The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1857-06-13
MARY MOORE.
A PLEASANT LOVE STORY.
CHATTER l.

CHATTER 1.
All nv life had known Mary Moore. All
nv life loved her.
Our mothers were old playmate, and first
cousins.
Mv first rccolcctions are of boy. in rcd
frOck and morocco shoes rocking a cradle in
whirh rcpo>,,l >unnv-h,irc,l. blue-eycd ba-
bv. not quite Wear old That bov was nv
>rlf-IIarrv Church that bluc-e.cd baby
was Mary Moore.
Later still. | sec myself at the little school
house. drawing my little chai>c up To the
door. that Mar. mi yht ride home MANY
heating have gained on such occasions. for
other boys beside me liked her. and she.
fear. WAS something of Il fiirt even in her
pinaforc>. How elegantly she came tripping
down the steps when called her name how
swcctly her blue eyes looked up at me how
gayly ran. out her merry laugh. That fairy
laugh. No one but Mary could ever bring
her heart s" soon to her lips! followed
that laugh from nv DAYS of childhood I'LL
grew All awkward. blushing youth-I follow
cd it through the heated noon Of manhood
and now. when tn: frosts Of age are silverine
my hair. and many children climb nv kne:
and call ne father" find that the mcm,.-
ries of youth are strong. and that, ctcn il
gray hairs. l am following its music still.
! When was fifteen the first great sorrow
of my life came upon nv heart. l was sent
10 school. and was Obliged to part with Mary.
We were not to see each other for three long
Years. This. to me. was like a sentence of
'iea'h. for Mary was like life itsclftom
/ l'ut hearts are tough things after ALL
| left college in all the flush and yicor of
my nineteenth year. WIS no longer awk.
ward and embarrassed. l had grown into
tall. slender STRIPPING. with very good opin-
ion of myself: both in general and particular.
II thought of Mary Moore. it was to imsc-
inc how would dazzle and hcwildcr her With
hi! good looks and wonds-!,:, attain:ner:s-
never thinking that she MI sht dazzle and be-
wilder me still more. WAS 4 coxcomb.
know !: but as youth and good looks have
fled. trust | may be believed when .ay
that srlt-conccit has also LEI: me.
IN advantageous proposal was made to
me at this time. and. accepting it. gave uo
all l;iea of profession. and prepared to 90 I,
the lndiaS.
In my hurried visit home of two da,.,I
saw nothing of Mary. She had gone to q;
boarding school at some distance, and va.
TO: expected home till Nav.
uttered one sigh to the memory Of my
little playmate. and then called niysrlf -
man again
In year. thought as the vehicle rolled
away from our door-in 4 wear, or three at
most. will rcturn. and if Mary is as pretty
as She used to be. then. perhaps. l shall mar
~ her.
And thus settled the future of Young
lazy whom had not seen for four wears.
never thought of the possibility of her rcflr-
my me-ncver dreamed she would not con-
descend to &c ccpt my offer
But now know that. had Mar, me, mo
then. she would have dcspised me.
Perhaps. in the scented and affected stu
dent she might have found plenty of .por, ::
but as for loving. or feeling the slightest in
terest i'll me. should have found my.cif mis-
taken
India was nv salvation. not only because
of my success. Int because NV laborious in
dustrv had countcracscd the evil of NV nm
;urc. and made me wiser and a hette-
man.
When a: the end of three years. prepared
to return. said nothing of the reformation
in myself which knew had taken place.
They loved me a was. l thought to nv
SELF. and they may find out for thcmselyr.
whether | am better worth loving than form
crlv.
pachcd up many token from that land
of romance and gold. for the friends hoped
to meet.
The gift for Mary Moore selected with A
heating heart: it was ring of rough. virgin
gold. with her name and mine engraved IN
sidc-that was all. and vet the sight of the
little :ov strangely thrilled me az balanced
it on the tip cf MY finger.
: To the eyes Of others it was but small,
plain circet. suggesting thoughts. pcrhap..
by It's elegance, cf tbs beautiful white hand
that was to wear it. But to mc-how muci.'
was embodied there. \ loving smile on =
beautiful facc-low words of welcome-a flu
turc home. and sweet smiling face-.group
of merry children to climb nv knee-ai.
these delights were hidden in that little ring
of gold.