Year: 1860

reached my destination, / thought only of find
ing a bed to tumble into, and could not help
congratulating myself upon the possession of an
airy farmhouse chamber, much better suited
| to my comfort then, than small one in the
crowded hotels at Newport. After q cup of
strong tea, concluded to try my quarters and
see if nap would not revive me sufficiently to
have good chat with Tom in the evening g.
Four of bis hopefuls" were present at the
tea-table, the eldest, May, l was told was
gone berrying" "Ah," thought, as threw
myself on the bed, May must be an active
obliging girl. / hope she will select good,
plump berries. How much better to know
whose hands they have been through. The
clean, stout fingers of country cousin are just
the thing.


awoke about eight o'clock, with my head
ache quite gone and after hasty toilet went
below. l was about to open the Goor of the
room in which we took tea, when the maid-of
all-work who was passing through the hail.
stopped me and said:


Mr. and Mrs. Warren are in this room,"
opening an opposite door. Miss May is in
the dining room with gentleman"


$50 the beau is on hand" 1 said in an un-
dertone well, suppose be met her in the





now paying himself for it by a chat with his
sweetheart. Well, | won't interrupt proceed
ings, even to get an introduction to the
danSel"


So spent the evening with the old folks,
and so pleasantly did it pass with Toms lively
talk and our cigars, that the clock struck
eleven before we thought it hardly ten and
Tom hurried off to bed, with wonder how he
should feel for haying on the morrow. Sarah
provided me with good candle, and follow
| ed his example. As passed the dining room
door, O low murmur informed me that the
lovers were oil busy with each other and with
yawn. l wondered how be would feel for hay.
ing.


The next morning | was up early, and as it
was yet some little time before breakfast, / &C.
companied Tom on a ramble over his farm and
listened with really wonderful interest to the
many remarks he made about what be had
already done, and his plans for future improve
ment | returned to the house with sharp
ened apptite, aud was just entering the long
hall when voice said


GOOD morning cousin John. Aren't you
going to speak to me a.? am your Cousin, May
Warren"


Turning, saw girl who looked as if about
sweet sixteen, sitting on low seat under the
shade of a noble elm which stood near the
house. | returned her greeting, appropriated
to myself part of the seat, aud took a good
view OF my young relative. She was dressed
in light calico, with long apron, but they
could not conceal the petite form. Quite
little body, | thought, and lifted my eyes to
her face. Nothing very handsome there but
the bright eyes, roguish smile aud soft folds Of
shining hair, might look very pretty ifthey be-
longed TO a person in society. Her cheeks
were blooming, but then they were not of that
peony style which | expected to see. In q
word, | thought Mays appearance quite ac-
ceptable, and concluded that after | had fully
impressed her with a sense of my dignity and
Importance, | would steal an hour or two from
my fishing hunting aud sleeping, and draw
her out" 10 fact expected to have quite
spicy Irritation with the lady, (she looked as if
she had the Rtafter,) perhaps awaken her lovers
jealousy, then could very easy settle affairs,
pretend had only been playing the part of an
affectionate and attentive cousin, and 10 the
end present her with some handsome bridal
presentS-that is, if she were tractable, but it
was foolish to think otherwise. OF course she
could not resist nv faScinations.





over the berries, and receiving laughing
permission, my fingers were soon busy, though
often took very small haHdfulls, so that |
might often help myself. but it always hap
pened that mine were finished about the time
hers were, so our fingers often met in the friend
ly basket. Her slender digitS flew faster
than mine, much faster in fact than liked, so
that the basket was soon emptied. and we had
to adjourn to the house. Didn't do justice
to the berries that meal


After the eatables were disposed of, be-
took myself with my gun to the woods, leaving
May to superintend the pots aud kettles. |
thought it must be warm work, but then she
was used to it, aud of course wouldn't mind,
SO went to work also aud shot the partridgcS
with as sure an aim as thought should as
sail Mays heart returned laden with spoil,
which, she charmingly promised, should be
cooked with her own hands.


That afternoon Tom handed me a note. 1t
was from friend of mine lately married, who
it seems owned O country seat in the vicinity,
and it was now filed with visitors, many of
whom | knew. He had heard, that | was
visiting there, and accordingly sent me an in
vtation to party which they we're to give
that evening. This was just the thing my
most fashionable suit could once more see the
light and could vary the monotony Of q visit
to the country relatives by calls upon the fair
ones there congregated.


What pity" thought, as dressed my
self that evening, :" that May is not little
used to society. But suppose even were she
so lucky as to be invited there on my account,
she would commit some outrageous breach of
good manners, and cover me with modification.
No, it is best as it is she makes nice little
grl to laugh and talk with at home, and Isup-
Il. hopf fharo Il Wnn0nF