24
Cutter of Coleman-street.
Enter Widow, Tabitha.
Wid.How de' you Neighbour Colonel? how is't? take comfort.
Joll.Cut off in the flower o' my age, Widow.
Wid.Why, Man's life is but a Flower, Mr. Jolly, and the Flower withers, and Man withers, as Mr. Knock-down observed last Sabbath-day at Evening Exercise; But, Neighbour, you'r past the Flower, you'r grown old as well as I———
Joll.I'the very flower; that damn'd Quack-salver———
Tabith.Me-thoughts he was the ugliest fellow, Mother,And they say he's a Papish too, forsooth.
Wid.I never liked a Doctor with a Red Nose; my Husband was wont to say— how do you, Mrs. Aurelia? comfort your self, we must all die sooner or later; to day here, to morrow gone.
Joll.Oh the torture of such a tongue! would I were dead already, and this my Funeral Sermon.
Wid.Alas poor man! his tongue I warrant yee is hot as passes; you have a better memory than I, Tabitha, tell him what Mr. Knock-down said was a Saints duty in tormenting sicknesses, now Poison's a great tormentor.
Joll.Oh! Oh!——— this additional Poison will certainly make an end of me!
Wid.Why seek for spiritual Incomes, Mr. Colonel; I'l tell you what my Husband Barebottle was wont to observe (and he was a Colonel too) he never sought for Incomes but he had some Blessing followed immediately; once he sought for 'em in Hartfordshire, and the next day he took as many Horses and Arms in the Country as serv'd to raise three Troops; another time he sought for 'em in Bucklersbury, and three days after a friend of his, that he owed five hundred pounds too, was hang'd for a Malignant, and the Debt forgiven him by the Parliament; a third time he sought for 'em in Hartfordshire———
Tabith.No, Mother, 'twas in Worcester-shire, forsooth.
Wid.I, Child, it was indeed in Worcester-shire; and within two months after the Dean of Worcester's Estate fell to him.
Joll.He sought for 'em once out o' my Estate too, I thank him; Oh my head!
Wid.Why truly, Neighbour Colonel, he had that but for his Penny, and would have had but a hard Bargain of it, if he had not by
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