The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-07
MY WIPES COUSIN.

Some time ago called on cousin of
my wife, who had resided in the city of
Philadelphia. | had not seen him for a
long time, but having understood that he
was in afiluant circumstances, was but
little prepared for the circumstances in
which fOand him. Through the Phila-
delphia Directory, / went to one Of those
dark alleys with which that city abounds,
and found his name on a sign board, asso
ciated with that of another man, over a
dark, dingy shop. The sign purported
that they were locksniths and bell-hang-
ers also, that locks were repaired and
keys fitted. Without ceremony walked
into the gloomy recess, where there was
blacksmith's forge, and thQre, among sew
eral misunderstanding men, wa my wife's
cousin. He received me Tnost cordially,
and for a moment intetmitted filing huge
brass key on which he was g. gagged and
the shake OF my own dexter by one of his
own broad, brawny hands, can liken to
nothing nearer than the shock Of young
earthquake.
"Take seat, take seat, "he observed,
"and just 9s soon as l finish this key, we'll
make tracks for home.''
/, of course, replied that l was in no
hurry, and at once became interested in
the facile manner in which he was meta
morphosing rough casting into a pol
ished key. AS soon as it was completed,
he washed the worst of the dirt from his
hands, hung up his work apron, and put
ting on his coat and hat, remarked in q
cheerful tone:
"Come, now, Cousin Aleck let Us 20
and see whether my wife has got any tea
for u.s."
After We were in the street, our oonver-
sation ipsensibly ran on business, and
took the occasion to say to him that had
been of the opinion that he had retired
from his trade on handsome competency.
"Don't say word about retirement"
he replied, "it nearly makes me sick to
think of it, People talk of retiring from
business while they are healthy and able
to do work, why, tell you Aleck, they
don't know what it means. didn't know
what it meant until tried it; but now,
retirement and misery sounds to my ears
like words Of the same meaning.
Perceiving that he had struck a subject
on which he could easily be communica-
tive, l looked inquiringly, when be re-
joined:
"Perhaps you never heard the ,srtlcu-
lars of my retiring2"
On my replying that had not, He pro-
ceeded: "You see, Aleck, it is nox about
three years ago that, having, as yon would
say, competency, made up my mind to
stop work and move into the country. So
I sold Olt my share of the business to my
partner, spent year or two in looking at
two or three score of country places, and
at last found one that my wife and myself
were considerably pleased with. Fine
double house, four acres beautifully shaded,
vegetable garden not to be beat, and soil
of superior quality. The place is still in
my possession, but, before would go and
live on il again, I'd give it away; yes,
Aleck, I'd see it sunk in the middle of the
Red Sea. But am getting ahead of my
story. For two or three months matters
and things were getting on very well, be-
cause l had something to attend to in
making few improvements about the
house, and furnishing number of doors
with locks Of my own invention; but, as
the whole premises were in good condi
ton when bought them, soon came to
point where there was not anything to
look after but the cultivation of the garden.
l was not long in making the discovery
that had no genius or taste either for
digging around roots or pulling up weeds.
and, as my wife didn't wish the garden to
run to waste, l employed a regular Eng
lish gardener to carry the thing hand
somely through.
"Well, didn't mind the expensa ha nnt