Heads, the amorous Dove, and every innocent little Bird ſpread wide the Alarm, and fly trembling to their Hiding-places. He proudly beats the Air, conſcious of his Dignity, and meditates intended Miſchief.
So when the Approach of Mrs. Deborah was proclaimed through the Street, all the Inhabitants ran trembling into their Houſes, each Matron dreading leſt the Viſit ſhould fall to her Lot. She with ſtately Steps proudly advances over the Field, aloft ſhe bears her tow’ring Head, filled with Conceit of her own Pre-eminence, and Schemes to effect her intended Diſcovery.
The ſagacious Reader will not, from this Simile, imagine theſe poor People had any Apprehenſion of the Deſign with which Mrs. Wilkins was now coming towards them; but as the great Beauty of the Simile may poſſibly ſleep theſe hundred Years, till ſome future Commentator ſhall take this Work in hand, I think proper to lend the Reader a little Aſſiſtance in this Place.
It is my Intention therefore to ſignify, that as it is the Nature of a Kite to devour little Birds, ſo is it the Nature of ſuch Perſons as Mrs. Wilkins, to inſult and tyran-nize
