Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1881-03-08
Kate's Prince.
From Cassell's Magazine.]

"There now, you're banging that door
again, Miss Jenny. l declare to good
ness you children would worrit the
patience out of a saint"
"Oh, never mind. Sally" said pant
ing, after race to get into the house
first-a race 1 had won, for Lii and Cissy
were yards behind.
''Never mind, indeed!" cried Sally,
"and there's your fine cousin coming
down to-day from London. I wonder
what she will 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, said getting
hold of her rough, fat, red arm, and lay
ing my cheek against it.
II don't, declare DON'T" she cried
impetuousIy : and to show her dislike
she threw her arms round me, and
squeezed my nose nearly flat against the
piece of hard wood she used to wear in
side her dress.
Sally was our house, maid, parlor.
maid, and nurse maid all in one; and it
used to seem to me that she spent all
her leisure time in quarre'lihg with the
cook and snubbing us; but for all that,
one of my principal recOllections, during
the fever had 80 long, was waking at
all times to see Sally's red face watch
ing by my bedside; and know that she
did all cooks work for six weeks as well
as her own, when poor cook had such a
sad accident and cut her hand.
We three-LiI, Cissy and I-had a
long discussion about Cousin Kate and
her visit and we all felt what dreadful
little ragmuffins we should seem to her
for I'm afraid we had been running
wild though papa only used to laugh
about it, and would come into the school
room when mamma was busy with us
over our lessons, whenever it was fine
morning, and cry, Now then, girls,
the sun shines and the birds are calling
Out with you! Learn lessons when it
rains"
knew afterwards why this was.-
Papa had horrible nervous dread of
our growing up weak and sickly. for his
was delicate family; and had heard
that our cousins were very often ill.
II can guess why cousin Kate is com
ing to stay with u.s." said Lii.
''I E,aoW why she's coming" said.
for fear should show my knowledge
first.
"Sa]ly will take her up new warm
milk aud an egg in it before she gets out
of bed in the morning." said Cissy
solemnly, that will soon make her
WELL"
"She shall have all the eggs Speckle
lays" said Lii, land Jenny will take
her every morning to the old garden
seat under the trees. She's sure to get
well there"
And so we did, for Cousin Kate came
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, fashionable
looking body, who was 80 different from
what we had expected, while mamma
went up to welcome her. and took her
in her arms in a tender, affectionate
way, saying, "My dear. child, we are so
glad to see you"
Cousin Kate threw her arms around
mammals neck and burst into a 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 blighted flower, having been
crossed in love affair with the house.
keeper at q neignboring farm, we girls
got to think of our cousins illness as q
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 pos
session of her, and led her around our
dear old country home, with its wilder
ness of an orchard, great garden shrub
berries, and pleasant meadow.
Her coming seemed to mark an epoch
in 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 unne-
cessary way, like, slaves. and always
ready to rush off most willingly mes
sengers to forestall any little wants she
expressed.
This came natural to us; but on my
part it was increased by a few words
which heard pass between papa and