Page:Janet Clinker's oration, on the villanies of the old women, and the pride of the young.pdf/7

7 poison instead of good principles; who shewed them no good, and taught them no duties? No marvel, such children despise old age, and reverence their parents as an old horse does his father.

4. The last prevailing evil which I see, all men fear, but none strive to help, women now disdain to ride on pads, as of old, to be hobbled on a horse's hurdies, but must be hurled behind the ail, safely seated in leather conveniency, and there they fly swiftly as in the chariot of Aminaab. They will not speak the language of their native country, but must have southern cants, refined raw sugar through London mills.

Another grievance I see of the female offenders, I cannot omit, which attracts man's fancy, and is the cause of his fall, I mean fighting, flyting, ill-natured wives, wha wants to wear the breeks: had flyghters, who have got a little of the means of Mammon, more silver than sense, more gold than good nature, haughtiness for humility, value themselves as a treasure incomprehensible, their heads and hearts of Ophir gold, their hips of silver, and their whole body as set about with precious stones! And what is she after all, but a poor penny-worth for a poor man; she must have fine dresses, a fine house, fine teas, and what not, and thinks her poor penny will never be at an end.

But when I Janet was a Janet, and had the judgment of my own house, my husband was thrice happy: I never let him down; he was above me day and night: I sat late and rose early, kept a full house and rough back; when the summer came we minded winter's cauld; we had peace ayea taye at [sic] porritch time, and harmony through the day; we supped our sowens at supper-time