Cambrige Octr. 5: 1748

Love nott Sleep least thou come to poverty Pro: 20: 13 &c.

Dear Sister Eunice,

Nature the Liberall indulger of us & all the Universe has taken care to Order the Succession & alternate Revolution of Day & Night of Sleeping time & times for Waking so as that our week & frail Bodies should neither be two much stupify'd & clogg'd with the 39One nor yet two much Raryfy'd (if I may so say) with the other, & she has hereby laid out a Rule for our Conduct in this respect & is nott she who is in fact part of our selves a proper Judge & Rule for our Conduct, but besides the Dictates of Nature we have the express Command in the Sacred Writt and yett more, for it greatly conduces to our health & nott only so but what can be more pleasant than to see the Sun that Emblem of Diligence but beginning to run his race & we to reflect within our own self I've begun mine already, wt. more delicious than to hear the feather'd innocents Warbling their Notes & beggining their Day wth. praise, when Nature seems serene and gay when Aurora arises with her Saffron Mantle blushing that she has lain so long? Can our own Bodies att any time be found more fitt for the Exercises it was first adapted too & design'd for, & yet in despite of all these reasons & perswasions shall we spend our time in Bed & slumber till high noon in down. Shall nott we begin our hours of Sleep sooner that so we may be afore the very Sun in our Labours, that so by exerciseing our witts att that time they are most sagacious, & begginning our Bodily Work soon & continue it leasurely & moderately we may become poor neither in Witt, Wealth, nor Flesh. Accept dear Eunice these few undigested but sincere Lines from him who would perswade you to lay yr. hands to the Spindle & wth. your Arms to hold the distaff, to make fine linnen & to work hancerchifs apace, to look well to yr. ways & to eat not the Bread of Idleness; to rise while it is yett Night & give a portion to yr. Witt & a Task to yr. Understanding, to open yr. mouth with Wisdom & in yr. Tongue lett be the law of Kindness,

ROBT. TREAT PAINE &C.

RC ; addressed: "Robt. Treat Paine of H:C Cambridge in the County of Middlesex, to Eunice Paine of Boston in the County of Suffolck Work-House Sendeth Greeting. Letter No. 3"; endorsed.