Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1904-03-03

Nh 6 FORE About how many
/ NJ + years has Cousin Jim been
xoS coming here to stay the
summer?'
Twenty, counting the last stop
which was from May until November;
really, that makes twenty and half
tin:s your Cousin Jim has visited us.
He began early and stayed late the last
time, you know. What has Jim Fos-
dyke got to say this time, Silas?''
Same old thing, Mandy: same old
thing Jim never changes his tune;
works on my feelings and tells about
how be longs to visit the old hooks
aud 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
burr about the fishing place below the
mill dam, where he once yanked out
fow-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 a bit
since he went to the city to build up
fortune. He's cut out for q bachelor
and will always 60 it alone to the end.
II he was married and was going to
bring along naughty wife and lot
of fresh and saucy children I'd think
dInerent about his coming here year
after year. The Door. lonesome old
boy fjinss to the place if he has got
barrels Of money: I can't say as he
throws his wealth around when he
does r0Da-''
Only pays ordinary price for board,
mats AL and DO more. I will say this
a'"ut Cousin Jim-he never finds any
lal'll with things; he never complains:
warm meals or cold, they're all the
same 10 Jim. He really seems to en-
JOY pi2l2 fare the best, and always tells
me hot 10 fuss with fancy dishes. He
travis up the narrow stairs to the
niue chamber without a mur1nur. Some
ElcA Old bachelors who live most of the
year IL high-toned hotels and fashion
'nR boarding houses would find lots
VI iault, He don't; he's common like
"lsl easy to please: just likes to take
VII llis coat and loaf around; hangs
vi 'he 1ence as though he was watch
''S 'iie grass grow: loves to sit on the
S''op III the evening like any poor
@'f listening to the tree toads and
''oss' Silas, your Cousin Jim has
"s'e' risen peg above you if he has
s'' barrels of money. Poor Jim. saw
' was alling when he was here the
l"o' ome. Perhaps that was the rea-
s'a why he came so early and stayed
so late.'
:. don't like to write and tell him
nla 'Hal crops look poor, and that we are a
n'ue a punched, and don't really care fol
'hpaiy this
T. 'ont you do it. Silas; don't you dc
m., "hy, that would be cruel and
o,a 5Ds' and it would break the poo1
ons On. '"chelor's heart. You are the only
~. ac has got left Of the old stock il
,ha se parts; the rest are all gone t,
fov s vS' silas, Cousin Jim just pines
nlaa We sight OF your face, and the oil
roat, hn"e Where you and he were, boy
ia om' 'nef. 1t is like a heaven with hin
Ola 81 = pack here with you and the dea
Non 'ahlliar things he loves so much
wo 70" you sit right down and tell hin
Ton 1ni y. oe dckled to see him again
IN "'in the apple trees are bumpin
cho aSalnst the window of the littl
p,.aa4f; n'oef; tell him that the grass i
h,sh AeF than ever, that the snowfall
vn,a liahss heavy. and that the rose
him 4, never SO sweet. You might tel
Iryan ~'"l my last churning was the bes
cou. "a 'afned out since we got the ne,
ra;xa, Mention word about M
hin, biscuits and say a little some
hons, ABOUT the bees and the mic
tha W. ~, 1t will come like breath frol
Jim ',u W. sweet home when poor Cousi
be- a. ,n' 'eads all that. He will hardl
e'e 10 wait, poor boyr'
/,
onlr was the same old Homecoming
moro cousin Jim hunched over a lit
from ~. IN the buggy as silas dro,
'ne station through the shat