Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1862-08-07
M A RY Nc; : r E.

All nv life long had known Mary Moore.
AL NY life long, too, | bad loved her.
Our mothers were Old payt1ates and first
COUSINS My irst recoIectio:. s of young
gentleman in turkey red trock aud morocco
shoes, rocking cradle. in which reposed
suUny haired blu. eyed baby not qai:a year
old That young gentleman was myself Harry
Church that blue eyed baby WAS Mary
Moore.
Later still | saw myself at the little red
school house, drawing my painted sled up to
he door and arranging my OvercOat on it that
Mary might ride home. Many black eye |
have gained Oh such occasions for other boys
liked her beside re, and she ! am afraid Was
something of fIrt, even in her pinnif ore
How dainty she came tripping down the steps
when | called her name how sweetly her blue
eyes ipuke ed up to HE from the envIOus folds Of
her winter hoo ! how gaIly her merry laugh
rung ont when by diut Of supper human exer
tions / kept her I'D before The rest and let
her stand upon the steps eXuling!y to see
them all go by Tne fairy laugh No one
tut Mary conId let her heart lay up so upon
her lips | followed that laugh up from NY
days uf childhood TIL | greg an awh +. ara
b!ushing youth followed it through the
heated noon of manhood, and now, when the
t.OSiS of age are silverin! my hair, and many
children climb my knee and call me Father" >"
| fnd that music still. When l was Efteeu
the FIRST great sorrow of my life came upon me
Was sent away to a western school and was
obliged TO part with Mary. We were not to
see each other for three long years This to
me, was sentence of death, for Mary was
Ike life 10 me- But hearts are very tongh
things after ALL / left college in all The flush
and vig0r of my nineteenth year. | Was no
longer awkward aud embarrcssed,I had grown
ntO tall, slender stripping, with very good
opIhIon OF myself III general and particnlar.-
II | thought Of Mary Moore it was TO ina yine
how would dazzle aud bewiller her with my
good looks aud wonderful attainlnentS never
I'M king that she migh dazzle aud hewder me
still more was SAD puppy, know, but as
youth aud good looks haze fled. trust may
De believed When | say the seli-couceit has let
NE also.
An advantageous proposal was made to me
at his time, aud acctptiuE,I | gave up all ideas
OF profession and prepared 10 go to the Indies.
In my hurried vIslt home | saw nothirg Of
Mary Moore. She had goae to a boarding
school III Massachusetts, aud was not expect
~ uOih0 t''' NV NAV 'dl ShFC Oie SiSH ~
;he next fall. | gave one sigh TO the memory
Of my little blne eyed playmate, aud then cali
cd myself mau again.
In year." | thought, as the stage whirl-
ed away from our door, 'In a year three at
a. the most, | will return, aud if Mary is as
pretty as she used to be-why then perhaps l
NAY marry her
| stocked my budding mustache with CON,
pacency, while | settled the future of a young
lady had not seen fer four years | never
thought OF The possibility OF her refusing me
never dreamed that she would not stoop with
grateful tears to pick up the handkerchief
"ueheVer chose to throw it at her feet.
Out now know that had Mary met rue then
0,e would have despsed lie. She was as far
dooVe me as the heavens are above the earth.
[eFhaps In the scented and effected student
s s"e might have found plenty of sport but as
;O' io'ng lie, or feeling ..e slightest interest
in me- save regret that l should make such
Su anm igated donkey Of myself know she
would not.
India vas my salvation not merely because
u Tue plentiful share of gold had land up, but
Oegause my earnest laoor couuteracted the
eF'l OF nature and made me better man. And
N0Tp at the end of three years prepared to