Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1853-09-02
The iiunp-Backed Cousin.

Behold an extraordinary occurrence OF these
latter days If it were not an extraordinary
occurrence, one need not relate it.
a father of u family inhabting the Rue de
Michodcre, received, last summer, letter
from his nephew, who was in the employ of
Ilyder Abad. The letter concluded thus:
II have received the portraits Of my two
cousins, Marie and Margaret have never
had the pleasure of seeing them, as ! have
lived with lIydcr Abad since my youth, but
am sure that those two portraits are rescm-
blances. will arrive ut llavre, by the ship
Ingos Ego, about the first of October, and on
my return | am determined to marry the
beautiful Mar
The breaking open Of the letter had dcs-
troyed the rest of the name. 1t was impossible
to tell if the cousin asked Marie or Margaret
in marriage. The two sisters, united pre-
vous to this time, commenced to live in
misunderstanding, each OF them positive that
it was the rest of her name which was torn
off in breaking the seal
The father employed his cloqucncc in calm
ing the anger of his daughters, when servant,
sent in advance, arrives from llayrc, announc-
ing that his master went to Paris with the
evening train
The servant overwhelmed with questions,
replied that his master was ruined, and that
he had, moreover, ON his left shoulder, the
horrid protubcrancc which had caused, ac-
cording to Palanudc, SO many mislortuncs to
.Esop, the phrygian.
The two sisters hercupOn determined to re-
main single forever, before marrying u cousin
hump backed and ruined.
As they took this oath for the twentieth
time III twelve hours, the cousin arrives
Ihc uncle warmly embraced him, the cousins
made Il polite bow, and turn away their eyes
Ihc uncle then explains the incident Ul the
torn letter and asks the intcutions of his
nephew.
Marry he replied.
"Neycr-ncyrrn' screamed Marie, II am
contcnted with my condition and shall remain
in it,"
"Madcmoiscllc." said the nephew. 81 have
adopted the customs of the country where |
have been educated. Read the customs of
lIyder Ahad, iii Travcrner, There, when Il
young man is refused in an offr of mLrriag', .,
ne withdraws himself from society as use
less being
lie kills himself :" exclaimed the good
Margaret.
lie kills himself" replied the nephew in
the tone Of man about to commit suicide.
"This poor cousin" sid Margaret. weep
the bosom of his iumily.'
II know said the nephew, "that my de
lormitv ahlirts the sight of woman. but in
time the eyes of women become habituatcd to
all things. | know, also, that my CONNER
cill prospects are not prosperous. Thrown
very young in the diamond business, the only
occupation Of IIydcr Ahad, lost there all the
fortune Of my father, but | have acquired ex-
pcricncc---l am young active and industrious.
Incse are riches in themselves.
"lcs, yes, hump backed AMI ruined, =
muttcrcd Marie aside, in blntcrng tone.
'poor Young man :" said Margaret, and
she adds, ''my cousin, am refused and you
pay no attention tn it"
''And by whom rcfls,d I" inquired her
cousin.
"liut to your cost, by YOU, since yon pre-
fer my sister t. me"
..En hien :" said the cousin, ''will YOU ac-
ccpt me if | ask You in marriage from my
uncle ~
Il will engage my father to let my cousin
live
.NWhat,' exclaimed the hump-bac<, ''do
you consent my lovely Margaret, to
''Savc the life Of relative. Indeed III
not WAIVER IA moment.
This is very we'll of my daughter" said
~
stranccs have not spoiled you. have Il very
small income. but ought not to abandon the
son of my BROTHER in misfortune. | will keep
him here as kindred, for where there is
enough for three, there is for four.
The cousin threw himself at Margaret 5
feet saving
"lou have saved the life of an unfortu-
nate man
At IL little distance Marie muttrrcd to her
self. my sister has courage. As for me |
Would let hump-backcd cousins die
II ncc," said the young man. "allow me
to make IA slight toilet before breakfast"
lie pressed Marglrct'S hand, bowing to
Mario, and left to change his travelling attire.
The uncle and his daughters were at the
table and awaited their fourth guest.
The servant announced the cousin of llydcr
Ahad.
The two girls uttered two screams hut on
different keys. They see enter Il charming
Young man, tall, without any hump back
who embraced Margaret, and placing before
her Il basket he says to her "Eohuld your
marriage portion.'
1t was Il basket of diamonds. 1t was more
over the hump. which had thus arrived free
of duties. See what | have carried on my
shoudcr,'' said tho cousin, ''irom Bombay to
llavre, to offer it to that one of my cousins
who would accept me with my false poverty
and my fcigncd deiormity."
There was great joy in the house, which,
as it may seem, was participated in by Ma
ric. 1t is true that Marie loved her sister
dearly without detcsting the diamonds.
The LATEST CASE or ABSENCE Of MIND.-
\ very worthy and pious farmer residing in
Rutland, in this county, arose from his bed
last sabbath morning, and under the impress
sion that it WAS saturday, proceeded to his
garden and dug quantity of potatoes; :;
thence he proceeded to the fields, and after
picking several baskets of blackhcrrics, he
narncssed up old Dohhin, and lading his
wagon with the fruits of his libors, he started
for the centre of the town to market. lie
called ut several places, but nobody seemed
inclined to purchase, and finally he called ON
the town constable, who very gravel Y remarked
upon the impropricty of such proceedings on
the sabbath. 1t was with much difficulty
that the farmer was brought to knowledge
of the fact that he was breaking one of the
commandments, but when he was told that
it was really the Sabbath, and that the
good people Of the village had already at