Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1857-07-01
IA 8&autitnl storg.
IN AmH III O @ RB.
CHAPTER I,

had known. Nary Moore.
AN nv, life lohg I had loved her.
Our mothers were old playmates and first
cousins. My first recollection Of myself is Of
a bow in a red frock and morocco shoes, rocking
a cradle in which reposed a 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 the little school
house. drawing my little chaise up to the door,
that Mary might ride home. Many beating
have I gained on such an occasion, for other
bows besides myself liked her, and she, 1 fear,
was something of hirt, even in her pinafores.
How elegantly she came tripping down the
steps. when called her name. How sweetly
her blue eyes looked up at me. How gayly
rang out her merry laugh. That fairy laugh!
No one but Mary could bring her heart so soon
to her lips. I fingered beneath the tones OF
that laugh from my days of childhood till
grew an awkward, blushing YOUTH followed
it through the heated noon of manhood-and
now. when the frosts of age are silvering my
hair. and many children climb my knee and
call me father, find that the memories of
youth are strong, and that even in gray hairs
/ am following its music still.
When was fifteen, the first great sorrow
of INV life came upon my heart. was 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 things after all. left
college in the flush and vigor of my nineteenth
wear. was no longer awkward and embar-
rassed. l had grown into tall slender strip
Ming, with good opinion of myself both in
General and particular. If thought of Mary
Moore, it was to imagine how would dazzle
and bewilder her with my good looks and Won
derful attainlnents, never thinking that she
might dazzle and bewilder me still more. /
was coxco,nb, but as youth and good looks
have fed. trust may be believed when / say
that selfconceit has left me.
An advantageous. proposal was made to me
at the time, and accepting it, gave up all idea
of profession, and prepared to go to the In
dies. In nv hurried visit home of two days
saw nothing of Mary Moore. She was gone to
a boarding school at some distance, and. was
not expected home until the following May.
uttered one sigh to the memory of my little
blue-eycd playmate, and then called myself "a
man again."
9In a year." thought, as the vehicle whled
owav from our door, " in year, or three years
at most, will return, and if Mary is as pretty
80 she used to he, why, then, perhaps may
marry her"
An thus settled the future Of a young lady
whom had not met in four years. never
thought of the possibility of her refusing me
never dreaming that she might not condescend
10 accept my offer.
But now / know that, had Mary met me
then. she might have dispised me. Perhaps In
the scented and affected student she might have
found plenty of sport; but as for loving me, or
faelnr the slightest interest in me, | should
have perhaps found was mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely because
of INV success, but because my laborious indus
trv counteracted the evil in my nature, and
made me better man. When at the end o.
three wears prepared to return, l said moth
mo Of the reformation in myself which l knew
had taken place. -,
aTbey loved me as L was" murmured tt
r,vself e and they shall find out for themselve'
whether am better worth loving than for
merly."
hacked up many token from the land o
romance and gold, for the friends hoped t.
meet. The gift for Mary Moore / selected will
beating heart; it was a ring of rough. vlrg'l
oold with nv name and hers engraved on th'
inside-that was all, and yet the sight OF tina
little TOW strangely thrilled me as l placed i
upon the tip Of my finger.
To the sight of Others it was but plain
small circlet, suggesting thoughts, perhaps, b.
;ta elegance, of the beautiful white hand tina
was to wear it. But to me, how much wa