Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-12-24
MIS- c T. l. l. N Y.
COUSIN JOHN.

have you been all the mornins9 Here we've
mos, done dinner. and there ain't nothing
tit to eat I don't believe We've jus, ate up
the last Of them berry pies. But my sakes
child, you look as though you'd had berries
enough for one spell-ypur mouth and
hands is all black with 'cm now.
Aunt MyrA's tongue, II possible more
untiring member than even her over.bu'y
hands, nigh, have runon in au unnterruP-
ted fow Tor an hour longer bad not the cur
rcn, Of her ideas been checked by turn 50
startling aud sudden that the conversation.
al tide ovcraowci is bank. iE one "bles'
my SOIL" of such iulncs. and energy, tha,
1, seemed to have cShiustcl her wcll.sprine'
Of language, and put a temporary stop TO
the iorrcn, Of words.
The cause Of ,ho Interruption was simply
this. Whom aunt Myn first bchrli M,
mud',Ained, and h.rry'tained, heated, tired
and hungry, her moihcrly eomp1''iop for
ms condition made her fora moment for.
ertral Of everything bu, NY wants but fol.
lowing a., direction Ut nay eyes, her own
rested upon an appritlon which 6llcl m'
with dismay, and made my cheeks hhro
redler than the Jolly sun had done before,
blu,hins dr't a, tho tho't of my appearance
and then more and more with shame that |
should have llu.hrd AZ all, I'LL the tears
fairly started to my c-from very vcIation.
And tho s1urc, of all this disturbance was
ucithcr NOR, nor less than rather hand.
some aui very well dressed young man. who
at at ,hc dnncr.iahle calmly finishing the
Las, picc, Of aunt Myra's hmentcd berry
pie. and b,twcrn the mouthiull' taking \
a cool and impartial survey Of myself, and
III might judge from the hall.smilc that
lurked IN the corners of hi' eye, forming a
not too favorable estimate Of my personil
attractions.
hay, no vanity. f-sl sure Of that bot
N, girl could help feeling veKci to make her
fr., appearance before person whom she
ha, hcarl talked abou, f,r the hs, three
v,ck., q, had Mr. Hampton q knew a,
tho fir, glance !, was ho,) looking a' did
then. my drr,. muddy anl wet, and torn by
bricr,, my hair half fallen down, my face
heated and wor,, Of all, my lip. and teeth
blue a, indigo, from ID, berries I had been
eatins al the morning.
Cousin John stood looking on, silent as
u,.al. but belicy, In bi. heart not sorry
to see mo lo,lins my us'i.'t before the
stranger. However. rrli grateful {, him
for putting an end {, the embarrassing scene
by carrying Mr.. Hampton oiT with him to
the marshes.
A. soon as they wsrc gone ran upio my
room and bad a good cry-I hal been such
a fool. | :ht have ., least have explain.
ed how got NY dre-. 5, w.t. Hni dirty
that IN trying 20 take a shorter way home,
| crossed che brook, AMI slipping "a ono OF
the stepping stones, f.II into the water. Bot
I never think ofanylhius at ihe right time.
and any explanation aitcrwlrl only makes
one appear ridiculous. l, was no indication
Of vanity certainly. that tried, on that
night to max, myself look as well as po''i-
Die anl IL / lil spend NOR, time than u''
ual in p,r.uadins every per'cr'' curl to
stay in is proper place, it VAS surely no
more than was required TO remove the un.
hir impression, Of the morning.
I dreaded meeting them again. 50 wait
ed till tea was ready, and then qaietly slip
min, into the room was introjucsi as We
at down to the table There was nothing
in Mr Ilnmp,ou' manner to revive my an
noyance. bat COUSIN John gave me comical
look which made f,el yoSaI all the oycnin.
Some person. looks speak 81 plainly that
they seem 10 have no need Of words to c1'
ur,s. themselves. and cousin John IL eyi.
Isn,ly Of that opinion. II one may judge
from hi- .piring Us, OF the organs Of speech.
A, that time especially, | remember. for
dav. together, it would sem to me- he hard
Iy spoke ten words, bot would sit there
be,rin. all that We said. and making his
in hi. own mind. II is a very pro.
yokinr way, and used to make me feel 81
that dare say ! must have ap-
peared very lilly and awkward. But Mr..
Hampton never seemed TO be conscious Of It
NJ all. but ratified away, sense or nonsense
Just rs 1, nigh, happen to be. and certainly
made himself very agreeable. ! used TO
wonder. when cousin Jjhn had said 50 much
20 me of Mr.. Hampton being hi, friend In
college and such a good fellow, that he did
not seem TO enjoy his visit moro. IL could
no, be envy fur though Mr. Hampton was
certainly more elegant in dress and some
little matters no one could ever DO more
true gentleman than cousin John, even In
his ovcralls and farm boots; besides, Of
course, he must have been glad that We all
liked his friend. Whatever might have
been the cause, the fact wus that nll the
time that Mr. Hampton staid at the farm
cousin John seemed to have taken vow OF
silence. and just from common ciyility ]
was obliged to exert myself to supply his
deficiencies as far as could, and do all in
my power to entertain his guest. which was
not by any means difficult task, for | nev.
cr saw any one more inclined to be pleased
or more willing to DO his share in pleasing
Others.
One lovely morning as We sat at break
fast fan carly meal at the farm, J aunt Myra