The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-05-05

WI i > ell "a m G Gus.
From the Ladys Book.
TIL E ELDEST LIGHTER.

From the Lady's Book.
THE ELDEST AUGHTER.
AS the importance of education become more
and more appreciated by the people, the difficult.
y OF obtaining well qualified teachers is proper.
ionatey realized. Foreigners may he profound
! ~ learned, or highly accomplished, hut the DO.
tIcal and moral dioms Of our republic
republic are to be studied, and the mind i'm some
measure weaned from the trains OF thought, ere
It can assimllate with those whom it is expected
TO modify. The inhabitants o different sections
ofonr own Union, must submit in some degree
to the same subiugdting process. The Northern
youth, VINO engages in the business of nstruc
ton at the sunny south, perceives a necessity of
conforming to me- usages, ere he can be in
harmony with those around. Even natives OF
different portions of the Same State, must takes
pains to adapt themselves to the new
neighborhood, or family where they are to
operate, if they would hope to have their efforts
to be attended with success.
Is it understood, shat in every family of broth
ers and sisters, there is teacher whom It is not
necessary to naturalize as a foregner?-or as a
stranger to inc:te sympathy? While she aids
intellectual progress her influence on the dispo-
sion and manners--her moral and rellgio
suason, are still more visible aud enduring.
She enjoys ana :eciprocates the love of those
who receive her lessons. Year after year she
continues her ministratnns.
daughter. Her sympathy with her pupils must
doubtless be greater than that OF other teachers.
They are her bone, and her flesh. They come
TO her with more freedom than even 10 the pa i.
rent; so that the extent Of her sway is not easy
to limit or to compute.
Many excellent elder daughters has it been
my good fortune to know, who realized their re-
sponsibiluy to the Great Teacher, & were. filed
with tenderness 20 the mother whose mission
they partook, and to the dear ones who looked
to them for. example. think ut this moment,
of one who was the light and the lite of large
circle of little ones. They hungon the lineaments
of her countenance 81 inbibed joy. From her
winning manners they fashioned their own. If
temporary sadness stole over them, she knew
the approach to their hentt rs, and her sweet uiu.
sic and sweeler words, cheered with happiness.
IF there were among them exuherance of mirth
or symptoms of lawlessness, or indications of dis
cord, she clothed herself with the temporary
dignity of the parent and prevailed. When
sickness was among them, no eye save that of
the mether, could so long hold wax ing hers.
No other arm ireless in sustaining the
helpless form the weary head. The infant
seemed TO have two mothers; and to he in doubt
wlichmost to love. Often, in gazing on her radenl
counenance, i said mentally what preparation
youare giving yourself for your owufuture duties.
Happy the man =, who shall he permitted to APP.
propriae to himself such treasure. Still at
her Joyous bridal there was sorrow-the tears of
nrms--they would scarcely be persuaded to
sign her. After they retired to rest, they were
heard lamenting, who will sing songs when
we are sad? and teach US such plays as made us
wiser and bettere Now, when we tear our
frocks, who will heIpus to mend them9-and
when we are naughty, who will bring US ba k
to goodness?
I have seen all other elder daughter.
TO whose sole care, Il feeble mother com.
mitted one of her little ones. With what
warm gratitude, with what sublime purpose
did she accept the sacred gift.-She opened
her young heart to II new occnphnt.-She took
the babe to her roon-she lulled it to sleep on
her bosom-it shared her couch. Soon its !is'
ping tones mingled with her supplicatons.
She fed the unfolding mind with the
gentlest dews of piety--'the small rain
upon the tender herb.'-Froln her it learned
to love the bible, the Sabbath, the kind pastor
to seek for true penI.ence and perseverance in
The path that leads to heaven. And it was ear.
ly taken there. in the arms of that eldest sis
ter it's soul was rendered up. But not till il had
given proof, for few years OF happy childhood
that it was one of the lambs the Saviour
flock. Afterwards, l saw the same eldest daugh-
ter, i'm a family of her own. To hghten the
happiness and elevate the character of those
around her was her main Objects And she
knew how for she had learned before Thor
ough experience in the culture of the dsinteres.
ted affections, gave her IN immense vantage
ground, Tor the hew duties OF wife ana mother
They were performed with ease to herself, and
! were beautiful in the eyes of observers. The
children of others were entrusted to her hus.
band to be educated, and she becamea mother
to them. Aud could not but bless the givei
of every good and perfect gift, that the hallow
ed influences to which that eldest daughter had
given such exercise under the parental roo
might now go forth into the bosom OF strangers
take root in distant homes; and perhaps in q
! distant hemisphere, or IN an unborn age, bring
forth the fruits of Immortality.
The assistance that may be afforded to parents
by the eldest daughter is invaluable. What 9TH
er hand could so effectuay aid them, in the grea
work of training up their children to usefulness
and piety? Filal gratitude is one OF the MOBILES
motives to this enterprise. Many young ladies
have been thus actuated to become Instructors
in different branches, of their brothers and SIS
ters: or regularly TO study their lessons with their