Part 27 (1/2)

_Sat.u.r.day 9._

I was waked by _Sam_ the Barber thumping at my Door--I was dressed--In Powder too; for I propose to see & dine with Miss _Jenny Was.h.i.+ngton_ to Day. D--n the Bugs & Chinches, says _Ben_ rolling over on the Bed, & rubbing his Eyes, I have slept none for them--Mr Fithian, do you rest any o-Nights? Dont these cursed Bugs keep you awake?--No Sir; for you see I commonly sit & read til half after ten, or eleven--So that by the Time I lay my poor Skin & Bones on the Bed, I am so much fatigued with the tumultuous Business of the Day, & the Study of the Evening that my sleep the rest of the night is sound & unbroken-- Priscilla hangs her head a little this morning, She looks feverish, dispirited, sits on a low bench, with her Elbow in her Lap, & Leaning her head upon her hand, swings backwards and forwards, just as I have seen beautiful Quaker Girls when they are weeping at the frightful distortions & Grimaces of some deep-inspired _Father_. But _Priscilla_ & _Tasker_ are unwell--f.a.n.n.y teizes me for a Picture, I must draw her a slip, she says, on Paper like the one I drew for Her the other Day with my finger in the Sand--I love the little careless Girl, & will oblige her--On the writing-Table in the School-Room I found this morning an old Book of Esops Fables done into English Verse; In the Margins of this Book up & Down Bob had in his scribbling Way recorded the Names of several young Ladies of Westmorland & Richmond Counties.

I shall set them down, as I turned over the Leaves & found them--I do not insinuate, by writing this Story, the smallest reproach to either of the Ladies; I mention it solely to shew _Bob's_ Taste, & the Meditations of his heart when wholly alone. In the Life of Esop, page 23, at the Bottom of the Leaf his own Name is written at full length & in as elegant a hand as he is master of with a Dash below.

_Robert Bladen Carter._

He has in the same manner introduced it a few leaves further on, he has done this to be a kind of Preface for what is to follow; he has also very cleverly interspersed it with the Ladies, either that the Ladies Names should be a foil to set his off to advantage, or that his Name be a Foil to adorn the Ladies--In the Life of Woglog the great at the first page

Miss Lucy Carter of Sabine-Hall.

Page 3d at the Bottom of the Leaf Miss Lett.i.tia Turberville of Hickory Hill.

Page 8.

Miss Betsy Carter of Sabine-Hall.

Page 9.

Miss Priscilla Carter of Nomini-Hall--his Sister: Esops Fables Page 1st he writes the Name of the Girl he loves above all others Polly Tayloe the Lovely of Mount-Airy.

Page 39th Miss Betsy Lee.

Page 41.

Miss Kitty Tayloe. Mount Airy.

Page 43.

Miss Lydia Pett.i.t has d--m'd ugly Freckles in her Face, otherways She is handsome & tolerable-- Page 45.

Miss Betsy Gaskins.[186]

Page 47.

Miss Sally Tayloe.

Page 50.

Miss Jenny Was.h.i.+ngton of Bushfield is very Pretty.

Then he Bolts in

Robert Carter.

Page 57.

Miss Polly Tolliver.[187]

Page 59.

Miss Steerman is a beautiful young Lady.

Miss Jane Corbin.

-- Aphia Fantleroy.

-- -- Edwards.