The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1857-11-11
MISCELLANEOUS.
Mary M oore.
A PLEASANT LOVE STORY.
CHAPTER

CHAPTER !.
All my life long had 1 known Mary
Moore. All my life long I had loved
her
Our mothers were old playmntes and
first cousins. My first recollection is of
a boy in red frock and Morocco shoes
rocking cradle, in which reposed
sunny haired, blue.eyed baby, not quite
year old. That boy was myself
Harry Church that blue.eyed baby was
Mary Moore.
Later still, ] see myself at tho little
school house, drawn by little chaise np
to the door, that Mary might ride home.
Many beating heart have l gained on
such occasions, for other boys besides me
liked her, and she, l fear was something
Of flirt, even in her pinafores.- How
elegantly she came tripping down tho
steps when | called her name How
sweetly her blue eyes laughed at mo
How gaily rang out her merry laugh ?
That fair laugh ! No one but Mary
could ever bring her heart so soon to her
lips ! followed it through tho heated
noon of manhood-and now when the
frosts OF age are silvering my hair, and
many children climb on my knee and call
me father 6nd that the memories Of
youth are strong, and that, even in grey
hairs, am following its music still
When l was fifteen the first great sor.
row of my life came on my heart. Twas
sent to school, and was obliged to part
with Mary,-We were not to see each
other for three long years ! This to me
was like sentence Of death, for Mary
was like life itself to me.
But hearts are tough after all.
l left college in all the flush and vigor
OF my nineteenth year. was no longer
awkward and embarrassed. l had grown
into tall slender STRIPPING, with very
good opinion of myself, both in general
and particular. If | thought of Mary
Moore it was to imagine how 1 should
dazzle and bewilder her with my good
looks and wonderful a.tainment-never
thinking that she might dazzle and be-
wilder me still more. Twas a coxcomb
l know but as youth and good looks
have fed, I trust l may bo believed
when l say that self conceii had left me
also.
An advantageous proposal was made
to me at this time, and accepting it, |
gave up all idea of a profession, and
prepared to 60 to the Indies. In my
hurried visit home I saw nothing Of NJ ary
Moore. She had gone to boarding
school at some distance, and was not ex
pected homo till the following May.
uttered one sigh to the memory of my
little blue eyed playmate, and then cal
led myself "a man again."
In year. thought, as the vehicl,
whirlcd away from the door 'in a year
or three years at the very most, | will
return, and, if Mary is as pretty as sh,
used to be why. then perhaps l may mar
ry her"
And thus | settled tho future of 6
young lady whom l had not seen for fou,
years. | never thought of the possibil.
ity of her refusing me. l never dream
ed that she would not condescend to ae.
oept my offer
Bot now | know that had Mary seer
me then, ehe would havo despisnd me
Perhaps in the scented and affected stu
dent, she might have found plenty bu
as for loving me, or feeling the slightes
interest in INC, should have perhaps
found was mistaken
India was my salvation, not merely
because Of my success, but because ny
laborious industry had counteractel th,
evil 10 my nature, and made me a bettel
man. When at the end of three years
prepared to return, | said nothing @
the reformation in myself which / knew
had taken place.
| They loved me as was" | murmer
ed to myself, "and they shall find ou