The Weekly Perrysburg journal. [volume] (Perrysburg, O. [Ohio]) 1861-1???, 1861-08-08
tmc,) and answered ina sweet, bird.likc


an end to all the bright dreams and hopes
Of my youth and manhood. Frank Chester,
my boyish rival, who had often tried, and
tried in vain, to usurp my place beside the
girl, had succeeded at last, and had won her
away from me This was his child--his
and Mary's!
sank, body and soul, beneath this blow.
And, hiding my faco in my hands, leaned
against the door, while my heart wcpt tears
of blood. The little one gozod at me, gricv-
ed and amazed, and put up her pretty lips
as if about to cry, while the pcrploxcd ser
want stepped TO the pnrlor door and called
my sister out. to sec who it could bo that
conducted himself 30 strangely,
| heard q light stop, and pleasant voice
saying:
Did you wish to SEQ my father, sirY'
| looked up. There stood pretty sweet
faced maidon, Of twenty, not much changed
from the dear little sister had loved so
well. | looked at her FOR moment, and
then, stlling the tumult of my heart by a
mighty effort, opened my arms and said;
Lizzie, don't you know me?"
Harry! Oh, my brother Harry she cried
and threw herself upon my breast. She
wept as if her heart would break
could not weep. drew her gently into
the plighted parlor, and stood with her be-
fore them all.
There was a rush and cry Of joy, and then
my father and mother sprang towards me,
and welcomed me home with heartfelt tears.
Oh, strange and passing is such greeting
to the wayworn wanderer And as ] held
my dear old mother to my heart and grasp
el my fathers hand, while Lizzie still clung
beside me, felt that all was not yet lost,
and although another had secured lie IS
choicest blessing, many a JOY remained for
me in this dear sanctuary of home.
There were four other inmates of the room
who had risen on my sudden entrance. One
was the buc-eycd child whom had already
seen, and who now stood beside Frank
Chester, clinging to his hand. Near by
stood Lizzie Moore, Mary's eldest child, and
in distant corner, to which sho had hur-
riedly rctrcated when my name was spoken
stood a all and slender figure half hidden
by the heavy window curtains that fell to
tle floor,
When the first rapturous greeting was
over, Lizzie led me forward with u timid
grace, and Frank Chester graspcd my hand.
"Welcomc home, my BOY" he said with
the loud cheerful tones ] remembered so
well, you have changed SO that should
never have known yuu, But no matter for
that; your heart is in the right place know. y
How can you say he is changcd?" said
my mother gently. TO be sure, he looks
oldor, and more like man, than when he
went away, but his eyes and smiles are the
same as ever, 1t is that heavy beard that
changes him. He is my boy still.''
GAY, mother" | answered sadly Il am
your boy STILL"
Heaven help nc! At that moment felt
like boy, and it would have been bless
cd relief TO have wept upon her bosom, as
| had done in my infancy, But kept down
the boating of my heart and the trcmor of
my lip, and answered quietly, as looked in
his full handsome face,
"You have changed too, Frank, but think
for the better"
"Oh, yes! thank you for the compliment" l."
he answered with hearty laugh, "My
wife tells me am growing hansomer every
day."
His wife ! Could hear that name and
keep silent still?
"And have you seen my littlo grl?" he
added lifting the infant in his arms, and
kissing her crimson cheek. II tell you,
Harry there is not another in the world
Don't you think she looks very much as her
mother uscd?'
"Very much" faltored.
"Iallow!" cried Frank, with a suddenncss
that made me start violently, Il have for
gotten to introduce you to my wife. | be-
lievc you and she used to be playmates in
your young dnys--eh, lIarry?" and he slap
ped me on the back. "For the sake Of old
times, and because you were not here at the
wedding, I'll give you leave to kiss her at
once; but mind, old fellow, you are never to
repeat the ceremony. Come here she is,
and for one want to see how you will man
age those ferocious moustaches of yours in
the operation"
He pushed Lizzie laughing and blushing
towards me A CLEAN of light and hope,
almost too dazzling to bear, came over me,
and | cried out before thought;
"Not Mary"
betrayed my secret to every one in the
room. But nothing was said. Even Frank,
in general so obtusc, was silent. / kissed
the fair cheek of the wife, and hurried to
the silent figure at the window.
"Mary-iIary Moore" | said in a low,
eager voice, have you no welcome to give
the wanderer?"
She turned and laid her hand in mine and
murmured hurriedly;
81 am glad to see you here, Harry"
Simple words; and yet how blessed they
made me! / would not have yielded up
that moment for an Emperor's crown for
there was the happy home group, and the
dear home fiFeside, and there sweet Mary
Moore! The eyes had dreamed Of by day
and night were falling before me! never
knew the meaning of happiness till that mo-
ment came!
Many years have passed since that happy