The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1862-11-06
7 sank bodv and soul ben.atb tb;s blow

/ sank, body and soul. beneath this blow.
and hiding my face in nv hands, leaned
against the door. The little ono gazed at
me, grieved and amazed. and put her pretty
lips as if about to cry. while the perplexed
servant stepped to the parlor, and called NY
sister out to find out who it could be that
conducted himselfso strangely.
/ heard light step and pleasant voice
saying:
Did you wish to see my father. sir?'
looked up. There stood pretty. sweet
from the dear sister loved so we'll. look
ed at her nom. mt, and then sitting the
tumult Of my heart by an effort. opened
my arms and said: lfE Tav
Jennie, don't you know me?' as
Harry! Oh, my brother Harry. she cried.
and threw herself upon my breast. She
wept as if her heart would break. l could
not weep. drew her gently into the light
ed parlor. and stood with her before them
all. There was a rush and cry Of Joy. and
then my mother and father sprang toward
me and welcom me home with heartfelt It
tears. Oh, strange and passing sweets such
a greeting to the wayworn traveller. And
as held my dear old moh to my heart.
and grasped nv fathers hand. while jennie
chung beside me, felt that all was not vet
lost. and though another had secured lies
Oh DIGEST blessing, many joy remained for
me in this dear sanctuary of home.
There were four others. inmates OF the
same room, who had risen on my sudden en- =
trance. One was the blue-eyed child whom
| had already seen. and who now stood by
Frank Chester. clirgiDg TO his hand Near
by stood Lizzie, Mary Moore's eldest sister,
aud in a distant corner where she had
spoken. stood a tall and slender figure, half
hidden BY the heavy window curtain tn at
fell to The floor.
over, Jennie led me forward with a tim ID
grace. ard Frank Chester srasped my hand.
Welcome home nv home he said, with
lnud, CHI eerful tones | remem bered so well -
You have changed 50 i would never have
known vou; but no m tier for that-your
heart is in the right place. l know
How can you say he Is changed? said my
mother gently. To be sure he looks older
and graver. and more like man than when
he went away; but his eyes and smile are
the same as ever. II is that heavy beard
that changes him-he is my boy STILL
VS. mother l answered sadly, Il am
your boy still
God help me! At that moment I felt like
bow. and it would have been a blessed re-
lief to have wept upcn her bosom. a. had
done in my infancy. But kept down the
beating OF my heart. and the tremor of my
full aud han lsome lace
'YOu have changed, too, Frank, but l
think for the better
Oh, yes-thank you for your compliment.
My wife tells me l grow handsomer ever
dsy."
His wife! could 1 he ar that name and keep
silent still?
And have you seen my little girl!' he
added, lifting the infant in his arms, and
kissing her crimson cheek. Il tell you
Harry, there is not another like her in the
United States. Don't you think she looks
very much like her mother used top
Very much faltered.
'Hallo!' said Frank. with suddenness
that M de me start violently; Il had forgot
ten to introduce YOU to my wife. / believe
you and she used TO be plavmates in your
youngdays En-, Harry aud he slapped me
on the back. For the sake of old times. and
because you were not at the wedding, l will
give you leave to kiss her once; but mind,
Old fellow, don't repeat the CEREMONY
Come, here she is, and for once ] will man
age those ferocious moustaches of yours in
the operation
He push ed Lizzie, laughing and blushing,
toward me. A CLEAN OF light and hope, al
most too dazzling to bear. came over me.
and cried out before l thought, Not
Mary
Ii must have betrayed my secret to every
one in the room. but nothing was said; even
Frank was this time silent. l kissed the
fair cheek Of the young wife and hurried
to the silent figure looking out of the win
dow.
'Mary-Mary Moore,' said I. ir low
voice, have you alone no welcome to give
the wanderer!
She turned and laid her hand in mine:
and murmured hurridly: l am glad to see
von here Harry
Simple woris-and vet how blest they
made me! | would not have yielded mp at
tina; m oment for an empercr's crown. There
was the happy home group, and the dear
home fireside, and sweet Mary Moore! The
eyes l had dreamed Of by night and by day
were falling before the ardent gaze of nj inc,
and the sweet face had so long prayed to
see was there before me-more beautiful
than before. / never knew till that moment
the meaning Of real happiness.
Many years have passed since that happy
night, and the hair that was dark and glossy
then is fast turning grey. I am growing to
be an old m an, and can look back to long.
happy and well-spent life. And yet, sweet
it has been, wou,! not recall single
day. for the love that made my manhood so
bright. shines also upon me in my white
hairs. An old man! Can this be so? At
heart l am as young as ever. And Mary.
with her bright hair parted smoothly from
her brow that has slight fuirow in it, is
still the Mary of my earlier days. To me
she can never grow old or change. The
heart that held her in infancy. and sheltered
her piously in the flush and beauty of wo-
manhood, eau never cast her out till life
shall cease to warm it. Nor even then, for