1726 August 23 (Tuesday). In my lowly State I wrote a Letter to my wife which I never Design’d to Send. I had great opportunity to Discourse with my Maid servant of things of an Everlasting Importance. I improv’d it in some measure, but found she had received but very barely in her Education, being very unacquainted with the Principles of Religion, and not able to so much as to return any Answer to the Catechism taught our Smallest Children. Alas! The Irreligion and Ignorance of many (professedly Christian) Families among us of this Country, notwithstanding the Care universally taken for their Instruction!