Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1862-10-23
MARY MOORE.

which reposed a sunny-hailed, blue eyed
baby, not quite year old. That young
gentleman was ], myself Harry Church
that blueeyed baby was Mary Moore,
Later still, saw myself at the little red
school house, drawing my painted sled
up to the door, and arranging my over.
coat upon it, that Mary might ride home
Many black eye have gained on such
occasions, for other boys liked her besides
me, AMI she, am afraid, was something
OF fir, even in her plnafore. How
dainty she came tripping down the steps
when | called her name. How sweetly
her blue eyes looked up to me from the
envious folds of her winter hood How
gnily her merry laugh rang out, when by
dint OF supcrhuman exertions, | kept her
sled before the rest, and let her stand up.
on the steps and see them go by. The
fairy laugh No one but Mary could
let her heart ] ic on her lips. followed
that laughup from my days of childhood
till grsw to be an awkward, bushing
youth; followed it through the heated
noon of manhood: and now, when the
frosts of age are shivcring my hair, and
many children climb to my knee and call
me "lather," find that the memories OF
youth are strong; and that, gray hairs and
all, | am following that music still
When | was fifteen, the first sorrow
of my life came TO me. was sent away
to western school, and was obliged to
part with Mary. We were not to $
each other for three long years. This,
to me, was like a sentence of death, for
Mary was like life itself to me But
hearts are vcy tough things after all |
left college in all the flush and vigor Of
my nineteenth year. | was no longer
awkward and embarrassed. [ had grown
into tall, slender STRIPPING, with very
good opinion of myself in general aud pa =
ticular. II thought of Mary Moore, it
was to imagine how / would dazzle and
bewilder her with my good looks and
wonderful attainments, never thinking
that she might dazzle and bewilder me
still more ! was sad prppy, know +;
but as youth and good looks have fled,
| trust | may be believed when | say that
sclfconceit has left me also. ...
An advantageous proposal was made to
me at this time. and, accepting it, gave
up all idea of a profession, aud prepared
to so to the Indies. In my hurried visit
home of two days saw nothing OF Mary
Moore. She had gone to boarding
school in Massachusetts. and was not ex.
pectcd home till the next fall. / gave
one sigh to the memory of my little blue
eyed playmate, and then called myself n
man again,
'ln year." thought, as the stage
whirled away from our door, Sin year
or three years at the most | will return,
and if Mary is as pretty as she used to be
why, then, perhaps may marry her."
| stroked back my budding moustache
with mplaccncy, while ] settled the fu
turc OF a young lady had not seen for
four years. never thought of the posi-
bility of her refusing me-never dleamed
that she would not stoop with grateful
tears to pick up the handkerchief whenev
er | choose to throw it at 1er feet
But now | know that had Mary met
me then the would have despsed me-
She was as far above me as the heaven
above the earth. Perhaps in tho scented
and affected student, she might have
found plenty of sport; but as for loving
me, or feeling the slightest interest in me,
save regret that | should make such an
unmitigated donkey oil myself, | know
she wonld not.
India was my salvation, not merely be
4 a. L f,l ,l,o of, / h,l
laid mp, but because my earnest labor had
counteracted the evil of nature and made
me a better man. And when at the end
of three years | prepared to return, !
wrote nothing to the dear ones was
about to meet of the reformations which
knew had taken place. "They loved
me as | was," | murmured to myself,
"and they shall find for themselves if l
am better worth the loving as am"
| packed up many a token from that
land of gold for the friends | was about
to meet. The gift for Mary Moore was
was one selected with beating heart
a ring of rough, virgin gold, with my
name and hers engraved inside. That
was all, and yet the little toy thrilled me
strangely as balanced it upon the tip
of my finger. 10 the eyes of others it
was but a small plain circlet, suggestive
though perhaps, by its daintiness, of the
dainty white hand that was to wear it.,
But to me- oh, mellow much was en-
bodied there A loving smile on beau
tiiul face--low woros of welcome--a hap
py home and sweet face smiling there