Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1857-06-11
MARY MOORE.
CHAPTER 1.

Try Moore, All my lie, TOO, iOVed
4 her.
Our mothers we're old playmates,
. and frs. cousins. My first reccollec-
ton is of a boy, in a red frock and
morocco shoes, rocking cradle, in
which rsposed sunny-haired, blue
eyed baby, not quite year Old
. That boy was l, myself--Harry
Church, that blue-eyed baby was Ma
ry Moore.
1 Later still, / see myself at little
school house. drawing my little chaise
up to the door, that Mary might
ride home. Many beating have |
gained on such occasions, for other
boys beside me liked her, and she, |
fear, vas something ofa airt, even
10 hef pinafores. How elegantly she
came tripping down the steps, when |
called her name! how sweetly her eyes
looked up at me! how gaily rang out
her merry laugh! No one but Ma
ry could ever briug her heart so soon
to her lips! / followed that laugh
from my days of childhood till grew
an awkward, blushing youth--l fol
lowed it through the heated noon Of
manhood--and now, when the frosts
of age are silvering my hair, and my
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 my life came up on 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 SEN
tence of death, for Mary was like life
itself to me.
But hearts are tough things, after
all.
| l left the college in all the flush
and vigor of my nineteenth year
l was no longer awkward and embar-
rassed. I had grown into tall, slen-
der STRIPPING. with very good opin-
ion Of myself both in general and IN
particular. If | thought of Mary
| Moore, it was to imagine how | would
dazzle and bewilder her with my good
looks and wonderful attainments-
never thinking that she might dazzle
and bewilder me still more. was a
sad coxcomb, / know; but as youth
and good looks have fec. trust |
may be believed when | say that
self-conceit has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made
to me at this time, and accepting it,
| gave up all ideas ola profession,
and prepared to 60 to the Indies. In
my hurried visit home Of two days,
I saw nothing of Mary Moore. She
had gone to boarding school at some
distance, and was not expected home
till the following May. ! uttered one
sigh to the memory ofmy little blue
!, eyed playmate, and then called my
self man again.
"In year" l thought, as the We
hicle whirled away from my door-"in
a year, or three years at the very
, most. l will retnrn, and, if Mary is as
i pretty as she used to be--why them
/ perhaps, l may marry her,.
And thus l settled the future of q
young lady whom | had not seen fol
, four wears. / never once thought Of
} the possibility of her refusing me-
| I never dreamed that she would moi
f eondescend to accept my offer.
. But now ! know that. had Mary
met me then, she shuld have des-
pised me. Perhaps, in the scented
E and affected student she might have
e found plenty of sport; but as for low
5 ing me, or feeling the slightest inter
; est in me, | should perhaps have iounc
j / was mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely
: because of my success, but because
my laborious industry had counteras
ted the evil in my nature, and made
me a better man. When, at the enc
: of three years, prepared to return
said nothing of the reformation IN my
} self which knew had taken place.
} "They loved me as ! was, murm
} ured to myself, ''and they shall ilnf
5 out forthemselves whether lam bette
. worth lovingthan formerly
RI I packed up many tokenirom tha
land of romance and gold for the trlend'