The New York Journal, And Daily Patriotic Register

TO THOMAS GREENLEAF, PRINTER.

After thou perueth this epistle, thou wilt set it in types, and print in thy paper, with all speed: this is the wish of one who is thy friend.

OBADIAH.

HEAR me or I will speak. When I, friend Thomas, day of the fifth month, and cast mine eyes upon a certain writing of one Almahide, verily I say unto thee, I was astonished! Can this woman of Belial mean to spread the mammon of unrighteousness through the current of thy paper, and besmirch evil doings in this the land of our nativity, communed I with myself? How canst thou, Almahide, bring into habit that Gentile custom, for a woman to beg an husband for herself and her bodily comfort? Knowest thou not, that such deeds befit not that modest deportment, which all the daughters of Eve are under duty daily to practice, as it were in the looking-glass of humility?--I well know that Paul saith "it is better to marry than to burn." If the latter was thy situation, thou should'st have honestly noted it in thy epistle to friend Thomas; thou shouldst have plainly set forth thy mortifications and thy burnings; thou shouldst have also informed the people of the place of thy tabernacle, so that any person who would want thee for a spouse, might find thee out, and know thy endowments: in this thou wouldst have acted like a well-meaning damsel, and made sure the loss of thy virginity. And moreover, I say unto thee, that thou wouldst do well to thy own good, if thou wouldst leave off that sinful work, the playing on the harpsichord; for the harpsichord is the cord which oftentimes binds maidens fast to Satan. Thou also told friend Thomas, in thy writing, that thou hadst an agreeable voice: I tell thee now, woman, this does not agree with thy after saying, That thy anger is apt to be kindled; for of a surety, anger in a woman causeth scolding, and scolding maketh the voice not very agreeable.--I hope this writing will work a change in thy carriage, and as thou art unwedded, thy follies ought to be forgiven; for foolishness is bound up in the heart of a damsel, but the rod of wedlock shall drive it far from her.

I am thy friend in the flesh,

OBADIAH.