The Shasta courier., 1864-12-24
The Lock of Hair--A Story of First Love.

The Lock of Hair--A Story Of First Love.
| A "a midshipman, held sort Of neu-
trd position; was expected to keep myself
Tar above the sailors; but at the same time.
it was crime little less than mutiny to con-
slider that was either here or hereafter at
less than unapproachable distance from the
| sixth mate. 1t was while held this unen-
viable appointment that | first fell in love.
Among the passengers on board the ship
| were two companies and several extra officers
of his majestv's One Hundred and Twentieth
regiment Of foot We were conveying them
| 10 Bombay, where they were to be stationed.
The wives and daughters Of many of the Off
GERS were also cabin passengers. The young
lady who particularly attracted my attention
was the daughter of Major c., kind
hearted, gentlemanly man, but whose pusi-
| ton was, Ut course, so superior to that of the
unfortunate East India company's midship
man. that anything in the shape of acquain-
tanceship or even Of conversation was impos-
| ible s1aH
Maria. his daughter, was an exceedingly
pretty girl about sixteen or seventeen years
| of age. She was eyidently. from the express
ion of her conference.-the never but once
had the pleasure of speaking to her exceed
! ingly amable. 1t was perfect happiness to
me to have her ON deck. | used to watch her
each afternoon, with her mother and sister
when the band was playing; and sincerely
enyied the military officers who fiuttered
around her. On these occasions my ewes
used to be necessarily rivited on hers and
was often severely rated by my superior Off
GERS for nv inattention to orders.
At last, felt certain that she noticed mo.
hut most probably from the fact of my inces-
sanity gazing at her. She evidently men
toned my behavior to her sister, for she used
to regard me with peculiar inqnsitive, sar
castle manner. / hardly think she mention.
ed my behavior to her mother; at least,
never had any reason, from that lady's con
duct, to imagine that she was even aware of
nv existence.
NV affection increased to such an extent
! that at last | grew desperate and determin-
ed, cost what it might. Notwithstanding our
fearful difference in position, to make known
to her nv passion but how to mar.ase it
was the diff .ulty To address her personal.
IL on the subject was of course impossible.
Her mother was cross grained i'll tempered
| woman. who, when not prostrated by sea
sickness, unfortunately. rarely occurred, had
her eyes necessarily on her daughters. had
ton much dread Of her to think of broaching
the subject to her, even if my position would
not have made su, an act or presumptuous.
There was only one member of her family
with whom there existed the slightest posi-
bilty Of forming an intimacy, and that was
her young brother, a boy about eleven years
of age. | Immediately broke ground with
him. and succeeded admirably. common
ced by giving him a pressing invitation to
the midshipman's berth. BY degrees our
acquaintance ripened into intimacy. Then.
after binding him over to eternal secresv, i
confided to him my unhappy, consuming pas
sion for his sister. Young as be was, and
inexperienced in such matters. ekind SYM
pathized with me. lie promised to assist me
in every manner that lay in his pow er. |
advised him to begin by pointing me out to
his sister and telling her how vastly superior
was to the other midshipmen. Therto hint
gently how incessantly / was talking and
thinking of her. This. / considered, would
be as much as would prudent at the commence
ment.
In short time. found his sister had re-
marked me favorably. and thought me very
good looking Here was an ercouragensent
for me. Of course, | sent back word that
she Was the loveliest girl / had ever seeu
The next day she smiled kindly when she
saw me- We were then within a fortnight's
sail of Bombay. / used bitterly to weep in
the night watche. wheI. | thought that or her
arrival there should see her no more. SnIne-
times / thought of deserving the ship and
enlistimg as u private in her father 'sre siment
but then our d ference in position would be
even greater than g, er. 81 HNsi N
At last | Summoned up sufficient courage
to tell her brother how happy | should lssff
he G, I'D obtain from his si-ter some little OBJ
iect that might keep as 4 mnnNcn.o Of her.
lie asked ME what should Ike. and mod
estiy left il to his nwn discresnn. lie sng.
gestei i. lock Of hair. to " ieli. rs may easily
lie s.fnpused. gave ready consent. as
surcl him thai such gift was more than my
widest ina ginatians could bare hoped for;
that the possession Of sucii Il treasure would
make me happy for life.
Bad weather set in aud did not see eth
er sister or brn.her again sor some DAYS. He
was exceedingly delicate, and, during the
rain. his mother s,.inel sim a prisoner ta
the Cu,ldy. When l s;gw him ,gaii'. he
placed insiy hand, without saying Il warl. u
small faided paper, about the size Of = saiiE
ing. As it evidently contained somethiag.
Immediately reshed below. and, with some
difficulty. cnntriyed 10 open it unseen by arg
ene--fio easy task. as s.,litade is rare in "a
midshipman's berth. The paper contained
a long but very thin tress Of bright atsbarn
hair. ! knew it Immediately hy It's beautiful
cnlDr. and silky texture, to be his sisters.
Never, believe, was happiness equal to
mine ut that nome t. | that day made
clumsiIy enough. out # one of my shirts.
small ba. How grasetnl WAS !. atthe time.
| far the foresight oi ar old servant, vii" had
plnced :. housewife af her uwp mar nfac
ture in my SEA chest. and thus, af that crii
cal mament. TO- supply ue with needle AMI
thread The bag. when finished. was jus:
| large enough 10 holi the hair in It's paa.r en-
ve.ape. Our OF reSsect to my treasure. ha.i
| taken particular pains in making The tag.
| and was not a little proud Of it when i;w:~
| finished. Whea all was ready | fastened il
TO piece of spun yarn, placing it round my