Dear Miss Bartlett:—
An old lady in our Neighbourhood is often querreling with me for rising so early as 5 o'Clock in the morning, and is in great pain for me least it should spoil my marriage, for she says it will make me look old long before I am so; in this however I believe she is mistaken, for what ever contributes to health and pleasure of mind must also contribute to good looks; but admitting what she says, I reason with her thus. If I should look older by this practise, I really am so; for the longer time we are awake the longer time we live, sleep is so much the Emblem of death, that I think it may be rather called breathing than living, thus then I have the advantage of the sleepers in point of long life, so I beg you will not be frighted by such sort of apprehensions as those suggested above and for fear of yr pretty face give up yr late pious resolution of early rising.
My Mama joins with me in compts. to Mr and Mrs Pinckney. I send herewith Coll 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 volm 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.
Febr 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 Doct Mead's wch 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 Mrs Pinckney as soon as I can, but it will not be in my power til a month or two hence. Mama payes her compts 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 ye 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 obed humble Servt
Eliza Lucas.