Part 9 (1/2)
Sir Your most obe^d humble Serv^t ELIZA LUCAS.
And again:
Why my dear Miss Bartlett, will you so often repeat y^r desire to know how I trifle away my time in our retirement in my father's absence; could it afford you advantage or pleasure I would not have hesitated, but as you can expect neither from it I would have been excused; however, to show you my readiness in obeying y^r commands, here it is.
In gen^l then I rise at five o'Clock in the morning, read till seven--then take a walk in the garden or fields, see that the Servants are at their respective business, then breakfast. The first hour after breakfast is spent in musick, the next is constantly employed in recolecting something I have learned, lest for want of practise it should be quite lost, such as french and shorthand. After that, I devote the rest of the time till I dress for dinner, to our little polly, and two black girls who I teach to read, and if I have my papa's approbation (my mama's I have got) I intend for school mistress's for the rest of the Negroe children. Another scheme you see, but to proceed, the first hour after dinner, as the first after breakfast, at musick, the rest of the afternoon in needle work till candle light, and from that time to bed time read or write.
Mondays my musick Master is here. Tuesday my friend M^{rs} Chardon (about 3 miles distant) and I are constantly engaged to each other, she at our house one Tuesday I at hers the next, and this is one of y^e happiest days I spend at Wappoo.
Thursday the whole day except what the necessary affairs of the family take up, is spent in writing, either on the business of the plantations or on letters to my friends. Every other Friday, if no company, we go a vizeting, so that I go abroad once a week and no oftener.
Now you may form some judgment of what time I can have to work my lappets. I own I never go to them with a quite easy conscience as I know my father has an avertion to my employing my time in that boreing work, but they are begun, and must be finished, I hate to undertake anything and not go thro' with it, but by way of relaxation from the other, I have begun a piece of work of a quicker sort, w^{ch} requires neither eyes nor genius, at least not very good ones. Would you ever guess it to be a shrimp nett? for so it is.
O! I had like to forgot the last thing I have done a great while. I have planted a large figg orchard, with design to dry them, and export them.
I have reckoned my expense and the profits to arise from those figgs, but was I to tell you how great an Estate I am to make this way, and how 'tis to be laid out, you would think me far gone in romance. Y^r good Uncle I know has long thought I have a fertile brain at scheming, I only confirm him in his opinion; but I own I love the vegitable world extreamly. I think it an innocent and useful amus.e.m.e.nt, and pray tell him if he laughs much at my projects, I never intend to have any hand in a silver mine, and he will understand as well as you, what I mean! Our best respects wait on him, and Mrs. Pinckney.
If my eyes dont deceive me, you in y^r last talk of coming very soon by water, to see how my oaks grow, is it really so, or only one of your unripe schemes. While 'tis in y^r head put it speedily into execution.
Lappets were fas.h.i.+onable parts of the headdresses worn at that time even by young girls, and one can read between her words that Eliza would have enjoyed giving more time to the feminine diversion of embroidery or fine sewing, much in vogue in that day, had her father approved of it. Then with a quick change of mood she shows her real interest in planting a ”figg” orchard!--oh, many-sided Eliza!
There are numerous letters too long to include in this sketch, which show the girl's religious, artistic and philosophical tendencies, and through them all we feel the quiet poise of a mind at rest, of a spirit in true harmony with the simplest pleasures of a simple life; and that nature was always her first love, is shown by this letter:
Wont you laugh at me if I tell you I am so busy in providing for Posterity I hardly allow myself time to Eat or sleep and can but just s.n.a.t.c.h a minute to write to you and a friend or two more.
