Year: 1877

We three-Lil, Cissy and had long dis
cussion about Cousin Kate, who was coming on
a visit to us from the city; and we all felt what
dreadful little ragmuffins we should seem to
her, for I'm afraid we had been running wild !;
though papa only used to laugh about it, and
would come into the school room when mamma
was busy with US over our lessons, whenever it
was fine morning. and cry "Now, then,
girls, the sun shines and the birds are calling.
Out with you Learn lessons when it rains. "
1 knew afterward why this was. Papa had a
horrible nervous dread of our growing up weak
and sickly, for his was delicate family and
had heard that our cousins were often very i'll.


"I can guess. why Cousin Kate is coming to
stay with us, said Lii.


II know why she's coming" said.


"It's because she's ill, shouted Lii, for fear
should show my knowledge first.


"Sally will take her up new warm milk and
an egg in it before she gets out of bed in the
morning" said Cissy, solemnly, "that will soon
make her WE'LL"


"She shall have all the eggs Speckle lays"
said Lii, "and Jenny will take her every morn
ing to the old garden seat under the trees.
She's sure to get well there"


And so we did, for Cousin Kate came that
afternoon.-a tall, pale girl, with sad, weary
look in her face, as she gazed wistfully from
one to the other.


We three young girls stood back quite in
awe of the well dressed, fashionable looking
body, who was so different from what we had
expected, while mamma went up to welcome
her, and took her in her arms in a tender af-
fectio nate way, saying "My dear child we
are & lad to welcome you"


Cousin Kate threw her arms around mamma 8
neck and burst into fit of sobbing, hiding her
face out of sight. We did not see any more of
Cousin Kate that day but our young interest
was deeply excited, and somehow, perhaps
fostered by dark hints dropped by Sally, who
was a bhghted flower, having been crossed
in a love affair with the horsekeeper at q
neighboring farm, we girls got to think of our
cousins illness as a kind of mystery connected
in some way, how we did not know, with the
heart


Our awe of the sweet gentle cousin fell off
the very next day, when we took possession of
her, and led her around our dear old country
home, with its wilderness of an orchard, great
garden strawberries, and pleasant meadow.


Her coming seemed to mark an epoch in our
young lives, for, seeing how weak and delicate
she was, we used to vie one with the other in
being quiet and gentle, waited upon her in the
most unnecessary way, like slaves, and always
ready to rush off most willing messengers to
forestall any little want she expressed


This came natural to us but on my part ii
was increased by few words which / heard
pass between papa and mamma, mamma say
ing that she did not think poor Kate would
ever grow strong again, but slowly wither away.
gave great gulp as I heard those words, and
then burst out sobbing violently.


6 You here, Jennyl" said mamma. " Well
my dear, as you have heard what we said, il
must be your secret too. Never let your poor
cousin know what we think, and never behave
to her as if you thought she could not recover.


promised readily, and at fourteen the pos
session of that secret seemed to make me more
womanly than my sisters, as l redoubled my
tenderness to the suffering girl.


The invalid was nineteen--a great age il
our estimation-and used to look up to hel
with veneration, gazing at her soft sweet face
and wistful eyes, wondering why she was SO ill
and what was the great sorrow that had come
upon her like blight upon one of the rose
round our porch


Cousin Kate came to us in the spring, ant
the months flew by till it was the height O.
summer and many and many q night had
turned my face to the wall, so that Lii shoult
not know, and cried silently till my pillow wa
wet. For I knew 80 well that Kate as eaker
much weaker than when she came, a wall
across the lawn to the old garden seat in TIN
shade being as much now as she could bear


"Cousn Kate, +" said, one day when we wer
alone, Lii and Cssy having rushed off to ge
some flowers, couldn't any doctor make yo
well?"


She looked at me with wild strange gaz
which almost startled me, before she replied
and then in way that made my heart beat sh
sobbed out


"Only one-only one !" and then as if toher
self, in low whisper, she added: " and befor
he can come shall be dead-dead !"


She did notknow / heard her last words, an
sat chilled and frightened, gazing at her til
my sisters came back, when, as we frequent