Enters one who was once a handsome Woman, but now with
bloated Face and swollen Legs, _How do you do, Neighbour?_
Indifferent. _Bless me, it's very cold, and I've no Wood at home;
but I'll go down to_ ------ , _and they'll help me to Wood; for they
have a penny to spend, and a penny to lend, and a penny to lay up.
Come, can't you give us a Dram?_ No, I wish I had one. _Come, I've
got a Penny._ And I've got but a Penny, if more would save my Life I
ha'nt it. _Come then, I've got two pence, and your Penny will fetch
half a Pint of Run; and you shall be two pence another time._ So away
goes the half-pint Bottle. _And you shall find Sugar, and a little
Bit of Butter, and that's pure good this cold Weather._ Judge you how
finely things are like to be carried on in the Families over which
such Women are placed. I for any part shall never more speak against
TEA; let those that like it enjoy it for ever: Tea will not take away
their Sense of Shame and of Duty, nor their Fear of Censure: Their
Pride in this Particular, may make them careful, and industrious, and
frugal in other Respects, that they may have wherewith to support
their Rank and Credit in the World. They may still preserve their
Modesty, and their natural Affection; But Drunkenness is utterly
inconsistent with any one of those Virtues which make Women amiable
or valuable to Men. _I am your Friend and Reader,_ &c.
______________________
Altho' it has happened, that of the four unfortunate Wretches,
who within these few Weeks have died suddenly in this County, by
excessive Drinking of strong Liquor, two were indeed Women; yet it
must be acknowledged, that this Kind of Intemperance is by far more
frequent among the Men than among them: And perhaps 'tis owing to the
general Moderation of Women in the Use of strong Drink, that the
present Race of Englishmen retain any considerable Degree of the
Health, Robustness, and Activity of their Ancestors.
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