True American. [volume] (Steubenville [Ohio]) 1855-1861, 1855-07-25
THE COUSIN
A TRUE SKETCH FROM REAL LIFE.

"Well, L believe we were placed in this
world to be happy, ana | mean to be hap
py i'll my own way. hate such cant"
So said beautiful girl of some eighteen
years, as she rose impatiently from the
breakfast table, around which large fam
lily with various guests, had fingered i'll
pleasant talk, both gay and grave. Some
remarks by the head Of the family, upon
the duty Of all to live for the good Of
others, and the effect Of such efforts to be
useful, on the true enjoyment of life, had
called forth this impatient speech.
"Yes, hate such cant; l don't believe
that Uncle Edward really thinks what he
says,'-she repeated after all had left the
room but her sister Laura and her cousin
Grace. "Thiuk of me going about with
a basket on my arm, playing the Lady
Bountiful or teaching the dirty little Irish
children in those shanties; only think Of
it, and the proud beauty laughed in scorn,
as the mirror flung back to her view her
queenly form and peerless features.
go, Hattie, how can you say so p re-
piled Grace. l do not think Uncle Ed
ward ever says what he does not mean
and, indeed, think he is quite right
"You, Grace, is it possible, that with
your beauty, your accomplishments, your
intellect, you canthink it necessary to spend
your time in teaching dirty children, and
carrying food and clothes to women often
more lazy than i'll, in houses so close one
cannot breathe, and so untidy one is afraid
to sit down? | could not have believed
it; you must have changed greatly, 'thc
refined Grace Ashton, as you were called
at school,"
Il have only learned some new lessons
in another school, dear Hattie"
"Where?" said both the girls very
much surprised: 'we did not know that
you had been to school since you finished
at Mrs. Elton's.'
"Neither have I !; the lessons 1 have
learned have been gained in the school of
Christ, and in their practice I have found
true happiness; peace that this world can
not give. How l wish dear cousins, that
you would also come to Jesus, and learn a
secret of happiness nothing can disturb
go Grace, what ridiculous notions, said
Laura. 4 thought you would have been
so different. l have imagined you-so
talented and so beautiful-becoming dis
tinguished in society, and the envy Of all
your acquaintances; and now you have
just thrown yourself away
"Not so, dear Laura: to be useful to
our fellow creatures and to glorify God, is
surely the great end of life
"Well,' said the gay Hattie, Il shall
not NOPE away my existence, l assure you:
l have wealth, accomplishments, and the
world says beauty; and I shall use my
gifts in making life's days pass swiftly,
give care to the winds, and sing away
with melancholy until I am an old wo-
man, then it will be time enough to be Sc
rious and good. All, I see, Laura, you
look at me in supreme contempt; but
what is your end better than mine you
find your happiness in books, I mine in
dress, dancing and music: and we may
each take our own way, leaving Grace to
sing psalms, read the Bible to old women,
and make baby clothes, to the end of the
chapter
"a butterfly you will always be, ma pc
titc,' said Laura, 'and beautiful one /;
you are made to futter your gay wings in
the sun but Grace, I cannot forgive you,
that with your fine intellect, you should
spend life thus, an intellect in which you
well glory, and now you will give up its
cultivation, because you imagine that other
things are of more Importance
"No, my dear cousin, you entirelymis-
understand me; l have no idea of relin-
gushing the cultivation of my mind, in
deed study more earnestly than when at
school, for now have an object; with all
our gifts, we may and should seek to glo-
rify God. Yet would not glory in my
natural advantager, they are but gifts from
our beni6cent Creator, and as such, should
be used for his serviee.' .
"How absurd Grace; to feel myself ca
pable of winning fame, of being admired
for my talents and acquirements--such
fame as a womanly woman may earn--and