Mercy Otis Warren

“ Stop! stop! stop! Miss Volubility,---not quite so fast; who do you think can answer so many questions as once?--- Now Mr. Runt , can you think it possible, after all this seeming contempt for the company, that this girl cried a whole day because I would not let her go to the assembly?---Assembly! Good Heavens! It is a burlesque upon the name of an assembly:--- I have no patience when I think of it:---Yet there's my sister is fool enough to go; tho' she told me she would not dance, because she could not bear to give her hand to such cattle. ”

“ MISS TAXALL
I think Mamma that Tab is to be commended for her spirit; I'm sure I should rather starve than take in work for any body.
MRS. TAXALL
Why, I can't but say I commend such a spirit; It is very humiliating to people of taste and fashion, who have brought up a family so very genteely as I have, to think that any of them must stoop so low.---I am therefore determined to wait till necessity drives me, before I submit to it.---These times cannot last always. ”

“ I wish you had been in town in the seige;---then you would have seen assemblies!------Don't you remember one evening Miss Flourish? ------Well tho' they are so impudent sometimes; yet they are so genteel, so easy, so careless, and so agreeable, that one can hardly be offended at any thing they say or do:------If you had been with us then Miss Doggril , you would not wonder at my turning off my Yankie spark. ”

“ If applicable to any particular persons the praise or blame is theirs: If they suit nobody---The Author would inform the candid Reader that he copied from such characters as were exhibited by his friends; who were satisfied with the likeness, and are only answerable to the Public whether they exist or not. ”

“ Taxall.
(Enter Mrs. Taxall, Miss Taxall and Tab)
MRS. TAXALL
I am afraid Tab we shall be obliged to do something at last,---The gentlemen will be tired by and by: I have found already that some of them do not come so often as formerly; and when they do come, are not so ready to take a hint, tho' pretty broad; and I am really ashamed to speak plainer than I do. ”

“ Well we must wait with patience Mr. Runt ; I have still hopes, notwithstanding what Mr. Turncoat says;--- I never thought him much of a politician.------It was rather unfortunate for him, that he would not even suffer his daughters to go to a Whig-Assembly as it was called the winter before last; and now so warmly to engage in it; because these people are very apt to remember ”