The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1867-04-23
NJ A R Y M O @ r B
cHA.prFR I.

all NY lire long mad known Mary
Moore. All my life I loved her,
Our mothers were old playmates and
first cousins. My first recollections are q
boy, in red frock and morocco shoes
rocking cradlein which reposed sun.
ny haired, blue-eyed baby not quite 9
year old. That boy was myself-Harry
Church, that blue-eyed baby was Mary
Moore. @
Later still, ! see myself at the little
school house, drawing my chaise up tc
the door that Mary might ride home
Many beating have l gained on such
occasions, for other boys besides me liked
her, and she, fear. was something of 9
flirt, even in her pinafore. How elegant.
Ily she came tripping downthe steps when
called her name. How sweet her blue
Ieyes looked at me. How gaily rang out
her merry laugh. No one but Mary
could ever bring her heart SO soon to her
Hips. followed that laugh from the days
of my childhood till grew an awkward,
blushing youth. I followed it through
the heated noon Of manhood, and now,
with the frosts Of age silvering my hair,
and many children climb upon my knee
and call me ssfather," I find that the mem
ories of youth are strong, and that even
in gray hairs, I am following its music
Istill.
When I was fifteen the first great sor-
row of my life came upon my heart. I
was sent to school, and was obliged to
part with Mary. We were not to see each
other for three long years. This, to me,
was like a sentence of death, for Mary
was like life itself to me. But hearts
are tough things after all.
I left college in all the flush and vigor
of my nineteenth year. l was no longer
awkward and embarrassed. / had grown
into tall, slender STRIPPING, with very
good opinion of myself, both in general
and particular. IF I thought Of Mary
Moore it was to imagine how / would
dazzle and bewilder her with my good
looks and wonderful mental attainments,
and never thinking she might dazzle and
bewilder me still more. But as youth
and good looks have fed, 1 trust that
may be believed when say that self-con-
ceit has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made
to me at that time, and accepting it,
gave up all idea of profession and pre-
pared to go to India. In my hurried
visit home of two days, I saw nothing Of
Mary Moore. She bad gone to board
|ing-school at some distance, and was no,
expected home until the following May
| uttered one sigh to the memory of my
little blue eyed schoolmate, and then
called myself man again.
"In year." thought, as the vehicle
whirled away from our door. ..in year OF
three years at the very most, / will return
and if Mary is as pretty as she used to be
why then, perhaps, / may marry her. |"
And thus ! settled the future of q
young lady whom / had not seen for four
years. / never thought of the possibili-
ty of her refusing me-neyer dreamed
that she would not condescend to aceepi
my offer.
But now | know that, had Mary me,
me then, she would have despised me-
Perhaps in the scented and affected stu.
dent she might have found plenty Of
sport; but as for loving me, or feeling
the slightest interest in ne, should
have perhaps found myself mistaken
India was my salvation. not merely
because of my success, but because
my. laborious industry had counteracted
the evil in my nature, and had made me
better man.
"When at the end of three years, ]
prepared to return, / said nothing Of the
reformation in myself which knew had
taken place.
ssThey loved me as was," / murmur.
ed to myself, aand they shall find out fol
themselves whether / am better worth
loving than formerly"
/ picked up many token from that
land of romance and gold,for the friends
I hoped to meet; the gift for Mary Moore
I had selected with a beating heart; il
was ring Of rough virgin gold, with my
name and hers engraved inside that was
al; and yet the sight of the little toy
strangely thrilled me as I balanced it up
on the tip Of my finger.
To the eyes of others it was but small
plain circlet, suggesting thoughts, per-
Ihaps, by its elegance, Of the beautiful
white hand that was to wear it. But tc
me- how much was embodied therel A
flowing smile on the beautiful faee-low
words Of Welcomes future home, and q
sweet, smiling face-all these delight:
were hidden within that little ring o.