 die; nay, tho'
they were not to be deny'd Food; and one half more of those that remain'd would
be Cripples or Fools, loose their Limbs, and perhaps their Sense: I Question
not, but that these are partly the Reasons why Affection was plac'd by Nature in
the Hearts of Mothers to their Children; without which they would never be able
to give themselves up, as 'tis necessary they should, to the Care and waking
Pains needful to the Support of Children.
    Since this Care is needful to the Life of Children, to neglect them is to
Murther them; again, to give them up to be Manag'd by those People, who have
none of that needful Affection, plac'd by Nature in them, is to Neglect them in
the highest Degree; nay, in some it goes farther, and is in order to their being
Lost; so that 'tis an intentional Murther, whether the Child lives or dies.
    All those things represented themselves to my View, and that in the blackest
and most frightful Form; and as I was very free with my Governess, who I had now
learn'd to call Mother; I represented to her all the dark Thoughts which I had
about it, and told her what distress I was in: She seem'd graver by much at this
Part than at the other; but as she was harden'd in these things beyond all
possibility of being touch'd with the Religious part, and the Scruples about the
Murther; so she was equally impenetrable in that Part, which related to
Affection: She ask'd me if she had not been Careful and Tender of me in my
Lying-Inn, as if I had been her own Child? I told her I own'd she had. Well my
Dear, says she, and when you are gone, what are you to me? and what would it be
to me if you were to be Hang'd? Do you think there are not Women, who as it is
their Trade, and they get their Bread by it, value themselves upon their being
as careful of Children, as their own Mothers? Yes, yes, Child, says she, fear it
not, How were we Nurs'd ourselves? Are you sure, you was Nurs'd up by your own
Mother? and yet you look fat, and fair, Child, says the old Beldam, and with
that she stroak'd me over the face; never be concern'd, Child, says
