A female who undertakes this sort of work does not skip as we
should; the habit of needle-work in all its branches reconciles that
portion of mankind to invisible progress in other matters.
Besides this, they are naturally careful, and, above all, born to
endure, they carry patience into nearly all they do.*
* At about the third rehearsal of a new play our actresses bring the
author's words into their heads, our actors are still all abroad, and
at the first performance the breaks-down are sure to be among the
males; the female jumenta carry their burden (be it of pig-lead) safe
from wing to wing.
Lucy made her way manfully through all the well-written
circumlocution, and in a very short time considering; but the antique
[Greek] tried her eyes too much at night, so she gave nearly her whole
day to it, for she was anxious to finish all before her uncle's
return. It was a curious picture--Venus immersed in musty records.
One day she had studied and spelled four mortal hours, when a visitor
was suddenly announced--Miss Dodd. That young lady came briskly in at
the heels of the servant and caught Lucy at her work. After the first
greeting, her eye rested with such undisguised curiosity on the
"mouldy records" that Lucy told her in general terms what she was
trying to do for her uncle. "La!" said Eve, "you will ruin your
eye-sight; why not send them over to us? I will make David read them."
"And his eyesight?"
"Oh, bless you, he has a knack at reading old writing.
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