The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1855-06-30
n Goo0 GtorD.
From BGlIop's Pictorial.
MY COUSIN FROM THE COUNTRY.
Ok MRS. NJ. A. DENlSDN.


a tall yankee told the story: man, bony
hard features, yet upon whose front the Al
mighty hand had stamped genus in clarac-
tors unmistakable.
Said he, "Whcn I was young man was
awkward. as | lellcvc all young men are
whose stature outruns their years. had
grown so Fast that people whtr lived look
I'd up to me. and Of course. as was natural
looked down upon them. but was not proud
not at all. had cousin then sngularlv
handsome man. whose face to me was always
delightful study. lie was not of snch UNI
calmly height as myself, but his hair was
brown and curling. his check tingcd with
rcd, his eyes glowing and sparkling. his man
ner commanding. and above all he was a
minister. Now. in those days ministers were
nearly made idols of, and consequently were
often spoiled. My cousin. | always thought
had more pride than was good for him: but
he was so attentive whenever he came to the
country TO pay us n long visit las he invar-
iahly did every summcr.) SO pleasant and af-
fable to us ALL that we overlooked his little
pccuiia,itics.
Il remember how VIC used to watch him
at meal times and what n general iin.liny
thelc was whenever he took his spoon out of
the tea cup into his saucer. for we We're
very initiative family, and cousin Dennis was
our beau,id,al Of polltcncss.
"Onc winter we had unusually good luck,
and father happening to have Il surplus of
money on hand, told me that if had no
ton to see the world, might 20 to the nugh-
boring city and stop till spring. You may
he sure was taller then than ever: for al
though was very nearly twcnty-onc. had
never been in the city to stop over day at
the most, and now the idea of spending
winter there was almost overwhelming. Ev-
cry night lnatle'a programme of my expect
ed toul-whcre should 90 this night, and
where next week and above all. | thought
how pleasant it would be to share cousin
Dennis hospitality, for he had So often urg-
cd me to come and pass some time with him.
that had no doubt but his d, light at seeing
me would be equal TO mine at meeting him.
y few weeks more, and the busy fingers of
mother ana sisters had prepared my ward
robe, and the great trunk was brought down
from the garnet and stuffed till its brass stud
dcd frame would hold no more. Probably no
experienced stranger, starting for Europe cv-
er took half the number of "wcarablcs" that
|, i'll my implicitly deemed by far too limit
cd. But the great gala day came. and with
its departure left my home for the wilder
ness of New York.
1T was latcwhcn arrived at my cousins
house, handsome b,ick dwelling, which,
with some little land adjoining, he had in
hcritcd. had never seen it before, and to
me it was as beautiful as a palace. An old
Quaker aunt kept house for HIM, and by her
was welcomed with cold fornality | did
not understands yet wcaricd as | was, did
not give much thought about the subject,
lglt ate my supper in silence. chccrcd by the
news that my cousin had gone to oliicatc at
II welding and might not be home until
eleven.
"Alrcady it was nearing ten, and I, unused
to such late hours. begged to be shown to a
bedroom. | shall never forget how icy cold
the room was to which was attended.
Large and checrlcss, filled with sombrc f'irn-
iturc. it was so different from my snug little
chamber at home, where sun laid all day and
where water seldom frozc The sheets as
touched them, seemed like ice: had not
dared to approach my feet to the polished
stove hearth below stairs, and suffered eX-
cctdingly. However, soon forgot all COM
fort in dreams, in which the old farm house
and roaring fire were the chefrSt obje cts
Of interest
"In the morning, and bitter cold it was,
found my way to the hall. On the rack in
the corner laid an am lie cloth cloak, which
| supposed my cousin must have thrown off
a hurry. Surprised at the unusual still
ness. tried the door from Which had egrcss
the preceding night. 1t was locked fast.
Successfully tried every door within my
range; alas there was neither ingress nor
outlet for the front entrance was also fastcn-
cd in such manner that it dcticd all my en-
dcavors. to move the lock. 1t seems that
my cousins house-kcc, er was one Of the old
fashioned sort, and never retired without
fastening up everything in the house; | qucs-
ton somewhat whether she did not lock her
bed curtains.
"Threc mortal hours did stay shivering
in my room on that eventful morning, solac-
ing mysefwith dolciul glanccs at the brick
walls of n distillcry, and running over the
pages of a Greek Lexicon, which assulcdly
was all Greek to mc--and nothing else.
cat length, O, welcome sound; the bell
rang, and blue with cold, descended to the
breakfast room. Thcrcl met my cousin and
for the first time in my life witnessed a sham
welcome. | did not understand it then, | do
understand such things better now.
"My cousin tried ms best to be agreeable,
but | saw that disappointment stood out all
over his actions, particularly when Ii ca
toned that had come for long visit. But
| soon got over the unpleasant feeling consc-
quent ON this discovery, and determined to
brave it. Had he not stopped summer after
summer on my fathers tailn Did we not
every six months send him some favor in TIT