The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-09-30
COUSIN DEBORAH's LEGACY.

Cousin Deborah was an unmarried lady,
who had no other property than moderate
life annuity. The furniture of her house
was faded and antique; the linen was wei!
darned the plate was scantv, and worn
thin with use aud frequent securing the
books were few and in no very good con
dition. She had no jewels or trinke,s her
days were passed in dreary state Of tran
guilty, stitching, stitching, stitching, forev.
er, with her beloved huge work-box at her
elbow. That wasted nothing for it was
abundantly fitted up with worsie'l, cotton,
tape, buttons, bodkins, needles, and such a
multiplicity Of reels and balls, that to en-
umeratc them would he tedious task.
Cousin Deborah particularly prided herself
on her darning; carpets, house-linen, stock
ings, all bore unimpeachabIe testimony to
this branch Of industry.
She was lost without her work box her
conversation always turned on the subject
of thread papers and needle-cases and new
er was darn,ng cotton more scientifically
rolled into neat balls,sthan by the taper fin
gers of Cousin Deborah.
AS child, I always regarded the work
box with species Of awe and veneration,
without daring to lay finger on the treas
ures it contained. have no doubt that
Cousin Deborah first regarded me with
favor in consequence of being asked by my
mother to give me lesson in darning-a
most necessary accomplishment in our fam
lily, as iswas the eldest of many brothers
and sisters; and, though very happy among
ourselves, the circumstances Of our dear
parents rendered the strictest industry and
furgality absolutely indispensable in order
to make "both ends meet.''
She was proud of me. on the whole, az ,
pupil. thought she sometimes had oceas ior
to oreprove me for illeness and skiI p ng slit h
es; and between Us it is almost impossible
to say how many pairs Of stockings w
made in the year. We resided near our
Cousin Deborah and may time WAS in
vited to take tea with her, and bring m,
bag in my hand, as matter. of course, an,
sit with her long hours without speaking
intent on our needles, the silence unbrok.
en- save by the ticking of the eight7da,
clock.
Isometimes found it very dull work,
confess. Not 80 with cousin Deborah
She needed no other society than that O
her work.box; and / do not believe sh
loved any human being so we'll. He
whole heart was in It :; and the attachmen
she evinced toward me, as the time wen
on, was fostered and encouraged BY ou
mutual zeal in performing tanks Of needle
work. Nottha shared 10 ber devotion
was actuated by se9se Of duty alon
and would far rather, conld have done
conscisutiousfy. have been dancing an
Issghipg with companions Of my own ag
Bat ply the needle did ; aud so did Cons
Deborslkand we two became, with a ahut
work-boshetween us,squite q pair of logir
friends; and at.least two evenings IN Il
week ! went to sit with the lone womal
She would have bad me every evening the
were 60 maoy 'ofsus at heps, our pareb
could not bear to spare any Of US out
their sight oftsner than they deeined iodi
pensable, e - u. 81,
7eAtlesgth Cousin peborsh's quiet OF
blsmstesa lifs,eame. TO nm. ehti. When 8
viii opened. It waaf afobsd thst shs. u
befbcoin, fhrsitnrs, aud sspsAsh AHf
thatsoo6 fI,es 800 a % hssy {
~ A hnt Si1o uAra IA .mi,th ssSs6sA fl,