Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1819-12-16
From, til. .Nsrp. FORK National Adrocate.
DOMESTIC ECONOMY.

II the approach Of winter brings with
it the promise Of comfort. jty. social
mirth and domestic pleasure. it still has
its evils, its hardslips and priv atiuns.
We gaze through our crystal lattices on,
the pnndrous icicles which arc pendant
from the leailess branches : We listen To
the shriH northern blast that whistles
through our halls. and turn To the wcll
built fire and festive board. uuhaedfd of
the misery and iii tress which the un!i,r.
tunatc are doomed to feel. ! Ike lug
evenings some how ur other, iind The
day too short to tiaish all my Business.
and evening is the only time for "jnti-
cious mirth or salutary woe" Looking
over my memoiandums ] found myself
several visits in arrears 10 old fricnd,,
whose families had afforded me many a
happy and agreeable hour: aud set
out, with the silver mnon as my guide,
on a clear frosty night, TO visit Ny old
friend Mic Evergreen. On entering
his comfortable parlor. heard the live
ly rattle of the tra cups, sound which
is a cordial to The ear. and the herald
Of social converse, rominrt and hilarity.
Dr.. johnson was often ridiculPd for
his attachment tn tea, and very IN
necessarily, il not Improperly--for
scarceIy bad his lips embraced the
prrt claim, and tasted thc halnv bcve-
rage, when his Wit burst forth like the
sun on a May morning, warming, revi-
wing and cheering all around. Surely
then, VIC should respect tea. for its amia-
tie qualities; and if it can ''sweeten the
imagination" or sharpen the faculties,
it certainly should be preferred to bran
dy and water. Give me- tea and toast;
then. a muffin or buckwheat cake, and
viii surrender all the qni, ering cas-
Ties, pyramids of kisses. and punicrous
masses of black cake. which my friend
Mrs. poppietun. displays, in such a
tempting manner, on her counter in
Bread way. Ny old friend Mic. was
reading the Post always sip little
and read little, says he--Colrman is a
kind of relish he is my anchory. my
smoked salmon ; ican't do without him.
| found several Young and beautiful la
dies plying the needle with the industry
IF Lucrclia; each was employed in
sewing some course articles of clothing
which. as l examined attcntivcly, they
gave me to understand, was fer poor
children, belonging TO some charitable
Institution. The object seemed to in
spre them and While their fine eyes
sparkled with amiabIc ,hacity, their
fingers moved with briskness, unmind-
ful of the frequen, punctures made by
the Jug uarded abd sharply polluted in
s:rumcn'. They threw by their work,
10 draw around the serial table no dub
arrangemtnt--uoS getting into corners---
no cold statcliness. chilling po!itcncss,
ard corsettcd Stiffness : all was ease
and unaffected sweetness.--they reseGl.
hlcd a wreath Of roses, impcarlcd with
the morning dew. Conversation, cliaste
and pleasing, cEcetlal and animating,
went gai,y round: they talked Of ia
s!lion, but slghtly---of books and balls
Of rromcnades and weddings, and short
ly resumed their emp!"yme hts. The
Ginning Of the hall bell announced vi
sitors, when two elderly ladies made
their appearance. They we're we'll
known and courleously received, and,
immediately invited to lay aside their
cloaks and bnnnets ard spend the eve
ming. One of them drrliued. Our visit
IS of business not Of pleasure ; We are
cnami!1ee appointed by the society for
The relief Of respectable widows, aud,
III pursuance of our duty, We have called
to solicit year charitable aid. Our
funds are ANAL, and the approach of
winter warns us Of the many comforts
which age demands those who are un-
der our care are widows, born to hap
picr whose mind and manners
have been formed and tempered by cdu-
cation, and Who therefore, more keenly
feel the reverse Of their condition.
dows who were once blessed with plenty
and who shared that plenty with the
needy, but who, in the winter of life,
are deserted by tho smiles Of fortune,
with hardly a pillow on which to repose
their silver locks and aching head
This appeal was not without effect, each
young lady unlocked her little store
and extended to the petitioners the
cheerful mite. which generosity sweet