Sentinel of the valley. [volume] (Woodstock, Va) 1841-1848, 1843-01-19
Yes, Uncle Peter. | shall finish my

! Yes, Uncle Peter. | shall finish my
education next spring.
Finish your. education, did you say
Ceclia?' the old man asked IN peculiar
tone, squirting his ewes end looking his
niece steadily in the face.
Yes Uncle, | said finish my educa-
tion.'
Indeed! had no idea of that You
have far exceeded .y most sanguine ex-
i pectations.'
Now you are testing Uncle. But
am serious. The principal of our semi
nary said, when passed my last exami
nation, that was perfect in music, dan
cling and DRAWN; and Mons. Parbleu
assures me that will speak French and
Italian as well as Partisan or Floren-
tine. have been all through astronomy,
geology, conchology and flower painting.
and nearly everything else taught at our
institution. which you know is the best
! and most fashionable in the country. By
next spring | shall get through all that
they can teach me, and then, / should
like to know, Uncle. if shall not have
finished my education5'
Sand only sixteen:' Uncle Peter said 4,
lifting his hands in mock astonishment.
You need not make fun. Uncle Peter
And so you will really finish your ed
ucation in the spring.
certainly will.' And the tones of
the fair young girl indicated that she felt
| annoyed by her Uncle's manner. e.
| 'Ofcourse then you already know how
to roast piece Of beef weII?'
why. Uncle!' she exclaimed with
strong expression of surprise.
you are surprised at the question -
And we'll you may be; for it does seem
like foolish one to ask of young LADY,
who is just about receiving the finishing
touch to her education. You can roast
piece of beef then to perfection? Well,
| am glad Of that; fer it is quite neces-
sary accomplishment. And of course
you are an adept in buildings and past
ry?'
Indeed, Uncle, that is too dad; T.
Don't get out OF patience with old Uu-
Gle Peter, Cecilia. only asked the
question. am glad that you are not
deficient here; for like good old-fash-
Toned Indian pudding and plain pump
kin pie. You must make some before
you return TO the school just for my sake.
And you pickle and preserve very nicely
of course-?'
! sWhy, Uncle Peter! l.
sDout be offended, Cecilia, at my ask
ing the question. have so little con-
fidence in your young ladies' finishing
shops of the present day, that almost
feared such good, old-fashioned, useful
branches of education were not taught in
them. But see that have done them
| injustice. Well, you can roast piece
of beef well, can make pies and buildings,
pickles and preserves. And of course
you can bake good loaf of bread?'
Il declare, uncle. this is too bad! l.
'Ah right again, see! But come,
! come, Cecilia. you must not look so in
dignant. l mean well, you know. There
is no accomplishment, can assure you,
like that Of knowing how to make good
loaf Of bread. Bread you know is the
staff of life. The vile, heavy. sour stuff
brought to one hall Of the tables in this
city is enough to kill the people. 1t re-
ally gladdens my heart to think that my
niece has learned to make what may tru.
/ ~ be called bread. How wise have been
your mother and teachers in this matter
Your husband and children will never
be cursed with that modern disease,
which springs from modern ignorance of
housewifery, called Dyspepsia. And you
can cut and fit your own dresses, with a
little aid from your mother?'
uncle, | cannot and | will not be Ca
techised in this way-I-
'H-u.s-h. Keep your young feelings
as cool and calm as the bosom of lake.
You know that your old Uncle loves
you, and questions you thus for his own
satisfaction. And if you knew the de-
light he experienced in finding that such
important branches of your education
were not neglected, you would forgive
his fond inquisitiveness. Every young
lady should know how to make her own
dresses; for when she gets married and
has family, she can make or oversee the
making of not only her own, but the gar
HcHtS vi IHC .uiflSi Cut thChoSlS vi HtI
family. Millinery, too
/ why, Uncle Peter! That is too bad p
Il did not question, my dear Cecilia,
your knowledge Of this useful branch OF
education. l was only about speaking
ofits Importance, not so much in the light
of an accomplishment, as means where
by, in case of any future reverse in life,
you might be able to make an honest and
comfortable living. Dress making, too,
is all important as branch of female ed
ucation, looking to this very end. For
in this country there are SO many ups and
downs, that no ore knows when his or
her time may come to be thrown upon
the world, with no dependence but indi.
vidual resources. ! have known many
instances in my time
! But, Uncle
MANY instances. | was going to say.
! Cecilia. where yOung ladies. rich and