The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1904-03-18
geltct @istellany.
Thu Bachelor Cousin.

MANDY, he's coming again this year
the same as before. About how many
years has Cousin Jim been coming
here to stay the summel?'
"Twenty, counting the last stop
which was from May until November;
really that makes twenty and half
times your cousin Jim has visited US.
He began early and stayed late the
last time, you know. What has Jim
Fosdyke got to say this time Silas?'
"Ssme old thing, Mandy; same old
thing. Jim never changes his tune;
works on my feelings and tells about
bow 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 underFthe
willows; also grips me tighter than a
burr about the fishing place below the
mill dam, where he once yanked out a
four-pond pike with minnow hook.
Jim's got the same old gift of drawing
folks to him that he always had. Poor
boy! He has not changed bit since
he went to the city to build up for
tune. He's cut out for bachelor
and will always 60 it alone to the end.
If he was married and was going to
bring along naughty wife and lot
of fresh aud 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 be
throws bis wealth around when he does
come"
"Only pays ordinary price for board {,
that's all and no more. l will say this
about Cou sin Jim-he never finds any
fault with things, he never complains;
warm meals or cold, they are 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 a murmur.
Some rich old bachelors who live most
of the year in hightoned hotels and fash
ionablc boarning 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 he was watching the
grass grow; loves to sit on the stcop
in the evening like any poor man lis
tening to the tree toads and frogs.
Silas, your Consin Jim has never ris-
en- peg above you if he has got bar
rels Of money. Poor jim, | saw he
was ailing when be was here the last
time. Perhaps that was the reason
why he came 50 early and stayed 80
late"
81 didn't like to write and tell him
that crops look poor, and that We are
a little punched, and don't really don't
care for company this
"Don't you do it., SiIas: don't you
do it. Why, that would be cruel and
wrong; an it would break the poor
old bachelors hear. You are the
only one he has got left Of the old
stock in these parts; the rest are all
gone to the city. S'las, Cousin jim
just pines tor sight Of your face, AMI
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 80 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 win
dow 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.