Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1888-11-16
Cousin Simon's Daughters.

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dinner, heard kerridge drive up IT,
the gate; an arter had put the buck
whoat cakes on tn the griddle. went
tn the winder an looked out an see
two rather tall an rather slim gals
comm inter the house an the depot
kerridge drivin' away from the gate,
The gals were dressed up awful fine,
an walked jest as though they was
stepping on eggs-they stepped so fine
and sort of mincin'. When they got
into the house they both grabbed me
tn wunce an kissed me. an then the
both began to talk together.
''Oh. Aunt Susan" they said. you
old darlin'! Why you look as young
as you did when we saw you last, years
agO-when We were little gals. Don't
you know us. you old darln'P We're
your Cousin Simon Browns daughters
Cora and Amelia. An we We come
to make you a visit. l don't believe
you knew us; we were only children
when we was here before. We've been
wantn' tn come an see you for ever so
long. but we couldn't git time before
now"
As soon as / could git nv breath l
told them they was welcome, but
was so busy couldn't talk with them
then; an then showed them up TO the
spare chamber. an carried them up a
pitcher of cold water for them IN wash
their faces an hands in.
''They re real nice gals. an I'm glad
they've come" | thought ms | went
back to my work.
They didn't come down when l blew
the dinner horn; an thought that. as
they had never lived on farm much
they lived in Hartford-they didn't
know what it WAS for, an went up
stairs tn call them. When ] got 10 the
spare chamber door l heard one of
them mention my name, an though |
would scorn to be an eavesdropper, |
couldn't for the life of me help stoppin
an listenin'.
''What coarse, ignorant woman
she is!' said Cora. 'and our respected
Eousin Joshua is as bad as she is.
I'm sure there's no one in the neigh
borhood fit for decent person TO
associate with. We might rs we'll be
in State Prison. I'd never have come
here if it hadn't been to keep up APP
pearances.
81 think il was real mean of pa to
pretend that he couldn't afford to send
us to Newport until the middle of
August" said Amelia. He could have
managed it somehow if he weren't so
stingy. / wonder what this carpet is
made of?
"Its a-rag carpet / wonder il
Joseph's coat had more colors! 1t
makes my eyes ache to look at itH'
las sure as I'm alive. this bed is
stuffed with feathersv exclaimed
Amelia oh, dear. never can sleep
on it!'
Have you noticed the pictures.
Amelia?"
Don't mention the horrid things!
look at them"
ut will kill us if we undertake to
stay here two months Hadn't we
of every body until pa lets us have the
money to 60 to Newport wth?"
An then l realized that | was caves
droppin' an knocked on the door.
Come said i. as calm as though
Uduu HcdIu CHI, ululcI 10 Ieduy.
When they came down they both
seemed awful tick!ed to see Joshua,
an went through about the same per-
Torrance with him that they had done
with me.
All the time they STAYED here they
praised everything about the place
when an Joshua was in hearin' an
they fattered US until they almost
made me sick; an If l hadn't over
heard that conversation up in their
room l should have thought they were
about the incest gals in the world.
SHAKESPEARE says, Where ignorance is
bliss tits folly 10 be wise;" an as
Joshua was awful tux up with them
gals never told him about it. As for
me, / was careful not tn listen tn any
more of their conversations, because.
as the old sayin' is. "A listener never
hears any good of himself" an l was
convinced that there was a lot of truth
in that old sayin.
Every once IN a while, when / an
Joshua was alone, he would say tn
me-
Susan. as we hain't got any chill
dren of our own l think them gals
will come in for the b ggest slice of
my property, when l make my will"
An / wouldn't say ay. yes. nor no.
When they went away. about the
middle OF August, they acted rs
though they was awful sorry tn leave
us-though could see. all the time.
that they was tickled almost IN death
because they was goin'-an' they told
/ an Joshua that we must be sure tn
come an see them. or they'd feel
awfully offended with u.s." Joshua was
awful sorry tn have them 60. an told
them that we would come an see
them. IL we got time; but didn't say
o word.
Susan" said Joshua. one day last
March. ''supposeen we go an see
Cousin Simon. We won't have bet
ter time than now. as have got about
through with the winters chopin an
my other work. an 1t hain't time to