Westchester County, New York, During the American Revolution

If so, then my first answer to our " Farmer is, that we Weavers, and I believe I may " say most of other trades too, cannot live without " meat, bread and clothing, all which I shall gladly " take in exchange for my labour ; and If I could " earn more at the year's end, than a supply for my " family, I would be content, (at this troublesome " period, which our Farmer sets up for such a terror) " to have my employer say to my creditor, I owe " the Weaver so much, which I will engage to pay to you, " when I can sell my produce. It may be my creditor " may answer, the produce will suit me, and then all " will be well ; but if not, the promise will answer at " this time, with every creditor that hath any spirit of " patriotism.

Now to the wives, I would address my- " self as follows, viz. to remember when their parents " were first placed in the garden, that it was said to " the woman, yea, hath God said ye shall not eat of " every tree of the garden? but the woman was pre- " vailed on by a deceiver, to disobey the command, " and to eat. But ! the consequence ! and so like- " wise, a deceiver now says to you what! are you de- " nied the pleasure of drinking tea? But I beg of you '' not to be now deceived, nor prevailed on to bring " ruin and slavery on your country and posterity, by " tasting of that detestable herb, which hath already " been the cause of so much confusion.

But if you " will not be entreated, but will persist in using it " you will find your case similar to that of Eve, she " lost her innocence, and plunged all her descendants " into everlasting misery ; you will lose liberty, and " plunge your descendants into everlasting slavery.