Page:Wonderful account of Mr. George Spearing.pdf/3

( 3 ) and situated near a populous city, it is much frequented, especially in the nut-season, and there are several foot-paths leading thro' it.

Night approached, when it began to rain, not in gentle showers, but in torrents, such as is at the autumnal equinox. The pit was about 5 feet in diameter, but, not having been worked for several years, the subterraneous passages were choaked up, so that I was exposed to the rain, which continued, with small intermissions, till the day of my release, and, in a very short time I was all over wet.

In this comfortless condition I endeavoured to take some repose. A forked stick, which I found in the pit, I placed diagonally to the side of it, which served alternately to support my head as a pillow, or my body occasionally, which was much bruised; but, in the whole time I remained here, I do not think that ever I slept an hour together. Having passed a very disagreeable and tedious night, I was somewhat cheered with the appearance of day-light and the melody of a robin-redbreast, that had perched directly over the mouth of the pit; and this pretty little warbler continued to visit my quarters every morning during my confinement; which I construed into a happy omen of my future Deliverance; and I sincerely believe the trust I had in Providence, and the company of this little bird, contributed much to that serenity of mind I constantly enjoyed. At the distance of about a huundredhundred [sic] yards, in a direct line from the pit, there was a water mill; the miller’s house was nearer to me, and