The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1845-06-02


| Endurance, foresight, strength and skill,
| perfect woman, noby planned,
| To warn, to comfort and command;
| And yet spirit still and bright
With something OF an angel light
| WORDSWORTH.
The latter part of the century saw rapid
accessons to the Society of Friends, called Qunkers
The strong humility, the ndwelling life, which then
characterised that peculiar Sect attracted large num-
bers' even of the wealthy, to its unwordly doctrines
! Among these John Haddon and his wife Eliza
BETH wel-educated and geneeI people, in the city
OF London. Like William Penn and other proselytes
from the higher classes. they encountered much rid-
Guile and opposition from relatives, and tho grossest
misrepresentation from the public But this,
al, only made the unpopular faith dear to those
who had embraced il for consciences' sake.
The three daughters Of John Haddon received
the best education then bestowed on genuewomen,
with the exception of ornamental accomplishments
The spinnet and mandolin, on which their mother had
played with considerable skill were of course banish-
cd; and her gay embroidery was burned Jest it should
tempt others to like expenditure of time. The
house was amply furnished, but with the simplest
and the plainesi colors An atmosphere of kindness
pervaded the whole establishment from father and
mother down to the little errand boy; spirit Of
perfect geneness, unbroken by any freaks of tenn
per ouburss OF glee; as mild and placid as perpet-
ua moonlight
The children in their daily habits reflected an i'm
age OF home las children always do They were quiz
ct, demure and orderly, with touch Of quaintness
in dress and behavior Their paythings were SO we'll
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 carefully covered their little plain bonnets from
dust and flies. To these subduing influences, was
added the early consciousness Of being pointed At
as peculiar, of having cross to bear, sacred
TO sustain
Elizabeth, the oldest daughter, was by nature
strong, earnest and energetic, with warm affections
uncommon powers Of intellect, and a lively imagina-
ton. The exactly equal pressure all sides in strict
Quaker families is apt to produce too much unifor-
nifty of character; the equal pressure of the air
makes glohue of sho, just like another Blu: in
this rich young soul, the full stream, which under
other circumstances might have overeaped safe bar
rers, being gently hemmed in by high backs, quietly
made for itself deeper and wider channel and aow-
ed on in all its euness Her countenance in some
measure indicated this. Her large clear blue eye
'ooked out honest and friendly into the world and
there earnest seriousness about her mouth,
very unusual in childhood. She was not handsome;
but there something extremely pleasing in her
fresh healthy complexion, her bright intelligent ex-
preston. and her firm elastic motions.
She early remarked by all her acquaintance as
a very peculiar child. In her usual proceedings, her
remarks and even in her play these a certain in
divduaily. 1t evident she intended TO do
anything strange She original merely because
she unconsconsIy acted ont her noble nature in
her free and quiet way. 1t was spontaneous
impulse with her to relieve all manner OF DISTRESS
One day she brought home little haf-hlind kitten in
her bosom, which her gentle eoquence rescued from
two cruel boys that had cut off portion of its
At another time she asked to have large cake baked
for her, because she wanted to invite little girls
All her small funds expended for oranges and
candy on this occasion. When the time arrived her
father and mother we're much surprised to see her
lead in six little ragged beggars They were how
ever, too sincerely humble and religious to erpress
any surprise. They treated the forlorn little
very tendery, and freely granted their daughters re-
quest to give them some of her books and pIayhings
at parting. When they had gone the good mother
quietly said Elizabeth, why ddst thou invite stran-
gers instead of thy schoolmaes p
There was heavenly expression in her eye as
I wanted to invite them, they looked so poor
The judicious parents made circumstance oft,
lest it should diseased love of being praised
for kindness. But they gave each other an express
sive 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 principles and
genial impulses grew freely and took vigorous root;
but the only opening for her active imagination TO
spread its wings, in the marvellous accounts she
heard of America and the Indians When she was
five ak years old William Penn visited her fathers
house and described some of his adventures in the
wilderness and his interviews with red men. The
intelligent child eagerly devoured every word, and |
kept drawing and nearer till she laid her head
upon his knees, and gazed into his face. Amused by
her intense curiosity, the good man took her in his
lap, and told her how the squaws made baskets ard