Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-06-22
MY FIRST LOVE.

| of my youthful heart was no every day one
assure you of that. There weren't words
nough in the English language to describe the
height, depth, length and breadth of its gram
deur. 1t was destined to be a grand accom-
paniment of the ages yet to be; fixed princi-
! pie through hout eternity planet of Surpas-
sing beauty in the broad heavens of home at
fectons. My love was returned-the strong
yearning of my nineteen-year- old heart went
out into the direction of the most beautiful
young maiden in all-shire land she in return
sent the yearnng of her heart to meet mine.
| Twice week as often sthe week came around
| l went-up to the old brown home of DR.. Stod-
dard to tell his daughter my love, and as reg
| ulary listened to recital in return from the
red lips of my charming Janet. The good
doctor made merry at our expense, and his
| jolly wife took a wicked pleasure in constant
! ly reminding rs of our youth. Janet was
| tortured by sly references to her playhouse
| in the shed, her long -sleeved pinafores and
pantaletts of six months before; while was
| offered old coat of the doctors for my
mother to make into dressing gown for me.
We were nevertheless, determined to be
married. We would slyly steal away from the
house while our cruel friends reposed in the
arms of Morpheus; HE Us, on ssthe wings of
love- to the nearest city Janet would be-
| come, In a moments time, Mrs. Jason Brown.
AT once we set about making preparations
| for this important journey. Everything. of
| course, must be conducted with the greatest
| secresy. at twelve O'Clock was to leave my
home stealthily. get my fathers grey nag
| noiSelessly out of the barn and harness her,
and then proceed to Janet. Janet was to be
waiting for me at her chamber window. l
was to place ladder at the same window; she
was to descend that ladder; we were to fly
| down to the old lane, to the spot where the
| horse was fastened, and then the wind should
not outrun us.
There was but one difficulty in the way.
Janet's room was shared by her sister Fanny,
a little mischievious wicked creature Of e1ev-
en- years, who to use Janet's words, sswas "a
wake at all hours of the night.'' There was
but one way: if Fanny was aroused, she must
| he bribed into silence. For that purpose |
placed in Janet'S hand round, shining dollar.
But Janet needed assistance, so she concluded
| to make Fanny her confident the very after
noon before we started, and in that case pre-
vent all possibility of raising the house by
sudden outcry.
| Well the long looked-for, hoped-for, and
| yet dreaded night arrived at last. How slowly
| its leaden feet carried away the hours, and
what strange heartful of emotions bore up,
as l sat by my chamber window looking out,
| as thought, Tor the last time, upon the home
of my father. The moon was out in all her
| splendor; she was kind to me, lighted up with
her silver touches all the spots my eyes might
| wish to rest upon before went ont into the
| world wanderer The broad field lay out
smooth and shining before my gaze; the
| fields in which | had worked by my fathers
side sirce was little boy-ah dear kind
father he had been cat this juncture my
throat began to swell.) / turned away from
| the window.
| | sat down in chair and sobbed outright
| / looked around for something to take with
me that my mothers hand had blessed with
| her touch. There was spinning wheel in
| the room where slept; at the end of the
| spindle hung woolen roll. With my knife |
half cut and half tore it off, pressed it feryent-
| ly to my lips, and then placed it tenderly in
my vest pocket had not time to do more
the old clock in the kitchen warned me SOL
emnly that my appointed time had arrived
| and with slow sad, yet noiseless step left
| the house.
Once out in the open air, my wonted light
| ness of spirit returned. l consoled myself
with the thought that in a few years | should
return again, strong, healthy, wealthy, re-
| spected and influential man, an honor to my
| parents, and blessing to my friends and the
husband of Janet.
| l have often wondered since, how / succeed
ed in getting away from home with my horse
and cart without arousing any one. But as
| good luck would have it, | made triumphant
exit from the old place and in few moments
was jogging fearlessly along towards the home
of Janet. My only dread was the little sprite
| Fan; if after all she should betray us, what
a dreadful. direful, desperate mischief 1T would
be what a wretched predicament affairs
would be in /! l groaned aloud at the thought
! yet put brave face upon the matter; said
| that If it was right that we should go, we
would go !; if it wasn't right, lin all probability,
We should stay at home; yet right or not right,
! if that miserable little Fan did betray US, I'D
spend all my days in avenging the wrong-that
was certain. Was 1 in earnest? did mean it
/ But we shall see.
How earnestly and anxiously 1 gazed to-
wards the chamber window of Janet, as, af-
ter fastening my horse by the roadside, L walk
ed cautiously up the long lane that led to the
doctors house. o joy inexpr essible the
waving of white handkerchief in the moon
| light told me that everything was right, that
| in a few moments should clap Janet fondly
to my breast, mine, mine forever! All, how
happy was $50 happy, indeed, that stood
still there in the moonlight, with my two hands
pressed firmly to my left side, for fear my
overloaded heart would burst from me entire
| ly. What a figure / must have cut then
| What an Apollo must have looked, with my
fine proportions wrapped up in my wedding
suit was slender; was tall / was gaunt;
l am sure was ugly looking at that moment.
What possessed me / cannot tell, but from
an old chest had taken a blue broad cloth
swallowtail coat that had belonged to my
| grandfather in the time of the wars, and in
the pride Of my youth had got into it. The
] tail came nearly to my heels, while the waist
was nearly to my arm-pits. The sleeves reach
ed to the tips of my fingers, hiding entirely
from view tho luxuriant pair OF white silk
gloves, which had allowed myself for the
important occasion. Above this uncouth pile
of blue broad cloth was perched hat. o We
stars and moon that looked upon it, testify
with me that 1t was hat la hat and not
stove pipe,a hat and not boot leg that nat
/ looking back through the mist OF twenty
| years, II seems to have arizen TO the stature