The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1859-10-27

paint her 1ace. vi emDroluery sne knew
nothing; and never wrought either house,
tree, cat, or dog, with her needle. OF
novels she had never read more than the
Vicar of Wakefield, and counterfeit hero
ines had no share in her sympathy or
commiseration. r8 soZ aags3 3sHi
But if she took no steps in dancing,
she took many one in the cause ofvirtue
and charity If she had no voice for sing
ing, her tones were silvery in the ears
of the afflicted and distressed /; and if she
had no music in her fingers, she had
emusic in her soul, for all the qualities
of her mind were attuned to harmony.
If she could not paint bird, tree, or flow
er, neither, as we said before, did she
paint her face. IF she could not make
cat. dog, or house by embroidery, she was
well versrd in all useful needlework. II
she did not weep over novel she had
ever ready tear for the miseries of real
life
1t is plain, then, that Margaret Brown
had nothing to boast sf on the score of
fashionable accomplishments And, per-
haps, some pretty readers of ours may toss
her head disdainfully, and ask-"What,
in the name of all that's worth living for,
had she to boast?" We answer that she
did not boast at all; she was humble,
meek, and modest.
We have already intimated that she
possessed the qualities of an excellent
heat. She had also an abundance of
good common sense, and useful informa-
ton. She could read better than any
young lady in the neighborhood; she
could write fair and legible hand; she
could cast accounts as we'll as the best !;
she had learned something of geography,
and could tell in what countries Liver
pool, Paris and Canton are situated
which is moro than some very accom-
plished ladies can do; and, above all, she
knew how to spell, and could write a very
respectable letter without the help of a
dictionary. 1t is true, she could not chat
ter scandal in French, make love in Ital-
ian, or commit murder upon any foreign
language. But she understood the yer
nacular.
M0rgaret Brown was also thoroughly
versed in household affairs. She could
make coffee as clear as the fountain of
Helicon, aud twice as inspiring. She
could broil steak or roast sirloin of
beef, so that they would say, as plain as
beef ever said, Resist me if you CAM! "
She could stuff turkey, aud dish up a
gravy by the most approved rules of taste I;
she could compound pudding of the
most tempting favor, and make bread
which was neither heavy nor sour, but
actually "the staff of life" Her pies and
cakes, sauces and preserves, and all the
lesser accompaniments, were in perfect
keeping with the primary and more solid
dishes. In word, Margaret Brown was
mistress of the culinary art, and her cook
cry was so inviting as aluost to persuade
one to "live to eat" instead of the dull
business of seating to live"
Then Margaret could make shirt in
the best style She could knit stockings
aye, and keep them in repair, without
turning them into mops. She was a neat
seamstress, and understood every kind of
stitch that may be put to any good &C.
count. She could wash, iron, plat, and
crimp, and for doing up shirt bosom
had no superior She could even spin,
and very well, too but she had no fond
ness for drawing out street-yarn.
Margaret was, moreover, skilful nurse.
She knew how to sweeten the bitter
draught; to bind the aching brow; to
smooth the thorny pillow She was, as
the neighbors said, "uncommonly handy
in sick room." She had not many re-
lations she had buried father and moth
er, brother, guardian, aud friend. 1t was
Margaret alone that could soothe their
pains; that could allay the irritation OF
disease; that could mix the medicine
that could raise the fa;nting head that
could bathe the throbbing temples 1t
was her voice alone that could cheer, en-
courage, aud animate; her soothing tones
were better than the harangues of busy
priests; and one kind look of hers, d.
rected to heaven in their behalf, was bet.
ter than the longest prayers of profession
al comtorters.
We have said that Margaret Brown was
not handsome. We dared not say more
at the commencement of her history, lest
the reader should throw it aside, and ex-
claim, ooh the ugly creature !"
What parents ever thought their child
homely1 Mr.. and Mrs. Brown were not
likely to discover their daughters want
Of beauty. But if parental partiality
blinded them, their ueighbors were suf-
6ciently clear-sia hted as to the personal
defects of the girl. and were early dispos-
ed to announce their discovery.
ashes as homely as basket of chips, I"
said one.