The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1882-07-12
MISCELLANY.
MY COUSIN PATSEY.

Zone of you girls must go to herat once"
said my mother
"But, mamma, +" pleaded Oriana, " 1 can't
go, I'm in the midst of my post graduate
course at college,
"And l can't gol" breathiessly added
Louise, who had just engaged herself to
young Mr.. Leggett who kept the stationary
store on the corner, and was in fools Par
adise of bliss.
&c Girls, don't talk such nonsense /" said
my mother, briskly. " Here is your Cousin
Patsey Pounsett, sick out in Wisconsin, and
needing care and companionship Some
one must hasten theren
Let Flossy go, /" suggested 0riana.
YES" ehimed in Louise; "why not
Flossy ?"
But Flossy is such a child" said my
mother, in perturbed voice. "And-"
But here I dropped the cat out of my lap,
and rose, trying to look as tall as possible
81 am nearly eighteen" said I. "And,
oh, mamma, do let me go to poor rich old
Cousin Patsey, and perhaps she viii make
me her heiress."
Dear, dearv u said my mother, "what
can have put such mercenary ideas in my
child's head 2"
But isn't she very rich ?" questioned
She is very eccentric" said my mother
"Well, then of course she is rich," nod
ded. Eccentric old maids always are
An nh ha al, IL,
like to see what Wisconsin is like l sup
pose they have bears there, and giraffes, and
all such wild beasts"
And ran laughing away after the kitten,
which had frisked out among the daffodils
in the garden. Not, however, SO far but
that could hear my mother saying: What
a child she isl" And Oriana, answering,
with a laugh:
"Oh, let her gop If Cousin Patsey
should take fancy to her, it might be the
making of her fortune Who knows ?"
So they bought me a new dress, retrim-
med my plush hat with cherry satin ribbon,
and sent me of to Wisconsin, with DRAMAS
new travelling bag and mammals waterproof
cloak
had never travelled before by myself, but
quite enjoyed the novelty of the situation
l had my novel to read, my little basket of
fruit and sandwiches to fall back upon, and
all the fitting scenery to study from my car.
window--until getting off at Earlsdale to
buy some oranges which had taken my girl
ish fancy, mistook the car, and found my
self alone and bewildered, in the midst of
strange faces.
my bag - cried. "Oh, l left my bag
right here ON the seat, and now it is gone
And my cheque was in it, and my ticket.
Oh, dear oh, dearl What shall I do?"
And then tall pleasant-faced young man
came forward / had seen him once OF
twice before, passing through the train.
WAS it canvass-bag," said he, with o.
H.. ON it i? And was there book and shawl
lying beside it ~
And answered, breathlessly:
Yes"
'sIt is in the back carr said re "You
were sitting there think. Allow me to con-
duct you thither. The train is in molten
and it viii be difficult TO pass from one car
to another"
And thus, to my infinite relief, found
my treasure undisturbed, and, all-forgetful
of mammals many cautions, chatted and
laughed with my new acquaintance all the
way to Powder City,
condded to him that was going to a
rich cousin, who would probably adopt me
that never had been away from home
before that my name was Flora Harper
that my cousin was called Patsey Pounsett
that had twenty dollars in gold in my
pocket book, aud new, checked silk dress.
with fourteen little founces up the front.
And not until he had put me in a cab al
the Powder City Station, aud directed the
driver to go to Miss Patsey Pounsett, on the
Cedar Road, did realize how foolishly and
unnecessarily communicative had been.
"Oh, dsar!" thought to myself, 81
hope he's not burglar or house-breaker"
My Cousin Patsey did not live in cha
team or picturesque Swiss cottage, 1t was
a tunlble-down old farm house, with stag
nant pond in 'front.' and two dismal weeping
willows at the back.
She lay very Ill in dirty old parlor, with
a fire of damp logs sulking in the fireplace,
and general smell Of camphor about the
premises.
She was an ugly, yellow-faced old woman,
with hooked nose, and moustache on her
wrinkled upper lip.
"Ohi" said she. "You are Mary Harp
er's girl from Down East ?"
g Yes" said I, family, as looked around
at the unexpected floor and widowed walls.
What can do for you, Cousin Patsey?"
'You can take the bellows and blow up
the fire,n said the old crone. ''And you
can make me some oatmeal Cruel And to-
morrow you can go out and sell YARDS for
me.n
"Sell-" hesitated, uncertain whether
had heard Alright.
YARDS r screeched the old woman
Yala-arbs. Don't you hear nle2 Cat-nip,
and penny-rile, and tanagan, and life-ever-
lastin' and sich-the garrets full of 'sm.
That's the way makes my livin', seIlin'
YARDS. And was mortal feared I'd lose
all my custom with the pesky rheumatic.
But it's all right, now you've come"
So this was my Cousin Patsey This was
the life of rich refinement to which I had
fancied myself dedicated cried myself to