The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-03-10
The Country Cousin.

The Country Cousin.
THE village of Westbourne was what Ame-
rcans would call stylish place, though situ-
ated deep in the heart of Derbyshire. Most
Of its houses had green palings and flowers in
front; there was circulating library, milli-
ner's shop, and ladies' boarding school, with
in its bounds; and from each extremity of its
larger and smaller street-for w Wes,bourne had
only two-outlying cottages of various names
dotted the surrounding fields. The largest of
these, and decidedly the handsomest, belong
ed, as the door. plate set forth, to Mr.. Harry
Phipps Bunting. 1t had been called Bunting
Cottage, ever since the late possessor-after
having made what his neighbours esteemed a
fortune, by himself keeping the circulating
library, and his spouse the boarding g-schoolE
built it by way Of consolation for the second
year of his widowhood, and retired there from
business to hold high gentility in his latter
days with his only daughter and heiress, Mss
Jenny. Al least half of Westbourne believed
that in the said arrangements Mr.. Bunting
had his eve on a second and somewhat supe.
ror match: in short, those good people averred
that the handsome cottage was neither more
nor less than substantial snare for Mrs.
Phipps, the widow of captain and second
cousin of baronet, who, with a small annuity
and an only son, lived in the odour of great
rank and fashion in neat brick-house at the
other end of the village.
But if Mr. Bunting had indeed indulged iI
speculations ON the widows heart, they were
cut short by a sudden summons to take the
journey on which his early partner had preced-
ed him; and Miss Jenny was left the undis-
puted heiress ofall his gains and gatherings,
now amounting to a comfortable sum in a Lon
don bank, besides the newly-built cottage.
None OF the village remembered the time when
Miss Jenny was yOung-nOt but that there were
older ladies in the community, and few who
wore their years so well-but matronly staid-
ness and industry, solidity ofmanner and ap-
pearance, had grown so early on the lady, that
she had no youth, and scarcely any childhood,
in the recollection of her neighbours, and she
was now on the shady side of thirty,
Miss Jenny night have had suitors, had her
encouragement been more liberal: where is
the maiden of fortune who might not? But
she had no admirers, though there was not a
more popular woman in Westbourne. Time
out of mind she was known to have a good
advice and helping hand for all who required
either. The help was always kindly given,
and the advice generally judicious: indeed, if
Miss Jenny had weakness, it was the love
of direction and counsel giving; and by that
breach the strong citadel of her heart was
won. There was no house in Westbourne
that gave her abilities half such scope as that
OF Mrs. Captain Phipps-so the lady continued
to style herself. Miss Jenny's father had ad-
the widow and her son conhded in his heress.-
Master Harry Pbipps was not what would be
called successful young man. He was not
either wild or remarkably stupid, as the world
goes; his mother knew him to be dear do
mestic fellow, would play the flute or dominos
| for weeks of evenings in her back-parlour.-.
He had taken one prize at college and sundry
at school; had the reputation of being almost a
beau, and, at least in Westbourne society,
hall uyit. nd toll fair a1 10th
young man, dressing well, and looking rather
genteel, in spite of an overgrown boyishness
which hung about him and kept the Master
fastened to his name, though he had left twenty
five behind him. Master Harry had made at
tempts on law, physc, and divinity. without
completing the studies requisite for any of those
learned professions; somehow he had always
got disguised when just halfway, ard at the
time of our tale, had a serious notion of civil
engineering. The fates, nevertheless, chalked
out another line for Master Harry Phpps.-
How il first came about the keenest cared gos-
sips in WestbOurne never knew, but the
widows son was observed TO become frequent
visitor at the cottage as the days Of Miss Jen-
ny's mourning for her father expired. In
| these expeditions he was occasionally sup
ported by Mrs. Captain Phipps, who at length
| told her confidential friends and they informed
the village, that her son was about TO marry,
| and take the name Of Bunting. Some said
that Miss Jenny insisted on the latter step as
| badge of her perpetual sovereignty; some that
il was provision in her fathers will, the old
gentleman having been heard to hope that
| none but Buntings would ever inhabit the cot
| tage: but while they disputed that point, the
wedding came off with liberal distribution of
| cards, cake, and gloves, a breakfast, al which
Mrs. Captain Phpps presided, and an excur-
sion Of three weeks TO the Lakes; after which,
MIR. and Mrs. Phipps Bunting. having got a
| new door plate, and an additional crest on the
spoons, settled down comfortably al home,
where our story found them.
There they were duly visited and made due
returns, even 10 their uttermost acquaintance.
Evening parties were s0t up for their benefit,
as Westb0urne gentility dictated. A few re
sponses were given at the cottage, and people
learned 10 cell them the Buntings. When
these occurrences and the talk concerning them
were fairly over, it was surprising how little
things had altered. Mrs. PhIpps Bunting su-
pe.intended every thing, from the napery in
the drawers to the bee-hives in the garden,
with so much OF her old and independent acti.
witty, that people caught themselves occasion
ally calling her Miss Jenny. As for her lord,
he was Master Harry still. Matrimony made
no change in him. On Sundays he dressed
himself and went 10 church with Mrs. Phipps
Bunting. On week days he said he studied,
paid little visits, took small excursions, and
came home TO dinner. Even bachelors agreed
that he lived under the mildest form of gyneco-
cracy. Mrs. Captain Phpps gave him good
adyices al the one end of the village. Mrs.
Phipps Bunting kept him all right at the other;
and between them an indescribable amount OF
nobodyism grew and gathered around him.
Mr. Phipps Buning-as the best bred Of
his neighbors now endeavored TO call him
was doubtless not less contenied than most
men in the married state. Miss Jenny--ihat
was--inade noble housekeeper. that was na.
tural 10 her; she was not given to storms nor
temper, nor fault finding, nor what is called
0nietv thew had kind country neirhbor and