The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1877-11-29

IL is suSt an ole yellow 'cSet WIN I"SSS"
crosses that has been hansed down irc1s
generation 10 generation thsough cha'n o.
fhr;ssv Vermont families 1t Is altogethes
sncb = quaint. charming astle story, and 80
genuine witkaf, that sranscribe il entnre
Nn.y that a hundred years or more hafs
nsssed since the writer eS it, modest furi
tan maiden was laid sway in one OF 1sost
asad Boston church-vares. this eventf1r pas
,sape in he. pure, sweet life goes out OF thu
ssinily anE to the pris1er for the first time
ANNIE E. PRESTON.
,STARBCcK PLASTATe6S.
NEAR MADDAIET, Z
NANTUCKET ,IsI-AsD, Sept. 20, las.
Mytewn Dear Nother,-It seems II very
yery ,leng time since you and ms honore(
father and my eHer-beloved brothers alG
sisters started for your new hossse- bul
suppose you hayeaot at this wrrtanG Fesche'
YOUR destination, and l think 81 you ever.
day, and all day long, as maTcninS 'An,
marching, following the lonely trail throu%l
the interminable forests and sometimes
am tempted 10 repiue in that my fdcae
Thought il best 81 remove to that far~e'wa.
settlement But my grandfather tells M
tibet the entertaining OF that sentlnen
would be unworthy OF the .dHushte
OF pioneer, and since 1t uas though
best for me 80 remain behind DEF
season must .iaprore my time TO the hes
advantage. This try to do with cheerful
ness. and Aunt Content is so kind As 10 say
that L am of service TO her in our householt
duties, and in spinning and weaving.
perodyent,lre nv letter shalt be a puzzle
toyou. Ihasten to say that indite alara
rronh or two ut G. time, upon leisure and
Whenever anything comes into my mlndAhal
desire Won to bnow / straightWay 80 TO
my uncle's desk aad set it down. l do this,
dear mother, that you may share In my
measurable Thoughts and may know OF my
daily life: also that my brothers and sisters
n,ov in measure sartake OF my enloymeHt.
The principal news / have now to tell 49,:
NV cousin, Nathaniel Starbuck. Jr.. has ne
turned to Boston fro@ his late long voyage
to China, and is now hourly looked ler
here. There are divers preparations oe!ns
made for his welcoming. My grandfather
walks restlessly up and down the yard
with his stout stick, peer;ng anxiously up
the roadway By which oGt traveller must
come. Uncle Nathaniel says, with pride,
"The boy will have many stories to tell
Amt Context fits about the house with
a smile on her face, and anon tears IN
her ewes. connecting the fayor.te dishes OF
which her son used to be fond: while dear
old grandmother knits and kn1tss because,
she saws, "Than'el never yet wore any
stockings but of ms make, and must have
a supply for him TO take on bis next voy-
age" /, even I, ana 10 have new blue
gown made from aunt's last web, which IS
the finest and softest piece OF flannel ever
made on the Island.
Nv cousin has come He is tall and 1.-THE.
with handsome hair and eyes, but his com-
plexion is bronzed by ocean winds and
eastern suns. He says it seems to him like
!, fairy tale that was the same little dump
ling OF a cousin that be used to toss in the
air when he was last at home. He is much
grleved to find you all gone, and is planning
a hunting expedition whose objective point
shall be your far-away settlement.
The neighbors all congregated around
our kitchen-tire to hear his wonderful sto-
ries and adventures, which he was relating
all day long and far into the night. For
all he has travelled almost over the
whole world, he is as pleased rs little boy
to be at home on the dear old Nantucket
plantation again. We are all as happy as
we can be-with our divided hearts. we
all have frequent thought and wish for our
wanderers, and grandfather remembers you
each morning and evening at the Throne OF
Grace.
My cousin has brought great many Gu
rioslties and presents for us all. One Is q
silken creamy shawl for me. woven and en-
broidered with beautiful flowers. Another
Is gown Of foamy Canton Grape, as White
as snow, and they are so pretty am sure 1
shall never dare to wear them. Grandma
saws they shall be kept for my wedding,
but Aunt Esther says it is not secmly for
such thoughts to be put into m:iden's
head Yet Aunt Content gave me the
other day whole piece OF linen from the
fall bleach, "to be kept" said she, "for
day OF need.' At all events my foreign
fnery is packed away in foreign gums and
spices in n foreign box, and is not likely to
turn any silly maiden's brain further at
present.
Cousin has returned to Boston, and yes
terday he sent by trusty messenger another
sea-chest. In it is large box OF tea, the
first that was ever on the island; real Chi
nese tea which Nat. himself procured in
China, 1t is of greenish color, with lit
tie shriyelled leaves, and when eaten dry
has pleasant, spicy taste. Perhaps when
have opportunity to send this letter l Gag;
enclose sample quantity that you may see
what it is like, He also sent by the same
hand Q, letter, saying when he returns to
Nantucket the owner OF the ship In which
he voyaged, Captain Morris, will come with
him from Boston to pay us visit.
We are again making master preparations
for visitors, and il you will believe it, the
large parlor, which has not been used since
Aunt Mehitable's wedding, is to be open.
The floor has been newly waxed and pol
ished, and we have spread down here and
iners beautiful mats and rugs which cousin
Nat.hrought from foreign parts. ', AZ" s s'o
many curious and handsome thu. ,,.i,snI
are uung on the walls and spread on the
table and mantel-piece, and the huge hre
of logs, which the sharp weather no" ron-
ders necessary, in the chimney, you nave
no true conception how finely the room APP
pears. When was admiring it this morn
Ing Aunt Esther rebnked me gravely, say
Ing, "The bright things Of this world are
of short duration" But dear. gentle grand
ma observed with smile that IL was
.snatural and right for the young to admire
beauty; at which Aunt Esther seemed
displeased. sometimes think she disllkes
me because am young, but that cannot De; ;
yet [ cannot quite understand how, beins
my own sweet mothers sister, she can be 80
unlike her.