The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-09-05
From the .New York Constellation.
DEMAND FOR COUNTRY COUSIN

vi iu'hIG SUOu Vi III
From the Nec York Constellation.
DEMAND FOR COUNTRY COUSINS.
Never were country cousins in SO great
demand as during these cholera times.
Their value now is most fully appreciated.
1t is mighty convenient, when cities are
overrun with the pestlence to have some
strong hold in the country to flee to- Rela-
tons of every grade, on such an occasion,
assume their just value; and many of those,
who, few weeks ago, were considered he
low par, have latterly been thought worthy
OF premium. The humblest forty.f fifth
+ cousin, who is blessed with little house.
room and spare bed, in the country, is now
by no manner of means to be sneezed at.
Those country relations, who were for
merly Stunned and dsowned on account of
their rusticity, are now acknowledged and
embraced with the most remarkable cor
dlalty. Formerly, fthey had been met in
the streets Of the city, they would not have
been known: their more polished rela-
lations would have turned away and blush
ed to recognize them oh, the fright they
would have exclaimed-it's enough to give
one the horrors to look at then, much more
to he claimed as relations.
One of the kings of France, whose PAM
pered taste could scarcely he satisfied. at
! Versailles, with the richest dainties, ate |
raw turnips with great relish at peasants
cottage, when nearly starved in the chase.
So our delicate cts, wher frighted from
their propriety by the cholera, flee to the
country, and own with immense cordially
the blessings of rustic life. Many exam
pies might he given to show the late rise in
value of country cousins. The following
will suffice:
Mr. Allspice. retail groter Of this city,
has wife and eight children. Within a
days ride of the city, dwelB a cousin, nam
ed Ploughshare-a substantial farmer, who
brings his own produce 10 market whose
wife and daughters milk the cows, and
make butter and cheese and whose sons
hold the plough and swing the scythe. In
ordinary times there is no intercourse be-
tween the families: for then the Allspices
could not for all the world think of acknow-
Lodging any relationship and the Plough
shares are too indep .ndent to claim any af
fnity which is not readily acknowledge
ed. But in times Of alarming sickness in
the city, the case is materially altered
Then the Auspices very readily remember
the relationship; and take advantage of it
to find an asylum from the yellow fever or
the cholera.
As soon as the present alarming disease
appeared in the city, they all fed with the
utmost haste to the country, closing the
shop, and leaving the sugars and teas, the
soap and candles, and the brandy and gin,
to take care of themselves. They charter
ell stage coach, and ordering the driver
to pat on the string MS if the cholera were
at his heels, they arrived at their cousin
Plonghshare's the same day little before
night-safe and sound, but very much ia
tigued and nearly frightened to DEATH
The farmers family, not having yet heard
that the cholera was in the city, were very
much astonished to see their dear city
cousins come tumbling out of the stage
coach, one after another like so many bats
from the cornice of an old house. But be-
fore they had time to express any surprise,
Mrs. Alispice began:
Well, thank heaven we're out Of the way
of the cholera at last Oh, dear! Oh, dear!
what jaunt we've had. AS Pm living
sinner, we hav'nt got out ofthe carriage be-
fore since we first started. Mr.. Allspice
was for stopping or the road to dine but
no, says |, that will never do, the cholera
may oveItake us if we stop; and as for eat
ing, says l., we shall get something good
when we get to cousin Ploughshare's, Pll
warrant it. Oh, Lord Oh, Lord how my
legs are cramped
All, that's your own fault, Mrs. Allspice,
said her husband. you might have got out
and stretched 'em but you was in such
hurry to get here, you wouldn't stop mo-
ment, and lost my dinner by the means.
Fie Pa, exclaimed Miss Jemma All
spice, what fuss you do make about your
dinner. You've done nothing but grumble,
grumblc, ever since two O'Clock. It's so
very vulgar to care any thing about ones
dinner, that am really ashamed of you.
You needn't open your mouth, Nina,
said Mr.. John Allspice, Jr, for it's no slight
matter to go without ones dinner, l can
tell you and you eat as much as any body,
when you're to home. For my part, Pm
unaccountable hungry, and have been this
three hours.
So am /, said Mr.. Jerry Alspice; and so
am and so am | exclaimed several of
the younger Auspices, nearly in breath.
We'll, don't make such fuss! SAID Mrs.
Allspice. You're just like parcel OF coun-
try bears. Pm really ashamed OF your be-
hnvloI. dare say we shall get something
nice TO eat now we've got here.
Mrs. Ploughshare, who was woman OF
,corks rather than of i0ordS, had not waited
for these hungry hints, hut as soon as she
saw her city cousins come tumbiing out oil
the carriage, had set about getting them
supper. substantial country meal was
soon provided; and the runaway cts did
ample justice to every part and parcel there.
of--and none more So, than the delicate and
ethereal Miss Jemma Allspice.
What charming spot you have here,
Cousin Ploughshare, said Mrs. Allspice. !
do admire your situation.
Why, for the matter of that, said Mr.
Ploughshare, it's well enough. have a
hi, of good land, that yields all the neces-
sares of life, and
All the comforts too, interrupted Mrs.
Allspce. What nice bread you have do
admire country-baked bread. And then
your vegetables, and your milk, and your
fruit, and every thing is so fresh | do ad.
f nire a country life
I'm contented with it, said Mr.. Plough
share.
Aud so you ought 10 he, said Mrs. All
, spice. What a comfortable house you've
, rot You must take deal Of pleasure in
accommodating your friends, who come
from distance to see you. | remember
, what number Of clean spare beds you had
when visited here the last time.
Al IL.