Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1856-04-11
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A COUSIN NEED.

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'''7 ACOUstN IN NEED.
On dreary autumn day, more than a
hundred years ago, a heavy travelling car
riage was slowly numbering along the mud
dy road from Potsdam to Berlin. Within
it was one person only, who took no heed
of the slowness ofthe travelling, but lean
ing back in a corner. was arranging mul-
tipIiciuy Of papers contained in a small
portfolio and making notes in pocket
book. Since he was dressed in q plain
dark military uniform it was fair to sup>
pose that this gentleman belonged to the
Prussian army. but to which grade Of it
nobody could determine, AS all tokens Of
November evening was sitting in. and
the sky gave warning that n a. weeping
darkness" was at hand. The road grew
heavier and heavier, at least so it should
have seemed to foot traveller who was
ploughing his way through its mire and
so doubtless it did seem 10 the carriage
horses, who at last houndered along so
slowly that the pedestrian whom they had
overtaken kept easily by the side Of the
coach, though at respectful distance,
certainly. after the Grst bucketful of mud
that splashed over him. The gentleman
inside the coach, when he could see no
longer, shut up his portfolio and returned
the pocket~book to its place in the breast
lining Of his coat. He then reused him
self TO look out Of the window, and Judge.
from the mud and darkness, how far it
might he to Berlin. For the first time he
prrcrived that muddy young man was
walking at little distance from his hur-
ses. Though more than reasonably tray.
el-staincd, he trudted OH as if his limbs
were strong and his heart light. Through
the drizzIe and the darkness al! that
could be seen OF his face was good tenn
pered. He had just finished pipe rs he
attracted the travellers attention, and
was in the act OF shaking out The ashes
and replacing the pine in wallet slung
over his back, when he heard him self ad :
dressed in the manner following, anu in
rather an authoritive tone Of voice
" Hollo young man. wiLher are you
bound this stormy looking night ?"
{" That is more than | can tell you, not
being at home in this part of the world.
Ny wish is to reach Berlin but if lind
a resting place before get there, to that
| am bound, for l am a weary"
" should think you must have two
hours walk before you" was the unsaris-
factory remark that followed.
The young made no reply, and after q
short pause the stranger said
" If it pleases you TO rest on the step OF
the carriage for few minutes you are
welcome to do so. Herr. What's your
name ?"
My name is Heinrich Never" re-
piled the young man, " one of those who
wisely never refuse the small benefit be-
cause the larger one is not to be obtain
ed, He thankfully accepted the not
very clean place allotted to him..
From The inside the window the next
question put to Heinrich was
."What are you going to Berlin for ?''
4" To hunt for some cousins" was the
answer. . .,:--,s ..ea... .-....,
"And pray who may they be ~ asked
the unknown.
"Well, to tell you the truth. have
not an idea who they are, or where to
look for them. Indeed. it is more than
doubtful whether have so much as an
acquaintance in Berlin, much less rela-
tion. =r
The questioner who should have been
an American colonel, looked amused
and astonished as he suggested '.E
"Surely there must be some other mo-
tive for your going to Berlin, or what
could have put this idea into your head?'
"Why," replied Heinrich, 81 have
just become a clergyman, without the
smallest chance Of getting anything to dc
in my own neighborhood. L have no re-
latiye to help me, and not quite money
enough to find me in necessaries."
{" But" said the Prussian. +" what on
earth has this to do with cousins in Ber-
lin ?"
Well, now. who knows? Many oI
my fellow students have got good ap.
pointments and, whenever asked them
to let me know how it was done, the an.
swer always was ga cousin it to
me-" or" got it through the interest oI
a cousin who lives at Berlin" Now, as
find none of these useful cousins live in
the country, 1 must go without their help
or else hunt for then in Berlin"
This was all said in a comical, dry way
so that his listener could not refrain from
laughing, but he made no comment
However, he pulled out peace of paper
and began to write upon it. When he
had finished he turned round to Heinrich
saying that he observed he had been smo
king, and that he felt inclined to do the