UNCLE IN ENGLAND, 111 



could only have one servant, a poor hard-work- 

 ing, willing creature, who, though doing her best, 

 could not do half that was necessary for our 

 family. But this best of wives^ instead of un- 

 reasonably expecting every thing from one poor 

 slave, as 1 might almost call her, worked hard 

 herself. She who had been used to late hours, 

 and luxurious ease, was up at six every morning, 

 to superintend her little household, and to 

 make with her own hands most of the prepara- 

 tions for our meals. She was the same in every 

 thing, and never uttered a complaint. 



" Oh ! how often in these years of distress, 

 when every shilling we could spare was devoted 

 to discharging old debts did I think of the 

 sums I had lavished in my days of gaiety on 

 useless trifles those trifles that are well named 

 * 'tis huts' on dress on all those indulgences 

 of appetite which leave no pleasure behind ; and 

 the taste for which I can distinctly trace back 

 to the habits of petty self-indulgence permitted 

 at our great schools. 



" The first winter of our residence here was 

 one of such hardship, that I trembled for my 

 wife's health ; but Providence graciously sup- 

 ported her. It was at that time that a circum- 

 stance occurred, which I think will interest you. 

 We had an infant, of a few months old, who suf- 

 fered much, by the anxiety that my wife, who was 

 nursing it, secretly felt, the poor babe sunk. - 



L 2 



