art of the time--even speak to you. I am
seiz'd with exceeding weakness at the very seat of life, and to a
greater degree than I ever before knew. Could I ride, it might help
me, but that is an exercise my income will not permit. I walk out
whenever I can. The day will surely come, when I must quit this
frail tabernacle, and it may be soon--I certainly know, I am not of
importance eno' in this world, for any one to wish my stay--rather
am I, and so I consider myself as a cumberground. However I shall
abide my appointed time & I desire to be found waiting for my
change._

_Our family are well--had I time and spirits I could acquaint you of
an expedition two sisters made to Dorchester, a walk begun at
sunrise last thursday morning--dress'd in their dammasks, padusoy,
gauze, ribbins, flapets, flowers, new white hats, white shades, and
black leather shoes, (Pudingtons make) and finished journey, &
garments, orniments, and all quite finish'd on Saturday, before
noon, (mud over shoes) never did I behold such destruction in so
short a space--bottom of padusoy coat fring'd quite round, besides
places worn entire to floss, & besides frays, dammask, from
shoulders to bottom, not lightly soil'd, but as if every part had
rub'd tables and chairs that had long been us'd to wax mingl'd with
grease. I could have cry'd, for I really pitied 'em--nothing left
fit to be seen--They had leave to go, but it never entered any ones
tho'ts but their own to be dressd in all (even to loading) of their
best--their all, as you know. What signifies it to worry ones selves
about beings that are, and will be, just so? I can, and do pity and
advise, but I shall git no credit by such like. The eldest talks
much of learning dancing, musick (the spinet & guitar), embroidry,
dresden, the French tongue &c &c. The younger with an air of her
own, advis'd the elder when she first mention'd French, to learn
first to read English, and was answered "law, so I can well eno'
a'ready." You've heard her do what she calls reading, I believe.
Poor creature! Well! we have a time of it!_

_If any one at Marshfield speaks of me remember me to them. Nobody
knows I'm writing, each being gone their different ways, & all from
home except the little one who is above stairs. Farewell my dear,
I've wrote eno' I find for this siting._

_Yr affect_

_Sarah Deming._

_It does not need great acuteness to read between the lines of this
letter an affectionate desire to amuse