146 On the propriety of a Farmer living 



But my plan may be further criticised, by asking, 

 how do you entertain your friends without tea and cof- 

 fee ? I answer, that I do not own eidier tea cups or sau- 

 cers, and yet, I am at no loss to entertain my friends 

 agreeably. My dinner is not very different from that 

 of other folks. Breakfast and supper I eat out of soup 

 plates. Supper is the principal meal of entertainment ; 

 and with the best fruits of the season, with and with- 

 out cooking ; bread, butter, cheese, &c. I can make a 

 handsomer display, and furnish a more delicious and 

 salutary aliment than with tea and coffee. Old and 

 young never fail to commend those repasts. It must 

 be confessed, however, the more advanced in years 

 frequently remark, that, however they may now and 

 then relish a feast of this sort, they are very reluctant 

 to relinquish their old habits. But I have the satisfac- 

 tion to observe, that all my younger brethren and sis- 

 ters, who are less corrupted by fashion and habit, do 

 not hesitate to declare their willingness to give up 

 their tea and coffee, everij day, for a Virgiliaji supper. 



But what are the advantages of this Virgilian econo- 

 my ? I answer, many. In a political point of view, it 

 gives us independence. This requires no demonstra- 

 tion. It also saves many lives ; for since my resi- 

 dence at and near Wilmington, more fine young men 

 of the borough have died, in the West India trade, 

 than from any other cause whatsoever. 



As to expense, besides the tea and china ware, the 

 time and maintenance of one person about house is 

 nearly saved, from the washing and piddling which 

 these frivolous trinkets require. 



