Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | ||
A LESSON ON SYMPATHY.
“What a to-do they are making about this Cosset!”
said Mrs. Partington, smilingly. The news had reached
her ear of the triumphs of Kossuth, and the name had
assumed a form, and that form recalled a train of peculiar
and characteristic associations, and she went on
like an eight-day clock: “A cosset is a pretty thing in
a family where there 's children, and they are dear
critters for girls that has n't got sweethearts to invent
their young affectations on; but what 's the use of making
sich a fuss about it?”
“But this is Kos-suth, aunt, the great Hungarian,”
said Ike, tremendously, who was well posted up in passing
matters; “who has come over here to ask our sympathy,
and enlist us in behalf of his country.”
“Well,” said she, as the new light dawned upon
her, “they may have our sympathy in welcome, 'cause
it don't cost anything; but we must n't 'list and give
'em money, — that would be agin our constitutions!”
And the prudent dame drummed thoughtfully on her
snuff-box cover, with her eyes fixed upon the vane of
the Old South, while Ike amused himself by scratching
“KOSSuTH,” with a fork, on the end of the new
japanned waiter.
Life and sayings of Mrs. Partington and others
of the family | ||