Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1895-05-23
MY COUSIN MARY.

D0yh00d up, 10 De failure III I'll "sys'
| was not 30 handsome as could have
been expected In the son Of my beauti-
full mother and the young father who
died before was born, and who was
also beautiful, | was told. was not
brilliant, though both sides Of the
house showed men and women Ct ex-
cellent ability. and, worst Of all, | was
not good, though this puzzled me not q
little as child, for my intentions were
Of magnificent order, and the result
ant behavior not nearly so rcprehensi'
bic as that OF. many boys knew, less
punished.
Tut, in some way, the things meant
to do failed Of accomplishment or were
found, when accomplished, to have
most unhappy consequences; and the
things did under pressure OF dlsci'
pline were seldom satisfactory.
Years Of reproof and often overheard
complaint Us TO my trying disposition
finally convinced me OF my unworthi-
ness, and in time grew to look at my
life as failure, merely an opportunity
for as much self-indulgenec as could %
procured without too great expense.
Being OF lazy and luxurious dispo-
sition, early fell into the haoit OF oe'
irving an inexhaustiole iuna OF peas
ure from mere Imagination OF wna'
things might be; to console mySeil ior
Intellectual struggle to make them such'
As a little boy was sent to pea WIN
military precision by my iniiexlolc
MOTHER usually Win " 'eisc VI iaiiu'0
and ill-doing in the day behind me-
and used to lie mute and st'll IN my
little chamber and make up 10 myscli
in royal bursts OF Imagination Tor the
disappointmenss OF the real life HOW
often, so lain, and thought to he sound
asleep. | have, In spirit, not only es-
tablished my prcemlnent virtues by q
series OF noble nets easy to lmnglne'
so difficult to perform IN th' Eray irN'
somcacss OF everyday life--Dl' besides
this have glutted my infant '""ll WIN
the sweet vengeance OF lil'"n'''''n'sF,
arranging unparalleled dahatiq'is ana
privileges to be eonferrs.l w me- me
the lanicntable and unwart'iy sou upon
my grateful family and lr'eadF' ono
sweetest joy OF these iair dr''''aN was
that,when should pea man. my COUSIN
Mary who dlslihed me ,or 1ne u'sasree.
able boy was should love anu marry
me.
1t was q sore problem wl'n inc N
those days to decide whe'hcr ! s,ou'a
indeed receive the open gratitude OF
my benetclaries' reveliing Rioe'ously
therein; or whether pronacs' De's"'o,
power concealed | snou'a "cs'o" III
benefits In secret ana ye' r''''''l' coi'
demhed ana cri.ic'sco " WV w., u." !, :,
ting recipients oi my oo as ~, ',,,.a n.y.
COUSIN mary M 'n.' '', "'e" ana . ,,an
loved me ior myseii ulone' an,' ."en
al'er"ar"""' ''' ''
upon her' -, ,
ms haolt OF ineerna,'v a"''''y 'nh
myself OF paying PACK .,. III 'i.ai,p'"n .s
magnanim''y ior I'LL ',c s'nnss a .,.'
arrows OF outrageous ,or. .'n ' uvus' as
ued WIN Tue ~ grew, Dnu ie n"aa,,,.
my best consola'lon ai'er nau , ., 'a,,p'
On unasplring reporter ohnsrea' ne"e
paper Ana sun III my sanitary en Inn,
Der downtown when was NOV , ~ '.seu
as 70 steep pefipsce o,, ~ " onmsola ' nrsslt
ma'neu 70 mt, .,a wo .;"a o " tho S.r md
lor all .he 'nor.,Aoas,v" ,nn ,,nH,nn v
Oh I'll VIC osne. u"s 'ho ~ nna,od n,sinr.
memory ny proua y, u mnaar r,rsn oord,.
OF What Wouiu w 'n"o' s'e" o'As'