Page:Memoirs of a Huguenot Family.djvu/342

 334 warm clothing, gentle exercise, especially taking the air frequently on horseback; and though we cannot hereby make our shattered tenements sound and strong, yet we may keep them up for some time, until we have made our peace with God, and served our generation as long as he, in his great wisdom, shall see fit. For this reason, I shall give you my bill of health, not any prescription of our doctors here, for they are very ignorant, but my own observations, by watching my constitution diligently.

I drink no spirituous liquors at all, no small beer; but when I am obliged to take more than ordinary fatigue, either in serving my churches, or other branches of my duty, I take one glass of good old Madeira wine, which revives me, and contributes to my going through without much fatigue. I walk much about the family business, and ride constantly every morning all over my plantation, giving to my servants their several employments, in all which I avoid, as much as possible, wet either in my body or feet. I eat very little meat of any sort, living chiefly upon bread and butter, greens, pulse, and roots, especially Irish and Virginia potatoes, Scotch barley, milk, and the like; and by this regimen have made shift to be my own overseer last year, and made a tolerable crop. The gout seized me once by my right knee and foot, but was entreated to let me get clear without giving me much pain. If this be of use in my case, it may in yours, and my tale will not appear long or impertinent. It is natural to pass from the dying to the dead. Poor brother Francis, after having labored under ill health for some years, was seized a few months since with a nervous fever, which in four or five days time deprived him of his life; and of his senses the very first day. He has left the disposal