The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-05-23


ever dared to do yet, and you will be very sorry for
IT, she said before you came home, she knew
Aunt Lydia had spoiled you, and it is trne enough.
action ~
Oh! that were indeed like her, exclaimed Leila
Tor gentler, purer, holier, being never lived-A
my virtues are hers all my faults my own Let me
never hear her reproached for foies or SINS which
| are the legitimate offspring Of my heart
Unable to repress the tears which this unkind alu-
sion to relative tenderly beloved, and so recent
ly lost, excited, Leila left the room, feeling more
keeny than she had ever done before, that between
her sister and herself there not one feeling or
principle in All that is necessary to state of
the previous history of these young sisters may
be explained in few words Deprived in childhood
OF their MOTHER they separated Immediately af-
ter her death and placed under influences as opposite
as pole to pole Aunt Lydia, maiden sister Of Mrs
Manners, received the orphan Leila from her dying
mother, as her own, and as such she educated and
cherished her, till her death making her second
time an orphan, she returned to her fathers house.
Elmira remained at home, under the care of Miss
Phils Manners, who assumed the charge of her broth
ers household, with authority as absolute and I'M
| disputed as the laws of the Modes and Persans
| Mr. Manners was one of those good natured men,
who always avoided trouble and contention and who
have not moral courage enough to follow up the prin-
cipes they profess to admire. He believed his sister
one of the best managers in the world probably from
the bnste attending all her movements and thought
himself very fortunate in careful and discreet guar
dian for his daughter. He regretted that Leila did
not enjoy equal advantages for Lydia was so quiet
and unpresumng, and made SO little parade of her
own good deeds, and he accustomed to ego
sm and display of his sister, he imagined that Aunt
Lydia one Of those passive characters who ex-
ercised but little influence in her own household.
Had he reflected little the great laws of re-
he would have remembered that the most powerful
influences are silent and often unseen. The rays
that iumine the immensely Of the universe silent
ly as brightly execute their glorious mission. The
dews that refresh the sutrness Of nature and steal
silent and unseen from their secrdt dwelling place,
and teach mankind unostentanious charity But
MIR Manners never reasoned from analogy, indeed
he seldom reasoned at all, and it is strange that
the unobtrusive virtues of Aunt Lydia escaped his
worldly observation. True when Leila returned, he
would have thought her very graceful, lovely and
miable, had not his acute minded sister discovered
many blemishes in her, and such superior
cellencies in Elmira. He concluded, usual, that
she better Judge than himself, and her opinion
was considered infallibe.
Miss Phllis Manners alias Aunt Phillis alas Cous-
in Phs, would have been in the full sweep of her
glory, on the day of Mr. Banks arrival, had not the
expectation Of MIR Clements visit cast its dark shad-
before. 1t is not to be supposed that all her
iety was dsnterested or that it for the agran-
dzement of neices alone, she was hoping, and tong,
and planning.
Mr. Banks was a widower, and as she had passed
her vernal morn and summer noon in maiden single
ness of heart, she resolved that the quetude of
her autumnal should be spent in the shadow of
the myrtle bower. Notwithstanding her sincerity to
her BROTHER and the truths her o-consulted mirror
breathed of her whitening beauty, she fanced every
one else be laboring under optical illusion,
and imagined herself still in the spring time Of youth
1t was great source Of vexatlon that she COM
peled to own her dark but bleached locks,
deactng from the uvenility of her appearance, but
she consoed herself with the idea that turban
most becoming and oriental style ofhead dress, admi
rable in keeping with the erecness and dignity of her
figure. This day she appeared dressed with elaborate
elegance-on her white turban she a single arti
fetal white placed left ear partly twisted in
her long flowing curs,p pearl ornaments on her neck&
a robe of delicate acl-coored silk fitted close to her
really fine form. No wrinkle was ever allowed to
mar the outline Of her dress, and could she have ex-
erclsed as arbitrary dominion over her facet, would
have been as smooth Parian marble. She had
been practicing kind of eager smile, with which to
welcome the East India Nabob, she had great faith
in first impressions. Elmira, who implicitly followed
her Aunt's directions, also much adorned, but
Leila made no alteration in the mourning garb, she
wore in memory Of Aunt Lydia. Miss Philis told
her that her eyes heavy as lead, and
and her complexion pale as ashes. She did in
deed, look PALE for she agtated in the prospect
of meeting so many kindred she had never seen, and
in dread that their visit would be source OF trial to
her. determined as she was, not to yield the prncl-
pies of right the tyranny of her Aunor the rdlcue
Of her sister.
sHe's come-Uncle Banks is come! exclaimed
who had heen watching at the window, alter