of
their education turns upon them, and the early instruction of parents is
not lost, though it may have been many years laid asleep, but some time
or other they may find the benefit of it. Thus it was with this poor
man: however ignorant he was of religion and Christian knowledge, he
found he had some to do with now more ignorant than himself, and that the
least part of the instruction of his good father that now came to his
mind was of use to him.

Among the rest, it occurred to him, he said, how his father used to
insist so much on the inexpressible value of the Bible, and the privilege
and blessing of it to nations, families, and persons; but he never
entertained the least notion of the worth of it till now, when, being to
talk to heathens, savages, and barbarians, he wanted the help of the
written oracle for his assistance. The young woman was glad of it also
for the present occasion, though she had one, and so had the youth, on
board our ship among their goods, which were not yet brought on shore.
And now, having said so many things of this young woman, I cannot omit
telling one story more of her and myself, which has something in it very
instructive and remarkable.

I have related to what extremity the poor young woman was reduced; how
her mistress was starved to death, and died on board that unhappy ship we
met at sea, and how the whole ship's company was reduced to the last
extremity. The gentlewoman, and her son, and this maid, were first
hardly used as to provisions, and at last totally neglected and
starved--that is to say, brought to the last extremity of hunger. One
day, being discoursing with her on the extremities they suffered, I asked
her if she could describe, by what she had felt, what it was to starve,
and how it appeared? She said she believed she could, and told her tale
very distinctly thus:--

"First, we had for some days fared exceedingly hard, and suffered very
great hunger; but at last we were wholly without food of any kind except
sugar, and a little wine and water. The first day after I had received
no food at all, I found myself towards evening, empty and sick at the
stomach, and nearer night much inclined to yawning and sleep. I lay down
on the couch in the great cabin to sleep, and slept about three hours,
and awaked a little refreshed, having taken a glass of wine when I lay
down; after being about three hours awake, it being about five o'clock in
the morning, I found myself