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 17 The Letter-Writer. incumbent on me: Perhaps you will laugh at the word duty, and ſay that it imports ſomething like lavery; but nothing is more falſe ; for even the fe of a ſervant is as pleaſant as any other's, when le obeys from motives of love inſtead of fear. For hy own part, my dear, I cannot ſay that I am un- willing to be obedient, and yet I am not command- d to be ſo by my huſband You have often ſpok- In contemptuouſly of the marriage ſtate, and I be- eve your reaſons were, that moſt of thoſe whom you new were unhappy : but this is an erroneous way f judging. It was deſigned by the Almighty that men and women ſhould live together in a ſtate of ſociety, that they ſhould become mutual helps to each other and if they are bleſſed with children, o aſſiſt each other in giving them a virtuous edu- cation. Let me therefore beg that my dear coufiz Fill no longer deſpiſe that the for which ſhe was deſigned, and which is calculated to make her hap- But then, my dear, there is to forts of men you muſt ſudiouſly awid, I mean Miſers and Rakes. Che firſt will take every opportunity of abriding fourn.co-fiary expences, and the ſecond will leave ou nothing for a ſubſittence he firſt, by his pe- nuriouſneſs, will cauſe you to ſuffer from imagina- ty wants: the ſecond, by his prodigality, will make you a real beggar But your own good ſenſe will boint cut the propricty of what I have mentioned. Let me beg that you will come and ſpend a few weeks with us; and if you have any taſte for rural and domeſtic life, I doubt not but you will be bleaſed. I am, your affectionate Couſin,