Obey, there is no Pilfering & Loitering,
& the House moves like Clockwork."

He must have been like clockwork, himself. There seems less and less
human emotion in him. The birth of his only child gets this:

"This day was born Sophronisba Harriott Hynds, nam'd for her
Estimable Mother. I am told 'Tis a fine healthy Child."

Casually thereafter he mentions "my Daughter." Twice her mother
"Requested me to Chastise her for Unchristian Temper," which
chastisement he seems to have administered with thoroughness and a
rattan, in his office. On the second occasion, "I whip'd her
Severely & did at the same Time admonish her to Ask Pardon of God.
Whereupon she Yell'd Aloud & did Seize the Calf of my Leg & Bite me,
Causing me Great Physical Pain and Mental Anguish. How sharper than
a Serpent's Tooth is an Ungrateful Child!"

(Oh, Ungrateful Child, I do not find it in my heart to blame you
overmuch. Somehow I can't feel sorry that you bit him, Sophronisba!)

"This day died my Wife, an Estimable Helpmeet. I shall sadly Lack
her Management of the House." In spite of which, he buys more land.
Life seems to run smoothly enough. "The Lord hath bless'd me with
Abundance. They that Spoke evil of me are Astonied & made Asham'd.
The Lord hath done it."

Then comes this last entry:

"Two nights since died Scipio, son of old Shooba's last Wife, the
which did send for me, Urgently entreating of my Presence. 'T was
ever a Simple-minded Creature & found a faithful Servant, wherefore
I did go to him.

"He was greatly in Dread of Dying, for that he was in mortal Terrour
of old Shooba, fearing to Meet that Evil Being outside of the Flesh.
Had been with Shooba when the wretched Creature passed away, a
harden'd Heathen among Convert'd & Profess'd Christians. Said he was
a Snake Soul.

"The man was craz'd with Fear, dreading Shooba to be even then in
the Room. And indeed the Tale he whisper'd me was enough to Craze a
Christian Man, & hath all but crack'd mine own Witts. If 't were not
for the Paper he slip't into my Palm, I should sett it down for a
Phantazy, one of old Shooba's evil Spells. Most merciful God, how
came he by that Paper if the Tale be untrue?

"Greatly am I upsett by this Improbable & Frightful Thing. Sure this
requires Prayer & Fasting, lest I be Delud'd."

Between the pages following this last entry was a piece of yellowed
paper, the paper that had been lost from the Author's coat pocket,
in the locked closet of his r