M'arthur Democrat. (McArthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1853-1865, 1856-12-04

IuloughC now pleasant IL WOuW DC 10
share Cousin Dennis hospitality; for
he had SO often urged me to come and
spend sometime with him, that | had
no doubt that his delight at seeing me
would be equal to mine Oh seeing him.
A few weeks more and the busy fin
gers of sisters and mother had pre-
pared my wardrobe, and the great
trunk was brought down from the
garnet and stuffed till its brass studded
frame would hold no more. Probably
mo experienced traveller starting for
Europe, ever took half the number oI
wearables that |, in my simplicity,
deemed far toolimited. But the great
gala-day came, and | left home for the
wilderness of New York.
1t was late when | arrived at my
Cousins house, which with some land
adjoining, he had Inherited. | 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 a cold
formality did not understand, yet,
weaed as | was, | did not think much
about the subject but ate my supper
in silence, cheered by the news that my
cousin had gone to oficiate at q we'd
ding, and might not be home till e!o,
ven or later. .s
Already it was ten, and Unused to
such late hours, begged to be shown
to my room, shall never forget how
icy cold the room was to which | was
attended. Large and cheerless, filled
with sombre furniture, it was far diff
erent from my snug little chamber at
home, where the sun shone all day
and where the water seldom iroze =
The sheets, as as ! touched them, seem
ed like ice; and | had not dared to
approach my feet tothe polished stove
hearth down stairs, and | suffered eX-
ceedingly. However, soon forgot in
dreams, in which the old farmhouse
and roaring fires were principal OBJ.
Iiects OF interest, the GOODNESS Of the
bed. In the morning, and bitter cold
it was, | aroseatmyusual hour, dress
cd and hurried from the chamber. ]
found my way to the hall. On the
rack in the corner lay an ample cloth
cloak, which IsuppoSed my cousin had
thrown.otf ina bury. Surprised al
the unusual stiffness, | tried the door
from which | had made egress the
preceding night. 1t was locked fast
successfully | tried every door within
my range: alas! there was neither Q.
gross nor outlet, for the front entrance
was also fastened in such It mannei
that it dcfeda all my endeayors to move
the lock. 1t seems that my cousin's
house-keeper was one Of the old-tash
ioned sort, and never retired without
fastening up everything in the house
question, somewhat whether she did
not lock her bed curtains. .'.
Three mortal hours did | stay shiv
ering in my room on that eventfu
morning, solacinS myself with dolefu
glances at the brick wall OF a distille.
Try, and running over the pages Of 6
4 Greek lexicon, which was decidedly
all Greek to me-and nothing else.
Atlength, oh welcome sound ! tho
bell rang, and |, blue with cold, de
scended to the breakfast room. There
| met my cousin, andtor the first time
in my life witnesseda q sham welcome
did not understand it then; | do un
derstand such things better now.r
My cousin tried his best to be agree
able, but saw that disappointment
presided over all his actions, particu
E. iarly when mentioned that haC
come for a long visit. Butl soon 60
over theunpleasant feeling consequen
upon this discovery, and determined
!. to brave it out. Had he not stayet
summer after summer Oh my father
farm! Did We not every six week
send him some favor, in the shape 0
the best winter greetings, rnssets o
Baldwins! So / put myself on NJ,
dignity, awkward though was, AM
appeared as though | had observes
nothing unpleasant, s.. A.
Wherever we went, / could see tina
!, my relative was ashamed of his tai
, cousin. knew in my soul that
was good for something. | had til
consciousness of intellect not very in
ferior to his own. AT home | was ia
nous as a Yankee story teller, bu
, having a fear Of the minister's supe
rier attainments constantly before m
|, eyes, i had never allowed him to sc
, what could do.
The false timidity, however, wa
|. gradually wearing away. Fbegan
feel anxious to resent my Cousins of
A ciousness, and daily grew stronger
. nv determination todo SO. l notice
If his department when he little though
II of it; his quick step ahead, SO as
4 seem alone, when he met some fasl
q ionable lady; his. manoeuvres to slid
J, out Of church by himself; his caref,
,r avoidance Of all mention of my nan
# to others; and thought to mysel
q 'sone day I'll teach you a lesson, your