Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1858-1860, 1860-04-25
For the Patriot. :
CITY Cousins.
DEDICATED TO .scoUsIA JOHN"


Ny home was In the country where the flowers
Shed softest fragrance on the air around,
Where birds sang sweetly in our forest bowers,
And cool damp shadows slept upon the ground.
We were content, though humble was our lot;
We cared not for the spen.iii things Of earth,
And all the cares Ct life were quite forgot,
As We sat lOunging round our happy hearth,
With books and work. and music making glad
The passing hours thai seem - others sad
Well, we had city cousins-who has mott
And when they heard that were well to do % /.
Tney hocked TO see US when the days grew hot,
And brous ut their servants and their babies, too,
And ate or bread AID butter, and our honey.
And chicken pies, and c4ke, and damPlings rare,
And mix, and fruit, th-y got all without money,
For we Of course hid plenty and 10 spare;
So through tie summer months they stad and staid
Until the forest leaves began TO fade.
Then said my cousin Fanny Rutherford:
The c'untry's getting dall, ii is pity
For friends part; but you. my cousin dear,
Must surely come to me IA he city.
And then Mama she fixed up pounds of lard,
And three skinned turkeys and sight Of butter,
All in box. Twas done in such way,
60 decatey nice, it couldn't hurt Ler.
II nave SSetucu Olu III
But leeds like this came natural to my mother.
Well, cousin started, bag and baggage all,
a pie OF trunks she had, and babies, too,
And We stood watching her with fearful eyes,
Until the Irriage faded from view.
Then from the door We turned with deep regret,
Aud to each other SAID: Oil she is sweet
And perfect a saint, and other things
We said about her which / wont repeat;
They iuil Of faith, So full of trust,
But they seem worthless now, as worthless dust
And months went by and a certain time
II announced in all the city pa,,e
That some great star OF fashion to sing
On such a night And then did cIpers
About the room, and said: Oil dear Mama,
DO let 60 hear ParOdi sing,
And SEE my cousin Fanny, if you will,
I'm sure I'll be happy king.
And mother looked me and said: Well, here, you
may
Sit down and write, and Sc what Fanny'n say.
So down l sat aud wrote:
'sMy dearest Coz:
While the hearth the fire buras blue and bright,
And cheerful faces round me sweetly smile,
take my pen TO write to you tonight.
We have been talking or you, and Mama
says mty go u you very soon;
And tOiH 20, dear CT, be sure Of that,
Even if have to ride in a balloon.
/ am resolved your lovely face to see,
So, cousin Fan, you must look out for me.
P.S-
have res llved 10 go tomorrow neck;
So meet me a the depot that day.
My heart is nIled with such delicious hopes,
hardly know exactly what 70 say.
Now good bye, airing cousin, must close;
Do write t. me early you can,
And tell me how ypu are, and where you
Good night, my darling, lovely, cousin Fan,
My pen is bad, my candies burning blue,
I'm getting very sleepy, so adieu ="
I sealed and sent my letter next day,
And went 10 fixing in a mighty furry.
My mother and the maids for two " hole days,
Kept running round in a tremendous hurry.
/ bought me four new dresses, all Of silk,
And had my bonnet trimmed with white and blue,
And bad my collars done up white as milk,
And bought lovely mantle, for knew
That # 1 did not look my uery best,
Ny cousin Fanny would be quite distressed.
I waited meekly for three days, and then
got letter from my cousin dear,
Aud thus It ran, just listen to II now,
such hearIlsss words you meier before did hear:
s'Dear Cousin Matte:
Ireceived your note,
And take my seat to answer It tonight.
Would say to You, that were it in my power
To have you here, 'twould give me great delight
BIT with no servants, and a crying child,
And "a ling health have to say you,
I, lat having any company about
J. than now can expect to do.
I'm very sorry this has happened SO,
But when you come down to the city - call,
/ would be glad TO your happy face.
Good bye, dear cousin, give my love to all. --'
Could believe my eyes read and read,
And threw the letter down: then picked 1t up,
Then read again, then hid my face and cried,
II hard to drink that bitter cup.
There lay my pretty bonnet and nv gowns,
And all my SUNDAY hxens'' the bed,
And must stay ~ hoTae! OH few tell
How sad aud bitter were the tears shed.
Aud since that day have been very shy
of Indy coming from the city.
never e. to see them, never do,
b, they romantic. rich, smart, or witty;
! heed not invitations by the dozsns-
never go To See my city cousins.
VIRGINIA, 1850.