Page:Susanna Wesley (Clarke 1886).djvu/31

Rh Marquis as to necessitate his father's resignation of the living ; but this statement is not borne out by facts. If the story were absolutely correct, the Marquis must have recognised the natural indignation of a gentleman, and have respected him accordingly, for Mr. Wesley did not cease to be his private chaplain, nor to dedicate books to him and the Marchioness, nor did the nobleman forget to mention the Rector of South Ormsby at Court. The actual rencontre may very possibly have been with some woman connected with Lord Castleton, who rented the Hall and lived a very dissolute life there. It all happened long before John Wesley was born, so he may easily have been mistaken as to the facts.

When Samuel was between four and five years old his parents were relieved of all anxiety about his speech. He was very fond of the cat, and would carry it about and often get away with it into quiet corners, where we may presume that the other little ones did not follow to molest either pussy or her juvenile master. One day he was so long out of sight that his mother grew uneasy. She hunted all over the house and garden, and at length, while calling his name, she heard a voice saying, " Here am I, mother!" It came from under the table, and, stooping down, she saw Sammy and his cat. From this time forth he spoke as well as other children: Mrs. Wesley's thankfulness may be imagined.

It was in 1693 that Mr. Wesley published his heroic poem in ten books, entitled The Life of Our Blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, and dedicated it to Queen Mary. It was not published by the friendly brother-in-law, Dunton, but "printed for Charles Harper, at the Flower-de-Luce, over against