As to your brother, he will do well to keep where he is in the plantations; for if he come hither a theeing and thouing of me, I will spare him never a whit; and if I do not chastise him myself, it will be because the constable can do it better at the cart-tail.

As the Lord lives, I had rather he had turned Turk!" I tried to say a word for my brother, but he cut me straightway short, bidding me not to mention his name again in his presence.

Poor me! I have none here now to whom I can speak freely, Rebecca having gone to her sister's at Weymouth.

My young cousin Grindall is below, with his college friend, Cotton Mather; but I care not to listen to their discourse, and aunt is busied with her servants in the kitchen, so that I must even sit alone with my thoughts, which be indeed but sad company.
The little book which I brought with me from the Maine, it being the gift of young Mr.Jordan, and which I have kept close hidden in my trunk, hath been no small consolation to me this day, for it aboundeth in sweet and goodly thoughts, although he who did write it was a monk.
Especially in my low state, have these words been a comfort to me:-- "What thou canst not amend in thyself or others, bear thou with patience until God ordaineth otherwise.

When comfort is taken away, do not presently despair.