The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1857-09-02
Selett M(istelIang,
MA nv Mo0BE.
4 PLEASANT LOVE STORY.
CHAPTER I.


All my life long had L known Mary
Moore. All my life long 1 had loved
her.
Our mothers were old playmates and
first cousins. Ny first recollection is o.
a boy in a red frock and Morocco shoes
rocking cradle, in which rcposed sun
ny-haired, blue-eyed baby, pot quite q
year old. I hat boy was myself Harry
Church that blue eyed baby was Mary
Moore.
Later still, see myself at the little
school house, drawing my little chaise
up the door,. that Mary might ride home
Many a beating lad gained on such
occasions, for other boys besides me
liked her, and she, fear, was something
of firt, even in her pinafores. How
elegantly she came tripping down the
steps when 1 called her name How
swectly her blue eyes laughed 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 it through the
heated noon of manhood-and now,
when tho frosts of age are silvering my
hair, and many children climb on my
knee and call me " father" I find that
the memories of youth are strong, and
that even in gray hairs, I am following
its music still.
When I was fifteen, the first great
sorrow Of ny life came on my heart. l
was sent to school and was obliged to
part with Mary. We were not to see
each other FIR three long yearsl This
to me was like sentence OF death, for
Mary was like life itself to me.
But hearts are tough things after
all
left college in all the flush and Wig
or Of my nineteenth year. I 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 L thought
of Mary Moore, it was to imagine how
I should dazzle and bewilder her with
my good looks and wonderful attain
meuts-never thinking that she might
dazzle and bewilder me still more. l
was a cozcomb, I know but as youth
and good looks have fed, l trust I may
be believed vixen 1 say that self-conceit
has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made
to me at this time, and, accepting it, ]
gave up all idea of profession, and |
prepared to go to the Indies In my
hurried visit home 1 saw rothing OF
Mary Moore She had gone to board
ing school at some distance, and was not
expected home till the following May.
uttered one sigh to the memory of my
little blue eyed playmate, and then call
ed myself " a man again"
ola year." thought, as the vehicle
whirlcd away from our door, " in a year,
or three years, at the very mcst, I will
return, and, if Mary is as pretty as she
used to be, why, then, perhaps I may
marry her."
And thus I settled the future of a
young lady whom I had not seen for four
years 1 never thought of the posi-
bility of her refusing me-never dream
ed that she would not condescend to ac-
eept 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, I should
have perhaps found was mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely
because of mysuccess, but because my
laborious industry had counteracted the
evil in my nature, and made me bet
ter man. When at the end of three