I FALL IN LOVE WITH RELIGION WHEN PREACHED BY ONE WHO HAS THE FORM OF AN
ANGEL.
In half an hour afterwards Ephraim came in with a draught, which I was
desired to take by Mr Cophagus, and then to try and sleep. This was
good advice, and I followed it. I awoke after a long, refreshing sleep,
and found Mr and Mrs Cophagus sitting in the room, she at work and he
occupied with a book. When I opened my eyes, and perceived a female, I
looked to ascertain if it was the young person whom Ephraim had stated
to be Susannah Temple; not that I recollected her features exactly, but
I did the contour of her person. Mrs Cophagus was taller, and I had a
fair scrutiny of her before they perceived that I was awake. Her face
was very pleasing, features small and regular. She appeared to be about
thirty years of age, and was studiously neat and clean in her person.
Her Quaker's dress was not without some little departure from the strict
fashion and form, sufficient to assist, without deviating from, its
simplicity. If I might use the term, it was a little coquettish, and
evinced that the wearer, had she not belonged to that sect, would have
shown great taste in the adornment of her person.
Mr Cophagus, although he did not think so himself, as I afterwards
found out, was certainly much improved by his change of costume. His
spindle shanks, which, as I have before observed, were peculiarly at
variance with his little orbicular, orange-shaped stomach, were now
concealed in loose trowsers, which took off from the protuberance of the
latter, and added dignity to the former, blending the two together, so
that his roundness became fine by degrees, and beautifully less as it
descended. Altogether, the Quaker dress added very much to the
substantiability of his appearance, and was a manifest improvement,
especially when he wore his broad-brimmed hat. Having satisfied my
curiosity I moved the curtain so as to attract their attention, and
Cophagus came to my bedside, and felt my pulse. "Good--very good--all
right--little broth--throw in bark--on his legs--well as ever--and so
on."
"I am indeed much better this afternoon," replied I; "indeed, so well,
that I feel as if I could get up."
"Pooh:--tumble down--never do--lie a bed--get strong--wife--Mrs
Cophagus--Japhet--old friend."
Mrs Cophagus had risen from her chair, and come towards the bed, when
her husband introduced her in his own fashion. "I am afraid that I have
been a great trouble, madam," said I.
"Japhet Newland, we have done but our duty, even if thou wert not, as it
appears that thou art, a friend of my husband. Consider me, therefore,
as thy sister, and I will regard thee as a brother; and if thou wouldst
wish it, thou shalt sojourn with us, for so hath my husband communicated
his wishes unto me."
I thanked her for her kind expressions, and took the fair hand which was
offered in such amity. Cophagus then asked me if I was well enough to
inform him of what had passed since our last meeting, and telling me
that his wife knew my whole history, and that I might speak before her,
he took his seat by the side of the bed, his wife also drew her chair
nearer, and I commenced the narrative of what had passed since we parted
in Ireland. When I had finished, Mr Cophagus commenced as usual, "Um--
very odd--lose money--bad--grow honest--good--run away from friends--
bad--not hung--good--brain fever--bad--come here--good--stay with us--
quite comfortable--and so on."
"Thou hast suffered much, friend Japhet," said Mrs Cophagus, wiping her
eyes; "and I would almost venture to say, hast been chastised too
severely, were it not that those whom He loveth, He chastiseth. Still
thou art saved, and now out of danger; peradventure thou wilt now quit a
vain world, and be content to live with us; nay, as thou hast the
example of thy former master, it may perhaps please the Lord to advise
thee to become one of us, and to join us as a Friend. My husband was
persuaded to the right path by me," continued she, looking fondly at
him; "who knoweth but some of our maidens may also persuade thee to
eschew a vain, unrighteous world, and follow thy Redeemer in humility?"
"Very true--um--very true," observed Cophagus, putting more Quakerism
than usual in his style, and drawing out his ums to treble their usual
length; "Happy life--Japhet--um--all at peace--quiet amusements--think
about it--um--no hurry--never swear--by-and-by, hell!--spirit may move--
um--not now--talk about it--get well--set up shop--and so on."
I was tired with talking so much, and having taken some nourishment,
again fell asleep. When I awoke in the evening, friend Cophagus and his
wife were not in the room; but Susannah Temple, whom I had first seen,
and of whom I had made inquiry of Ephraim, who was Cophagus's servant.
She was sitting close to the light and reading, and long did I continue
to gaze upon her, fearful of interrupting her. She was the most
beautiful specimen of clear and transparent white that I ever had
beheld--her complexion was unrivalled--her eyes were large, but I could
not ascertain their colour, as they were cast down upon her book, and
hid by her long fringed eyelashes--her eyebrows arched and regular, as
if drawn by a pair of compasses, and their soft hair in beautiful
contrast with her snowy forehead--her hair was auburn, but mostly
concealed within her cap--her nose was very straight but not very large,
and her mouth was perfection. She appeared to be between seventeen and
eighteen years old, as far as I could ascertain: her figure was
symmetrically perfect. Dressed as she was in the modest, simple garb
worn by the females of the Society of Friends, she gave an idea of
neatness, cleanliness, and propriety upon which I could have gazed for
ever. She was, indeed, most beautiful. I felt her beauty, her purity,
and I could have worshipped her as an angel. While I still had my eyes
fixed upon her exquisite features, she closed her book, and rising from
her chair, came to the side of the bed. That she might not be startled
at the idea of my having been watching her, I closed my eyes, and
pretended to slumber. She resumed her seat, and then I changed my
position and spoke, "Is anyone there?"
"Yes, friend Newland, what is it that thou requirest?" said she,
advancing. "Wouldst thou see Cophagus or Ephraim? I will summon them."
"O no," replied I; "why should I disturb them from their amusements or
employments? I have slept a long while, and I would like to read a
little, I think, if my eyes are not too weak."
"Thou must not read, but I may read unto thee," replied Susannah. "Tell
me, what is it that thou wouldest have me read? I have no vain books;
but surely thou thinkest not of them, after thy escape from death."
"I care not what is read, provided that you read to me," replied I.
"Nay, but thou shouldest care; and be not wroth if I say to thee, that
there is but one book to which thou shouldest now listen. Thou hast
been saved from deadly peril--thou hast been rescued from the jaws of
death. Art thou not thankful? And to whom is gratitude most due, but
to thy heavenly Father, who hath been pleased to spare thee?"
"You are right," replied I; "then I pray you to read to me from the
Bible."
Susannah made no reply, but resumed her seat; and selecting those
chapters most appropriate to my situation, read them in a beautiful and
impressive tone.