Soon, however, he was able to stem the torrent of his grief, for on the sixth day of the next February he enters in his diary: "Wandering in my mind whether to lead a Single or a Married Life."[620] Indeed, several weeks before this, when his wife was hardly two months dead, his mind and feet had begun to wander in the direction of Madam Winthrop,[621] upon whom, in his usual kindly way, he had bestowed certain tokens of his regard.[622] But for the present the charms of Widow Winthrop had to yield to those of Widow Dennison, whose goodly estate he had come to admire through having drawn her husband's will.[623] Attending her home from the funeral of her late consort, he "prayed God to keep house with her."[624] This was in March. Presently he opens serious negotiations. He makes her numerous presents, among which are "A pound of Reasons and Proportionable Almonds;" a "Psalm-Book neatly bound in England with Turkey-Leather;" the "last two News Letters;" "Dr. Mathers Sermons very well bound," and "told her in it we were invited to a wedding;" a "pair of Shoe-buckles, cost 5^s 3^d;" and "Two cases with a Knife and a fork in each; one Turtle shell tackling: the other long with Ivory handles Squar'd, cost 4^s 6^d."[625] In November, after much visiting and chaffering, he came to the point. "I told her 'twas time now to finish our Business: Ask'd her what I should allow her; she not speaking; I told her I was willing to give Two [Hundred] and Fifty pounds per a[=n]um, during her life, if it should please God to take me out of this world before her. She answer'd she had better keep as she was, than give a Certainty for an uncertainty; she should pay dear for dwelling at Boston. I desired her to make proposals, but she made none. I had Thoughts of Publishment next Thorsday, the 6^{ th}. But I now seem far from it. May God, who has the pity of a Father, Direct and help me."[626]
[Footnote 620: SEWALL'S _Diary_, in 5 _Mass. Hist. Coll._, VII, 165.]
[Footnote 622: Feb. 3, 1718, he writes: "I sent Madam Winthrop, Smoking Flax Inflamed, the Jewish Children of Berlin, and my small vial of Tears."--_Diary_, in 5 _Mass. Hist. Coll._, VII, 164. On March 14 he sends her a copy of the _Berlin Jewish Converts_, _ibid._, VII, 177.]