The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-09-04
my heart by mighty effort, 1 opened
INV arms, and said: !. v.-rg

i Lizzie, don't you know met
Harry. Oh my brother Harry: sh
cried and threw herself upon my breast.
could not weep. 1 drew her into tn
lighted parlor and stood with her befor
them all. g..
There was rush and cry Of JOY, an
then my father and mother sprang to
wards me, and welcome home with heart
full tears! Oh strange and passing swce
is such greeting to the way-worn wan
dercr! And as held my dear mothe
to my heart, and grasped my father
hand, when Lizzie still clung to me, an
other had secured lite's choicest blessing
many a JOY remained for me in this dea
sanctuary OF home.
There were four inmates of the room
who had risen on my entrance. One wa
the blue eyed child whom had alrcad,
seen, and who stood beside Frank Chester
clinging to his hand. Near by stood Liz
zic Moore, Mary's eldest sister, and in ,
distant corner, TO which she had hurried
" retreated when my name was spoken
stood tall, slender figure, halfhidden b,
the heavy window curtains that fell t.
the floor. r.
When the first rapturous greeting wa:
over, Lizzie led me forward with timit
grace, and Frank Chester grasped my
hand.
Wclcome home, my boy! he sale
with the loud cheering tones | remcm
bercd so well. .You have changed Sc
that | should never have known you
but no matter for that-your heart is In
the ri lit place, | know
How can YOU say he has changed:
said INV mother, gently. TO be sure, he
looks older and graver, and more like Q
man, than when he went away-but hi'
eyes and smile are the same ~ ever. II
is that heavy beard that changes him so
He is my boy STILL
Heaven help me! At that moment
felt like Il boy, and il would have been q
blessed relief to have wcpt upon hei
bosom as had done in my infancy. But
| kept down the beating ofmy heart, and
the trcmor of my lip, and answered quick
", as looked in his full handsome face
You have changed too, Frank, but l
think for the better
'Oh, yes-thank YOU for that compli-
ment.' he answered with hearty laugh.
MY wife tells me grow handsome every
dav.'
lIls wife-could hear that name and
keep still
AMI have YOU seen my little girl 2 he
added, lifting his infant in his arms, and
kissing her crimson cheek. Il tell YOU
there is not such another in the world.-
Don't you think she looks very much as
her mother used to-
Very much" | ialtcrcd.
Hello. cried Frank with sudden
ness that made me start violently, Il have
forgotten TO introduce YOU to my wife ;
believe YOU and she used TO be play.
mates in Your younger 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, III give
Won leave to kiss her once-but mind, old
fellow, YOU are never to repeat the ccrc-
monv. Come, here she is and for one
want to see how YOU will manage those
lerocious moustachcs of yours in the OPP
cration,
lie pushed Lizzie, laughing and blush
ing towards me. a gleam of light and
hope almost too dazzling to bear came
oycrme, and | cried out before ! 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. kissed the fair
cheek of the young wife, and hurried to
the silent figure looking out of the win
dow.
AIary-NIary Moore | said in low
eager voice, 'llavc YOU no welcome to
give to the wandcrer'
She turned and laid her hand IN minc,
and murmured hurriedly:
Il am glad to see You here, Harry
Simple words-and vet how blcst they
made me, would not have yielded up
that moment for an cmpcror's crown =
For there was the happy home group, aud
the dear home freside, and there was
sweet Mary Moore The eyes l had
dreamed OF by night and day were falling
before the ardent gaze Of mine; and the
sweet face had so longed and prayed to
see was there b fore me | never knew
the meaning of happiness till that mo-
ment came.
Many years have passed since that hap
py night, aud the hair that was dark and
glossy then, is fast turning gray. l am
growing TO be an old man, and can look
bacl; TO a long and happy, and hope a
well spent life. And yet, sweet as il has
been, | would not recall single day, for
the love that madcmy manhood so brigh,
shines also upon my white hairs.
An oldman. can this be so. At heart
| am as Young as ever. And Mary, with
her bright hair parted smoothly from a
brow that has slight furrow upon it, is
still the Mary of my early days. To me
she can never grow old, nor change. Th.
heart that held her il her infancy, and
sheltered her in the flush and beauty OF
womanhood, can never cast her ont till
life shall cease to warm it. Nor even
then-tor love still lives above.
Tr CANDY Girl. The Evening