The new enterprise. (Madison, Fla.) 1901-1908, 1904-02-25


n D this year the same as be.
o MI o fore. About how many
AVA y years has Cousin Jim been
NoN coming here to stay the
summer"
Twenty, counting the last stop
which was from May until November;
really, that makes twenty and a 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. Sllas"
Same old thing, Mandy; same old
thing. Jim never changes his tune;
works ON my feelings and tells about
how he longs to visit the old hooks
and corners Of the farm once more.
Speaks in fetching sort Of way about
the old swimming hole down under the
willows; also grips me tighter than a
burr about the fishing place below the
mill dam, where he once yanked out a
four.pound pike with a 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 a bit
since he went to the city TO build up
n fortune. He's cut out for n bachelor
and will always go 1t alone to the end.
II he was married and was. going to
bring along n naughty wife and a 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; l can't say as he
throws his wealth around when he
does come"
"Only pays ordinary price for board,
that's all apd no more. l will say this
about Cousin Jim-he never finds any
fault with things; he never complains;
warm meals or cold, they're all the
same to Jim. He really seems to en-
Joy plain fare the best, and always tells
me not to fuss with fancy dishes, He
crawls up the narrow stairs to the
little chamber without 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
uLu fucA W Dltuots IuSl llhCS W AdhN
Off his coat and loaf around; hangs
on the fence as though he 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. Silas, your Cousin Jim has
never risen a 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"
81 don't like to write and tell him
that crops look poor, and that we are a
little pinched, and don't really care for
company this"
Don't you do It, Silas; don't you do
II. Why, that could 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 were boys
together. 1t is like a 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 iickled to see him again.
Tell him the apple trees are bumning
IN 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
] ever turned out since we got the new
cows. Mention a word about my
raised biscuits and say a 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 boyg'
.
It was the same old homecoming.
only Cousin Jim hunched over little
more in the buggy ms silas drove
from the station through the shady