, 1863-02-12
A Rural Adventure.
"0h, had you ever . cousin, TOmf
Did your cousin happen 10 singi
We have sislers ell, BY the dozen, To

Il
But COUSINS different thing" 'a
Certainly Il isi Yes, have . cousin-and
my name isn't Tom, either; though brother Ned
alWays declared Il ought 10 have been-the
scampi YeA, hAte cousin, and the widest,
merriest, most witching little elf that ever Gre.
ated eommotion in masculine-dom, is that same
Cousin Jenny. Singf doesn't she thoughi Her
rich, clear voice used to float through the lofty
rooms and grand old halls Of Linden Dell, till old
Aunt Chloe, knitting In the sunshne Of the
kitchen doorway, would wipe the tears from her
dim eyes, saying
"Dat sF bressed chile's voice alters minds me
Of whole aock o angels-'peats like I can ies
heat tiar wings Q FustIsin'-it's 90 sweet"
Heighol Linden Dell has changed since then
the sunlight streaming ct the kitchen door To-
day Ihlls on Aunt ChlOSs vacant chair, for the
knitting is finished at last, and the old hands are
folded. Jenny b gone, tOo-neitheF lost nor
strayed, but stolsn--and this was the way Of IL
"bOck here, Lelli" exclaimed Jenny, e she
danced into my room one day last summer.
"Well, my dear, Pm looking"
al came % ask you 10 80 to the country with
me next week."
sThefe; nowi you needn't say no. It will
only be % much breath wasted, for I am fully
determined 20 b mylelf and equally determined
that you shall 90 with ne-so just be quiet and
listen 10 reason"
SYou are eighty dictatorial, Miss Jenny"
"Prscisely; I always ives, my darling" was
the cool Fetogt "You, see, /" shecOntinued, " I'm
tired Of brick and mOftar-and you ought 10 be,
if you are pOt-and know such . dear, old
fashioned farmhouse, some ten milesfrom here
Q perfect horspital with ehickings IN it, and
Aunt DOlly-she's hther'scousin, YOU know, but
IalWays call her aunt-is capital hostess Such
splendid times IS we will have, Lell Hunting
eggs, going berrying, Wading 10 the brook, and
riding on the hay cart; and then, last, but not
least, We can have the blessed privilege Of wear
ing our morning wrappers until noon, if We like.
Iof there isn't masculine about the establish
ment, saye Uncle Ike, and Joe"
"And who Is Joe |" asked.
"Bless me, what question: And have you
lived 10 the mature age Of oh, no, never
mentioned em'-without knowing who Joe lei
Really you ought to 10 10 the country. Well,
then Joe Il tow.heGded youth, somewhere be.
tween 6ASsn and twenty tall enough for abean
pole, and thick aecordn', with afrecklSd faee and
gToenish grey eyes, which always look - f be
Was very much amused OF dreadfully frightened,
and hadn't quite made uphiS mind which. Then
Joe had mouth which be always Wears IL such
lengthy smile that it looks O. if he Was using
Il for tape line, 10 measure from one ear to the
other, with Q view 70 calculate how many Whis.
kers be wiIl have 10 raise when he gets old
enough 10 raise any. Moreover, Joe wears p0ck.
ets and his hands inside Of them sporls muddy
boots, and has an unaceountable heulty Of he1r
ing everything you don't want him TO hear, and
Of never saying anything unless be has some.
thing particular 10 say, and then he sAyS 'Golly I
When ! get tired Of studying human nature
always study joe" Ia 'ga
II must bs interesting" t e
"IutsnSely but now answer my question: