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303
The Book of Dreams and Ghosts
·
Andrew Lang
206
Unpopular
for
his
politics,
hated
by
the
Dissenters,
and
at
odds
with
the
"cunning
men,"
or
local
wizards
against
whom
he
had
frequently
preached,
Mr.
Wesley
was
certainly
apt
to
have
tricks
played
on
him
by
his
neighbours.
His
house,
though
surrounded
by
a
wall,
a
hedge,
and
its
own
grounds,
was
within
a
few
yards
of
the
nearest
dwelling
in
the
village
street.
In
1716,
when
the
disturbances
began,
Mr.
Wesley's
family
consisted
of
his
wife;
his
eldest
son,
Sam,
aged
about
twenty-three,
and
then
absent
at
his
duties
as
an
usher
at
Westminster;
John,
aged
twelve,
a
boy
at
Westminster
School;
Charles,
a
boy
of
eight,
away
from
home,
and
the
girls,
who
were
all
at
the
parsonage.
They
were
Emily,
about
twenty-two,
Mary,
Nancy
and
Sukey,
probably
about
twenty-one,
twenty
and
nineteen,
and
Hetty,
who
may
have
been
anything
between
nineteen
and
twelve,
but
who
comes
after
John
in
Dr.
Clarke's
list,
and
is
apparently
reckoned
among
"the
children".
{212}
Then
there
was
Patty,
who
may
have
been
only
nine,
and
little
Keziah.
All
except
Patty
were
very
lively
young
people,
and
Hetty,
afterwards
a
copious
poet,
"was
gay
and
sprightly,
full
of
mirth,
good-humour,
and
keen
wit.
She
indulged
this
disposition
so
much
that
it
was
said
to
have
given
great
uneasiness
to
her
parents."
The
servants,
Robin
Brown,
Betty
Massy
and
Nancy
Marshall,
were
recent
comers,
but
were
acquitted
by
Mrs.
Wesley
of
any
share
in
the
mischief.
The
family,
though,
like
other
people
of
their
date,
they
were
inclined
to
believe
in
witches
and
"warnings,"
were
not
especially
superstitious,
and
regarded
the
disturbances,
first
with
some
apprehension,
then
as
a
joke,
and
finally
as
a
bore.
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