The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1886-07-31
Don't.

& OF all IHe edTtH. -UeOTge MUcDOHUtu.
Don't.
A City Cousin in Presbyterian Observer.
Much sarcasm has been expended on
the visits of 'city cousins to the coun.
try; enough to make one hesitate
about accepting bona fde invitation
if person is insincere enough to give
an equivocal one, they should be pun
ished by having it accepted-but not
enough to deter that class of visitors to
escape whom have known families to
resort to the alternative of taking sum-
mer boarders when they would prefer
taking their ease; or entertaining friends
of their own choosing. That class,
who, happened to remember they had
been at school with you dozen years
ago; or in reply to a politely-expressed
wish, ecall and see us if you come out
our way next summer or because they
had heard your father preach long
time ago; or their husbands brother
had married your aunt's cousins daugh-
ter, sail in on you with Saratoga trunk,
a couple of children and enough work
to last all summer. To such, one should
summon up enough courage to say it
was not convenient to entertain them.
The 'angel unawares' does not come in
that style. Friendship between two
persons implies desire on the part of
each to render to the other the greatest
amount of happiness and pleasure, ire
spective of their own personal conve-
nience; and what greater pleasure can
country friend give city one than an
invitation to spend a few weeks in the
summer away from the heat and dust
and noise of the city, even if she would
have more leisure to enjoy the visit in
the winter, when visitors are few? [
once heard lady say: 4 never hesi-
tate 10 accept all Invitation " pay a
visit. l try to make myself agreeable
enough to compensate for what little
trouble l give, and useful enough to
compensate for what little | eat If
you can make those words your own,
and have received an invitation to visit
your friend in the country-don't hesi-
tate to accept it. If the time has not
been specified, don't consult your own
convenience and send her postal card
asking her to meet you at the station on
a certain day, and drop in on her in
the middle of harvest, or when she has
no help. Write and ask her when it
will suit her convenience to have you,
and 20 at the appointed time; don't
have her send to the train time after
time, to be disappointed. Take to your
friend the last new book, or some little
article of personal or household adorn-
ment. Don't think because her house
is plainly furnished, she does not care
for such things; it takes time and
money, as we'll as taste, for the Fart
work of the present day. She will ap-
preciate that piece of fancy work, on
| which you have spent so much time, far
more than the city friend whose parlor
is so filled with fancy work and brio
a-brac, that a stranger on entering IS
liable to think he has made a mistake,
and got into charity bazar or chuich
| fair. Don't lie abed late in the morn
ing, and 60 down expecting to find a
fresh cup of coffee and warm breakfast
awaiting you; get up early, and breathe
the life-giving air, and feast eye and
ear with sights and sounds no denizen
of the city enjoys at home. If you re
quire more sleep, find out an hour when
vour hostess is occupied with some
household duty in which you cannot
participate, and take your nap then;
with little quiet observation you will
find out the habits of the household,
and you should conform yourself as
much as possible to them. Don't be
obtrusive in your offers of service, but
you can find many little ways of making
yourself useful. You can she'll the peas
for dinner, pare the apples for pies, set
the table, put stitch in baby's dress,
or take him for romp under the shade,
so that the tired mother may have time
for chat on the porch, or an evening
stroll. Don't put your fripperies and
fneries in the family wash, unless par
ticularly urged by the hostess to do so.
If you do, render Bridget some little
service in return. Show her how to
trim her hat or drape her overskirt in
city style, and on leaving don't forget
to thank her for her kindness, and make
her a present. Don't expect the men
to stop work to take you for drive, or
go to the post-ofice. Don't complain
of the heat or the flies; don't expect
the milk to be all cream, or wish it were
frozen, or expatiate on the superiority
of city markets. When the allotted
time for your visit expires, don't stay
any longer unless you have made your
self so agreeable you are earnestly So
licited to do so. Your hostess may
want your room for another guest, OF
she herself may want to pay visit. On
leaving, thank your friend for her kind
ness; express the pleasure your visit has
given you, and ask her to return it in
the winter, when the Libraries and art
galleries are open; when the big preach
ers are all at home, and the fine churche:
open; when there are concerts and lee
lures, and all other city entertainments
and when you get home, Don't yo'
forget it,
~'Ah,' said the minister consoling
ly to young husband, who had just en-
tered his first matrimonial investment
| e.. int