Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1841-09-21
POPUAR READINGS.
ffotn the Gn for, ies2
ISABEL,S BRIDAL.
nv MRS FMN, e. runrsY

When ! was . very little Giti ! was frequently taken
by a maiden aunt to vial, an Old LADY who lived in =
tall narrow house IN Pearl Street, long since swallow
ed up Ia an enormous countng-housc. Young as
was, the many weary hours ! was obliged to spend in
miss Rachel Maybc's small back parlor have impress.
cd every object upon my memory, and doubtless The
dark tin's IN which all things were necessarily painted
have contributed to their preservation IN my mind.
since the remembrance Of doll scenes will long out
last that of gay once, even as sombre colors will ad-
here to the canvass, while bright ones fade beneath
The touch OF time. hiss Rachael was a lady OF small
but independent fortune. She inhabited the house IN
which her plreuts had lived and died. aud antiquity
was stampc4 upon every article OF furniture. can
almost fancy that ! see now the fantastic Turkey car
pet which, eked out with a border of green baizc, coy
cred The floor the straIght-backcd mahogany chairs,
with their white chinlz covers, tie ihin-legged tables,
the bright brass fre-irons. the square japan cabinet,
curlous!y iulaid with mOtAer-ol pearl, the tall. peGpen-
d'eu!ar 6re-solven worked IN wuIsted, the device, an
enormous cat win a mouse IN her paH and am sure
/ snail never forget the qsaintly carved ivory hand.
Win It's curved fingers and long slender handle, which
always hung at the side OF the fro-screen. J am afraid
the old iady's ghost would use and Teproach me If /
were TO tell the uses Of that fairy hand, but many a
time have seen her take it from its place and care
fully insert it between her well s,1rchcd kerchief and
the back OF her neck.
Miss Rachael was not one who pinned in single bless
edness. Her complexion still bore some traces Of the
roses and lilies which had once adorned it, and her
rotund figure had gained in dignity what it had lost in
youthful grace. Her attire was characterised by ex-
IRENE %neatness. Her dark silk dress always looked as
glossy as III! was just from the hands Of the mantau-
maker; her book-muslinn eckerchics, though s,arched
as stitf as buckram, were as Transparent as glass; and
as for her caps-we see none such now- days. They
were not manufactured Of trashy bobinet or worthless
blonde lace; Motley were handsome round cared
caps with high crowns, made Of rare India muslin
and bordefed with costly thread lace, plated as if by
rule and compass, and finished by a broad white satin
riband which encircled her head, terminating in a bow
directly in front. Even the tie Of that riband was
Characteristic Of the old lady's precise habits, for the
loops o. the bow were exactly alike, the ends of Just
the same l~ength,and always pointed "a. then though)
due east and west.
A pleasant cheerful body was Miss Rachel Maybe.
Seated in her high-backed rocking chair, with the tall
screen protecting her good humored face from the
heat OF a blazing wood FIRE; her knitting-needes in
her hand and an embroidered satin bag hanging on the
arm Of her chair, out Of which she continually drew
the well. spun thread Of her discourses, she was a per-
feet picture Of co~ntentment. Every body liked her,
and she was a very useful woman 10 her way. She
was al old-fashioned christian, whose genuine pietv
and unostentauous beneyolcnce were visible in her
I utlll me- uhl ne yer tuIDtdT8tlcu IN newspaper para
graphs. To the poor who could work she gave en-
~ploymont, and thus kept alive the feeling Of i@ndcpend-
ence, which is the last treasure len the unfortunate
To the sick and inim she rendered efectual aid, not
by bestowiug money only. which their very necessi-
ties would prevent them from using to the best adyan-
iage, but by appr0pTiatihg her time as well as her
means; 10y making comfortable garments ard prcpar-
ing wholesome food with her own hands; by visiting
them in their wretched homes; by teaching them les
sons ofpratItude and comenlmcnt which pensioners on
the worlds bounty can never learn from the almoucrs
Of associated ch:nues.
have SAID that in my childhood ] spent many a
weary hour ia the old lady's company. Miss Rachel
and my aunt would sit discussing the meats Of tho last
sermon, talking over the fraiiles Of the congregation
to which, they were attached, or debating points Of
theological differences, while poor llle | was left to
amuse myself as best could. used TO set the man
darins on the chimney-piece ~nodding, and watch them
untl ! almost dropped asleep from sympathy. Then
! would Try TO count the birds Of Paradise which drop
ped Their long tails over the paper on tie wall, until
thought was lost IN calculations maze. Sometimes /
resorled 10 the books which lay on the table, but ala.
Bakers Gail, and 'Taylor's Holy Living and Dying,
had but little attractions to a merry child. who was
content 10 ENJOY existence, even as the birds and but
]tertles, without thinking at all about n. ! |rememhcr,
however, a few pleasant scenes which / enjoyed thro'
MISS NHitfl 1, hli4tIHsn d44 lliiIi4INi Nflils bItt SIG
took Us TO an upperroom, and, unlocking a huge trunk,
amused my aunt very much by displaying numerous
suits Of baby-incn.-tue frocbs Of fine csmlrck, witt.
long pointed stomachors. stitched fuli OF vhslctonc.-
the caps worked iu .ace-su,ch but without boficrs,-
which Miss HalAe.s mother out ola kind regard 70
tie welfare Of pos,euy dad made for her future grand
children when .or ouIy daughter was bot a fompiug
siu. Tho OLD lady aule thought that he lapse Of more
than As1 a century would .nd Der daughter fading DO
single L.esseaness, aul lAe uealy-male garments un-
touched save by tle band Of ,ue. On another occa-
son Miss Rachel opened Lof lrl.a cabinet, 90 display
some antique love tokens, aol was Wild with dca light
at being allowed 20 f-mmage among tie paste shoe
blrals and toe gold s'eeve-.uu1ns wt bad be-
.0use. 90 lcE Ia.aeE aud brothers tle morning uaes
and lti .0cse,s which were oh t.a! remained of tie
loved ot earlier Gays, the broken ornaments aai aa-
uqle gewely which had formerly saone i1 many "a
bu4Iani scere Of la.ety Oace zoo found IlEs Book
of Martyrs lying o- ue lsel Hia-oH seat. aal s3 long
as b was allowed 20 remain llfe. ! lacked u9, occura-
uou. ] reyl.sd "a Us horrors ogeG as J bad done .a
The supernatural scenes u TIC Mysteries u Uco.ph1,
and there was something Do tAs Atmosphere Of tha.
gloomy room. from which = teighb9r,g aaI .tli ~,
The caeeri-. s-1-lghi and i1 me cr7Wsy ucsilg oftLe
Irlr r.sr, rer..srIs rsLr.fsfrl o. rrra.#- tEs t-~-r