The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1849-10-04
NV First Love.

MY FIrSI Love.
! There are probably but few men am ong
US Ito say nothing of the womenD who
have not some pleasing recollections of a
school-boy passion. For my part frank
ly confess that am not of that few
With the memory of the time when l used
to study nights, that l might devote the
day, school hours and all, to innocent
amusements, such as playing 'fox and
geese and stick-tack-tow,' behind the
teachers back, and sliding down hill, snap
ping the whip, and playing ball during the
intermission- the memory of that
happy time, say is associated the remin-
iscence of boyish lover. had my Mary,
and l was as devoted to her as ever Byron
was to his. was her companion, her
servant, and her poet. We went together
to get ground nuts to pick up beech nuts,
and to dig sassafras roots in the woods. /
used to 60 for water when she was thirsty,
and to hold her bonnet when she wished
to crawl through holes in the fence.
was with her continually, whether it was
her pleasure to see-saw, to jump the rope,
Or to wander across the fields.
During the school hours was not less
attentive to my Mary / was thinking
! of her when should have been thinking
! of my lessons, when should have been
writing copies, | was sending billetsdoux
to her across the school house, or keeping
up te nder correspondence with her on
states. OF course my first attempts at
poetry consisted ofsVerses to Mary
The teachers sometimes used to let us
GO out doors and study, during the pleas
ant weather, either because they believed
us when we asserted that we could learn
our lessons quicker in the open air, or,
what is more probable because they were
anxious 10 get as many of the noisy ones
as possible out of the way. At any rate,
they used to permit the girls, two or three
in number, to take their books and sit on
the grass on one side of the school-house
and the boys to enjoy the same privilege
on the other. 1t is needless to say that the
girls and boys had an unaccountable yearn-
ing to disobey the teachers, and get togeth-
er; and that on such occasions | was al
ways to be found on the wrong side of the
school house, chatting pretty sentiments
to my Mary.
That | loved my Mary with all the
strength and purity of which the young
and untanght heart is capable, is my sim
cere belief; and | have not doubt but
that she reciprocated my tenderness. But
she was fond of mischief, and delighted to
torment me with jealousy. This she was
well able to do, for had rival who was
almost as sssiduous In his attentions as my
self. Fred B was gay, young spark,
and was horrible Jealous of him the more
SO, when Mary would leave my society
for his.
One night there was spelling school,
Mary had promised me that she would be
at the school-house early, and of course l
went to meet her, and enjoy short season
of tenderness before the evening exercises
began. But | was destined to suffer some
chagrin. Fred B-was there before me,
and when | arrived, found him and Mary
on quite too intimate terms to suit my jeal-
Gus nature.
The candles were lighted. Mary sat
on one of the front seats, with a broad ia
BILE directly before her, and Fred was at
the extremity of the table, by which he
was prevented from making any very near
| approach to the object of our joint attach
ment.
While the few scholars who had arrived
were enjoying themselves exceedingly be-
fore the evening exercises commenced, |
sat apart, gloomy and sullen, watching
with jealous, angry eye, the movements
! of my rival. AT length, to my infinite
! relief, Fred ran to JOIN the sports of his
fellow pupils, and Mary was left alone
She beconed to me to come and sit with
her, but | meant to make her feel my re-
sentiment; and much as wished to speak
to her, scrupulously turned my eyes to
another quarter of the house.
Soon the candles were blown out by
some mischievious scholars, and the room
was involved in total darkness.
Now thought l. forgetting my resent
ment, now is the time to make up with
Mary
In moment was by her side. The
table prevented me from approaching too
closely, but whispered her name, and,
reaching over. succeeded in getting hold of
her hand. heard shuff1ing-I felt that