Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Masonic Magazine
  • Jan. 1, 1881
  • Page 20
  • COUSIN ANN.
Current:

The Masonic Magazine, Jan. 1, 1881: Page 20

  • Back to The Masonic Magazine, Jan. 1, 1881
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article COUSIN ANN. ← Page 2 of 3 →
Page 20

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Cousin Ann.

Is it then to be wondered if I , an excitable collegian just settling in life , should , during the party at my good old uncle and aunt ' s , have indulged in sundry pleasant , if ecstatic , visions , in which Ann formed the principal figure , ancl to which she lent the perfect colouring ? It would have been very strange had it been othenvise , and so thought Captain Dering aud Major Carew , both friends of mine and friends of the family , ancl grave admirers of my fair cousin .

I do not dwell on those two excellent friends and rivals of mine , because they were , like myself , destined to be eclipsed and forgotten when the " conquering hero " really appeared ; though , personally , I then had no fear of them , or , in fact , of anyone else . She smiled on many just for fun , I knew that there Avas nothing in it j

J . was the first , the only one Her heart had thought of for a minute . I knew it , for she told me so In phrase ivhich was divinely moulded . She Avrote a charming hand—and oh ! How sweetly all her notes were folded .

To say the truth , that family gathering had brought us nearer ancl closer than we had ever been in our life . We had been always great friends , firm allies , fast mates , as years had gone on , ancl as she had reached nineteen and I twenty-three , it seemed the most natural thing in the world that we should "come together . " But , as usual , there were difficulties in the Avay . There always are . The old folk on both sides disapproved of the marriage of cousins , and thenlike all charming and spoilt young womenmy fair cousin was a

, , little wilful . I shall always think she cared for me as much as I cared for her , but , as a good many other people have done before her , and some will do after , she AA'as sometimes inclined to think that life was meant to be rather grander , more gay ancl exciting than an ordinary profession or humdrum station Avould permit . Like a great many other fair beings , she sighed for

change , for life with its splendours ancl its greatness , its brilliant prospects ancl its gay hours , and , must I not add , its garish tinsel and its withering flowers . Alas , yes ! How many a life has been shipwrecked because that bright g irl would not see that all she pictured to herself so fondly might , after all , be a dream ; because in truth she was unwilling to realizethat when the music

, was hashed , and the garlands faded , and the viands cold , ancl the guests vanished , there was nothing left for her , as in the story of old , but the skeleton with its mocking finger to beckon her to a crumbling keaji of dust and ashes . I think that but for that county ball I might have left the old hall a happy man ; but that unlucky event intervened , and all my hopes , ancl those of Captain Dering and Major CareAVwere doomed to be extinguished for ever .

, We all went over , a large party , and very soon after I saw Ann waltzing away , with a radiant face , with a certain Lieutenant Maulevrier , a younger brother of an old county family , ancl in a cavalry regiment in India , whither he ivas returning shortly . He had dined once before at the hall , ancl had paid great attention to Ann , but as everybody did so , that was a matter of course to us all .

Well—now I can write calmly—after all , I will not deny , that that young " interloper " was as good-looking a young man as can well be . Captain Dering , who was inclined to be stout , said he was a " puppy "; Major Carew , who was sententious , declared he was a " fribble " ; but I will be candid , and I must be just , ancl I am bound to admit that everything was in his favour . He had a little money of his own , he came of a good family , and he was a well-informed , kindl y hearted , frank , pleasant-faced young man .

“The Masonic Magazine: 1881-01-01, Page 20” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 29 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/mmg/issues/mmg_01011881/page/20/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
WALTER L'ESTRANGE. Article 1
A MASON'S STORY. Article 5
THE POWER OF FREEMASONRY. Article 8
THE BEACON FIRE. Article 11
COUSIN ANN. Article 19
KING GELIMER'S DEATH LAY. Article 22
AFTER ALL. Article 24
IANTHE. Article 33
PHCEBE WALTON.* Article 37
THE VELOCIPEDE EXPEDITION OF PLAYFAIR AND PUGGINGS. Article 40
LITERARY GOSSIP. Article 43
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

