Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-01-30

Twenty. counting the last stop
which was from May until November;
really, that makes twenty and n half
times your Cousin Jim has visited us.
He began early and stayed late the last
time, You know. What has Jim Eos.
dyke got to say this time, SlIas!
"Same old thing, Mandy; same old
thing, jim never changes his tune;
works OIL my feelings and tells about
how he longs to visit the old hooks
and corners of the farm once more.
the old swimming hole down under the
willows; also grips me tighter than n
burr about the fishing place below the
mill dam, where he once yanked out a
four.pOund pike with minnow hook.
Jim's got the same old gift of drawing
folks to him that he always had. Poor
old boy! He has not changed bit
since lie went to the city to build up
fortune. He's cut out for bachelor
and will always go 1t alone to the end.
II he ewas married and was going to
bring along naughty wife and lot
of fresh and saucy children I'd think
different about his coming here year
after year. The poor, lonesome old
boy clings to the place If he has got
barrels of money; can't say as he
throws his wealth around when he
does come"
"Only pays ordinary price for board
that's all and no more. | Will Say this
oh hn fnIg
IauIL with :ngs; he never compla
warm meals or cold, they're all the
same to Jim. He really seems to en-.
joy plain fare the hest. and always tells
me not to fuss with fancy dishes. He
crawls no the narrow stairs to the
little chanSSer without a murmur. Some
rich old bachelors who live most Of the
year in heightened hotels and fashion
able boarding houses would find lots
of fault. He don't; he's common like
and easy to please; Just likes to take
off his coat and loaf around; hangs
on the fence as though lie was watch
ing the grass grow; loves to sit on the
stoop in the evening like any poor
man listening to the tree toads and
frogs. Slas, your Cousin Jim has
naver risen peg above you If he has
got barrels of money. Poor jim, saw
he was ailing when he was here the
last time. Perhaps that was the rea-
son why he came so early and stayed
so late"
that crops look poor, and that we are a
little pinched. and don't really care for
company this"
Don't you do 1t, Silas; don't you do
1t. Why. that would be cruel and
wrong; and it would break the poor
old bachelors heart. You are the only
one he has got left Of the old stock in
these parts: the rest are all gone to
the city. Silas, Cousin Jim just pines
for the sight of your face, and the old
place where you and he We're boys
together. 1t is like heaven with him
to get back here with you and the dear
old familiar things he loves so much.
Now you sit right down and tell him
we will be tickled to see him again.
Tell him the apple trees are humping
up against the window of the little
chamber; tell him that the grass is
greener than ever. that the SNOWFALL
bush hangs heavy, and that the roses
were never so sweet. You might tell
him that my last churning was the best
I ever turned out since we got the new
cows Mention word about my
raised biscuits and say little some
thing about the bees and the nice
honey. 1t will come like breath from
the old sweet home when poor Cousin
Jim reads all that. He will hardly
be able to wait, poor boy"
It was the same old homecoming,
only Cousin Jim hunched over little
more in the buggy as Silas drove
from the station through the shady
lanes Of naples leading to the little
farmhouse ensconced among the apple
trees at the further end.
During the short drive he said but
little, and when Silas asked him
question he .lesitated, faltered and
rubbed his chin before replying. When
Old Gray turned down the lane where
the robins were singing and the SPUR
rels chippering, trace of the old light
came back to the old bachelors eyes
and the faded, sunken cheeks glowed a
little.
ISL" he murmured. laying his thin
hand upon .the others knee, ''let me
drive Old Gray home through the
lane" f...
The lines hung llstlessly from his
hands as the old mare slowly walked
along the familiar place toward the
house, where Mandy stood in the door
way with a glad smile of welcome
overspreading her kindly face. Then,
when the horse halted at the block, lie
said, handing over the lines:
81 think l have been driving right
into Heaven, ST."
"Why. Cousin Jim, I am so glad to
see you again. 1t seems so like old
times to see you and Silas driving
home through the lane" And the
good woman came forward, with both
hands outstrctched. Her eyes grew
moist when she saw how feeble the
old bachelor cousin was. She and
Silas had to almost lift him from the
buggy, and her strong arms supported
the frail form as he walked with
dragging steps up the gravel walk and
into the COOL aower.scented parlor. His
eyes roved about the quiet place and
he sighed:
Heaven. Heaven at last"'
you lie right down on the couch.
Cousin Jim. and take q nap while l
at supper I'll call sou In time to