The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1877-07-12
KATE'S PRINCE.

"There now, you're banging that door
again, Miss Jenny; [ declare to goodness
you children would worrit the patience
out OF saint
ooh, never mind, Sally" J. SAID, pant
ing, after q race to get into the house
first--a race I had won, for Iii and Cissy
were yards behind.
"Never mind, indeed p cried Sally,
&" and there's your fine cousin coming
down to-day from London. I wonder
what she viii say when she sees you
racing about the meadow like so many
wild colts, and your arms all brown and
scratched, and the hooks off your dress.
I never see such children, never"
But you like us, Sally" II said, get
ng hold Of her rough. lat, red arm, and
aging my cheek against it.
81 don't, ] declare don't, she cried,
impetuously; and, to show her dislike,
she threw her arms round me, and
squeezed my nose nearly fiat against the
piece OF hard wood she used to wear in
side her dress. a ~
Sally was our housemaid, parlor-maid,
and nurse-maid all in one; and it used
to seem to me that she spent all her
leisure time in quarreling with the cook
and snubbing us; but, for all that, one
Of my principal recollections during the
fever hadso long was waking at all times
to see Sally's red face Watching by my
bedside, and I know she did all cooks
work for six weeks as well as her own,
when poor cook had such sad accident
and cut her hand.
We three-Lil, Cissy and had a
long discussion about Cousin Kate and
her visit, and we all felt what dreadful
little ragamuffins we should seem to her,
for I'm afraid we had been running wild,
though papa only used to laugh at it,
and would come into the school-room
when mamma was busy with us over our
lessons whenever it was fine morning,
and cry: CHOW then, girls, the sun
shines and the birds are calling. Out
with you Learn lessons when it rains. :"
I knew afterward why this was. Papa
had horrible nervous dread of our
growing up weak and sickly, for his was
a delicate family, and, I had heard that
our cousins were often very i'll.
I'll can guess why Cousin Hates COM
ing to stay with us, said Lii. r31
" I know why she's coming, " I said.
cts because she's ILL.," shouted Lii,
for fear 7 should show my knowledge
first EE. $3.50. ~.
"SaIly win take her u b new warm
milk and an egg in it before she gets out
Of bed in the morning, said Cissy, sol
EMMY; '*tnat viii soon make her we'll. :"
"She shall have all the eggs. Speckle
lays, said Lii, and Jenny will take her
every morning to the old garden-seat
under the trees. She's sure to. get well
And so we did, for Cousin Kate came
that Afternoons tall, pale girl, with a
sad, weary look in her face, as she gazed
wistfully from one to the other.
We three girls stood back quite in awe
OF the well-dressed, misunderstanding
body, who was SO different from what
we had expected, while mamma went up
to welcome her, and took her in her arms
in tender, affectonate way, SAYING:
My dear child, we are SO glad to see
you"
Cousin Kate threw her arms round
mammals neck and burst into fit of
sobbing, hiding her face from our sight.
We did not see any more of Cousin Kate
that day, but our young interest was
deeply excited, and somehow, perhaps
fostered by dark hints dropped by Sally,
who was a blghted flower, having been
crossed in love affair with the horse
Keeper at neighboring farm, we girls
got to think Of our. cousins illness as
KIND OF mystery connected in some way,
how we did not know, with the heart.
Our awe OF the sweet, gentle cousin
fell off the very next day, when we took
possession OF her, and led her round our
dear Old country home, with it's wilder
ness OF an orchard, great garden shrub
berries and pleasant meadow.
Her coming seemed to mark an epoch
III our young lives, for, seeing how weak
and delicate she was, we used to vie one
with the other in being quiet and gen
tie, waiting upon her in the most I'M
necessary way, like slaves, and always
ready to rush off most willing messengers
to forestall any little wants she ex-
pressed
Tins came natural to US; but on my
part it was increased by few words
which | heard pass between papa and
mamma, mamma saying that she did
not think poor Kate would ever grow
strong again, but slowly wither away.
| gave a great gulp as / heard these
words, and then burst out sobbing yio-
lently.
"You Ehere, Jennyp' said mamma.
" Wen, my dear, as you have heard
what we SAID, it must be your secret,
too. Never let your poor cousin know
what we think, and never behave to
her as if you thought she could not re-
cover.