WILLIAM COBBETT. 95 



' Women are all patriots of the soil, and when her neigh- 

 bours used to ask my wife whether all English husbands 

 were like hers, she boldly answered in the affirmative. I had 

 business to occupy the whole of my time, Sundays and week 

 days, except sleeping hours ; but I used to make time to assist 

 her in the taking care of her baby, and in all sorts of things 

 — get up, light her fire, boil her tea-kettle, carry her up 

 warm water in cold weather, take the child while she 

 dressed herself and got the breakfast ready, then breakfast, 

 get her in water and wood for the day, then dress myself 

 neatly and sally forth to my business. The moment that 

 was over, I used to hasten back to her again, and I no 

 more thought of spending a moment away from her, unless 

 business compelled me, than I thought of quitting the 

 country and going to sea. The thunder and lightning are 

 tremendous in America compared with what they are in 

 England. My wife was at one time very much afraid of 

 thunder and lightning, and as is the feeling of all such 

 women, and indeed all men too, she wanted company, and 

 particularly her husband, in those times of danger. I knew 

 well, of course, that my presence would not diminish the 

 danger ; but be I at what I might, if within reach of home, 

 I used to quit my business and hasten to her the moment 

 I perceived a thunderstorm approaching. Scores of miles 

 have I, first and last, run on this errand in the streets of 

 Philadelphia The Frenchmen who were my scholars used 

 to laugh at me exceedingly on this account, and sometimes 

 when I was making an appointment with them they would 

 say, with a smile and a bow, ^^ Sauve la tomiere toiijours. 

 Monsieur Cobbett.'" 



* I never dangled about at the heels of my wife \ seldom. 



