however, as he was looking through his glass, he saw this man standing on the other side of the street and looking up towards his house, upon which he ran immediately to his wooden window. The poor watchman told him he was glad to see him alive, and that he was dismissed from the house he had been set to watch, most of the people being dead, if he pleased to accept of his service, he would sit at his door in the day time, as his two porters had done before. This offer being accepted, he threw the poor man two crowns, for which he was very thankful; and he had not been at the door many days, before he was able to inform his master that the weekly bill was decreased 1837 in one week, which had been the cause of great joy; that the burials were reduced under 200, though in Stepney they were as high as ever. The next week the returns of deaths of all diseases did not exceed 5725, and the burials in Cripplegate were only 196; nothing when compared to 886 only a few weeks before. This tradesman's sons would fain have had him, like Noah, to have sent out a dove, or to have let them go out of doors to see how things were, and how the city looked; and they urged him the more, as they began to hear a noise of the people in the streets passing to and fro, and that pretty often; but he kept his resolution, and would not let any one stir out on any terms, or under any pretence whatever. The next week but two there was a further decrease in the bill of 1849; and now the porter knocked at his door, assuring him that the visitation was really going off, as the Lord Mayor had ordered the dead carts not to go about more than twice a week in several parts of the city. For this good news he let down to the watchman a pint bottle of good sack, with provisions for him and his family. These flattering prospects, however, were followed by a terrible consternation in the whole family, from the idea that the master himself concluded he was struck with the plague; and it was feared that lest he should be the means of giving it to any of his children, he would oblige them to have him carried out to the pest house; but his wife and all the children declared against it, protesting that they would rather have the distemper with him, than be separated; and that they would leave the consequences to God's mercy. Happily a violent perspiration relieved both him and them, and in two or three days he was about again, his disease having been nothing more than a common cold caught by standing too long at his wooden window talking with the watchman. The joy of the family on this occasion may be easily conceived; they now began to look abroad for intelligence. And now they could see through their windows a new face of things in the streets and about the houses; people were frequently seen going up and down; others began to open their shops, at least half way; the hackney coaches were also heard rumbling in the streets; so that without calling to the porter, they could easily perceive that the distemper was greatly decreased, and that the people that were left had more courage than before ; and, in a word, that the plague was going off, at least in the City, and chiefly on that side where they lived. It was now the last week in October, and only 22 were interred in Cripplegate parish; still the bills were high in Stepney and Southwark. The master, however, contented himself with hearing how things were, and would not abate a tittle of his strictness in keeping his family from any communication whatever with the people out of doors. He was aware that the people would be rash in their joy, and presuming too far would return to their houses, and bring out their goods, &c. on which others had died, and air them too soon, and so perhaps bring back the infection. And so it fell out, for about the middle of November the bills on a sudden increased 400 at once, and rose from 1000 to 1400; but the weather becoming cool again, the bills continued decreasing till the third week of November, when only 652 were returned as dying of the plague. On the 1st of December he opened his street door, and walked out alone without any of his family, viewing the streets, the houses, and the shops, but cautiously avoided conversation with any one. In fact, he saw very few persons that he was acquainted with, except a few just in his own neighbourhood. He saw a vast number of houses that had been deserted; but in some of these the servants had returned, and were opening the windows and doors, making fires in all the rooms, burning perfumes, &c. and, thus preparing the houses for the return of the families to whom they belonged. Returning again in a few hours, he resolved to keep in his close quarters one week longer, after which he removed with his family to a house in Tottenham High Cross, that had not been infected. Here they enjoyed good air and fresh provisions, brought from Waltham market. His house in London being fast locked up, excepting the gate into his yard, the key of which was entrusted to the watchman, he went or sent two or three times a week to see that things were in good order; and thus it continued till the February following, for the plague had not entirely ceased in the City during the months of December and January. At the latter end of December it began to increase again, owing, as it was thought, to the people returning faster than ordinary to their dwellings; but by the beginning of February this family being well recovered, and in perfect health, and the City again filled with people, he removed back again, came to his house, opened his doors, and carried on his business as before. The overplus of the provisions, amounting to 1500lbs. of bread, 5 hogsheads of beer, 300lbs. of cheese, 5 flitches of bacon, and some barrels of salt beef and pork, he bestowed upon the poor in his neighbourhood, as a thanksgiving offering for the preservation he had experienced.* MAY-DAY.-MAYING IN HENRY THE EIGHTH'S REIGN. EVIL MAY DAY. Now the bright morning Star, day's harbinger, MILTON. May-Day, which in the "olden times," was consecrated both to the Goddess Flora, and the Queen of Love, was the grand rustic holiday of our forefathers, and it was accustomed to be celebrated with joyous diversions and festive revelry. In the early dawn, from every town and village, the lads and lasses poured forth in congregated throngs "to fetch home the May" from the blossoming woodlands, a custom which Spenser thus poetically recorded in the fifth Eclogue of his "Shepherd's Calender." Youthes folke now flocken in every where To gather May-buskets, and smelling Breere; I saw a shole of shepheards out-go With singing and showting, and jolly cheere ; - *The style of the above narrative is so very similar to that of De Foe's" Journal of the Plague Year," that we may almost conclude it to have been written by him. That to the meynie a horne-pipe plaid, So, likewise, the deliciously-warbling Herrick, in a mellifluous Address to his slumbering Corinna, thus beautifully describes the "harmeless follies," of a May morning. Get up, get up for shame, the blooming morne The dew bespangled herbe and tree. Nay! not so much as out of bed; When all the birds have matteyns seyd, When as a thousand virgins on this day, Rise, and put on your foliage, and be seene To come forth, like the spring-time, fresh and greene, |