The herald. (Smyrna, Del.) 1870-1871, 1870-08-13

country life, turkeys, pigs, and all such
questionable themes OF conversation
while Annie, on the contrary, to her
mothers great indignati9 9n, seem to con-
slider Cousin Jedediah an excellant COM
panion, and fairly rivalled him in try
ing to recall "reminiscences OF her visit
to his home five years before.
In the midst of this conversation a
carriage drove up to the door, and depos-
tied three ladies and one gentleman.
Mrs. Warrington welcomed their ar
rival joyfully, as the means by which
she might get rid Of Cousin Jededish-
so she said:
"Here comes your friends, Annie-you
know you are to SO with them on the riv-
er this afternoon, to tako ssil.''
"very well;' said Annie. "I am rea-
dy, all but my hat and sacque. Cousin,
I must leave you now for awhile"
"Going to take sail7" asked Jededi-
ah.
aYes.'i
"Well, now," said Jedediah, coolly, "1
always thought should like to take a
sail on the river, but never thought 1
would have a chance-I'll go with
you"
Annie cast terribls glance at her
mother, who responded with one of
mute, helpless despair, while Cousin Je-
dediab, unmlndful of the effect his kind
offer had produced, ran out of the room
to "slick up his hair" before showing
himself before company.
"What shall we dof" querisd Mrs.
Warrington, helplessly.
"Let him go, / suppose" replied her
daughter, laughing; 1 suppose there is
no help for 1.-THE won't take hint"
"And there is Sylvester Trent, he will
be with you," said Mrs. Warrington
desparingly, sand he is hb aristocratiC
in his ideas. You know he cut the Mel.
toms; when he discovered that they had
second cousin a tailIa What will he
II 'dton { care what ISSays," saiu zI-
ME, turning her head. "He is a con.
ceited monkey--and now will take
Cousin Jedediah, if it's only to spite
himr'
What Mrs. Warrington was about to
say, Annie never knew, for at that in
slant stentorian voice at the foot ofthe
stairs shouted:
81 say, Cousin Annie, hurry up and
come downl Here's all the folks down
here setting on throns waiting for you.
They're afraid the river will run dry il
we don't get there soonr'
"Annie, go, for heavens sakel' MUIR
INJURED Mrs. Warrington, plaintively;
cor that monster will bring the house
down ON our headsp
In response to this pathetic appeal,
Annie hurried down stairs to her impa-
tient guests.
To record the sayings and doings OF
Cousin Jedediah, on the way to the banks
of the Schuylkill would fill a volume:
He inquired of Mr.. Sylvester Trent,
blandly, "whether he was any relation
to Jake Trent, who got six months for
stealing garden-rake from Squire
Jinks," adding "that he thought he saw
a family resemblance"
Mr.. Trent Indignantly kept silent, and
looked out of the carriage-window, NUT
tering under his breath something about
"boors" and "ruffians."
Then he showed a grest desire to know
the why and wherefore of everything,
Questioning everybody indiscriminate
ly; and in short, behaved just like per-
son will do, to whom everything is new
and strange, and who has nottact enough
to conceal their ignorance.
And then when they were on the rivs
er, in the boat, he nearly maddened Mr..
Sylvester Trent by asking so many
questions, trying, it seemed, to learn the
art of sailing that vessel in one lesson.
At last, having exhausted every topic
of conversation, Jedediah became silent
from sheer weariness, and leaning back,
he contemplated with critical, though
approving eye, the beautiful SCENERY on
the banks of the Schuylkilli
"Not bad," he said, apptovingly, es-
pecially when it's in the middle of a
city." And then he looked around to see
If any one agreed or disagreed with him.
But Mr.. Trent was occupied in manag-
ing the boat, and the four ladies were
chattering together, so his remark
brought forth no reply.
Jedediah, shading his face with his
conical hat, was fast gliding into the
land of dreams, when he was rudely
awakened by the boat giving lurch
and nearly precipitating him into the
river, and at the same time he heard a
piercing scream.
Grasping the side Of the poat 10 steady
himself, he look up and saw Miss Annie
Warrington and one of her lady friends
struggling in the water.
"Helpi Murder!" cried Mr.. Trent.
vociferously.
"Hold your tongue, you foolP' cried
Jedediah, savagely, "snd don't run the
darned boat on top of theml'
To take off his hat and coat, and kick
of his boots, was the work of a moment
with Cousin Jedediah, and the next in
slant he was in Il Q river, had AMMO by
the arm, and then back into the boat
before she rightly understood where she
was.
Miss Florence Mountoy, the other fair