Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1896-07-07
MY COUSIN AMY. !"

Here is story that Mr.. Van Rensse-
laer Crossgrain told to a few of his
cronies at the club the other evening
after the final brandy and soda. They
never before suspected him of any senti-
mental weakness, but now they have
their doubts about it. He did soften in
the telling of it, even if when he had
finished he resumed his natural manner
and swore at the waiter for showing a
natural desire to clean up for the even
ing and go, perhaps, to his sweetheart
Here's his story:
81 have known my cousin Amy since
the days when she was and l was 10,
and that was many years ago. Still
never during all that time suspected the
truth, and never knew it till it was
too late. Then I learned what might
have been, and as thought the simple
story over, it occurred to me it might
in its moral prove useful to other young
sters as blind as L was and have been.
Fortune never knocks twice at mans
door, Few of us know our caller when
she visits us and are generally disposed
to ignore her summons, taking her for
a creditor or q bore. The only way is to
learn e6DSI1GACC III OuI C1LICIs-
young folks think that old folks are
fools, old folks know that young folks
are Thus goes the old proverb the san
ity of which never impresses one till he
has crossed so. But let me tell you the
story of my cousin Amy.
''To begin with, she was the sweetest
girl that ever was or will be. And she
is so now. But that is only the compile
ment of this story. Well, Amy was, is
and will be the sweetest girl in tho
world. Still L never loved her-except
as cousin and as sweet girl, the
sweetest ever have seen or shall see.
From now on don't know, 1 can't
tell-but you are not interested in my
future or Amy's, so let's get back to the
story. Well, then, have known my
cousin Amy since she was 3 years old.
Even then she had an infinite sweetness
about her which was not overshadowed
even by the fullness of life and spirits
which was her second best charm.
Gwen at the age when young maids
of do not live long in the thoughts of
youths 1 was fond of Amy. She was
companionable even then, and though
at times noisy and persistent, she in
fused her grace even into those dis
agreeable qualities and made them half
lovable. This was Amy at the age of 8.
Well you know how youth changes
after II. How he becomes then ono
thing or the other. Good or bad, studi
GUS or careless, serious or trifling. Dur
ing the next ten years / saw Amy only
now and then. She was changing and
developing also, but paid little atten-
tion to her growth. L was chasing after
the false gods whose worship is so at
tractive to the young man. Amy was
only q child to me at my advanced
years, and while family connections
kept me in frequent contact with her,
thought of my old young friend only
as a rather awkward, shy girl of 10,
while I was rejoicing in the full man
hood and unlimited experience and wis
dom of 25.
stWhen I saw her in those days 1
paid little attention to her. There was
still the old sweetness there, the power
of loving, the simple but strong attrac-
tiveness, but was busy with my false
gods and tinsel goddesses. You men of
so, You know where you worshiped
then, and you know how devout you
were in your worship and how the fall
lacy and hollowness of your creed never
strike you till you have had five or ten
years of it, and how then you learn your
god is stuffed with the dirtiest kind of
sawdust and the worship stinks i'll your
nostrils. Well, passed through that
stage. went the rounds and rejoiced
in the designation of a rounder. No
hog wallowed in his filth more luxuri-
ously than I, and it took me ten long
years to learn that there was not and
never can be anything in dissipation,
that alcoholically stimulated spirits and
the purchased affections of women are
the bitterest mockeries ON Gods earth
They are hell's best counterfeits, but
rank counterfeits they are, and only the
so called keen eyes of youth are de-
ceived by them
''All this has a bearing on my story
of Amy, because, thank God, after
while my eyes were opened and saw
the folly of my life. And, as when d
man has thrown the bloom and flower
of his youth in the cutters of dissipation
he takes the faded remnants back to the
highway, so 1, seeing had been giving
much for nothing, bethought myself that
perhaps the ways Of decent people were
wiser and I sought to tread them So
ciety does not condemn the male sinner.
His social position is thrown like cloak
over his life and virtuous mothers who
know from worldly husbands the story
of his escapades are glad to show him
their jewels in the way Of marriageable
daughtersHthat is, if he may be eligible
"Well, was rich and eligible. cas-
lily worked my way back into the society
I had quit for what is styled Bohemia.
saw young women far more sweet and
attractive than those who shine at pub
lie balls, late suppers and fancy resorts.
And among them shone conspicuous my
cousin Amy. had never entirely given
ND her society, but of late years had
seen less and less OF her. 1t seemed to
me her manner had changed She was
now a woman of the world, with her
three crowded seasons behind her. New
York, Newport, London and the Riviera
had been her stamping grounds, and