The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1862-09-19
my MATTER OF-FACT COUSIN.
BY MARY E. CLARKE.

pay viset to her. and uncle james and the
/ girls.
At dinner time told my father my plans.
very good he said apptovihgly You will
have the fsce air that tho doctor recommends ;
and if you choose to fall in love with your
cousin Molly, shall give you my consent to
the match
She's a dear good girl + said My mother.
instantly resolved to hate Molly. Fall in
love with II dear good girl I-apoet--a genius
seeking, on this desert earth, for u kindredsoul
--aheart to beat in unison with mine-a bright
ethereal being formed to b, worshipod, but of
course, willing to bow before my superior mind.
Dear, good girl J. brought up vision of a little
bread-and-butter Miss, always ready to wait on
mamma and courtesy to a strange gentleman.
fall in love with her! Nothing could relieve
| my disguised feelings but canto to My ideal
love- which finished before bed time.
The next evening found me in the quiet home
circle at Lee, already more than half in love
with--not the recommended Molly, but her sis
ter the fair-haired, blue-eyed Leonie l had
found a kindred soul, | was sure, in Lconic
Together we scared to the realms of thought;
we quoted Byron-we compared favorite pass;,-
ges, and ecstacy she, too, contded her inmost
thoughts to paper-she, in short, wrote poetry;
She was unhappy, too, in want of sympathy.
None of the family believed in her inspiration
or genius. Her father said Trash! to her f.
nest effiusions; and her mother advised her to
spend her time in making cake, if bread was too
common place.
Molly had small but neat figure and her
dainty slippers and dress both fittel exquisi tely
her hair was dark brown and braided in heavy
loops she had soft eyes, fair complexion and a
bright cheerful face.
Lconie, tall, slender and graceful, wore q
white dress, which might have paid a visit to
the wash-tub with advantage; but my eyes and
admiration rested on her face. The features
were Grecian, and the large ianguid blue eyes,
and long, loose curls, made afairpicture, which
to my blinded eyes was improved by half-re-
clining position and pensive expression.
Leone,' said her father, .whss ;s.rs are You look
A look of scornful impatience excited at
once my sympathy, and the laugh of the rest
sOh | see,' said uncle James you are COM
posing an ode to summers night. Eth, Mol
iy~
Including mosquitoes said Molly, quietly.
'Of course! Come let's have the first verse,
said the poor girls tormentor.
Papa, spare me Torture not my calm
repose by dragging forth my sorrows to the
world
nCome Lcnny, sing for us, said her mother,
'and no nonsensen
So, sLove not and The Broken Hearted
were sung, in an agonizing manner, and then,
at her fathers request, Molly sang, in q blithe,
sweet voice. some Scottish ballads after which
Lconie and wandered out on the piazza-to
gaze on the moon.
The first evening will stand for picture of
many more. The sentimental poetess was right
when she told me no one sympathized with her
for all tried, by ridicule, or more gentle warn
ing to bring her from her fancicd heaven to the
neglected duties blocking up her path. labor
ed in vain to win her II sisters gentle sympathy
Molly was impenctrable. 1t was
Molly walk with Us, on this lovely morn
ing to WOO the gentle summers air, and seek, !
i'll the mazes of the wood, the murmuring brook
and whispering foliage
Can't indeed, cousin Ned Imust help man.
ma with the preserves
She was always busy. Leonie, who never
rose till ten o'clock, was ready for my proposed
stroll or reading at any late hour, and | forgot
her untidy dress, tumbled hair, and slip shod
feet in the melodious voice, the questioning
sympathy and soft batteries of my blue-eyed
cousin Yet, though | fancied looked down
upon the common place Molly, it was pleas
ant sight to meet her little graceful figure al
ways neat, whether in the tidy morning chintz
or the lighter evening dress-a pleasant sound
to hear her cheerful voice-a pleasant thing to
note her ever busy fingers always employed to
lighton her mothers cares, togivc father pleas
ure Or repair some negligence of her sisters.
She spent part of her time in her own room; |
but the breakfast-tabe never waited for her, and
hers was the first kiss to welcome her fathers
return ut night.
had been at my uncles two weeks, and had
already decided that Leonie was my second SELF
and my life paradise or a desert, according as
she willcd to accept or reject my hand, when,
one day, waiting for Leonie to walk with me,
Molly's voice called:
edwin! Edwin, come here Hurry, Leonic
has fallen!'
rushed into the entry. My idol had caught
her foot in rent of her dress, and taken fly
ing leap down stairs; she lay insensible at the
foot knelt down and called upon her by ev-
cry endearing name.
Dont be sillyr said Molly, in quick, anx-
ious tone. You are the only one here who can
lit her Take her to her own room, and then
send John for Dr. Wallace
l obeyed Lifting the inanimate figure,
followed Moly's light footsteps up the stairs to
Lconie's room. Even in my terror | could not
escape the impression of disgust the room gave
me. My aunt made rule that the girls should
take care of their own rooms, and had fondly
imagined I.eonies to be bower of beauty-al
resting place haunted by the works, the pictures
Of great minds-a home where genius could