Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-02-21
COUSIN JERUSHA.

They were all enjoying the breeze
that swept through the wide parlors
that summer evening, it had been SO
hot of late. The month was May, the
placeswas Philadelphia, and-I am al
most afraid to say this-it was the
Centennial time. But don't be
alarmed, my reader; am not going
to describe the Great Exposition, nor
tell any thing about it, nor shall /
give any information concerning 20
of either this or the last century. l
only intend to relate an incident that
happened to take place then and there.
The people enjoying the breeze were
a family by the name of Fenton, and
consisted of father and mother, two
grown-up daughters, one grown-up son
and little girl.
Mrs. Fenton had just been saying
that she supposed they would soon be
overrun with visitors coming to spend
a few days and see the Centennial.
"Well, let them Gomez said Mr..
Fenton. heartily, as he turned his paper
inside out. 81 don't know one that l
wouldn't be glad to see."
"Nor l." returned Mrs. Fenton.
Il am always so thankful that we
needn't be ashamed of any of our re-
lations. There's sister Kate!-who
could be more delightful than she is ~
"Oh, Aunt Kate is perfectly splen-
didH' chorused the young people.
"And there's Uncle Phil and Aunt
Emily" said Mabel, the eldest girl.
"And Cousin Joe and his wife"
added Florence, the second daughter.
"And John ana his family" put in
Mr.. Fenton.
"Oh! if you go to counting up, you'll
never get through" said Tom, the son
and heir. "But / say, haven't we any
Objectionable connections at all Isn't
there some old duffer who'll turn up
just at the wrong moment?'
mo, / haven't any," said Mr.. Fen
ton.
"No-o-o," said Mrs. Fenton, rub
bling her forehead thoughtfully.
"Stop! | think remember one. OF
course Cousin Jer1lsh0! l wonder |
didn't think before. But don't knoao
that she is Objectionable the fact is,
| don't know anything about her.
She's lived way up in Vermont all
her life. She is niece Of grandfath-
ers, and is an old maid; at least she
ought to be, if she isn't married or
dead. Her name is Hevington- -Je-
rusha Hevington. | always thought
it such a pity to spoil such IL fine name
as Hevington with Jerusha. i hope
she won't come; I'm sure she must be
perfectly awfulv'
The two young ladies had been look
ing at their mother in blank silence
ever since she had mentioned this I'M
pleasant relation; Tom had gone off
in fit of laughter; so that Mr.. Fen
ton was the only one who spoke:
We'll, if she comes, all we can do
is to make the best of it, and treat
her as well as we know how"
oh, of course said Mrs. Fen
ton.
Tom here looked at his watch. and
started up, eXclaiming that he should
be late, he had an appointment, and
bolted off, promising TO he home early.
Then Mr.. FentOn settled down for a
nap; Mrs Fenton buried herself in
Lorna Doone, and the girls yawned
over their Japanese canvas, fearing a
dull evening.
The air gently futtered the lace cur
tains. the mellow light shone down
from the many-globed chandelier upon
the fresh white mating, the linen
draped furniture, the pictures and
statuettes, the three ladies in their
pretty evening dresses and the old
gentleman snoring away behind his
newspaper; all was quiet as quiet
could be, when a violent peal at the
door-bell made them all nearly jump
out of their skins.
Who on earth is that?" asked Mr..
Fenton. bouncing up.