The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-10-30
BROTHER AND SISTER.
BY l.. MARIA CHILD.

But show me, on thy fowery breast,
Earth, where thy mameieSS martyrs rest!
The thousands, who, uncherred by praise,
Have made one offering of their days"
Mrs. HemanS.
"Hurraw exclaimed John Golding TO his
sister Esther. See, what Mr. Brown has
bought with Biddy's eggs!"
The boys eyes sparkled, and his hands
trembled with delight, while Esther's more
serious countenance lighted up with quick
smile.
The treasure John exhibited with such ex-
utation was worn copy of GoldSmith's
Manners and Customs. The title page de-
clared that it was adorned with plates; but
readers accustomed to the present more
beautiful style ofpubishing would have been
slow TO admit that the straight lank figures,
daubed with engravers' ink, were any orna-
lnent to the volumes. To the Impractical
eyes of John and his sister, they were how
ever, gems of Art; and the manner in which
they were obtained greatly Increased their
value. The children had received cake
and two little chickens from a neghbor in
payment for picking cranberries. Never did
chickens give rise TO such extensive specula-
tons; not even the imaginary brood of the ia
nous milll-maid. The chickens would be-
come hens, and the hens would lay eggs, and
Mr. Brown, who drove the market-wagon.
would sell The eggs, and there were ever
so many books in Boston, and who
could guess what wonderful stories they
would buy with their eggs? The vision was
realized in due time. The chickens did be-
come hens, and laid eggs; and Mr. Brown lis
tened good-naturedly to Johns request to
sell them and buy "a book, that had pictures
in it and told about countries away Offs
Godsnlths Manners and Customs came as
the fruit of these instructions, and was hailed
with an outburst ofjoy.
Most boys would have chosen to buy mar
bles or drum; but Johns earliest passion
had been for books. The subtle influences
which organise temperaments and produce
character, are not easily traced, His intellec-
tua activity certainly was not derived from
either of his parents; for they were mere
healthy, sluggish animals. But there was
tradition in the neighborhood that his ma
ternaI grandmother was san extraordinary
woman in her day; that few folks knew so
much as she did: and if her husband had
been half as smart and calculating, they
would have been very fore-handed peo-
plep'
The children of the extraordinary woman
inherited her husbands inert temperament
but her own energetic character reaDpeared
in her grand children; and they had the good
fortune to be born in New Finland, where the
moral atmosphere stimulates intellect, and
tio ICutii vi ilOWS Tree anu Iull 10
all the people. Esther was as eager for in
formation as her more vivacous brother: aud
though as woman her pathway of life was
more obsuueted, and all it's growth more
stinted, she helped to lead him into broader
avenues than she herself was allowed to enter.
Being two years older than he, it was her de-
light TO teach him the alphabet, as soon as he
could speak; and great was her delight when
he knew all the letters in her little old prim-
mer, and could recite the couplet that be-
longed to each. They conveyed no very dis
tinct idea to his mind, but Esther's praise
made him very vain of this accomplishment.
A dozen times a day he shouted the whole
twenty-iour, all i'll row, and was quite out
of breath when he arrived at:
ZacbeuS he
Did climb the tree,
His Lord to seep
The mother who was a kindly, but dull
woman, took little interest in their childish
scrambling after literature; but she sent them
10 the town-school for the sake of having
them out ofthe way, and she was somewhat
proud that her children could "read joining
hand" as she called it, earlier than neigh
hors of the same age. One day, when the
Minister of the village called, she told John
TO bring his book about Manners and Gus
toms, and let the Minister hear how well they
could read. The good old man was much
,NtaocaI x.titb ,ba boy iptnIIi-