Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-04-08
From The Columbian .hagrzine for .4pril.
MELINDA BUTTON
AND HER OLD RELATION S
BY MISS MARTHA RUSSELL.


well it is a kind Offer Melinda but why
not stay here and learn trade
And at every other stitch, take scoIdlng
from some fretful old seamstress or milllner! No,
no Mrs. Murdock | hate sewing, and above all
tbi nps the idea of learning a trade. Up there,
| can at least do as please
Perhaps so; would not discourage you, my
dear; but it will surprise me if you are conten-
ted there three weeks, not to speak OF 'ohger
time
If we're, it would be something new re-
piled the laughing girl 'but tell me why you
think so. Grandma always said they were rich
oh, in the first place, they live quite ont OF
the world. DIS little, back-woods sort
of a town, and your old relatives live away IN
one corner Of it, among the trees and rocks.
went there once with your mother. The place
and people gave me notion of the world before
the food. You will see nobody there. Aunt
Euhice is nothing like your poor grandma.
doubt if her ideas ever wandered beyond the
limits of their farm, excepting when we were
there" continued the lady laughing. "In passing
through one of their clumsy gates, your mother
tore her dress, and then aunt gave sweeping
lecture on the extravaganza and degeneracy Of
the time 1t was quite original. Your mother
listened with great meekness, and was well re-
paid, for the old lady loaded our carriage with
presents. think she is kind, though she has
queer ways. There is one thing in your favor-
they are rich and will not live forever
This is but fragment of conversation that
occurred one morning, between Mrs Murdoch
and her young friend Melinda Button. Melinda
was an orphan At her mothers death, she fell
to the care of doating grandmother, who did
what grandmothers have done beiore-sPoiIed
her She was unframed and ignorant no
from want of facilities for education, for the
fashionable town of c. had a fair sprnk
ling of high schools and low schools and Me
linda had also been sent away to one or two gen
teeI boarding schools. Nor would intimate
doubt Of grandmamas veracity, who exnlGng
maintained that her darling had been Ihroug
all the branches She had been through them
yet she had failed to be educated With respec
to all that was useful and necessary TO one in he
condition of life, she was ignorant. Nature la'
given her quick, bright mind, and loving
heart-but education had proved sad failure
The grandmother thought her darling was yer
delicate aud frail. She peted and INDUCED her
until at sixteen she was seli-wiIled, indolent an
Disconnected
Menda's father had spent most Of his life a
the South His business wus lucrative, but b
contracted extravagant habits, and at his death
there was nothing left for his child The grand
mother did not long survive him and the girl wa
left nearly poroness as well as riendess. TIL
old lady had brother and sister still living
They we're unmarried, and had always reside
together in their native town, in distant part q
the state When ir formed of her death the
were also told of the destitute condition Of tn
orphan. Their letter in reply was somewha
quantity expressed, but they willingly offered thei
young reIat &c a home. This letter gave rise /
the proceeding conversation.
Mrs, Murdoch has given her account Of Eu
nice, and now, kind reader, let me give 70
mine. She was indeed, nothing at all like Nj
lnda's poor grandma, but a shrcwd, strong
minded, energetic woman, who knew but little
and seemed to care less about that portion of tn
world which could not be seen from the old farm
house where she dwelt with uncle Jonas lie
prepossesslons and preJudces were very strong
and not easily changed they were also sedo
opposed or contradicted, for she did not ofe
leave home, and none of the neighbors cared
get into 'snarI with aunt Eunice' Hel tongt
Was rather nervous, swift and sharp. and h
manners seemingly rough--yet she had GOO
kind heart, though the way to it often SCENE
somewhat intricate There was about her XIII
Of rude dignity, marked individuality of EXPIRE
sion aud manner, which sometime appears
those whose position have saved them from Il
stereotypng process of society. She was pee
llary one Of those who, to use the signi6ca
language of hard-hsted neighbor of min
never look up to nobody but themselves F.
all those who allow themselves to feel craviE
TO be 'genteel and fashionable, she felt heat
Ter contempt than Turk feels for a Chrstia
Aunt Eunlce was still fine looking woma
tall, erect, with eyes of that Deep brilliant hu
which for intensity often surpasses those of
darker hue, and features that plainly indicate
her great firmness and decision Of character
Though she had numbered full three-score yea
not single line of silver threaded the mass
dark brown hair that seldom knew the con6r
ment of cap or bonnet, except on the Sabba
Her usual dress in the Winter consisted of
narrow-skirted, close fitting gown Of her o,
home-spun flannel, which, as the weather or,
warmer, was exchanged for gay chntz sh,
gown and short pctticoat, made exactly after t
pattern Of those she had worn in her grIhood.
A yellow flannel blanket pinned tightly over h
head in Winter, and one of uncle Jonas's STR
hats in Summer, supplied the place of bonn
In this guise she was accustomed to make /
appearance iii the great yard back of the hou
as regularly as the sun, the year round, with
snowy milk pals on her arm, and great d
of corn meal in her hand, followed by mot
tribe of geese,hen and turkeys, Cabling, ca
ling, growing and screaming, while her vo
sounded above the din-now lecturing some G
mandizing old turkey-cock or belGoerent gan