The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1857-04-22
NJ A RY MOORE.

All my lllt long l nau known May Moore.
All my life, too, loved her.
Our mothers were old playmates, and first
cousins. My first recollection is Of boy,
in red frock and morocco shoes, rocking a
cradle, in which reposed sunny-hared,
blueeyed baby. not quite year old. That
boy was myself-IIarry Church; the blue
eyed baby was Mary Moore.
Later still see myself at the little school
house, drawing my little chase up to the
door. that Mary might ride home. Many a
brhti"Uugs ues,ucs- ntl nNru- ner,-anu s,,sS,
fear, was something Of afiirt even IN her pm
atnres. How elegantly she came tripping
down the steps when called her name
How sweetly her blue eyes looked up al me
How gaily rang out her merry laugh that
larry laugh No one but Mary could ever
bring her heart so soon TO her lips. fol-
lowed that laugh from my days oil Childhood
till grew an awkward, clustering youth
followed il through the heated noon oi man.
hUod--and nov, when the frosts Of age are
slyering nv hair, and many children climb
my knee and call me father | lind that
the memories of youth are strong, and that,
even in gray hairs, | am following It's music
still.
/ When was fifteen, the first great sorrow
Of my life came upon my heart. | was
sent 10 school, aud was obliged 10 part with
Mary. We we're not to see each other for
three long years This, TO ME, was like
sentence ol death, for Mary was like life
itself 10 me.
i But hearts are tough things, after all.
4 lett college in all the flush aud slgor oi
my nineteenth yeaI. was no longer awk-
ward and embarrassed. | had gruwn into
a tall, slender stripping. with very good
opinion Of myself, both IN general and
IN particular. III | thought Of Mary Moore
il was TO imagine how ! would dazzle ant
bewilder her with nv good Looks aud won
/. derlul sttainments-neyer thinking that 81.
+ might dazzle and bcwilder me still more.
was a sad enxeomb, know; but, as youtl
and good looks have fled, trust ] may b
: believed when say, that seli.conceit has lei
; me also.
/ Al advantageous proposal was made to nj
. Al this time. and, accepting II, gave up al
ideas Of 4 profession. aud prepared to go Z
! the Indies. In my hurried visit home oi tw
, days, ! saw nothing Of Mary Moore. IN
: had gone 10 boarding school at some dis
!, tance. and was not expected home I'LL th
c following MAY. uttered one sigh to III
i. memory ur m, I;,ds Li-- .s-I ri.. "'atS
i and then called nv self "a man again"
Il "In a year," thought, as the sehiel
Il whirled away from our door" IN a year, .
three years at the very most, will returt
and. il Mary is as pretty as she used TO be-
: why then, perhaps. may marry her,"
-: Aud thus settled the future Of youn
. lady whom had not seen for four years.
!. never thought OF the possibility ol her r.
!. lusing me-neyer dreamed that she wOul
n not cUndescend to accept my Otier.
I. Hut now know that, hal Mary met n
II then, she would have despiscd me. Perhap
IL in the scented and affected student she migl
have found plenty Of sport; but as 4
ii loving me. or feeling the slightest intere
Il in me, should have perhaps lOuEd ] W
ID mistaken.
~ India was my salvation, not merely b
cause Of nv success, but because my labuT
nus industry had counteraCted the evil 10 y
n nature, and made me better man. Whe
y at the end oI three years, prepared to :
d. tarn, ! SAID nothing Of the reformation
a myself which knew had taken place.
oC "They loved me as was" murmur
Nm to myself, "and they shall find out Tor thei
n. selves whether am better worth loving III
al formerly"
II. packed up many a token from that IA
n. q romance and gold, Tor tie friends ! hop