The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-10-17
why Didn't Marry my Cousin

why Didn't Marry my Cousin.
| was sitting this evening, and smoking
my pipe, and thinking about the world in
general, and my own affairs in particular,
and wondering that the man in moon
thought that the man in the moon thought
Of this little globe ard whether he could
see ME as we'll as | could him from the
window at which was sitting, whether l
should ever be a Governor, on president
of these United States."' and "settle the
fish question according" and-in short,
was thinking of everything and nothing,or
in other words my thoughts were all "wool
gathering"
/ was in that blissful state of geniality
in which man slips when he has eaten
a good, five o'clock dinner, which does
not sit badly on his stomach, leaves dull
care behind him, and puts himself down,
with his feet as high as his head, for
quiet, comfortable, tranquil snooze.
Now, some people prefer pipe-some
cigar. |, for my part, like both. To-
night, it happened to be pipe. Not
'dudeen," nor a 'cob,-cobs are good
though-nor chips" nor either of these
but real genuine ''meerschaum," gives
to me by very dear friend, since dead.
Neither was / using kanaster, nor Tur-
kish, nor German -four, nor fine cut but
good Virginia natural leaf, and as I watch
ed the blue rings float heavenward in the
moonbeams, | inwardly blessed Sir Wal
ter Raleigh for having given to us such
quieter OF angry feelings and composer of
the thoughts.
While putting away vigorously, my
friend Harry entered. I will not give
you his family name, for he is modest
man, and he would not like so see him
self in print, SO we, will let his christian
name suffice. Hewas looking 50 cheer
full and happy, when he came within,
range of the moonbeams, that I said to
him:
"Why so radian tonight, Harry ?"
cam ?" he asked.
''Decidedly. You look pleasanter than
the man in the moon he has been smil-
ing at me for the past half hour.
"Well, suppose it must be because I
am happy"
More so than usual, Harry?'
Very, very much"
What should make you so?"
Can you keep secret?"
"Try me-"
Well, then, I'll tell you. I'm going
to be married."
"To whom?"
My cousin"
"And she is beautiful, good, kind, and
loving?"
"AlI."
az don't doubt it; but what put it into
your head to get married? Why, you
are only twenty-three. and altogether too
fine fellow-no flattery-to be spoiled
by marrying. say spoiled, because in
ayear or two you will become a stiff,
moral, fatherly man; and the jovial fellow,
whom we all know as Harry, will be to
us as myth, or thing that was.
Really, Harry, it is too bad for you to
behave so. But are you bent upon sac
rifcing yourself to some female divinity
whose alter is a set of hoops, bonnet,
and a baby"
It's TIE truth, and there is no use in
denying it,"
well, then, take pipe, and tell me
all about it.
He did so. He spoke of his love for
her, and her love for him; of the thotsand
and one graccs which she possessed; of
the happiness he hoped for, and the joy
which he then felt. He told me when
he marriage should take place, and where
he should i've; and when he left me, |
almost wished-confrmed old bachelor as
am-that too had some such guiding
star to lead me onward through the bill
lows of life to a safe and happy heaven"
He was to marry his cousin he said.-
I then thought to myself, What fine
thing a female, cousin is. How you
can romp, and dance, and sail ard ride
with her, and take long moonlight walks
and have little confidential talks, and sit
up half the night if you choose playing
chess, and do ten thousand other things,
whi6h you can do with nobody else; and
why? Because she is your cousin
Theirs rfo other reason in the world that
l know Of
Then l thought Chat perhaps you would
like to know why did not marry my
cousin, instead of remaining single,
crooked stick, in utter defiance of tbs