The dollar weekly bulletin. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1862-1864, 1862-11-06
MARY MOORE.

Moore.
x Our mothers were old playmates and first
cousins. Nv first recollection is OF a young
gentleman in a turkey-red -frock and mo-
rocco shoes, rocking a cradle, in which re-
posed a sunny-haired. blue-eyed baby, not
quite q year old. That young gentleman
was I, 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 the door, and arranging my overcoat upon
it, tina: Mary might ride home. Many
black ey, have gained on such occasions,
for other boys liked her besides me, and she.
am afraid, was something of a flirt, even in
her pianoforte. How dainty she came
tripping down the steps when 1 called her
name. How swee,ly her blue eyes looked
up 70 me from the envious folds of her win
ter hood. How gaiiy her merry laugh rang
out, when by dint of superhuman exertions,
/ kept her sled before the rest, and let her
stand upon the steps exultingly to see them
all go by. The fairy laugh! No one but
Mary could let her heart lie SO on her lips.
followed that laugh up from my days Of
childhood, till / grew to be an awkward,
blushitg youth; followed it through the
heated noon Of manhood: ard now, when
the frosts OF age ars sbiveri g nv hair. and
many children climbto my knee and call me
father l find that the memories Of youth
are strong, and that, gray hairs and all. am
following that music still.
When 1 was fifteen. the first great sorrow
OF my life came to me. l was sent away to
. western school, aud was obliged to part
with Mary. We were not to see each oihe.
for three long years. This. to me, was like
a sentence Of death, for Mary was like life
itself to me. But hearts are very tough
things after all. left college in all the flush
and vigor of my nineteenth year. l was no
longer awkward and embarrassed. l had
grown into tall, slender stripping. with a
very good opinion of myself in general and
particular. Ii l thought of Mary Moore, It
was to imagine how would dazzle and be-
wilder her with my good looks and wonder
full attainments, never thinking that she
might dazzle and bewilder me still mere
was a sad puppy, know; but as youth an.
good looks have fed. / may be believed
when / say that self-c>nceit has left me also
An advantageous proposal was male to
me at this time, and. accepting 1t, gave up
all idea If profession. and prepared to go
to the midas. In my hurried visit home OF
two days saw nothing of Mary NJ 'ore. She
had gone to boarding schoo' in MasSachu-
setts, and was not exported home until the
next fall. ] gave one sigh TO the memory OF
nv little blue-eyed playmate aud then
called myself man AGAIN
in year. thought. as the stage whirled
away from our door, sin a year or three years
at the most will retura. and if Mary is as
pretty as she used to be-why, then. per-
haps / may marry her.
/ stroked back nv budding moustache
with complaceDcv, while l settled the future
of q yourg lady had not seen for four years.
I never tn bought of the possibility OF her re
fusing me-never dreamed that she would
not stoop with grateful tears to pick up the
handkerchief whenever l choose to throw It
= at her feet.
But now know til 1t had Mary met me
then she would have de-pised me. She as
far above me as the h, avens are above the
earth. Perhaps, in the 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 al unm itgated donkey OF
myself, / know she would not
India was my salvation, not merely be-
cause of the plentiful share of gold had laid
up, but because nv earnest labor had coun-
teracted the evil of nature and made me a
better man. And when at the end of the
three years l prepared to return.l had wrote
nothing to the lear ones was about to m Get
of the reformatious which | knew had taken
place. They loved me as l was 1 muir
INJURED to myself, 'and they shall find for
themselves if I am worth the Loving as l
am
Jpacked up many token from that land
Of gold for the friends 1 was about to meet.
The gift for Mary Moore was one selected
with a beating heart-a ring trough. virgin
gold, with my name and hers engraved in
side. That was all, and yet the little toy
: thrilled me strangely as balanced it upon
the tip of my finger. To the eyes of others
it was but a mall, plain circlet, suggestive
though perhaps, by its daintiuess, OF the
dainty white hand that was about to wear it.
But to mech, mellow much was en-
bodied there! A loving smile on beauti-
full face-low words of welcome-a happy
home and sweet smiling face there-a group
of merry children to climb upon my knee
all these delights were hidden in that ring
of gold.
A tall, bearded, sur bronz ed nan. knock
cd at the door of my fathers house. The
lights In the parlor windows and the hum of
conversation and cheerful laughter showed
me that company was assembled there. l
hoped my sister Lizzie would come TO the
door, and that might greet my family
when no strangers eyes were looking curl
onsly on. But no, servant girl answered
my summons; they were too merry in the
parlor to heed that long absent one when he
asked for admittance. Some such bitter
thoughts were passing through my mind as
! heard the sounds from the paTlOr, and saw
the hslf-suppressed smile on the servants
face.
hesitated moment before made my
self known or asked after the family. Aud
while ! stood silent a strange apparration
grew up before me. From behind the
want peered out a small, golden bead--a thy
delicate form followed, and sweet, child
ish face and blue eyes were lifted up to
mine. so like the one that frightened my
boy hood, that started back with a sudden