In better Times, ere to this Land I was unhappily Trapanned, Perchance as well I did appear As any lord or lady here. Not then a slave for twice two year. My cloaths were fashionably new, Nor were my shifts of Linnen blue; But things are changed, now at the Hoe I daily work, and barefoot go. In weeding corn, or feeding swine, I spend my melancholy time. Kidnap’d and fool’d I hither fled, To shun a hated nuptial Bed. And to my cost already find Worse Plagues than those I left behind. Another time, being disturbed in his sleep, the factor finds that in an adjoining room,-- ... a jolly Female Crew Were Deep engaged in Lanctie Loo. Soon quarreling over their cards, the planters’ wives fall into abuse, and one says scornfully to the other:-- ... tho now so brave, I knew you late a Four Years Slave, What if for planters wife you go, Nature designed you for the Hoe. The other makes, in turn, still more bitter accusations. It can plainly be seen that such social and domestic relations might readily produce similar scenes, and afford opportunity for “crimination and recrimination.” Still we must not give the _Sot-Weed Factor_ as sole or indeed as entirely unbiased authority. The testimony to the housewifely virtues of the Maryland women by other writers is almost universal. In the _London Magazine_ of 1745 a traveler writes, and his word is similar to that of many others:-- The women are very handsome in general and most notable housewives; everything wears the Marks of Cleanliness and Industry in their Houses, and their behavior to their Husbands and Families is very edifying. You cant help observing, however, an Air of Reserve and somewhat that looks at first to a Stranger like Unsociableness, which is barely the effect of living at a great Distance from frequent Society and their Thorough Attention to the Duties of their Stations. Their Amusements are quite Innocent and within the Circle of a Plantation or two. They exercise all the Virtues that can raise Ones Opinion of too light a Sex. The girls under such good Mothers generally have twice the Sense and Discretion of the Boys. Their Dress is neat and Clean and not much bordering upon the Ridiculous Humour of the Mother Country where the Daughters seem Dress’d up for a Market. Wives were just as eagerly desired in New England as in Virginia, and a married estate was just as essential to a man of dignity. As a rule, emigration thereto was in families, but when New England men came to the New World, leaving their families behind them until they had prepared a suitable home for their reception, the husbands were most impatient to send speedily for their consorts. Letters such as this, of Mr. Eyre from England to Mr. Gibb in Piscataquay, in 1631, show the sentiment of the settlers in the matter:--