Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1911-01-21

Little Cousin
Mntjna
"Now, Annette, know you will be
happy when tell you that your little
cousin Matina is coming to spend the
remainder of the winter at our house
You have always wished for sister or
a brother, and in way, your wish Is
coming true. Matina will be just like
a little sister to you."
Annette was dressing for school
when her mother gave her this bit OF
information. Mrs. Sparks had just re.
ceived a letter from her sister, Mrs.
Grey, saying that she was sending her
little girl, Matte (they always called
Matina Matte for SHORTY to spend 4
couple of months with her. "The little
dear looks pale, and think the fresh
air of country town will do her a
world Of good. l want her to run and
romp out of doors with Annette, and
get strong and rosy. In the city she
is housed up too much. So am CIV
ing her to you, sister dear, to keep
for me till the spring comes.
So had Mrs. Grey written to Mrs.
Sparks, and Mrs. Sparks was breaking
the good news to Annette as the lat
ter was preparing for school
But, to Mrs. Sparks surprise, An
nette did not evince any great joy over
the news OF her little cousins coming.
Later she said: II hope, mamma, that
Matina won't take all my friends away
from me. You know, city girl Is SO
beautiful and so smart that all the
girls like them awfully. And Katherine
Grant just loves to have city chum.
You know she got acquainted last sum-
mer with Rachel Mannering, and to
this day she is talking about Rachel.
She hardly came to see me while the
Mannerings were here. i do hope
cousin Matina wont steal away my
friends"
sWhy, my dear child" said Mrs.
Sparks in an aggrieved tone. Il never
could have believed that that horrid.
green-eyed monster could find lodg-
ment in my little Annette's heart for
q single moment. You should be most
happy to have all your friends love
Matina, your dear little cousin. And l
thought you would Jump UP and down
with Joy over Matina's coming. It's
been three years since you last saw
her. How she must have grown. She's
just six months younger than you"
Annette looked bit ashamed at
what she had said, and after kissing
her mother goodbye, she ran to school.
All the way there she kept saying to
herself: Gwen II the girls do prefer
Matina to me, shall be glad. She is
my dear little cousin, and must love
her like a sister. Butt do hope I
shan't look ugly or be stupid beside
her. She has lived in city all her
life, and in a country town."
The following week Matina arrived.
Mrs. Sparks and Annette went to the
railroad station to meet her. As the
distance from the city to the town Gov.
cred only one days journey, Matina
made the trip alone, her mother having
intrusted her to the conductors care.
When Matina stepped upon the plat
form Annette's heart gave throb of
pity. If there had been the shadow
Of jealousy lurking there 1t disappear
ed as soon as her eyes fell on the face
of her city cousin. Matina was
most delicate little maid, her face wan
and cherries. Her mother had had
good reason for sending her to a
country town, for she was frail bios.
som that would wither and die in the
dollhouse city.
After Mrs. Sparks and Annette had
kissed the little visitor, and the three
were seated in the town bus, going to-
wards the Sparks home, Matina
looked with admiring eyes on An
nette. .Oh. how big and tall you are,
Cousin Annette" she cried. "And
your cheeks are ever so red-as red as
the beautiful actresses cheeks. Only
yours are natural and look 80, while
the actresses paint their faces and
they look painted. l hope my cheeks
will get like yours, cousin Annette"
ooh, they will, dear" said Mrs.
Sparks when you return to your
daddy and nanny in the spring
they'll hardly know their little girl.
Instead of a dear little lily they'll
have a pretty pink rose."
Matthias pale face flushed with the
pleasure that her good aunt's promise
gave her. And Annette was pleased.
too. for she wished from the bottom
of her heart that Matina might be-
come strong and rosy checked like
herself.
Annette took Matina to school the
following day, but to her surprise her
little cousin did not become great
favorite with the girls. In the first
place, Matina made no pretense to-
ward style She was as plain as a
tiny Quakeress. Her face was serious,
and she paid close attention to her les
sons and would not whisper when
teachers back was turned, as many OF
the girls did.
At recess, the weather being cold.
Matina knew she must not remain out
in the snow many minutes together.
and kept running away from the game
of SNOWFALL to warm her hands and
feet over the register In the school
house hall.
And SO the week went by, Matina