American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1868-07-25

1S'A 1'S4 ''iAAI'1ii-
was over, Lizzie led me forward with
Il tlmid grace, ami frank Chester,
grasped my hand.
Welcome home, my boy p he
said, with loud, cheerful tones, l re-
+ member SO well. You have chang.
ed .bu5 no matter abo,.t that-your
heart Is in the right place, ! know"
How can you say be has ch hahged9"
said my mother gently. TO be sure
he looks older and graver. and more
like man than when he went; but
his eyes and smiles are the same as
eyer. 1t is heavy heart which
changes him. He is my boy still"
"Ay, mother | answered sadly.
4" am your boy still"
Heaven help me At that MO,
ment felt like boy, ami t wouII.
have Been a blessed relief to haSs
wept upon her bosom, as had done
I'm infancy. But l kept down the
beating of my heart and the tremor
Iof MY ", ana answered Quietly, as
Z looked into her full. handsouo
face.
'yoa have crahged, too, Frank.
-ut think for the better
Oh, yes-tIank yOu for the com
|plmeut,' lie a aWcred with a laugh.
My wife tells ne / gcow handsome
every day" -
I His wife Could hear that name
and keep silence stlll2
"And have rou seen my little
|@irl - he added lifting the infant in
his arms and kissing her crimsoued
cheek :" tell you, Harry, there is
not such another in the world. Don't
YOU think she looks very ruch like
her mo.l7r used tol"
"F cry much, " faItcred
Halo " cried Frank with u std
dcnneSS which made me start vic.
lently, l"have forgotten 10 intro
duce YOU to my wife; | believe she
and YOU used TO he pIaymates in your
young Iays-yes, Harry and he
slapped me ON .he back, fo- the
sake Of O'i times, and because You
were not at the wedding, I viii give
you leave to kiss her nce--but mind,
old fellow, you are never to repeat
the ceremony. tome-here she i,
and for once want to see how You
will manage theSb fefocipus mus
taches Of Yours IN the operation"
He pushed Lizzie, laughing and
hlushing, towards me. a gleam OF
light ear e over ne and I cried out
before I thought, "Not Mary
1t ruSt have betrayed my sehret
to every one in the room. But
nothrng was saiG; even Frank, in
general 50 obtuSe, was this time
silent. ! kissed the fair check of
the yomE wife and hurried to the
silent figure locking out of the win
dow, .'.
Mary-Noore :" | said in a low,
eager tone, have ydu no welcome
To gi7e'the raNderer ?''.'
She turned and laid her hand in
mine, and said hurriedly--
am glad to see yOn here, Harry"
Simple words-and yet how bless.
ed they made ne. / would not have
Welded her up that moment tor an
Emperor's crown For there WAS
the happy group, and the dear home
hresidc, sweet Mary Moore Tho
eyes had dreamed of BY day and
by night, were falling beneath the
ardent gaze Of ming, and the sweet
face l hai 50 long prayed to see was
there beside me. never knew the
meaning Of happiness until that mo.
ment.
Many years have passed since that
happy night, and the hair thai was
lark and glossy then, is fast turning
Lray.. | am now grown to be an old
man, and can lock back to a. happy,
and. I hope, we'll spent life. And
vet. sweet as Il has been, | would
not recall a single day, for the love
that made ny manhood 80 bright;
shines also upon my white hal-s.
An old man. Can this ne so? At
heart am rs young as ever. And
Mary. with her bright hair parted
from brow that has q
slight furrow upon it, is still the
Wary of other days. TO me she car
never grow old OF change The heart
hat held her in Infancy and sheltered
Ter IN the flush and beauty Of woman
rood can never cast her out till life
hall cease to warm il. Not even
hen, for love still lives above.