Fork in two parallel Lines, which is the Figure I fhall always lay them in for the future, tho' I do not know any Reafon for it. IT is not difficult for a Man to fee that a Perfon has conceived an Averfion to him. For my own Part, I quickly found, by the Lady's Looks, that the regarded me as a very odd kind of Fellow, with an unfortunate Afpect. For which Reafon I took my Leave immediately after Dinner, and withdrew to my own Lodgings. Upon my Return home, I fell into a profound Contemplation on the Evils that attend thefe fuperftitious Follies of Mankind; how they subject us to imaginary Afflictions, and additional Sorrows, that do not properly come within our Lot. As if the natural Calamities of Life were not fufficient for it, we turn the most indifferent Circumftanées into Misfortunes, and fuffer as much from trifling Accidents, as from real Evils. I have known the fhooting of a Star fpoil a Night's Reft; and have feen feen a Man in Love grow pale and lofe his Appetite, upon the plucking of a Merry-thought. A Screech-Owl at Midnight has alarmed a Family more than a Band of Robbers; nay, the Voice of a Cricket hath ftruck more Terror than the Roaring of a Lion. There is nothing fo inconfiderable, which may not appear dreadful to an Imagination that is filled with Omens and Prognosticks. A rufty Nail, or a crooked Pin, fhoot up into Prodigies. I remember I was once in a mixt Affembly, that was full of Noife and Mirth, when on a fudden an old Woman unluckily obferved there were thirteen of us in Company. This Remark ftruck a pannick Terror into several who were prefent, infomuch that one or two of the Ladies were going to leave the Room; but a Friend of mine taking notice that one of our Female Companions was big with Child, affirmed there were fourteen in the Room, and that, instead of portending one of the Company should die, it plainly foretold one of them fhould be born. Had not my Friend found this Expedient to break the Omen, I queftion not but half the Women in the Company would would have fallen fick that very Night. AN Old Maid, that is troubled with the Vapours, produces infinite Disturbances of this kind among her Friends and Neighbours. I know a Maiden Aunt of a great Family, who is one of these Antiquated Sibyls, that forebodes and prophefies from one end of the Year to the other. She is always feeing Apparitions, and hearing DeathWatches; and was the other Day almoft frighted out of her Wits by the great House-Dog, that howled in the Stable at a time when the lay ill of the Tooth-ach. Such an extravagant Caft of Mind engages Multitudes of People, not only in impertinent Terrors, but in fupernumerary Duties of Life; and arifes from that Fear and Ignorance which are natural to the Soul of Man. The Horror with which we entertain the Thoughts of Death (or indeed of any future Evil) and the Uncertainty of its Approach, fill a melancholy Mind with innumerable Apprehenfions and Sufpicions, and confequently difpofe it to the Obfervation of fuch groundless Prodigies and Predictions. For as it is the chief Concern of Wife Men, to retrench retrench the Evils of Life by the Reafonings of Philofophy; it is the Employment of Fools, to multiply them. by the Sentiments of Superftition. FOR my own Part, I should be very much troubled were I endowed with this Divining Quality, though it should inform me truly of every thing that can befal me. I would not anticipate the Relish of any Happiness, nor feel the Weight of any Mifery, before it actually arrives. I know but one way of fortifying my Soul against thefe gloomy Prefages and Terrors of Mind, and that is, by fecuring to my felf the Friendship and Protection of that Being who difposes of Events, and governs Futurity. He fees, at one View, the whole Thread of my Exiftence, not only that Part of it which I have already paffed through, but that which runs forward into all the Depths of Eternity. When I lay me down to Sleep, I recommend my felf to his Care; when I awake, I give my felf up to his Direction. Amidft all the Evils that threaten me, I will look up to him for Help; and queftion not but he will either avert them, or turn them to my Advantage. Though N° 8. Though I know neither the Time nor the Manner of the Death I am to die, I am not at all folicitous about it; because I am fure that He knows them both, and that he will not fail to comfort and fupport me under them. C N° 8. Friday, March 9. At Venus obfcuro gradientes aere fepfit, Virg. Shall here communicate to the World a couple of Letters, which I believe will give the Reader as good an Entertainment as any that I am able to furnish him with, and therefore fhall make no Apology for them. To the SPECTATOR, &c. SIR, I Am one of the Directors of the • Society for the Reformation of • Manners, |