Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-04-08
From the Lady's Book for April.
The Eldest Daughter.
BY HRS. LYDIA N. sIooURNEY

The Eldest Daughter.
BY MRS. LYDIA IL. sIeeURNEY.
As the importance Of education becomes more and
more appreciated by the people, the difficulty of OBJ
tanning well qualified teachers is proportionaby re-
alized. Foreigners may be profoundly learned, or
highly accomplished, but the political and moral
doms OF our republic to be studied and the mind
In some measure weaned from established trains OF
thought, ere II can assmiate with those whom IL is
expected TO modify. Tae inhabitants OF different
sections OF our own Union, must submit IN some de-
gree to the same subjugaing process. The northern
youth, who engages in the business Of instruction at
the sunny south, perceives necessity OF conforming
to new usages, he can be in harmony with those
around, Even natives of different portions of the
same state, must take pains 10 adapt themselves 10
the ew neIghborhood, or family where they are to
operate, il they would hope their efforts TO be at
tended with full success.
Is 1t understood that in every family of brothers
and sisters, there is teacher whom is it neees
sary to naturalize foreignerl-or as a stranger
10 incite TO sympathy While she aids INTEL ctua
progress her influence on the spositon ana man
ners-her moral and religious suasion still more
visible and enduring. She enjoys aud reciprocates
the love of those who receive her lessons Year af.
ter year she continues her mnstrations
1t will be evident that speak OF The eldest daugh
ter. Her sympathy with her pupils must doub less
be greater than that Of other teachers. hey are
her BONE and her flesh They come TO her with
more freedom than even tn the pare,t; that tie
extent of her sway il is not easy either to limit or to
compute.
n any excellent elder daughters has il been my
good fortune to know, who realized their response
biity TO the Great Teacher, and were filled with ten
derness to the mother, whose mission hey partook,
and TO the dear who look ed To them for exam
pie think at this moment, Of one who was the
light and life Of a large circle of little ones. They
hung Oh the lineaments Of her sweet countenance,
and IN bibed Joy. From hei lovely, winning man
ners, they fashioned their own IL temporary sad
stole them she knew the approach to their
hearts, aud her sweet music, and sweeter words,
cneered them back TO happiness. If there
among them exuberance Of mirlh, or symptoms Of
lawlessness, or indications al disoord. she clothed
herself with he temporary dignity of the parent, and
prevailed. When sickness was among them, eye,
save that If the mother, could SO long no d waking
hers. No other arm was so tireless in sustaining
the helpless form, or the weary head. The infant
seemed to have two mothers, ard to be in doubt
which most to love Often, in gazing on he radiant
countenance, .aid mentally" what preparation
giving yourself for your own future duties.
Happy the who shall be permitted to appropri-
ate 10 himself such treasure. STILL a. her joyous
bridal, there sorrow the tears Of the little sis
iers. They clasp. d her in their tiny arms--they
would scarcely be persuaded To resign her. After
they had retired To rest they were heard lamening
"who will sing us songs when sad; and
teach us such plays as made us wiser and betterl-
Now, when we tear our froeks. who will help us 10
mend hem! and when We are naughty, who will
bring back to gOodnessI
have another elder daueh 10 whose sole
fet bic mother committed one OF her little
ones With what warm gratitude, with what a sub
lime purpose, did she accept the sacred gift. She
opened her young heart To the new occupant. She
took the babe to her room-she lulled it To sleep
her bosom-it shared her cosch Soon its hspipg
tones mingled with her sapplioations. She fed the
unfolding mind with he genilest dews Of piety-
the small rain upon the tender herbe From her it
learned 10 love the Bible the Sabbath the kind pas
torto seek for true penitence, and perseverance, in
the path that leads 10 heaven And II was early ia
k. there. In the Of that eldest sister, its soul
was rendered up. But not until il had given proof
for few years OF happy childhood, that il was
Of the lambs Of the Saviodrs flock Afterwards saw
al. do IN a ami pi laros
To heigkten the happiness, and elev tie the Iar,c
ter of those around her were her objects. And she
knew how, for she rad learned before. Thorough
expe rence in the culture Of the disinierescd aec
tions gave her an immens vantage-ground for the
new duties Of wife and mother. They per
formed with 20 herself AID were beautiful he
ewes Of observers. The children of others were en-
trusted 10 her husband TO be educated and she be.
me a mother tn them And could not but bless
the giver of every good and perfect gift, that the
haliowed influences TO when that elies. daughter
had given such exercise under the p,ternai ro {,
might now go fort into the som If Strangers, take
roei in distant homes; and perhaps in another hems
phere, in unborn age, bring forth the fruits Of
immortality
The assistance which may be afforded 20 p ,ren'.,
by the eldest dau shter is valuable. What other
hsnf could so eiiecual.y AID them IN the great work
&C training up their children to usesness aud piety
Filial is eag the nuble motives 60 this
enterprise. Many yonn ladies have been thus &C
tuated become the instructors 10 di1r rent branch
es of their brothers and .isiers regularly to
DIV their lessons WIN tneU.snu IN feCNe.
IN " went their stated teachers or to the
whole charge of their classical instruction l was
acquainted with elder sister, who every morning,
when the younger children ere about to depart to
| their separate schools, took them into roo m by
themselves, and impaired most kindly and serious.
ly such advice sdmonitiop orepcouragemcpt, N had
n visible effect their moral c'nduc'. IN enabling
them both tp resist temptation and to be steadat in
truth and goodness.
But have been much affected with the history Of
one, HhO. amid crcGnisfances IT peculiar trial. was
not only to those than herself but 20 her pa
rents and especially To her widowed and sorrowipg
father as guardian angel. ~ is more than centu
nv since Egede native OF Norway, moved with pi-
" for toe bcnighted Grsen, nders, left pleasant
abode and an ectionate flock to become their mis-
sion,ry HIS wife and four young children sccnnpapi
ed him. Their privaions and hard,hips II - diff
cult either describe or 10 imagine, amid an gnor-
ant, degraded people, aud IN that terrible climate,
where "a, less darkness ~ superadded to the bitter
fross &C winter, that u 10 Necessary TO shr,uk into
.ubterranean cells, and feed incesanty the tram oil
lamp lest the spar 81 life should be exiinEuishsd
Litile Ulrica saw her mother continually sustain
ing and cheering her father amid abors which long
seemed To be without hope She heard her read to
him, by tine gimmering never-dying lamp. from the
lev books they had brought from their isther land.
She observed how cheerfulIy she denied her,elf for
the sake of others, and with what sweet smile she
discharged her daily duties. she perceived that
hight and warmth might be Kept within the soul
while all around was dark and desoIate, and gave
her young heart to the God IRON whom such gifts
proceeded.
When 'hc sun after long absence, once more ap-
peared over the lev wastes gIo ious, az ~ new