Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-10-21
gnteresting 9torp,
MY FIRST LOVE.

Nl I L lhO i LIZ T..
That / was in love was fact that did
not admit of doubt. deported myself
like person in love; talked like per.
son in love; l looked and felt like per
soa in love. The affection that had taken
place of my youthful heart was no every
day one; | was sure of that. There was
not words in the English language to de-
scribe the height, depth. length and
breadth OF its grandeur. 1t was destined
10 be grand accompaniment of the ages
yet to be; principle throughout eter
nifty; plant of surprising beauty in the
broad heavens Of home affections. NY
love was returned-the strong yearning
of my nineteen year old heart went out
into the directionaf4Ae most beautiful Of
all - shire, in return sent the yearn
ing of her heart to meet mine. Twice
week, as often as the week came round
| went up to the old brown home of DR..
Stoddard. to tell his daughter my love,
and as regularly listened to recital of
its return from the red lips of my charm.
ing Janet. The good doctor made merry
at our expense, and his jolly wife took a
wicked pleasure in constantly reminding
US of our youth. Janet was tortured by
sly references to our playhouse in the
shed, her long sleeyed pianafores and
pautaletts of six months before while l
was offered an old coat of the doctors for
my mother to make into dressing gown
for me.
We were nevertheless determined to
be married. We would steal slyly away
from the house while our cruel friends
reposed in the arms of Morpheus HE US
ho f" the wings of love-" to the neai est
city +; Janet would beepme in q moments
time Mrs. Jason Brown.
At once we set about making prepare
TOMS for this important journey. Every
thing, OF course must be conducted with
the greatest secresy. At twelve O'Clock
| was to leave my home steaithly, get my
fathers gray nag noisclessly out of the
barn and harness her, and then to pro-
coed to Janet. Janet was to be waiting
Tor me at her window. | was to place a
ladder at the same. window; she was to
descend that ladder; we were to Fly down
the road by the old lane, to the spot
where our horse was fastened, and then
the wind should not overtake US.
There was but one difficulty in the way.
Janet's room was shared by her sister
Fanny, a mischievoas, wicked creature OF
eleven years, who, to use Janet's words
= was awake at all hours of the night
There was but one way if Fanny was
aroused; sho must be hribed in silence.
For that purpose. j placed in Janet's
hand round shining dollar. But Janet
needed assistance, SO she concluded to
make Fanny her conGdant the very after
noon, before We started, and in that case
prevent all possibility of raising the house
with sudden outcry.
Well, the lorg looked for, hoped for
and yet dreaded night arrived at last.
How slowly its Ieaden feet carried
away the hours, and what strange heart.
full Of emotions bore up, as sat by my
chamber window looking out, as | thought
for the last time, upon the home of my
father.
The moon was out in all her splendor;
she was kind to me, lighting up with her
silver touches all the spots my eyes might
wish to rest upon before | went out into
the world wanderer. The broad fields
lay out smooth and shining before nv
gaze; the fields in which / had worked
when boy-ah! dear. kind father he
had beeu to me At this juncture my
throat began to sweh-=I turned from the
window.
If could see mother once more!" /
exclaimed, rubbing my eyes with my coat
sleeve. No one ever had better
mother than [ had"
sat down in chair and sobbed out
| right, looked around for something to
take with me that my mothers hagd had
blessed with Der touch. There was a
| spinning wheel in the room where slept;
at the spindle hung wooden roll. With
my knife half cut and half tore it off,
pressed it feryently to my lips and then
| placed it tenderly in my vest pocket; l
had no time to do more; the old clock in
the kitchen warned me solemnly that my
appointed time had arrived; and with a
slow, sad yet noiseless step, | left my
childhood's home.
Once out in the open air, my wonted
! lightness Of spirits returned. | consoed
myself, with the thought that in few
years | should return a strong, healthy,
respected and Influential man, an honor
to my parents, blessing to my friends,
and the husband Of Janet.
have 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
a triumphant exit, and in few moments
was jogging fearlessly along toward the
bouse Of Janet. Ny only dread was the
little sprite, Fan, if, after all, she should
betray US; what dreadful, direful, des
perate mischief it would be! ! groaned
aloud at the thought; yet put brave
face upon the matter; ! said that if il