The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1857-07-25

JRDAY, JULY 25, 1857
away from me-! This was his ehild-his
child and Mary's! .
sank, body and soul, beneath this blow.
And, hiding my face in my hands, ! leaned
against the door, while my heart vert tears
of blood. The little one gaxed ut me, griev-
ed and amazed, and put up her pretty lip as
if ahput to cry, while the perple1ed servant
stepped TO the parlor door and called my
sister out, to see who it could be that con-
Quoted himself so strangely.
| heard a light step, and pleasant voice
saying:
"Did you wish to see father, sir %
l looked up. There stood a pretty, sweet
faced maiden of twenty, not much changed
from the dear little sister had loved so
we'll. looked at her for moment. and
then, stilling the tumult of my heart BY
mighty effort, l opened my arms and
said aa5 - s-H
/ tsLizzie, don't you know me 90
t "Harry! Oh my brother Harryr' she
cried and threw herself upon my breast
She wept as if her heart would break.
There was rush and q cry of joy, and
then my father and mother sprang towards
ne, and welcomed me home with heartfelt
tears. Oh, strange and passing sweet is
such greeting to the way-worn wanderer
And as held my dear old mother to my
heart, and grasped my fathers hand, while
Lizzie still clung beside me, felt that all
was not lost, and though another had Sc
cured life's choicest blessing, many Joy
remained for me in this dear sanctuary of
home. r.4 f.. .i.-. .a..
There were four other inmates of the
room who had risen on my sudden entrance.
One was the blue eyed child whom l had
already seen, and who stood beside Frank
Chester, clinging to his hand. Near by
stood Lizzie Moore, Mary's eldest sister, and
in distant corner, to which she had re-
treated when my name was spoken, stood
tall and slender figure, half hidden by the
heavy window curtains that fell to the
floor.
When the first rapturous greeting was
over, Lizzie led me forward with timid
grace, and Frank Chester grasped my hand.
'Welcome home, my boy % he said with
the loud, cheerful tones l remembered so
we'll. "You have changed so that never
would have known you; but no matter for
that--your heart is in the right place,
know" s.
"How can you say be has changed ?" said
my mother, gently. To be sure, he looks
Older and graver, and more like 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,'' l answered sadly, 81 am
your boy still"
Heaven help me! At that moment felt
like boy, and it would have been bless
ed relief to have wept upon her bosom as
had done in my infancy. But kept down
the beating of my heart and the tremor OF
my lip, and answered quietly, as l looked in
his full, handsome face:
''You have changed too, Frank, but
think for the BETTER"
"Oh, yes-thank you for that compli-
ment," he answered with hearty laugh
"My wife tells me grow handsomer every
day."
His wife could | hear that name and
keep silent still? a.?
"And have you seen my little GIRL" he
added, lifting his infant in his arms, and
kissing her CRIMSON cheek. 'sI tell you there
is not such another in the world. DON'T
you think she looks very much as her moth.
er used to ?''
"Very much ?" faltered.
"Hallo - cried Frank, with a suddenness
that made me start violently, 81 have for.
gotten to introduce you to my wife; be-
heve you and she used to be old playmates
in your young days-eh, Harry?'' and he
slapped me on the tack. 'sFor the sake oi
old times, and because you were not hero q,
the wedding, III give you leave to kiss hel
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 mustaches of your:
in the operation
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushing
towards me! A CLEAN of light and hope.
almost too dazzling to bear, came over me,
and cried out before thought:
"Not Mary''
must have betrayed my secret to every
one in the room, but nothing was said-ever
Frank, in general so obtuse, was this timt
f1luqk kissed the fair cheek of the youna
aie, fnd hurried to tAs silent figure - a.
tsut f4om the wind I'VE fxs a:
gAry-Mary Moore, sad l, insSdss
eagefvoice, shave you no welcome to give
! to i&e wanderer %
She turned and laid her hand in mine, ant
murmured hurriedly:
81 am glad f0ssee you, Harry"
s'Simple words--and yet how blest they
made me! would not have yielded W
that moment for for an emperor's crown
For there was the happy home group, ant
the dear home freside, and there, swee
Mary Moore! The eyes | had dreamed Of
by day and night, were falling before tn
ardent gazapf mine; and the sweet face
had go long prayed to see, was there befor'
me! Inever knew the meaning of happi
ness till that moment came
Many years have passed since that happ,
night, and the hair that was dark and CLOS
sy then, is fast turning gray. am growing
to be an old man, and can look back to
long and happy, and l hope, well-spen
life. And vet, sweet as it has been, woul'
not recall single day, FOR the love tha
made my manhood 50 bright, shines ais
upon my white hairs.
An old man. Can this be so? At hear
am as young as ever. And Mary, wit
bright hair parted smoothly from a brow
that has slight furrow upon it, is still tn
Mary of my early days. To me she ca
never grow old or change. The heart tha
held her in her infancy, and sheltered her il
the flush and beauty Of womanbood, ca
never cast her out till life shall cease t
warm it. Not eve en- then-for life still live
above. --l#
! FIFTY CENTS ON A DOLLAR.
A gentleman in Twelfth street, who is j
the habit of sending bis boots ost to b
BACKED, could not find his polished under
standings one day last week. He sent hi
little son to the darkey's cellar, but he re
turned, saying it was shut up. The gentle
man went himself in bis Shippers, and afte
rapping some time, he heard a noise insid.
Presently window opened, and Cufy'
head poked through.
81 want my boots" said the gentleman.
''Sorry to form you, massa, dat you can
hab um, )" replied Cuff. Sac is l is 81
out, bustS failed, broke, cleaned out, Jam
med up, split, l is."
'But, Ou6g' said the gentleman, III can
help that. q must have my boots.'