The spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1840-1844, 1842-11-25
MtsreIIaMeott6.
COUSIN AGATHA.

extant which bears at its foot the words Cousin
Agatha Many day dreams does that name re-
call, many bright memories ofmy early DO! hood,
and she is connected in my mind, not only win
those fresh and happy times when had never
known sorrow, but with latter days, when grief
was familiar to me in many shapes, and when the
same power had changed her even more than my |
self
was barely thirteen years old, when cousin
Agatha, then scarcely seventeen, first made heraP'
pearance amonss, US. She was the daughter of an
elder sister of my father, who having gone out to
India with relative, had married there somewhat
above her own rank. Agatha was her only child,
and my aunt dying when she was very young, the
little girl was sent to England even earlier than she
would otherwise have been. She was consigned
TO the care of maiden ady,a relation OF her FAITH
err, but Just after she had left school, the sudden
death of This person left her in manner unprotec-
ted. Her father indeed was expected in England
in few months, and a,owed his intention Of TAX
ing his daughter back TO India with him, IN the
course Of the ensuing year. So he wrote to us her
nearest relatives in England, and asked my mother
TO receive her until her fathers arrival. Many Of
her aun,'s friends had offered her home, but she
seemed 10 feel it a duty touPply fist 10 her moth
er's family.
My parents were somewhat annoyed by the pro-
posed arrangement, for they feared, especially my
mother, that Agatha brought up as she had been
in the midst of fashion and alliuence, woald be too
much Of fine lady 10 be conicned with our hum
bic home and its simple accommodations, and
might even look on its unpretendng inmates with
dislike and contempt The idea was rather en-
couraged by the report that had reached us respec'
Ting Colonel Shelbourne, her father, who was des
crbed us an exceedingly naughty and punc'i''ous
personage. Still, the request of one so nearI,
connected with MS could not be refused under ca
listing circumstances, and every arrangement for
her reception being made, her presence was cSpec-
ted with no small anxiety
She came, aud oh, how different she was to all
our pre.conceved ideas of herr how she scattered
all our fears and prejuiices To the winds at once
In four and twenty hours she had won the hear, Of
every creature in the house from my father down
TO our little spaniel Fido-i week she was the
very idol of the village She was not regularly.
beautiful, but lively and bewiching beyond all
expression She was tall, and somewhat full in
person for her age but perfectly well made and Cx-
lremely easy and graceful in her movements.
Her complexion was dazz'ingy pure. think her
neck was the whi,est and most cXquisi,ely mod
clled ever saw, and the pretty dimpes in he'
shoulders actually seemed 10 make them smile,
Her mouth was somewhat Of the largest but lis
full led lips and white teeth, and ever varying ex-
preston, made one call !, beautiful. Tier nose
was net Roman, or Grcciun, or ofany recognised
order; but if it had the fault Of conmonness it
was amply redeemed by pair of clcardark brown
eyes and magnificent forehead, Her lmh was
abundant and rich; soft and brsh, as silk. bn' here
was the ouly disputed point about her Nobody
could deny tina, it was beautiful hair, bu. those
who enyied her called it rather rcdiish, while ev.
cry on else pronounced il perfec, auburn llei
hands and feet were not particularly small, but
they were well-shapcd ,al,d the former were so deli.
ca,ely white, and the latter ,rod the earth with
step so light aud fice,' that he must have been
n ruthless critic who would have found fault with
their pIporons. Her disposition was just VIVA,
her coun,e,ancc promisel--ftank, kind, generous,
Her temper, indeed was somewhat warm and has.
,y, but then she was so easily nppeased, so a1ec.
tomato so forgivins-.lIow dearly ! loved cousin
Agatha how dearly we all loved her. II was ear,
ly in the sping when she came to US. and we had
long happy sumner before us, for her father was
no, expected until an,ulnn Agatha and | were the
only two young persons in the house, and though
] was but child, we became conslan, compan-
ions, never having associated much with CHI
dren and being devoted 10 reading and other seden
,ary pursuits, was able to converse WI h Agatha on
many themes beyond my years, and to me she wVs
delightful companion. She had none orlhe siclly
sentiments or affected limidiiy of some young la
dies, and she loved nothing better than rambling
through The fields and lanes, wadmg brooks, ard
clinbings s,yles.--Ihere was just enough Of the
hoyden abou, her 10 assimiate her pursuits to mine
who, being as have said Oft studous turn, aud
moreover, of delicate constitution, desired no nor
athletic amusemerts then those in which she could
join me. She had brough, her harp with her, and
il she did not play very scientifically. she certainly
displayed wonderful taste and feeling in her per-
fomances theron. And she sang cverythng-her
store of songs seemed endless. Ask for what you
would, she never made an excuse; her memory
never Eiiled her; she was never out Of voice, and
her good nature and patience were incshaustibe.
She was the earliest confdant, too, (excep, my
mo,her,) of my first attempts in drawing, and en-
tered into all my ideas on the subec, with keen
interest. She would sit 10 me unweariedy for
hours, and again and ugnin did I fa in my At.