Page:True fortune teller, or, Universal book of fate (3).pdf/4

 evinced she had it instincted in her by nature. Her parents dying when she was young, left her to ramble abroad at her will; and she supported herself chiefly by begging. It was then strongly remarked in her, that she made observations on people's features and mannorsmanners [sic]; would sit up whole nights when the atmospheroatmosphere [sic] was clear, and seemed as intent on considering the stars, as the greatest astrologers would be with their glasses; this gave her a great knowledge of thothe [sic] weather, the alteration of the air, and the effect it had; and from her sometimes casually acquainting the neighbouring farmers of any change which generally took place, her fame began to spread when young, and she was consulted by them on almost every occasion; not a farmer would go to plough, not a sower would put the seed in the ground, without first asking the young gipsey (for so they then styled her) her opinion, and following according to her dictates.

Her fame now began to spread, and Bridget's prescience became more universal; other persons besides farmers and her neighbours came to consult her, and the truth of her perdictions made her veracity gain ground, and she became the topic of conversation of the politest circles, many of whom came in their equipages to consult her; and she never asked for any particular sum, so the unbounded generosity of those who applied to her oracles, put her in possession of more money than was sufficient to maintain her.

As she grew in years, like the generality of old