The freeman. (Fremont [Ohio]) 1849-1850, 1850-04-20
Misrellanruns n 8
The Cousins.

The Cousins
NY dear arreader, hastthou cousin: laugh
ing. romping. ioyial, bright-eyed. plain-speak-
ing, cousin if you have, avoid her as SER
pent in your path. Never, by any chance, be
seen alone with the syren; take her to noplays,
or lectures or concerts; and above all, avoid a
dance; for after polka or waltz one is apt
to be particularly polite in offering treats or
ices, and in ball rooms there are dangerous
recesses, where wide red curtains and old fash
ioned chairs, invite unprecedented conversa-
tion and no ice is so cold but the warm heart
of cousin will melt it. and cousins are very
sly and deceitful, and wind round your affec-
tons before you are aware of it; therefore my
dear susceptible reader, if you be of the stern
er SEX whatever you do, avoid a cousin.
The writer had n cousin-two, in fact; and
they were the prettiest, slyest, merriest, wick
edest, bewitching creatures in creation, with
eyes as bright-good deal brighter to his think
ing-as diamonds, and lips as round and
plump, but he cannot trust himself TO speak of
them; and hands and feet hands that were
never tired of teasing. and feet that were new
er weary of dancing; he felt always when in
their company, like Shakespeare between trag-
edy and comedy; he didn't know which he
free; not bit of affectation or if they had,
he never perceived it, they had such sly ways
of concealing it. And when they were by, he
used to feel such auttering beneath his wais-
coat, and somehow, his evening walk used to
turn so naturally and mechanically in the d.
rection Of their home, and there was no ac-
counting for it And when one of them, the
eldest and most beautiful got beau, and in
course of time, was married, he felt quite lone
iy-like, and was obliged, per force, to find con-
ISOLATION in the company of the other. Heus-
ed to find himself escorting her to all manner
of placcs-lonely moonlight walks in groves
and fields, quiet, back seats in concert rooms
and balls. that it was no wonder that he faRei-
ed something tender in her regards But, bless
you, it was all SO innocent and childlike, that
never thought of danger whispered to his
heart, for was she not his cousin?
And when he used to tell her all his wild
imaginings, his dreams of fame, and ambition.
and love, she used to listen with such wrapt
attention-broken sometimes with such wick
ed little laugh, that he didn't know exactly
what to say or do And he used to be very
careful of her in their walks and wanderings,
that strangers might imagine they were low
ers
But, bf course, they were not-they were
only cousins, and cousins you know, have a Ii
cense to be affec;ionate one towards the 9TH
er, or where's the use of the relationship p
Aye, where, indeed, he would ask himself in
his solitude And at such times he was wont
to indulge in pretty castle building, a kind of
architecture in the air that youth is prone to,
and in all his day dreams and night visions the
4 L l.,
though he never found it to be an intrusion
after all, but he used to nurse that, that of
course. it was nothing but right SO to indulge
and so it was, for she was only his cousin.
And so the time passed on; and the merry
romp-quite innocent-and the playfulness
that relationship gave license to- went on, as
usual, also. And though no word of love
that is, personal love-had ever passed be-
tween them. and they played, and sung, and
danced, and chatted, with all the freedom of
cousins. yet in his heart of hearts-or he was
only twenty, and she not quite seventeen
there came whisper, now and then, of some
thing for which he cared not to find words,
something that made him gentle in his tone,
and quieter in his manner than was his wont.
And though he had then no courage to put
the question to his heart, he feels now that it
had been better if he had.
One memorable evening-he will never for,
get it, tleugh he is an old man now, and a
graceful form sits near his couch, whose sun
ny curls come dancing now and then before
his eyes. and whose pride it is to call him fa-
ther-he sat alone with that merry cousin
They were very quiet, for the day was draw
ing in, and the sweet breath of summer twi-
light came stealing through the ivy-shaded
window that looked out into the garden, and
the lights were not yet brought in, and no
noise or hustle smote upon their ears. and
peace was upon their hearts. Peace, no, not
that, for deep crimson blush was felt upon
his brow, for it was too dark to see it, and a
little tremulous motion in his hand, as it took
hers within his own, betrayed something no
words can express And she, the light heart,
sat beside him. And her voice, like gentle
music, Aoated over his senses; and he essay
ed to speak, but, with little hesitation in her
manner, she spoke first:
Cousin said she, in her winning way, what
if were in love?'
He had no words TO answer her.
what if / were engaged p
He felt as if a bee had stung him. and ask
ed, TO whom?'
She bent her graceful head to his, and the
dropping curls hung over his face, and word
was whispered in his ear that made him rise
with something of an angry flush upon his
brow, for the name she whispered Was not his !
Pat and Pudding.
A friend relating the following: Last spring,
lady in the country employed newly i'm