Preble County Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1857-1859, 1857-06-11
SrIfrt His:pllanu
MARY MOOR
CHAPTER L.
A PLEASANT LOVE STORY.

ALL my life long 1 had known Mary
Moore All my life loved her.
Our mothers were old playmatcs and
first cousins. My first recollection is
of boy, in red frock and morocco
shoes, rocking a cradle in which reposed
a sunny haired, blue-eyed baby, not
quite year old. That boy was myself
Harry Church; that blue-eyed baby
was Mary Moore.
Later still, I see myself at the little
school house, drawing my little chaise
iup to the door, that Mary might ride
home. Many beating have L gained
-on such occasions, for other boys be-
side liked her, and she, fear, was some
thing of a hirt, oven in her pinafore.
How elegantly she came tripping down
the steps when called her name! how
swcctly her blue eyes looked mp at me !
how gaily rang out her merry laugh
that fairy laugh! No one but Mary
could ever bring her heart so soon to
her lips. l followed that laugh from
the days of my childhood until l grew
an awkward, blushing youth; L followed
it through the heated noon of manhood;
and now, when the frosts of age are sill
vering my hair, and many children climb
my knee and call me father" L find
that the memories of youth are strong,
and that, even in gray hairs, L am fol-
lowing its music still.
When 1 was fifteen the first great
sorrow of my life came upon my heart.
l was sent to school, and was obliged to
part with Mary. We were not to see
each other for three long years This,
- EEo nf hnntb for
Mary was like myself to me.
But hearts are tough things after all.
1left college in all the flush and Wig
or of my nineteenth year. l was no
longer awkward and embarrassed. l
had grown into tall, slender STRIPPING,
with very good opinion of myself, both
in general and particular. IF [ thought
of Mary Moore, it was to imagine how
1 would dazzle and bewilder her with
my good looks and wonderful attain
ments-never thinking that she might
dazzle and bewilder me still more. /
was a coxcomb, l know but as good
looks have fled, trust may be believed
when say that self-conccit has left me
also.
An advantageous proposal was made
to me at this time, and, accepting it, I
gave up all idea of a profession, and
prepared to go to the Indies. In my
hurried visit home of two days, saw
nothing of Mary Moore. She had gone
to boarding school at some distance,
and was not expected home until the
following May. 1 uttered one sigh to
the memory of my little blue-eyed play
mate, and then called myself ga man
again"
"In year. thought, as the vehicle
hurled away from our door" in year,
or three years at the very most, will
return, and if Mary is as pretty as she
used to be, why then, perhaps, may
marry her."
And thus I settled the future of a
young lady whom l had not seen for
four years. never thought of the
possibility of her refusing me-never
dreamed that she would not condescend
to accept my offer.
But now know that, had Mary met
me then, she would have despised me
Perhaps, in the scented and affected
student, she might have found plenty Of
sport but as for loving me, or feeling
the slightest interest in me, ] should
have perhaps found was mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely
because of my success, but because my
laborious industry had counteracted the
evil in my nature, and made me better
man. When at the end of three years
l prepared to return, said nothing ot
the reformation in myself which knew
had taken place.
"They loved me as I was" mur:
INJURED to myself, and they shall find
out for themselves whether am better
worth loving than formerly"
packed up many token from that