I am making a large plantation of oaks w^{ch} I look upon as my own property, whether my father gives me the land or not, and therefore I design many years hence when oaks are more valuable than they are now, w^{ch} you know they will be when we come to build fleets, I intend I say, 2 thirds of the produce of my oaks for charrity, (I'll let you know my scheme another time) and the other 3^d for those that shall have the trouble of puting my design in Execution; I suppose according to custom you will show this to y^r Uncle and Aunt. 'She is a good girl' says M^{rs} Pinckney, 'she is never Idle and always means well'--'tell the little Visionary,' says your Uncle, 'come to town and partake of some of the amus.e.m.e.nts suitable to her time of life,' pray tell him I think these so, and what he may now think whims and projects may turn out well by and by--out of many surely one may hitt.
I promised to tell you when the mocking-bird began to sing, the little warbler has done wonders; the first time he opened his soft pipe this spring he inspired me with the spirrit of Rymeing and produced the 3 following lines while I was laceing my Stays.
Sing on thou charming mimick of the feather kind And let the rational a lesson learn from these To mimick (not defects) but harmony.
If you let any mortal besides yourself see this exquisite piece of poetry, you shall never have a line more than this specimen, and how great will be your loss you who have seen the above may judge as well as
Y^r most obed^t Serv^t ELIZA LUCAS.
Was there ever a more charming example of girlish enthusiasm combined with executive ability, and artistic feeling than this?
That life at Wappoo was not entirely without its diversions is shown by a casual mention of a ”festal day” spent at Drayton Hall, a beautiful home on the bank of the Ashley river. One familiar with those early times in the southern provinces can fancy Mistress Eliza setting out for her great day, perhaps going by water in a long canoe, formed by hollowing out a great cypress tree thirty or forty feet long, which made a boat, with room in it for twelve pa.s.sengers, and was rowed by six or eight negroes who sang in unison as they paddled their skiff down the river. Eliza and her Mama were landed at the foot of the rolling lawn, leading up to the mansion where the reception was being held. Or if they travelled by the road, it was probably in the four-wheeled chaise which Mrs. Lucas had imported from England the year before. And when they joined the gay company gathered in the great house, doubtless the ladies, old and young, wore costumes made of brocade, taffety or l.u.s.tering, the materials of the time, and worn over enormous hoops, with cloaks made of colours to harmonise with the gowns beneath them--while the men were indeed a great sight in their square cut coats, long waistcoats, powdered hair, breeches and buckled shoes! A festal day indeed, doubtless, with a most elaborate feast washed down with draughts of fine old vintages, and followed by the sc.r.a.ping of fiddlers making ready for the dance, enjoyed not only by guests, but also in the servants' quarters where the negroes were as fleet-footed as mistress or guest.
On her return to Wappoo Eliza feels the reaction, as we see in a letter she wrote to Mrs. Pinckney. She says:
”At my return hither everything appeared gloomy and lonesome, I began to consider what attraction there was in this place that used so agreeably to soothe my pensive humour, and made me indifferent to everything the gay world could boast; but I found the change not in the place but in myself, and it doubtless proceeded from that giddy gaiety, and want of reflection which I contracted when in town; and I was forced to consult Mr. Locke over and over, to see wherein personal Ident.i.ty consisted, and if I was the very same Selfe.”
Somewhat cheered by the reading of Locke she returns to her usual routine of life and writes to Miss Bartlett:
”I have got no further than the first vol^m of Virgil but was most agreeably disappointed to find myself instructed in agriculture as well as entertained by his charming penn, for I am persuaded 'tho he wrote for Italy it will in many Instances suit Carolina. I had never perused those books before, and imagined I should immediately enter upon battles, storms and tempests, that put mee in a maze, and make mee shudder while I read.
But the calm and pleasing diction of pastoral and gardening agreeably presented themselves not unsuitably to this charming season of the year, with w^{ch} I am so much delighted that had I b.u.t.t the fine soft Language of our Poet to paint it properly, I should give you but little respite 'till you came into the country, and attended to the beauties of pure Nature una.s.sisted by Art.”
A little later comes this letter, giving a clear idea of the breadth of the girl's scheme of social service as well as her thoughtfulness and individuality:
_Dear Miss Bartlett:_--