The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1865-03-15
a RECORD.

tuou. as tdko up tuis paChdSo VI iSNC'o'
and scan the contents; the warm express
sions of friendship, the artlessness, the bold
confession il all comes back 10 me, like a
faded picture restored by the hand of cum
ming artist, and all the familiar associations;
the pleasant ompanionship, The freedom
from care, which were mine when these
letters were written
He was my first love. Two years my
senior and thought him The most perfect
specimen of boyhood | had ever seen. |
was very proud when he first noticed me
and his manners were always so gentleman
ly. | was never ashamed of being met by
any of my friends when was in his compa-
n.y. He attended school some disiar ce
from home and during the week | was
sure to receive a letter and oil Saturdays a
be autiiul bouquet, which he broush. me
himself The letters have kept. Many a
time have threatened 10 destroy them; and
vet they are such pleasant reminders of the
''days OF my youth: !" that | have RETAINED
from the deed.
| had but one brother and he, being
brought up among the girls, was shy aud
awkward and younger, according TO his
years, than was my friend, who had been
much from home ard 10 society.
OF course Robert was my model, ind
brother Johns "gaucheries" excessively
annoying, when compared with the formers
ease and abandon. | was constantly fret
liu al him; Tor loved my brother so well,
was anxious he should be as near psrtec.
lion as it was possible for human nature 10
attain.
Blu, fretied 10 no purpose. John was
boyish and rough; and boysh aud rough
was afraid he would ever be. | could not
thea discern the diamond under It's rough
exterior.
Time wore on, and Robert efi school,
and having no tact Tor profession, entered
store. How grand | felt | have no
doubt | was the architect of buildings
enough-had they been of less airy fabrics
Ito have furnished village.
Al his time my elder sisters were receiS-
ing company, and The idea OF having Rober:
call on ms in the evenings, when others
were in The room, was almost 100 much for
my shy, sensitive nature.
we'll remember the first call be made.
could not say one word my conVersa-
tional powers seemed suddenly 10 have
left me- Father entertained him but when
Robert and stood 10 ths door together, my
tongue was loosened. 1t was awkward,
however, al the best and, because | had
a nervous dread OF making myself ridicu-
lous, ! determined, as it were, TO put an
end to the beginning.
When next we me-, was cool and dis
lant suppose he was surprised at first,
then fancied he had offended me, and in a
few days be brought me a letter. met
him al The door. What possessed me do
no: know. oul did not ask him in, and he
LETT me, looking sad enough.
read the letter it vas most conciliato-
ry; he begged pardon if he had wounded
my feelings in any way, hoped for a recon-
cIia,ion, aud closed with, ''yours till death,
hope" as though he had doubt If we
were ever 10 be as we had been.
l was too proud 10 tell MIN the trnih and
then commenced the struggle. | never
though, to give him up entirely. | meant
we should be friends but in trying to sup
press love little, | killed it outright and
so ended the romance of my youth.
Fourteen years ago We are neither of
US married we have met and passed as
strangers.
And my brother? | wish you could see
The two, and contrast Them now. | lad
heard oil Rober as being very dissipaIed, +,
and yet in all these years had never met
him when he was other than a gentleman.
But a few Sabbalhs ago, as sat by the
window, | saw two men advancing, and
one was endeavoring TO support the steps
of the other and that other was Roberl, in
a Stale OF bessily intoxicalion.
How sad il made me feel: and yet | could
not take my gaze from him as long as he
remained in sight. ! turned 20 my noble
brother, the light OF our home all | could
wish, more than | aniicipated-oh, | could
have hugged him 10 my heart.
Was there anything for me TO regret?
d.. D.Ir -