1 Article
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

2 Articles
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

2 Articles
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

1 Article
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

1 Article
Page 18

Page 18

1 Article
Page 19

Page 19

2 Articles
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

1 Article
Page 22

Page 22

1 Article
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

2 Articles
Page 25

Page 25

1 Article
Page 26

Page 26

1 Article
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

1 Article
Page 29

Page 29

1 Article
Page 30

Page 30

1 Article
Page 31

Page 31

1 Article
Page 32

Page 32

1 Article
Page 33

Page 33

2 Articles
Page 34

Page 34

1 Article
Page 35

Page 35

1 Article
Page 36

Page 36

1 Article
Page 37

Page 37

2 Articles
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

1 Article
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

1 Article
Page 42

Page 42

1 Article
Page 43

Page 43

2 Articles
Page 44

Page 44

1 Article
Page 20

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Cousin Ann.

Is it then to be wondered if I , an excitable collegian just settling in life , should , during the party at my good old uncle and aunt ' s , have indulged in sundry pleasant , if ecstatic , visions , in which Ann formed the principal figure , ancl to which she lent the perfect colouring ? It would have been very strange had it been othenvise , and so thought Captain Dering aud Major Carew , both friends of mine and friends of the family , ancl grave admirers of my fair cousin .

I do not dwell on those two excellent friends and rivals of mine , because they were , like myself , destined to be eclipsed and forgotten when the " conquering hero " really appeared ; though , personally , I then had no fear of them , or , in fact , of anyone else . She smiled on many just for fun , I knew that there Avas nothing in it j

J . was the first , the only one Her heart had thought of for a minute . I knew it , for she told me so In phrase ivhich was divinely moulded . She Avrote a charming hand—and oh ! How sweetly all her notes were folded .

To say the truth , that family gathering had brought us nearer ancl closer than we had ever been in our life . We had been always great friends , firm allies , fast mates , as years had gone on , ancl as she had reached nineteen and I twenty-three , it seemed the most natural thing in the world that we should "come together . " But , as usual , there were difficulties in the Avay . There always are . The old folk on both sides disapproved of the marriage of cousins , and thenlike all charming and spoilt young womenmy fair cousin was a

, , little wilful . I shall always think she cared for me as much as I cared for her , but , as a good many other people have done before her , and some will do after , she AA'as sometimes inclined to think that life was meant to be rather grander , more gay ancl exciting than an ordinary profession or humdrum station Avould permit . Like a great many other fair beings , she sighed for

change , for life with its splendours ancl its greatness , its brilliant prospects ancl its gay hours , and , must I not add , its garish tinsel and its withering flowers . Alas , yes ! How many a life has been shipwrecked because that bright g irl would not see that all she pictured to herself so fondly might , after all , be a dream ; because in truth she was unwilling to realizethat when the music

, was hashed , and the garlands faded , and the viands cold , ancl the guests vanished , there was nothing left for her , as in the story of old , but the skeleton with its mocking finger to beckon her to a crumbling keaji of dust and ashes . I think that but for that county ball I might have left the old hall a happy man ; but that unlucky event intervened , and all my hopes , ancl those of Captain Dering and Major CareAVwere doomed to be extinguished for ever .

, We all went over , a large party , and very soon after I saw Ann waltzing away , with a radiant face , with a certain Lieutenant Maulevrier , a younger brother of an old county family , ancl in a cavalry regiment in India , whither he ivas returning shortly . He had dined once before at the hall , ancl had paid great attention to Ann , but as everybody did so , that was a matter of course to us all .

Well—now I can write calmly—after all , I will not deny , that that young " interloper " was as good-looking a young man as can well be . Captain Dering , who was inclined to be stout , said he was a " puppy "; Major Carew , who was sententious , declared he was a " fribble " ; but I will be candid , and I must be just , ancl I am bound to admit that everything was in his favour . He had a little money of his own , he came of a good family , and he was a well-informed , kindl y hearted , frank , pleasant-faced young man .

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 19
  • You're on page20
  • 21
  • 44
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy