and the poor People continued there three or four Days longer without any Diſturbance. In this time they had got ſome remote Acquaintance with a Victualling-Houſe at the out-skirts of the Town, to whom they called at a Diſtance to bring ſome little Things that they wanted, and which they caus’d to to be ſet down at a Diſtance, and always paid for very honeſtly.
During this Time, the younger People of the Town came frequently pretty near them, and wou’d ſtand and look at them, and ſometimes talk with them at ſome Space between; and particularly it was obſerved, that the firſt Sabbath Day the poor People kept retir’d, worſhip’d God together, and were heard to ſing Pſalms.
Theſe Things and a quiet inoffenſive Behaviour, began to get them the good Opinion of the Country, and People began to pity them and ſpeak very well of them; the Conſequence of which was, that upon the occaſion of a very wet rainy Night, a certain Gentleman who liv’d in the Neighbourhood, ſent them a little Cart with twelve Truffles or Bundles of Straw, as well for them to lodge upon, as to cover and thatch their Huts, and to keep them dry: The Miniſter of a Pariſh not far off, not knowing of the other, ſent them alſo about two Buſhels of Wheat, and half a Buſhel of white Peas.
They were very thankful to be ſure for this Relief, and particularly the Straw was a very great Comfort to them; for tho’ the ingenious Carpenter had made Frames for them to lie in like Troughs,and fill’d them with Leaves of Trees, and ſuch Things as they could get, and had cut all their Tent-cloth out to make them Coverlids, yet they lay damp, and hard, and unwholeſome till this Straw came, which was to them like Feather-beds, and, as John ſaid, more welcome than Feather-beds wou’d ha’ been at another time.
