Squatter sovereign., 1857-09-05
MARY MOORE.

All my life long. have known Mar,
Moore. All my life had loved her.-
Our mothers Were old playinates and frs
cousins. My first recollection is of boy
IN red frock and morocco hoes, rocking
a cradle, in which reposed sunny haired
blue eyed baby. not quite year old. Tha
boy was myself-Harry Church, that blue
eyed baby was Mary Moore.
Later still. see myself at the little
school house, rawing my little chaise ur
to the door that Mary mi ght ride home
Many beating have gained on such oc-
casions, for other boys besides me liked
her, and she, | fear, was something of q
fiirt, even in her pinafores. How elegant
ly she came tripping down the steps when
| called her name! how swectly her blue
eyes looked at me ! how gaily rang out her
merry laugh! That fairy laugh! No one
but Mary could ever bring her heart SO
! Sann ia her- lips
! When was fifteen, the first great sor-
row of my life came upon my beart. /
was sent to school. and was obliged to part
with my Mary. We were no. to See each
| other for three long years! This, to me,
was like sentence OF death, for Mary
was like life itself to me.
left college in all the flush Of vigor Of
my nineteenth year. ] was no longer
awkward and embarrassed. had grown
into tall slender STRIPPING. with yery
good opinion of myself, both in general
and particular. II / thought Of Mary
Moore It was to imagine how would
dazzle aud bewilder her with my good
looks and wonderful auainmen,s-never
thinking that she might dazzle and be-
wilder me still more.
An advantageous proposal was made to
me at this time. and, accepting it. gave
up all ideas Of profession. and / pre-
pared to so to the 1udies. In my hurried
visit home / saw nothing of Mary Moore.
She had gone to boarding school at some
distance. and was not expected home till
the following May. uttered one sign to
the memory of my little blue eyed play
mate. and then called myself "a man
again."
In year. l thought, as the vehicle
whlried away from our door-'in year,
Or three years at the very most, will re-
turn, and if Mary is as pretty as she used
to be, why perhaps | may marry her.
And thus | settled the future of young |
lady who had not seen for four years.
l never thought of the possibility of her |
would not condescend to accept my Of |
Fer.
But now know that had Mary met me |
then she would have despised me. Per-
haps IN the secuted and affected student
she might have found plenty of sport; but
as ier iov.ng me, or feeling the slightes,
interest IN me, should have perhaps
lound was mistaken.
india was my salvation. not merely he.
'ause oi my success, but because nv lab.
orlus INDUSTRY counteracted the evil in
my nature. and made me better man.
sSnen at the end Of three years, | pre-
pared 70 return. said nothing OF the re.
formation In myself which / knew had
.aken place.
They lore me as was nurmured
o myself. 'and they shall find out for them.
'eives whether ! am better worth loving
han formerly
passed up many q token from that land I,
# romance and gold. for the friends hop
d to meet. The gift for Mary Moore /
elected with beating heart; it was a !
ing OF rough. virgin gold. with my name s
nd hers engraved inside-that was all, \
nd yet the sight of the little toy strange ,
! thrilled me as / balanced it upon the tip
my finger. Ii
Tall, bearded and sun bronzed, knock @
] at the door of my fathers house. The
ghts in the parlor windows and at the
nm of conversation and cheerful laughter O
lowed me that company were assembled e
II p l..
me to the door. and that might greet y
y family when no strange eye was look- k
g curiously on.