Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1842-07-02
AN ELDER SISTER.
BY MRS. sIGouRNEY.

The station of the elder sister has al
was appeared to me 50 peculiarly impor~
tant, that the privileges which 1t involves
assumes almost Ia sacred character. The
natural adjunct and ally Of the mother, she
comes forth among the younger children,
both as a moniress and example. She |
readily wins their confidence, from con-
viction that she even, more freshIy than
the parent, "s touched with The feeling
of their infrmiles." In proportion to
her interest IG their aft cilons, will be her
power to improve their characters, and to
allure them, by the bright example of her
own more finished excellence. Her 10,
Ihuence upon brothers, is often eninently
happy. Ola young man who once evin-
ced high moral principle, with rich and
refined sensibllties, unusually developed,
It was said by an admiring stranger, 81
Twill venture to affirm that hehad good
sister, and that she paS Older than him.
Sey"
1t has been my lot TO know more than
one elder sister of surprising excellence.
have seen them assuming the office Of
teacher, and faithfully imparting to those
whose understanding were but leeby en-
Iightened, the advantages Of their own
more complete education. | have seen
them soitening and modifying the charac-
ter of brothers; breathing until it melted,
upon obduracy which no authority could
subdue.
| have seen one in the early bloom Of
youth, and amid the temptations of sfllu.
ence, SO aiding, cheering and Influencing
a large circle of brothers and sisters, that
The lispiug student came to her to be help.
ed in It's lesson; and the wild one from its
sports, brought the torn garment trusting
to her needle; and the delighted infant
stretched its arms TO hear her biId.Iike
song; aud the cheek Of her mother, lean.
ing on so sweet O substitute, forget 10
fade.
! know another, on whose bosom the
head of a sick brother rested, whose nur
sing kindness failed not, night or day
from whom the most bitter medicine was
submissively taken, and who, grasping
the thin cold hand in hers, when death
came, saw the las. glance of the sufferers
gratitude divided between her and the mo-
Their who bare him.
have seen auother, when the last re.
naming parent was taken to God, come
forth in her place, the guide ard comfort
of the orphans. She believed that to her
who was now in heaven, the most accept
able mourning would be TO follow her
irjunctIons, and to fulfil her unfinished
designs. Her motto was the poets max.
i'm: /" He mourns the dead, who lives as
they desire" As if the glance of that
pure ascerded spirit was constantly upon
her, she entered into her unfinished abors
To the poor she was the same messenger
for mercy; she bore the same crosses with
meek and patient mind, But especially
to her younger sisters and brothers, she
poured out, as it were, the very essence Of
her being. She cheered their sorrows
She shared and exalted their pleasures,
She studied their traits of character, that
she might adapt the best method TO their
infrmitles and virtues. t. the germ Of
every good disposition, she was faithful
florist; to their waywardness she opposed
a mild frmness till she prevailed.
She laid the infant sister on her owr
pillow, she bore it in her arms, and reio
ced in its growth, and health, and beauty
And when it hased on its lettering fee
to her, as to q mother, for it had known M
other; the smile on that young brow, anc
the tear that chastened it, were more radi
ant than any sembance of joy, which
glitters in the halls of fashion. The little
ones grewup around her, and blessed her
and God gave her the reward of her labors
in their affection and goodness. Thus she
walked, day by day, with her eye to heI
heart, upheld by the happiness which she
diffdsed; and as I looked upon her,
though, she was shut little lower thar