Freeman's champion., 1857-07-02

bered so we'll. You have changed so
that I would never have known you,
but no matter for that--your heart is
in the right place, l know"
How can you say he is changed
said my mother, gently. TO be sure
he looks older, and graver, and more
Hike 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"
Gay, mother" I answered, sadly /;
II am your boy still"
Heaven help me Atthat moment
| felt like a boy, and it would have
been blessed relief to have went
upon her bosom, as I had done in in
fancy. Butt kept down the beating
of my heart and the tremor of my lip,
and answered quietly, as ! looked in
his full, handsome face
"You have changed, too, Frank,
but | think for the better"
90, yes--thank you for the COM
pliment, he answered with a hearty
laugh, My wife tells me | grow hand
somer every day"
His wife Could I hear that name
and keep silence still? ?
"And have y0u seen nay little grip
he added, lifting the infant in his
arms and kissing her crimson cheek,
II tell you, Harry, there's not such
another in this world. Don't you
think she looks very much as her
mother used &g?"
Every much" / faltered
"Hallo' cried Frank, with sud-
denness that made me start II have
forgotten to introduce you to my wife;
| believe you and she used to be play
mates in your young days--eh, Har-
ry ?" and he slapped me on the back.
"For the sake of old times, and be-
cause you were not here at the we'd
ding, I'll give you leave to kiss her
once-but mind old fellow, you are
never to repeat the ceremony, Come
here she is, and / for once want to see
how you will manage those ferocious
moustaches of yours in the operation.
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and
blushing toward me! A gleam Of
light and hope, almost too dazzling
to bear, came over me, and | cried
out before thought,
"Not Mary"
1t must have betrayed my secret to
every one in the oom. But nothing
was said-even Frank, generally OBJ.
tuSe, this time was silent. / kissed
the fair cheek of the young wife, and
hurried to the silent figure looking
out of the window.
"Mary-Mary More" Isaid in Q
low eager tone, have you no welcome
, to give the wanderer ?"
T She turned, laid her hand in mine
, and murmured hurriedly--
: II am glad to see you here
, Harry"
Simple words--and yet how bles
they made me. | would not hav,
I yielded up that moment for an empe
ror's crown. The eyes I had dreamed
t of by day and by night were falling
before the ardent gaze Of mine, ant
the sweet face | had so longed ant
prayed for to see, was now before mi
--more beauGful, more womanly
more loving than before, I neve'
knew the meaning of happiness, III
that msmcnt came.
, Many years have passed since tha
happy night, and the hair that wal
dark and glossy then, is turning grey
| am now growing to be an old man
) and can look back on long, happ,
, and we'll spent life. And yet swee
as it has been, / would not recall
single day, for the love that bright
ened my manhood, shines also upoi
| me in my white hairs.
An old man Can this be Sc? A
my heart l am as young as ever, A
! Mary with her bright hair parteo
. smoothly on her brow, that has
| slight fuTow upon it is still tn
o Mary of my early days. TO me sh
can never grow old, nor change Th
0 heart that held her in infancy, an,
sheltered her in the flush and beaut,
q Of womanhood, can never cast he
out until life shall cease to warm il
8 Not oven then--for love still live
above
E- The habit Of the people is gel
ting more and more in the way Of do