FullReads

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pretty face give up y

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late pious resolution of early rising.

My Mama joins with me in comp

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. to M

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and M

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Pinckney. I send herewith Col

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Pinckney’s books, and shall be much obliged to him for Virgil’s books, notwithstanding this same old Gentlewoman, (who I think too has a great friendship for me) has a great spite at my books, and had like to have thrown a vol

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of my Plutarcks lives into the fire the other day, she is sadly afraid she says I shall read myself mad. . . .

Again in this strain, on the 6th of February, 1741, she writes, showing that although she would have taken a girlish pleasure in amusement, her sense of duty was too keen to allow her to leave the plantation very often:

TO THE HONOURABLE C. PINCKNEY, ESQ.

Feb

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6th, 1741.

Sir :–I received yesterday the favour of your advice as a phisician and want no arguments to convince me I should be much better for both my good friends company, a much pleasanter Prescription yours is, I am sure, than Doc

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Mead’s w

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I have just received. To follow my inclination at this time, I must endeavor to forget I have a Sister to instruct, and a parcel of little Negroes whom I have undertaken to teach to read, and instead of writing an answer bring it My self, and indeed gratitude as well as inclination obliges me to wait on M

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Pinckney as soon as I can, but it will not be in my power til a month or two hence. Mama payes her comp

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to Mrs Pinckney, and hopes she will excuse her waiting on her at this time, but will not fail to do it very soon.

I am a very Dunce, for I have not acquired y

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writing short hand yet with any degree of swiftness–but I am not always one for I give a very good proof of the brightness of my Genius when I can distinguish well enough to subscribe my self with great esteem.

Sir
Your most obe

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humble Serv

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ELIZA LUCAS.

And again:

Why my dear Miss Bartlett, will you so often repeat y

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desire to know how I trifle away my time in our retirement in my father’s absence; could it afford you advantage or pleasure I would not have hesitated, but as you can expect neither from it I would have been excused; however, to show you my readiness in obeying y

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commands, here it is.

In gen

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then I rise at five o’Clock in the morning, read till seven–then take a walk in the garden or fields, see that the Servants are at their respective business, then breakfast. The first hour after breakfast is spent in musick, the next is constantly employed in recolecting something I have learned, lest for want of practise it should be quite lost, such as french and shorthand. After that, I devote the rest of the time till I dress for dinner, to our little polly, and two black girls who I teach to read, and if I have my papa’s approbation (my mama’s I have got) I intend for school mistress’s for the rest of the Negroe children. Another scheme you see, but to proceed, the first hour after dinner, as the first after breakfast, at musick, the rest of the afternoon in needle work till candle light, and from that time to bed time read or write. Mondays my musick Master is here. Tuesday my friend M