Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1845-05-30
From the Columbian Magazine for June
THE YOUTHFUL EMIGRANT.
true Story Of the early Settlement Of N. Jersey.
ny L. MARIA CHILD.

The latter part Of the seventeenth centu-
ry saw rapid accessions to the Society of
Friends, called Quakers The strong hui
mility, the indweIling life, which then char
acterised that peculiar sect, attracted large
numbers, even of the wealthy, to its UNI
worldly doctrines Among these were
John Haddon and his wife Elizabeth, well
educated and genteel people, in the city Of
London. Like William Penn, and other
proselytes from the higher classes, they en-
countered much ridicue and opposition
from relatives, and the grossest misrepre-
sensations from the public. But this, as
usual, only made the unpopular faith more
dear to those who had embraced it for con-
science sake.
The three daughters of John Haddon re-
ceived the best education then bestowed on
gentlewomen, with the exception of orna-
mental accomplishments. The spinnet and
mandolin on which their mother had play
ed with considerable skill, were of course
banshed; and her gay embroidery was
burned lest it should tempt others TO like
expenditure of time. The house was amply
furnished but with the simplest patterns and
the painest colors. An atmosphere of
kindness pervaded the whole establishment,
from father and mother down to the little
errand boy; spirit of perfect gentleness,
unbroken by any freaks Of temper or out
bursts of glee; as mild and placid as perpet-
ual moonlight
The children, in their daily habits, re-
hected an image of home, as children al
ways do. They were quiet, demure, and
orderly, with touch ofquaintness in dress
and behavior. Their paythings were SO
well preserved, that they might pass in good
condition to the third generation no dogs,
ears were turned in their books and the
moment they came from school, they care
fully covered their little plain bonnets from
dust and flies. To these subduing inhuen-
ces, was added the early consciousness of
being pointed at as peculiar, of having a
cross to BEAR sacred cause to sustain.
Elizabeth, the Oldest daughter, was by
nature strong, earnest, and energetic, with
warm affections, uncommon powers Of intel
lect and lively imagination. The exactly
equal pressure on all sides in strict Quaker
families is apt to produce too much uni
formity of character; as the equal pressure
of the air makes one globule of shot Just
like another But in this rich young soul,
the full stream, which under othe: circum-
stances might have overleaped safe barriers,
being gently hemmed in by high banks,
quietly made for itself deeper and wider
channel, and flowed on in all its fitness.
Her countenance in some measure indicated
this. Her large clear blue eye "looked out
honestly and friendly into the world" and
there was an earnest seriousness about her
mouth, very unusual in childhood. She
was not handsome but there was some
thing extremely pleasing in her fresh healthy
complexion, her bright intelligent express
ion, and her firm elastic motions.
She was early remarked by all her ac-
quaintance as very peculiar child. In her
usual proceedings, her remarks, and even
in her play, there was certain individual
ty. 1t was evident that she never intended
to do any thing strange. She was original
merely because she unconsciously acled out
her own noble nature in her own free and
quiet way. twas spontaneous impulse
with her TO relieve all manner of distress.
One day she brought home little hall-bind
kitten in her bosom, which her gentle elo-
lquence rescued from two cruel boys that had
cut off portion of its ears. At another
time she asked to have large cake baked
for her, because she wanted TO invite some
little girls. All her small funds were ex-
pended for oranges and candy on this occa-
sion. When the time arrived, her father
and mother were much surprised to see her
lead in six little ragged beggars They
were, however, too sincerely humble and
religious to cypress any surprise. They
treated the forlorn little ones very tenderly,
and freely granted their daughters request
to give them some of her books and play
things at parting. When they had gone,
the good mother quietly said, elizabeth,
why didst thou invite strangers, instead oil
thy schoolmates
There was heavenly expression in her
eye, as she looked up earnestly and answer
ed, Mother, wanted to invite them, they
looked so poor"
The judicous parents made no circum-
stance of it, lest it should create diseased
love of being praised for kindness. But
they gave each other an expressive glance,
and their eyes filed with tears for this
simple and natural action of their child
seemed TO them full of Christian beauty.
Under such an education, all good princi-
Piles and genial impulses grew freely and
took vigorous root f; but the only opening
for her active Imagination to spread It's
wings, was in the marvellous accounts she
heard of America and the Indians. When
she was five or six years old William Penn
visited her fathers house and described
some of his adventures in the wilderness
and his interviews with red men. The in.
telligent child eagerly devoured every word
and kept drawing nearer and nearer, till she