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My contemplated visit to Harmony-Grove
must be deferred. A severe illness has lately confined
my mamma to her chamber. This claimed
all my time and attention, and called me to a new
scene of care; that of a family, which I was obliged
to superintend during her indisposition. Her
recovery has, at length, restored tranquillity and
joy to our abode; but she has not yet resumed the
direction of her household affairs. To this, she
tells me, she is reconciled by the hope, that experience
may render me an adept in domestic economy.
Indeed, Anna, I think this an essential
branch of female education; and I question
whether it can be acquired by mere speculation.
To me it is plain, that every lady ought
to have some practice in the management of a
family, before she takes upon herself the important
trust.

Do not many of the mistakes and infelicities of
life arise from a deficiency in this point?

Young ladies of fashion are not obliged to the
task, and have too seldom any inclination to perform
duties which require so much time and attention;
and with which, perhaps, they have injudiciously

been taught to connect the idea of
fervility. Hence it is, that when called to preside
over families, they commit many errors, during
their novitiate, at least, which are alike detrimental
to their interest and happiness. How necessary
is it, then, to avoid this complication of evils
by a seasonable application to those offices of
housewifery, which may one day become our
province.

Early rising, I find a great assistance in my
present occupation. It is almost incredible how
much may be gained by a diligent improvement
of those hours which are but too commonly lost
in sleep. I arose this morning with the dawn.
The serenity of the sky and the fragrance of the
air invited me abroad. The calmness which universally
prevailed served to tranquillize my mind,
while the receding shades of night, and the rising
beams of day formed a contrasted assemblage of
the beautiful, the splendid, the solemnn, and the
sublime. The silence which pervaded the surrounding
scenery was interrupted only by the
melody of the feathered songsters, who seemed to
rejoice in this undisturbed opportunity of praifing
their Maker. My heart expanded with gratitude
and love to the all-bountiful Author of nature;
and so absorbed was I in the most delightful
meditations, that I saw with regret the hour
approaching which must again call me to the active

duties of domestic and social life. These, however,
are objects of real moment, and cannot innocently
be disregarded. They give a relish to
amusement, and even to devotion, which neither
the dissipated nor the recluse can know.
Adieu.