ry well indeed. The eldest milked
the cows all summer; she washes and irons all the clothes for the
family, scrubs the floors, and does the most part of the kitchen work.
The young one's charge is the children, and some other little turns
when the infant is asleep. I teach them to read and to sew when they
have any spare time. As for me, I find I have enough to do to
superintend. You may be sure I help a little too, now and then. I make
and mend what is necessary for the family, for I must be tailor,
mantua-maker, and milliner.

"In the forenoon the doctor makes his rounds as usual. I generally
trot about till two o'clock, dress the children, order dinner, dress
myself, and twenty other things, which you know are necessary to be
looked after by the mistress of a family. After dinner I sit down to
my work, and we have always a book, which the doctor reads when I can
attend; when I cannot, he reads something else.

"As I am at present the only wife in the place, we have a regular
tea-table, and now and then a little frugal supper; for the doctor has
come more into my way of thinking, and does not insist upon cutting a
figure as much as some time ago. When alone, he reads and I work, as
usual. He is seldom out, and never but when I am with him. We are easy
in our circumstances, and want for nothing that is necessary; in
short, my ever dear parents, my life is easy and pleasant. The Lord my
God make it pious and useful.

"Could I place myself and family in the same circumstances, and
every thing go on in the same manner, within a few miles of you, I
should be happy for life; and were it not for this hope, which my
heart is set upon, I could not be so, with all I have told you.

"We find the newspapers full of preparations for war; may the Lord
dispose all hearts to peace, for I hate the sound, though it is the
wish of the greatest number about me. There is no prospect of our
leaving this place for a year yet. For my part I have only two reasons
for wishing it. The first is, I should like to be in some Christian
society; the other, that I might do something towards getting home. To
return to the gay world, again I have no ambition. My family here, and
my friends at home, engross all my attention; and when I see the one,
and hear of the other being well, I am happy. Time never hangs heavy
on my hand; I can always find employment, and amusement too, without
the assistance of what go under the name of diver