The Virginia Gazette

Happy the man whoe'er shall find,
Amongst the race of womankind,
A Wife, with every virtue grac'd,
Industrious, prudent, generous, chaste;
In her his ravish'd soul shall prove,
The purest joys of nuptial love.
His welfare, happiness, and ease,
She meditates in all her ways,
And daily adds a cheerful share
Of prudent industry and care.
Like the wing'd bark from eastern shores,
That brings her load of costly stores,
She with her diligence at home
Enriches all her plenteous dome.
She rises e'er the gaudy light
Disturbs the empire of the night,
And to her maids, without delay,
Divides the business of the day.
With so much vigilance and pains
She soon perceives her wealthy gains,
And with discretion casts about
How best to lay her substance out.
Her prosperous labours pleas'd to see,
She multiplies her industry ;
For when the sun's bright orb descends,
The glimmering lamp her toil befriends.
With pity she regards the poor,
And makes them sharers of her store
Relieves each suppliant out of need,
Whilst love sincere adorns the deed.
When frosty winter chills the air,
There's nothing she has cause to fear
Her prudence ! O transcendent wife !
Provides for all events of life.
Her household honourably dress'd,
Is ne'er with pinching cold distress'd;
Genteely neat herself appears,
And clothes of richest texture wears,
The house is her peculiar care,
She keeps the nicest order there;
Much skill and industry is spent
To give it every ornament.
Thus active, virtuous, and discreet
She makes her husband's honours great;
Fits him, with a peculiar grace,
To shine in some exalted place.
Thus like the ever toiling ant,
She's fortified against all want;
And honour'd for her prudent cares,
Shall have delight in future years.
To her, moreover, does belong
The wise restriction of her tongue;
She speaks, but wisdom from her flows,
And kindness gives her language laws.
In short, the true excelling wife,
Whate'er may be her state in life,
With each domestick care's concern'd,
And eats but what her hands have earn'd.
Her children shall, with homage meet,
Cast their young blessings at her feet;
Her husband too, with joy no less,
Doth her superior worth confess.
"Though many women merit well,
"Yet thou supremely dost excel."
Beauty, with each external grace,
A comely mien, a charming face;
Deceives the mind, be hers the praise,
Who loves to tread in virtue's ways.