The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-30


observed nothing unpleasant.
wherever | went, | could see that my
relative was ashamed ofhis tall cousin. Now
knew in my soul was good for something.
l had the consciousness Of intellect, no way
inferior to his own. At home | was famous
as a Yankee story teller. but having a fear of
the minister's superior attanmcnts always
before my eyes, l had never allowed him to
see what | could do. This false timiIity was,
however, slowly wearing away. l began to
feel anxious to resent my cousins olcIous-
ness, and daily grew stronger in my deter
mination to do so. noticed his department
when he little thought it: his quick step
ahead SO as to seem alone when he met some
fashionable lady; his manuuvrcs to slip in or
out Of church by himself; his careful avoid
ancc Of all mention ofmy name to others, and
thought to myself, "one day Iii teach you
lesson, young man. if you are Il Minister
''llow it was know not, but by some mis-
management, ] suppose, Invitations were sent
to us to attend large dinner party given in
honor Of some distinguished divine. then
creating quite an excitement in the city. My
relative looked astoundcd when he found that
had resolved to 90, and tried to n,imdate
me by limiting at the fashionable character Of
the entertainment. AT last finding me rcso
lutte, he said, with bland smile:
"sIou had better then let me introduce
you as my cousin from the country; and as
you arc not initiated into the arts nd mys-
tcries, it will help you wonderfully; they will
suppose you ignorant Of etiquette and there
fore excuse your grcehncsS.
"Tlank you for nothing" thought l, and
consented.
81 went to the party. There is no mis-
take about it, was at first abashcd in the
company of so much dignity and beauty: I
trcmblcd for myself. My cousin sat opposite
me. and by his side a lovely girl robed in
blue, who looked to me the nearest to an
angel that it was possible to imagine. soon
saw that my cousins heart had been travel
ing in chat direction: he was devoted to her,
although he kept an eye on poor me, to see
that his cousin from the country. did him no
glarng discrcdit.
Il heard him address her MS Miss Harriet,
and once in filling her glass from the crystal
pitcher near by, he ovcrran it, and the fluid
mingled with meat and gravy on the young
lady plate.
AHA thought !, glancing at him slyly.
cousin from the col,ntrv!'
presently noticed another miShap. A
reverend and abscnt-mndcd looking gentle
man at my right. undertook TO carve chick
en-. BY some awkwardncss, small bone
flew from the edge Of his knife, and slap it
went against the nose of a lady opposite.
scattering her face with the gravy. The
lady turned rcd gentleman apologizcd.
the company seemed more than usually scri-
Gus. as company always dos when it re-
strains itself from a hearty La gh and look
I'd straight at my friend across the table,
saying. as plain as eyes could say it, "aha !.
cousin from the country ~
Aud that was not the end Of the chapter.
for my cousin, in attempting to cut butter,
which, as II was an unusually warm winter
day mad ice upon it, unfortunately knocked
the frozen clement on the table: and Of all the
efforts ever saw put forth to catch slip
perry article. those he made in the matter of
securing that ice were the most ridiculous.
First he laid Siege with knife and fork,
but it danced about like ice bcwitchcd: polka,
waltz. and rcdowa step, hopping now against
Miss llarrict's plate, glidn: about among
hot vegetables, and sliding under meat dishes,
until its capture became matter Of stubborn
principle.
"Fortunutcly, ono Of the servants hurried
to his help with large spoon, and in using
that my cousins elbow came in contact with
a little glass dish filled with pickles, and
away it spun over on Miss llarrict's ap,anl
tic ice followed after. o, with what guso
could | a e shouted at that moment, cousin
from the country but piticd the blushng
divine and contcnttd myself with an inward
chucklc.
But by-andby things went on more
smoothly and we all got merry over the
desert. | assure you, ministers can enjoy
themselves with good jokes and jbcs as well
as the rest Of us: and pray why should they
not. One after another told some amusing
anccdotc. until the smooth, sleek visagcs
fairly shonc with good humor. forgot my
awkwardncss--my cousin-Aliss Harriet
and setting down my glass, began with n
comic air:
"'Once upon time there was an old far
MGR lived away out in the woods in old Yer
mont State"
My strong nasal accent Immediately at
tractcd attention. Instantly there was 81
lence, every eye was fixed upon me with a
wandering yet respectful attention"
"'Ahcm al-ahemn said my cousin
vehcmcntly, turning purple up to his hair,
and fixing on me his handsome eyes. only
needed that glance to confirm my wavering
re o!ution IF had felt fearful. all traces Of
timidity were banishcd and in the midst
of expressive smiles and some tittcring, I
pushed on with my story. 1t worked like
magic. Never had spoken before such an
audience. Every little while could see by
the turn Of hi, head and certain little move
ments. that my cousin was apologizng for
Inc to Miss Harriet and he could not seem
to under stand it, when at the conclusion,
universal roar went round the table, almost
loud enough to drown the thunder of Niagara
Falls. Again and again the mrth broke
forth, and was bcsicged for more; and when
we arose from the table was the lion of the
evening, and my "cousin from the country"
forgotten tctotally.
81 was not surprised at that, but was str.
priscd at the very decided marks of favor
shown me by Miss Harriet. The beautiful
girl sat by me and seemed to listen with in
terost to whatever | said. Poor Dennis! the
tables were turned, and even believe he was
jealous of his cousin from the country"
"Invtatous poured in upon me after that
eventful day. became more fastidious in
the article of dress, and even ventured to
make calls for myself, the circle of my ac-
quaintance enlarged-the handsome minister
no longer cut me in public, but walked bold
ly by my side up the church aisle. | spent
more time at my toilet than formerly;1I pat
ronized the barber; Ipractised my old fash
Toned songs; sung for the ladies; in fact l
was popular.
esNiSs Harriet New|an1. the younr lady |