The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-01-15

| t"SNh VI oNC Guo
| As TO myself, no one had over pretended
10 discover single trail, Of either parcn
III me. Rose was said TO be like what IA,
lather had been in his halcyon days; ant
Constance aud Selma to call up remem
brance OF mamma; but ], whose figure wn,
tall and angular, with pale face, ant
sunken grey eyes, was said 10 look like NJ
human being, unless it was aunt Rhoda
Yet, my reader, had one charm not pos
sessed by either ofmy highly gifted sisters
ny voice was inexpressibiy sweet, and, as
was treated from my earliest childhood
almost as an alien in the family, had am
lple leisure for the cultivation OF my mind
Oar education bad been, in great meas
nre, conducted by our parents. Our moth
er was an accomplished woman, and she
omitted no opportunity to render US also;
but we were each at the age of sixteen
sent to large boarding school at consd
erable distance from home, where we were
allowed to remain two years for the pur
pose Diminishing.
Mamma had urged that, as | was so or,
dinary in every respect, little could be ex-
Ipected from me in the way of marriage, or
advancing the interest Of the family, and
observed that one year might suffice for
me, while each Of my younger sisters
should have The benefit Of two years. pub
lie instruction. Downright injustice Of
this description did not, however, suit my
fathers preeonceved ideas of right, and |
was allowed equal advantages with the
others.
will no. at present, dwell upon these
school days; suffice il TO say, formed na
particular intimaces; made good use ol
my time, aud carried home testimonials OF
progress from the teacher, which were mol
bestowed upon either ofmy sisters, much
TO their chagrin.
As | have headed my narrative "The
Maiden Sister" will pass over the par
ticulars Of our early youth, nor will dwell
upon the absence Of sympathy and true af.
fec ion which continued to distinguish me
from the other members of the family. The
time OF which write at present, was in the
month of April; Selina's last school term
had just expired. She was eighteen years
of age, and turned Of twenty four. re-
collect, on that memorable afternoon, the
air was cold, and the sky cloudy, render
ing little fire necessary il our small sill
ting room; and can never forge, the as
pect il presented. Oar father was not
present, as he generally occupied an apart
ment denominated the study, where he
could attend to his affairs and pursue his
books unmoles'ed Mamma sal erect be.
fore the fire, occupied with her needle !;
when silent, her countenance was almost
too commanding to inspire affection; yet
her smile was gentle and winning. She
dressed beeominglv. and was ady-ike in
her department, There was however, IN
air of stcrnness and decision that she could
assume at pleasure, which caused her
household TO fear rs well as love her
Her manner towards nv sisters was affec-
lionate; but, with me, uniformly cold. Nv
sister Constance was sitting at low table
with little basket before her, lined with
scarlet silk, containing The implements
necessary for sewing. She feigned TO be
occupied with some pretty feminine en-
poyment, but, as she was constitu,ionhlly
indolent, in reality accomplishing nothing.
Rose, who professed to be dying of cnnui.
had seated herself in apparent desperation
and was turning over the leaves of pop
4 ular novel. Selma was stretched al full
length upon the sofa. We had entertain
. ed COMPANY al dinner, and she was in her
,fernoon dress A greater part Of her ex
qnstely moulded arm, was visible. as it
supported her head; her eyes we're closed,
and the long dark lashes rested upon q
check whose glow was like that
BY the sunset given to mountain snow.
Her coral lips, slightly parted, revealed
teeth white as ocean pearls; and as she lay
there, in dream-ike beauty, often paused
| from my work to gazs upon her. We were
thus occupied when the door opened, and
one Of tho maid servants entered with a
small covered baske, in her hand
"llere is present from Johns wife for
Miss Rhoda," said she, smiling as she I'd
vanced towards me.
! took it from her, and, on opening is
louud that it contained small cream
cheese. John was the plougbman. my
reader, and during q long and severe win
ter, had found the road TO the hollow in
which his hovel stood, when the snow rem
dered the roads almost impossible for
others. had cut up portion ofmy own
slender wardrobe, and converted it into
clothing for Kate's twin babies, when che
poor creature had but scanty supply Tor
one child. ! had, many times, made nour.
shing broth, and fed it to her with my own
hands; and now, when returning health
had smiled upon her, as a token Of still
grateful feeling, she had sent me this little
cheese.
sis she in tho kitchcn" asked ! Of the
maid.
s'No, Miss, she has gone home,"
"Take it with you and put il in the pan
try" | replied: 81 will thank her for her
present when see her again"
As soon as the girl had loft tho room, Sc
lima, who had started up, burst into con.
temp,uous laugh.
"Truly Rhoda," cried she, s'you are en-.
tcring into the duties of your vocation o
year before the allotted time"
"Dd YOU ever yet know an old maid
mamma," chimed in Constance, "who was
not given TO charitable visiting and MI
those sort Of things"