The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1840-07-21
THE I,DER SISTE II,

tsWho is that graceful young lady, with tho two
little girls tripping each side other, my Gear
Mrs Grey said elderly female to her compan-
ion as they were walking up High street. Mrs.
Grey Hooked the benu iful girl she smlngly
nodded in passng, and replied ,'Iha is tho eldest
daughter Of my dear friend, Mrs Clev land. She
Is Of the most interesting females in the citv'
and am often at Il loss whichtt admire most, the
judcious manner IN which my friend has brought
up her eldest daughter, or the excellent principle
which regulate the mnutest part oiJulia's conduct
She has been taught ever since quite little GIRL to
regard her younger brothers and sisters the OBJ
jects of her peculiar and nnvaryng care AS she
has advanced to womanhood it has become
and cons plcuous, and she is the most
-watcbful, disnerested being know
Her happiness consists in making others happy,
particularly her oaon family. She is always ready
70 perform for her brothers and sisters those little
Offices Of love their tender age requires She at
tends them when they rise in the morning, dresses
them neatly, and never oms attention to their pr-
vale devotions When the hell summons them to
morning prayer, many little football may be heard
following her to the dining room, where solemnity
and decorum mark their behaviour. At liable,
-"sister Julia has many little pinafore adjust
and when the hour for school arrives every satcleI
is ready for their plump little hands to grasp the
strings a..-
She attends to their lessons, mends their clothes
reconciIes all their little differences walks with
them, plays with them, sings for them. and is the
source and centre Of all their enjoyments. What.
this good girl can do, either for their comfort
or improvement is ia her we'll regulated mind
"source Of unaloyed pleasure. Mrs Cleveland, un-
like many mothers know, taught Julia from her
~. 11I l. H. -
consider first, the comfort and advantage Of her
brothers and sisters She never permitted TO
assume that haughy air which renders so many
elder sisters disgusting. She was never allow ed
to claim receive undue indulgence on that &C.
C onnt and no favors were bestowed upon her, be.
of her station in the family. On tho contra
ry, she taught, that whenever it became ne.
"cessary for to yield she would conquer By
yeldi ng, and win by Kindness, where she might
provoke and irritate by contonding.
AS she grew up she pracced the most dislnter
ested generosity, and when first impressed by re
ligous truth, one of the most affecting considera.
tons that presented itself to her mind was 81 am
tho eldest sister. What has the Lord riobt To ex
rpect from me? What do my brothers and sisters
expect? Sho told me day, when conversng
with her religious subj ects, that there was moth
ng which more deeply weighed upon her heurt
than the responsible situation in which providence
had placed her in her own family. 'To me, said
the sweet girl, with tears n her eyes, my Gear pa
tents look, to strengthen their hands in the govern
men: of our domestic world, to enforce their pre-.
cepts, to exhibit in my example what the younger
ones should practice, and 10 aid in every way in
training up family for the service of God on
earth. With my father and mother i stand con-
nected by every eadearing tie, the representa-.
tive of my family, and know can do much to
aid and much to defeat them in all their plans for
family usefulness, and personal holiness. To me,