Los Angeles herald., 1906-05-20


Ssesey and is now living with his son,
whom we shall call Cousin Sam, IN
q pleasant home away down South.
He is very fond of children, and all ms
little nieces, nephews and grandchildren oe-
light in his company, for he is tuli OF lnteL 81
esting "reminiscences, having been closS Ep-
server and diigent student OF nature all MS
life.
In the afternoon of one hot day last sum
mer, carriage stood in waiting at the ran
way station nearest to Cousin Sans. Ii was
Cousin Sans carriage and had been sent 10
meet certain visitors whom Uncle Wllhan
was expecting
When the train arrived, John, the black
coachman, drove the carriage a little nearer
that he might scan the faces OF passengers as
they got off,
He thought he should know the expected
visitors, although he had never seen them;
He knew the party consisted of middle-aged
lady, two little girls and a boy, OF ten, and
his white eyes were stretched wide to see per
sons answering these descriptions But,
though he observed several little girls ana
numerous boys and middie-aged laales ee' on
While he was considering whether ne
should 90 home and tell Cousin Sam that
"dem folks what you sont me after, san, dey
didn't come, sah," the, carriage was ap
preached from the rear by girl and boy,
who both asked in the same breath if that
was their cousin s carriage: -.
With the characteristic impatience. OF
youth, Willie and Annie had left their Aunt
Lucille and Sister Katie at the car door, and
running out among the carriages, had pro
pounded the same question to every driver
until they found John.
BLESS de hw!" exclaimed John. II was
lookin' verwhars for you but de right way
Here's the carriage, Aunt LucilleH ex-
And Annie echoed the cry.
Aunt Lucille was standing on the platform
and holding Katie by the hand. Valises and
shawlstraps were piled around her, and these
the children eagerly seized and carried to
John.
Pretty soon the whole party had got into
the carriage, and John headed the horses
homeward
That was a pleasant ride of five miles in
the open carriage, although the weather was
warm and dry, for the road was shaded by
forests of pines, and our friends experienced
a sense of relief in escaping from the smoke
and cinders of the locomotive
Even Willie, who had boil on his nose
that perceptibly altered the shape and color
of that feature, was full of merriment, and
if / were going to look for a happy boy, l
should never choose one with boil on his
nose. That boil had detracted great deal
from Wille's enjoyment Of the trip. 1t at
tracted undesirable attention from strangers
on the cars, and it made Annie and Katie
laugh every time they saw it. Prim old Aunt
Lucille scolded; but that only made the little
girls laugh the more. -
Riding in the carriage, Willie quite forgot
bis affiction, and the little girls were SO
taken up with the sights by the way that it
never entered their heads to tease him.
After while the carriage entered lane,
hanked on one side by pretty hedge, which
terminated at large gate. AS our travellers
approached, the great gate swung wide open,
and Cousin Sans two little daughters, ac-
companied by their nurse, came out to give
Annie and Katie hearty welcome
Taking in the little girls, the carriage en-
tered the gate and was driven up a hand
some avenue of tall LIE Coute pear trees to
q smaller gate in front of the house.
Before our friends had reached the little
gate however, a numerous party emerged
from the house and ran to meet them.
Uncle William and Aunt Mary, devoted
companions for sixty years, were sitting on
strength would not allow them to take active
part. said ''looking;" but that is not true
as to Aunt Mary; for, alas! her physical
sight was gone forever.
The fatigues of travel brought sound sleer
to our friends that night, and they arose
full OF life and animation next morning. An
ME and Katie were soon engaged in a romI
with Cousin Sans children QUITO of-doors
AS for Willie, he was advised to stay in
the house on account of his boil, and he tool
the advice without reluctance, for he fell
sure of Uncle Williams ability to entertain
him, and the very sound of Aunt Mary'l
voice went straight to his heart, it was &c
like that of his dead mother