Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-06-10
Elder Brothers.

A great deal has been beautifully said
and written about elder sisters. Their du-
ties are very clearly defined 10 the general
mind and most people have an idea in their
own imagination Of the way in which an
elder sister ought TO behave We have no
quarrel with this A sisters love has been
like a golden chain round many a young
man, when he has beon 10 scenes Of trouble
and temptation, keeping him from evil com
panionship, and holding him from vicious
associations. The gentleness, the purity,
the sweetness Of sisterly affection are worth
all that has ever been thought Of in their
praise. Every sister should delight in min.
stcring to her brothers, and in making
home beautiful TO them; and if she be the
elder sister she should, so to speak, be her
mothers prime minister in the household
economy.
But boys, word with you Are there
not obligations laid upon brothers2 You
are stronger than your sister. Ought you
not to spring to her aid if she sdoiug some.
thing difficult or fatiguing2 For instance,
house. cleaning times are approaching, and
there will be pictures to hang, carpets to
tack, shades to put up, furniture to move
from place to place, and all sorts of back
breaking and back aching occupations Tor a
week or two OF " It isn't 40 pleas.
ant for o fellow" to be round in those days,
and so a pardon the expression,
but we've heard young gentlemen use it
often, - unless he is very manly aud unself.
ish, will be apt to think Of engagements out
Of the house Let us whisper secret in
your ear. He is jewel among men, who
is never IN the way when be is not wanted
aud never out Of the way when heis. There
are a great many little things and big things
which good son and brother can do in do
nestle emergencies if he only cares to make
himself useful If you live in the coun.
try there is many a lift you can give to the
women.folks in the way Of carrying in wood
bringing pals Of water, and generally lend
ing hand.
Then, young man, if you are an elder
brother, bethink yourself sometimes, that
your sister may like to have you take her
out as well as some Of the other young la
dies of your acquaintance do. Jennie is
quite as pretty, quite as well.bred, and has
quite as many capacities for enjoyment as
any other girl Of her age. She would be
pleased, If now and then you would invite
her to 90 with you to lecture or a con.
cert, aud you would if you only tried it,
fnd out that an evening with your sister
would pass as agreeably and perhaps more
restfully than an evening with any one
else, not excepting even the dearest and
best girl in the world, whose image is with
you like a guardian angel, and whose name
you always speak with reverence and regard
We once knew an elder brother, eighteen
then aud senior 10 college, who would
spend a half hour every day, and sometimes
more, in the diversion and entertainment Of
little brother The ships he followed for
him out of bits of chips, with matches for
masts, and ends Of ribbon for sails; the
paper-birds, and the soldier-caps and kites
he made the stories he told, and the songs
he sung for the troublesome little fellow,
whom most young men would have voted
bore, elevated him in our eyes to something
better than hero--a perfect gentleman.
Elder brothers, and younger brothers,
too, are, more than they know 1.-THE
hinges Of the household. "Surely if brother
knew how we loved him, he would not do
this and that which hurts and aunoys US, "
says many a sister in her secret heart.
And the pride everybody has in a good
brother is one of the most charming ex-
periences in the world.