elatives and Relatives

aron Von Lodge was the head of a small country known as Lilliland near Switzerland. The time was the early 1900s.

The Baron was engaged to Lady Angela of Alpine Castle. Lady Angela would often speak of her cousin William Peterson who was a world traveler of sorts. He lived in Spain for a while, then South America, then Africa. He was a bachelor in his late 20s with an inheritance that enabled him to live the life that he enjoyed. He liked his independence and he would come and go as he pleased.

One day Lady Angela received word that Cousin William was coming for a visit with his new wife.

William said they had been married for nearly a year and were expecting a child any day. William remembered that Lilliland was a fine place to live and wanted his child to be born there.

Cousin William and his wife were at Alpine Castle for just a week when the time was getting near for the baby to arrive. The mother was taken to the hospital for the delivery. Unfortunately the delivery did not go well at all, and neither the mother nor the baby lived.

Cousin William was devastated. He stayed in his room at Alpine Castle and did not leave except to attend the funeral for his wife and their child. Weeks went by and still the young man would not leave his room.

Lady Angela, the Baron, and the Baron’s chief advisor, Professor Hamblin, eventually visited Cousin William in his room. The Professor said that it would take at least a year for William to heal from his loss and that he should not be rushed in his grieving process.

The Baron sent over his pet dachshund, Little Oscar, to keep William company during this difficult time. Little Oscar was a small, friendly pet who immediately liked and befriended William. The little dog’s presence worked its charm because Cousin William soon began to come to the dining room for his meals and spent some time alone with Little Oscar in the peaceful castle gardens.

The Baron philosophized with William that when two people marry, it really is not simply two people, but the joining of two families. The average marriage affects about 24 people, 12 from each side. When counting up all the brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, and grandparents, it added up to 23 people. Marriages are relatives and relatives. Cousin William agreed and was able to get through this terrible time due to the relatives who were there for him.