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AMALIE SIEVEKING. 7
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
^ Amalie Wilheimine Sieyekin© Was Born I...
appears on the whole to have exercised most influence on _tlie formation of his sister's characterThe children were often left to
. themselves all the day long in their father's country-house beyond the citgateswhen their favorite sport would be to play at being
poor children y , who had to work to maintain their parents . "When old enough to be instructed , the little Malchen was put through a
rather dry course of lessons in reading and writing , French , drawing , and music ; though the latter had soon to be abandonedowing to
, her total deficiency of talent for it . Her father then gave her the choice between two learned divines , well recommended , but equally
unknown to them personally , one of whom was to be selected to instruct her in the higher branches of knowledge . To decide the
question she cast lots , and to the teacher thus chosen was committed the care of her educationwhich however he conducted in so
re-, pulsive a manner as very soon to alienate the love and respect she had been prepared to bestow on him , and make both his lessons and
himself almost unbearable . In her religious instruction especially , the Bible with all its interesting histories was never introduced , but
in its place merely a book of dry detached texts . One good , however , resulted from these harsh lessons , and that was , that the
consciousness of how easy it would be to make them different , impelled the young pupil early to begin teaching others , and to devise methods
that should be more attractive and effectual . She soon tried her hand too at composition , wrote romantic dramas and robber-stories ,
and even began a dream-book ; for though the young governess H . put no obstacle in the way of the children if they chose to engage
in such pursuits , yet she was not capable of directing their tastes , and thus their reading and their writing were often of a kind which
a more experienced instructress -would scarcely have approved . Nor could she supply the tender attentions of a motherand this
, want was keenly felt by little Amalie , who was often found in tears without any apparent cause , and , when once pressed to explain their
me source de , ar rep Malchen lied , " I . feel " She so sad certainl because y did no not one at loves this me tim and e disp call lay s
qualitie ' s very likely to attract , for so little development of a benevolent disposition was then visible , that instead of manifesting
any sympathy for the patientl - y borne but great _sufferings of a younger brotherwho died after a lingering illness when she was
, eleven years old , she only felt annoyed at their causing any interruption to her own pleasures .
In 1809 she lost her father , and as he left no property , a council of relatives was held to decide on the children ' s future , the result
of which was that Amalie and her cousin II . were sent to live with an old lady of great piety but little information , with , whom resided
also a little niece ten years of age , who called forth the first exercise of Amalie ' s pedagogical talentand so successfullthat the
overindulged , self-willed little girl , soon bowed to her y , young teacher ' s
authority , and . paid her till obedience . With her older brother , who
Amalie Sieveking. 7
AMALIE SIEVEKING . 7
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), March 1, 1860, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01031860/page/7/
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