The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1886-04-29
A COUNTRY COUSIN.

eyes, / remember her very vel"
said Miss Farmworth. "a black-eyld
romp, chasing the wild hOrses all over
the farm, and pitching hay up on the
NOV, exactly as if she were a boy.
Our third cousin, wasn't sheer
fourth, or some such far away kin?
But what Of her."
"What of her?" snarled old Colonel
Farmworth. "Why, just this. Her
folks are dead, and one of the oficious
Meadow Hill clergymen has written to
us, asking us to adopt her. Just as if
we hadn't enough to trouble us, with
three daughters on hand already, and
no earthly chance, that / can see, OF
their getting married" (this last en-
\ venomed phrase accompanied by a
gloomy contraction of the speakers
shaggy brows), without assuming the
charge of all creation into the bar
gain A dopt her, indeed Why,
what claim has she on as, I'd like to
know? The impudence Of some peo-
Pile"
owe couldn't possibly think of such
a thingW said Mrs Farmworth, an ell
derly lady, with good deal Of powder
sifted skillft1lly over her features, and
a lace cap patterned after the latest
French models. "Our income scarce
ly meets our expenses as things are at
present. do wonder at the assur-
ance Of these people out therew
The Farmwol'th family had always
kindly remembered their relationship
to Mrs. Vassall when the vertical sun
beams of July and August made city
life burden to them, and their purse
strings, straightened by the cesseless
attempt to keep up style far beyond
their means, refused to admit Of trip
to Newport, Saratoga or the White
Mountains.
Mrs. Vassall had welcomed them
with the sweet graciousness of thai
hospitality which comes from tht
heart. Lassie, the "black-eyed
romp," had shown Blanche, Vera ant
Edith hrmworth the hooks where
clearest springs bubbled out, and thc
dells where feathery sprays of maid
en-hair could be gathered by the hand
ful, and no pains were spared to MAKE
things plea SAINT for the city cousins
during their somewhat prolonged Wis
its.
But all I his conveniently efface(
itself from heir memory now.
Adopt Lilssie Vassell? Make them
selves respd )nsible for her board, an,
clothes, an d lodging? Good heavens
What on 0 arth were people thinking
of?
So Colo mel Farmworth wrote bacl
polite do 1aclination, fairly glitterin
with its if5y conventionalities
Lassie Vassall, sitting in her deep
black ro bes, heard the good clergy
manis wife read it twice over befor
she airly comprehended its meaning
Il DON'T they want me to go to them
she asked, lifting the heavy, blacl
frini red lids that were weighed dow
with tears.
"I,m afraid they don't DEAR" sai
the 9 lergymen's wife,
Laa sic drew a deep sigh.
"Tl zen l must try to find some wa
OF ear ming my own living" said sh
"You have all been so good to M
but it must come 20 an end sooner {
later. Dear Mrs. Hall, won't you 6
and sc e that lady who wanted a nu
sery & overness to travel with her Ii
tie chi ldren to Scotland? | alway
liked children, and they fortunatel
don't require many accomplishment
| drea d crossing the ocean a littl
but | must try to leave off being COY
ardly.'
So t he Farmworths heard nothir
furthe OF Lassie Vassall.
But the girl herself did not forg
all thi s,
"Tl ley might have been little kir
to ml j" she kept repeating to herse
"Thc y might have been little XIII
to M e~
Th Farmworths meanwhile bray
ly k, pt up, although against VIII
and t ide, the struggle for q satisfact
ry ma trimonial settlement for Blanct
Vera and Edith.
The y gave five-o'clock teas, purI
dime RS and pink lunches; they Sc
out ca rds for Soirees; went to all t
eharit y balls, kirmesses and chanC
parties J to which they could obtain
entree. They smiled, and simper,
and ds need, and prcmedaded wi
SPARTA endurance and still they
mainee the Misses Farmworth.