Quaker Women
[in which she is alarmed to discover her Aunt is a Preacher]
...Hence I came to Trenton Ferry, where I met with no small mortification upon hearing that my Relations were Quakers, & what was worst of all my Aunt a Preacher. I was Sorry to hear it, for I was Exceedingly prejudiced against these People & have often wondered with what face they Could Call them Selves Christians. ... I had not been there three Hours before I met with a Shock, & my opinon began to alter with respect to these People. -- For seeing a Book lying on the Table (& being much for reading) I took it up: My Aunt Observing said, "Cousin that is a Quakers' Book," for Perceiving I was not a Quaker, I suppose she thought I would not like it: I made her no answer but revolving in my mind, "what can these People write about, for I have heard that they Deny the Scriptures & have no other bible but George Fox's Journal, & Deny all the holy Ordinances?" So resolved to read, but had not read two Pages before my very heart burned within me and Tears Issued from my Eyes, which I was Afraid would be seen; therefore with the Book (Sam[ue]l. Crisp's Two Letters) I walked into the garden, sat Down, and the piece being Small, read it through before I went in;...
[falls asleep in Meeting]
The next Day being the first of the week I wanted to have gone to Church,...& as most of the Family was going to Meeting, I went with them, but with a resolution not to like them, & so it was fully Suffered: for as they sat in silence I looked over the Meeting, thinking with my self, "how like fools these People sit, how much better would it be to stay at home & read the Bible or some good Book, than to come here and go to Sleep." For my Part I was very Sleepy & thought they were no better than my Self. Indeed at Length I fell a sleep, and had like to fallen Down, but this was the last time I ever fell asleep in a Meeting, Tho' often Assaulted with it. ...
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