Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-01-15
From Arthur's Home Gazette.
ffom Aftnur dotn9 01Ie"o'
II3 MAIDEN SISTER,
OK PASSAGES IN TIE LIFE FAN OLD LALD.
BY MRS. s. HEPBURN HAYES.

| G3 VI "a O3 ~ SuS ] = u D
OK PASSAGES IN TIE LIFE OFAy OLD MAID.
BY MRS. s. HEPBURN HAYES.
Nv fathers address was Mr.. Felix Hen
ly. or Esquire HeuIy. as he was denomin-
a,ed par courtesy by the country people,
who sometimes came to see him on busin-
ess. He was an easy tempered old gentle
man, with mild. dark, eyes. and flowing
silvery locks, aud he ng naturally indolent
and inclined to tacilurni,v, he had very
~i.Iing:y yielded the preroraii.e Of power
10 his wife who. being toll fifteen years youn,
ger, and woman Of active habits and
strong inIellecr. omitted no opportunity To
govern her buusrho ld-w hich consisted OF
her children aud farm seryanis-wiih. as
she thought, view TO their best Interest.
Yet can remember. even at this late day,
~i,h many bitter pans. the feelings Of EN-.
Wy and distress, occasioned by The differ
ence OF her treatment he,xeen my sister
and myself. From my earliest recolec-
ton. every di.agreeabie. childish task was
mine 10 perform. r. any one was compel
led 10 forego an anticipated pleasure. the
lot was sure to fail on me; and ! was the
>capegoa, upon whose devoted head every
accident and nsdemeanor committed in
the whole household, was sure to be laid.
1t chanced. however. r.,ha, my natura Ids
position was mild and accommodating, and
on this account l was not so much injured
by the disagreeableness Of my situation. as
might have bcen expected it had q ,en1-
ency 10 make me thoughtful : and the self
denial | was compelled 10 practice, enabled
me to submi, 10 the younger members Of
the family, and to support with patience
man, petty trials and inconveniences.
My reader, can no longer AVOID infor-
m ny you that am The Oldest O. four sis.
Iers-,his being the entire family OF my
parents. moreover, was so unfortunate
as TO be chr's'eoed by the name Of Rhoda,
a name which had always been The de.cs
,aton OF my moher; but rs this ~as the
discrimina,,ve appeIailon Of maiden aun,
Of my fathers. who possessed some landed
property, with considerable money at in
,erest. who had promised 10 make me her
heir, provided was called alter her, all
scrupies had been wisely overcome. Bu'
tine old lady, who vas exceedingly caprci.
Gus, afterwards becoming offended from
some tr,fing cause, made her will n favor
Of distant male relative. and was thus
compelled TO bear name with all The op-
probium, which Disappointment and preju'
dice had connected with it, without any
pallialing circumstances.
Ny three sisters were all Of different
styles of beauty. and yet they appeared to
be equally admired. Constance, the next
in age. ha light brown hair, hazel eyes,
and bewi'ching smile; and appearance
pleasing in the extreme. My second sister
was considered the beauty Of the family.
Rose was her name and with her snowy
skin and auburn eyes and hair, few paused
10 enquire whether her disposition cores
ponded with her person. Selma. the youn.
gesr. bore a striking resemblance TO our
mother, and was the favorite with her; she
more mental energy than
either of the others, but her natural
character was both naughty and vain. Her
eyes we're also hazel. but Of darker
shade, and her superb hair was black IS
the ravens wing; while in person she was
a queen IF grace and MAJESTY. T,
As Tor myself. no one had ever pretend.
I'd TO discover q singleirait Of either parent
in me. Rose was said to te like what my
father had been in his halcyon days; and
Constance and Selma TO call up a remem.
brance Of mamma; but whose figure
was tall and angular. With pale face. and
sunken grey eyes, was said to look like no
human being. unless it was aunt Rhoda.
Yet. my reader, | had one charm not pos
sessed by either Of my highly gifted Sis
Iers; my voice was inexpressibly sweet
and, a. was treated from my earliest
childhood almost as an alien in the iamiIy,
had ample leisure Tor the cultivation OF my
mind. Our education had been. in great
measure, coaducied by our parents. Our
mother was an accomplished woman, and