Lydia Parker letter to Charity Rotch, New Bedford, 11mo 11th 1804

              B-281-2 
 
		New Bedford  11th mo  11th  1804
         - I consider thy kind inquirey after me Dear
Charity as renewed proof of the benevolence of thy heart
towards an unworthy object, and from the improvement it
made on my feelings concluded I would not suffer the
consciousness of inability or want of subject for an interest-
ing communication prevent indulging a wish I felt to
write thee; ~ confined as I am it cannot be expected
that my litters will consists of variety, or that I can know
much, but what is relative to my employment, which after
a little respite during the warm months I have ventured to
resume and endeavoured to bend my mind to the yoke,
and may acknowledge have been favoured to get along thus
far with more care and satisfaction to my self than in
some past seasons.  Yet when I reflect on the qualities ne=
cessary for a person to be possessed of engaged in this line,
and take into view the many disadvantages under which I
labour, it cannot fail to operate as a discouragement which
I often expect to feel ~ am confirmed in the belief one cannot
be very useful among children, or be likely to perform the busi=
ness of teaching satisfactorily to all parties, unless all wrong
dispositions in themselves are subjected and they possessed
  a
of large share of firmness, strong powers of mind, and
                                        a
  conciliating manners - & might add as ^ very necessary
  ingredient a cheerful disposition ~ And as neither of these
  gifts have fallen to my share believe it will be best for me
  if my span should be perlonged  till another warm season