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102 FIRST AND LAST.
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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Transcript
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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.
Harhieteldest Daughter Of Squire Wycherl...
Ideas had expanded beyond that of her sisters ; though , at the time of her marriageshe had seemed very much one of them . Perhaps
, Mr . Selby took most interest in his eldest daughter , Euphemia , and made her his greatest companion ; but they all grew up in the
happiest intercourse with their parents , in a cheerful , healthyminded home . The Selbys could not cultivate gay society , and their
evenings much wanted the tone of the day : but many liked Mrs . Selby ' s sweetness and youth of mind , and Mr . Selby ' s high ,
intellectual tastes . So Euphemia had froni her earliest years the advantage of listening to superior minds discussing the great topics of the day .
Her fond father noticed with delight her intelligent interest in subjects beyond her years , and would exchange a glance with his
affectionate wife . In short , what between a healthy simplicity of life , plenty of occupation , and family union , the Selbys' was as merry
and happy a home , as could well be seen , in spite of a rather severe Euphemia economy was . seventeenwhen a great project was actually carried
, into execution . Mrs . Selby had always been talking of visiting Old - Court , and taking Euphemia with her , but had , hitherto , as constantly
postponed her intention . But now she required a little change of airand the children were all old enough for papa and Kitty , the old
nurse , , to take care of . So one fine June , Mamma and Euphemia actually set out for Old Court ; whose legends and ways the daughter
had heard of all her life , as her favorite story . Harriet fondly wished her eldest child to look well on returning to her old home ,
and many were the consultations between mother and daughter , and much notice was taken of shop windows , and what ' people wore ;'
yet alas ! without the effect deserved by such pains-taking endeavors . Mrs . Selby forgot that Euphemia had not her own genteel , easy
figure , but was rather oyer-stout , as many girls of her age will be . Indeed , her daughter had never looked so little becoming as she did
just at present . But Mrs . Selby regarded her with a mother ' s eye , and thought that every one must allow , at least , that Eme had an
excellent countenance , and was an exceedingly intelligent girl . " I never saw a skin like hers , " said she to herself , " and then her
cousins can never have had half her advantages in education ! " The mother and daughter journeyed down very happily to Old
Court , the former thinking of old days , the latter eager for the new page in her lifeand , moreover , fresh from delighted studies of Scott ,
, eager to see a real old place in the country . Nor was she disappointed as they drove through the grand old chase , and passed under
the great gateways with their heavy carvings . " This is grandpapa ' s" thought she , and she unconsciously held herself a little
, better . / S / ie , too , was of this race ! Before her was Old Court , set in a blooming garden , enclosed with tall iron gates , and backed with
stately hanging woods . She followed her mother to the drawingroom like one in a dream . This was a splendid room , with a long
range of windows opening on a fine terrace , descending- by a flight
102 First And Last.
102 FIRST AND LAST .
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Citation
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English Woman’s Journal (1858-1864), Oct. 1, 1858, page 102, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ewj/issues/ewj_01101858/page/30/
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