Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-06-10

into the lighted parlor and stood with
her before them all.
There was rush and cry of Joy;
and then my father and mother sprang
towards me and welcomed me home
with heartfelt tears Oh, strange and
passing sweet, is such greeting to the
way-W orn wanderer. And as | held my
dear old mother to my heart, and grasp
ing my fathers hand, while Lizzie still
clung beside me, felt that all was not
vet lost, and though another had secur-
ed life's choicest blessing, many JOY
remained for me in this dear sanctuary
of home.
There were four other inmates of the
room who had arisen on my sudden en-
trance. One was the blue-eyed child
whom | had already seen, and who now
stood behind Frank Chester, clirgirg to
his hand. Near by stood Lizzie Moore,
Mary's eldest sister, and in distant cor
ner, where she had hurriedly reIreated
when my name vas spoken. stood tall
and slender figure, half hidden by the
heavy window curtains that fell to the
door.
When the first rapturous greeting was
over, Lizzie led me forward with a tim.
id grace, and Frank Chester grasped my
hand.
Welcome home, my boy" he said
with the loud cheerful tones l remember
ell SO well. ''You have changed so l
should never have known you-but 10
matter for that-your heart is in the
right place, l know;
"How can you say he is changed"
said my mother gently. ITO be sure
he looks cider and graver and more like
a man than when he went away-but
his eyes and smile are the same as ever.
1t is that heavy beard that changes him.
He is my boy STILL"
God help me! At that moment 1 felt
like boy, and it would have been
blessed relief to have wept upon her bo-
som, as 1 had done in my infancy. But
| kept down the beating of my heart and
the tremor of my lip and answered quiz
etly, as ! looked in his full handsome
face.
"You have changed too, Frank, but 1
think for the better
"Oh. yes-thaRk you for the compli-
mant," he answered with hearty laugh.
MY wife tells me 1 grow handsomer
every day.
His wife!" co-ld l hear that name
and keep silent still? "And have you
seen my little girl?" be added. lifting
the infant in his arms and kissing her
crimson cheek.
81 tell you, Harry there is not anoth-
er one like her in the United States
Dent you think she looks very much as
her mother used to?"
Every much," / fallered.
"Hallo!" cried Frank, with sudden
n SIS that made me start violently. al
have forgotten TO introduce you to my
wife; / believe you and she used to be
playmates in your young days-eh,
Harry?" and he slapped me on the back.
"For the sake Of old times, and because
you were not here at the wedding, l
will give you leave to kiss her once, but
mind, old fellow you are never TO repeat
the ceremony. Come--bere she is, and
for once will see how you will manage
those ferocious moustachios in the oper-
ation.''
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blush
ing, towards me! A gleam of light and
hope, almost too dazzling to bear, came
over me and l cried out before l thought,
"Not Mary"
1t must have betrayed my secret to
every one in the room But nothing was
said--even Frank, in general so obtuse,
was this time silent. l kissed the fair
cheek of the young wife. and hurried TO
the silent figure looking out of the win
dow.
"Mary-Mary Moore" 1 said in a
low eager voice. "Have you alone no
welcome to give the wanderer?"
She turned and laid her hand in mine,
and murmured hurridly-
4 am glad to see you here. Harry"
Simple words--and yet how blest they
made me. 1 would not have yielded up
that moment for an emperor's crown
For there was the happy home group.
and the dear home freside, and there
sweet Mary Moore. The eyes 1 had
dreamed of by day and by night were
falling before the ardent gaze of mine
and the sweet face l had SO longed and
prayed TO see, was there before me, more
beautiful, more womanly, and more low
ing than before. l never knew the
meaning Of happiness till that moment
came.
Many years have passed since that
happy night, and tie hair that was dark
and glossy then. is fast turning gray
am growing to be an old man, and
ook back to long and happy, well
'Pent life. And yet sweet as it has been, l