Smyrna times., 1861-11-07
FIRST LOVE
Of an Ancient Mariner.

7,
who died few years ago, lived to be nearly
eighty years of age. An acquaintance of his
heard him, a short time before his death, tell
the following story Of his first love. Thus, he
says. it came about:
| We were wont to meet him at the house of a
mutual friend, where he was always welcome
guest; came and went as he listed, and had his
hammock swung in chamber where the temp.
arature suited him best; fer he loved a cold
clear atmosphere. In a word, he was the con.
ire OF as charming household group as shall
be seen any day. Blooming faces shone upon
him, merry songs greeted him as he took his
place beside the CHEEKY hearth in those cold
evenings in spring. One bright.haired crea-
ture with rosy lips claimed him ever as her
own, seated him beside her on the velvet cou, h,
called him "her dear boy" which delighted
the ancient mariner beyond all things anl at
last drew from him the tale referred to.
had been reminding hiE: ofa very old friend
now dead, and Of. whom we had heard nothing
for many years; as spoke, tide ofearly re-
collections swept up and filled the cid mans
eyes with tears. "Ah!' said he, he was a
very kind friend to me; we had been school
mates, and then we went to sea together.
Alter while we parted, and entered the roy
al navy; when next | saw o. was comma:
ucT on OOaTG Tic. 119 WAS on tDe quay a.
Greenock when | sailed ia. and little thought
that the vessel carrying a royal pennant was
commanded by JOhnHe Rose. | landed. and
went up to him with man that knew us
both.
"O.." said the latter, "do you remember
little Johnnie Ross Z"
Well" answered o." and precious little
scamp he was!"
"On this" observed Sir John, "we shook
hands and renewed acquaintance, and | had
reason to be glad of ii; for" he repeated, 20.
was very kind TO me-"
"Now about Margaret" said the bOnny crea
ture beside hin.
'Ah! she was a noble girl When first
knew her sine was ten, and | about twelve years
old. We used to walk home together from the
school, and at first were very happy but be.
tore long the children began TO watch us, and
we were obliged to make signs to one another
about meeting. | mind well how shamefaced
We were when the others csught US mak ng
signals before breaking up; and one day the
master saw US, and it was on that occasion
Margaret showed such spirit aud courage as
made me never forget her.
:" | had got out of sct ool," he continued, after
a short pause, "and was waiting for her, never
needing the children laughing at me, as stood
watching for the sight of her bonny face, for
che was very fair.'' | can by no means de.
scribe the pathos of the old mans tone as be
said this. When began to think she was
in trouble, and kept in hid myself Till the
place was clear Of lther folk, and then | creept
round and keeked in at the window Of a side
room where scholars in disgrace were put
sometimes. Poor Margaret was indeed there,
sitting upon box, very torloin, and crying bes-
ierIy. She frightened up when she saw my
taca in the window pane, and smiled when
told her had been waiting for her. Then
declared would be revenged on our hard mas
ter, and went at once to the school-rOo to
carry out my pan this was easy, for there was
no one there.
"Just over the masters desk was a shelf, on
which stood q large ink. bottle, and near to this
again was the hat with which the dominic
always crowned himself when he assumed the
scat OF authority. | mounted the desk, took a
piece ofstring from my pocket tied the inK-jsr
and hat together, then, descending from my
perch, left the room, and ran round again to the
slde-wndow 10 prepare Margaret for the result
of my device. Then ran home TO dinner, and
returned 10 school in the afternoon.
:" was late. Al the children were in the
room; and at The masters desk stood Margaret,
with scarlet cneeks but triumphant eyes just
receiving the last blow of the leather strap on
her open hand. The punishment Of my mis-
chevous revenge had been visited upon her.
Streams of ink dscolored the masters face /;
and books and desk, on which last Ia y the 5rOk.
en- ink. Jar, where saturated with It, The
master himself was fUrloue; and the more 50
that Margaret had borne the infection like
holoine, in pefect silence, reeoutely refusing to
give up the name of The delinquent, whose ae'
compice she vas accused Of being. She look
ed 1t me as sac moved de6anIly away. and the
expression ot her eyes warned me not to speak.
1t was, indeed, too late. | hurried from the
room before | was observed; Margaret walked
proudly after me and for the last time we took
our way home together from the school,"
cannot do justice to this story as told by
the old navigator. Nearly seventy years had
passed away, and yet the memory of his child
love was still the green spot in his heart. The
pathos, too, wac enhanced by the Scottish ac-
cent, which dign6cd, SO to speak, little his
tory, that finely illustrates The exquisite poem,
Jeanio Morrison:
I've wandered east, I've wandered west,
I've borne a weary lot;
But in my wanderings far or near,
Ye never were fsrgot.
The fount that first burst frae this heart
Still travels on its way;
And channels deeper as it rims
The love o. llfe's young day."
He said all this. and much more than Gun
do justice to. The whole picture of the two
buirns--" twa BARNS and bet Ge heart"-rose
before me, as, bIushng, frightened, and silent,
they cleekit thegther hame "after school.
"'Twaa then we luvit each ither weel
Twas then we twa did part;
Sweet time, sad TINE, twa BARNS at schulz,
Twa .bairns and but ae heart"
al saw Ihir twa BARNS with their heads bent
DER ae braid page" with one book between
them, the girl intent upon the lesson, the boys
lesson in that fair child's eyes:
"Thy look was on thy lesson,
But-my lesson was 10 thee ~
lie and Margaret met but twice afterward.
He dwelt most on the first of these meetings
:" was travelling" he said, "in Scotland,
when the coach stopped to take up passenger
A. 81 - wu1 Essow ha~.