_Copyright, 1909_ BY L. C. PAGE & COMPANY (INCORPORATED) _Entered at Stationers' Hall, London_ _All rights reserved_ _First Impression, October, 1909_ _The Plimpton Press Norwood Mass. U. S. A._ To Philip Henry de Roulet Preface A PART of the great Austrian Empire, Hungary, is a kingdom in itself, with its own laws and its own government. Through this land runs the "beautiful blue Danube," with castles and towns upon its wooded banks; on one side the mountains, on the other the Great Plains. Here dwell many races with quaint customs and quainter costumes, and it is of these people that you will read in OUR LITTLE HUNGARIAN COUSIN. Contents CHAPTER PAGE I. WITH THE TZIGANES 1 II. ALONG THE GYPSY TRAIL 11 III. AT THE GULYAS' HUT 27 IV. DESERTED! 39 V. THE FAIR OF HAROM-SZÖLÖHOZ 55 VI. VILLAGE LIFE 71 VII. THE UNEXPECTED 83 VIII. MARUSHKA MAKES A JOURNEY 106 IX. "OH, THE EYES OF MY MOTHER!" 123 List of Illustrations PAGE "HE . . . QUICKLY BEGAN A LITTLE TUNE" (_See page 66_) _Frontispiece_ "SEARCHED THROUGH BANDA BELA WITH A KEEN GLANCE" 7 WASHING IN THE RIVER 59 "'WHO IS THIS CHILD?' DEMANDED THE BARONESS" 82 "FIRST CAME MARUSHKA" 92 "'ACROSS THE RIVER YOU SEE BUDA,' SAID THE BARONESS" 115 Our Little Hungarian Cousin CHAPTER I WITH THE TZIGANES BANDA BELA, the little Gypsy boy, had tramped all day through the hills, until, footsore, weary, and discouraged, he was ready to throw himself down to sleep. He was very hungry, too. "I shall go to the next hilltop and perhaps there is a road, and some passerby will throw me a crust. If not, I can feed upon my music and sleep," he thought to himself, as he clambered through the bushes to the top of the hill. There he stood, his old violin held tight in his scrawny hand, his ragged little figure silhouetted against the sky. Through the central part of Hungary flows in rippling beauty the great river of the Danube. Near to Kecskés the river makes a sudden bend, the hills grow sharper in outline, while to the south and west sweep the great grass plains.