The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1868-07-11
Mt2F MOORE.
A PLEASANT LOVE STORY.

All my life long I had known Mary
Moore. All my life | loved her.
our mothers were old playmatcs and
first cousins. My first rccollcctions arc
of boy in rcd irock and morocco
shoes rocking cradle in which repOsed
sunny haired, blue eyed baby, not
quite year old,-that boy was mysclt-
Harry Church that blessed baby was
Mary Moore.
Later still, I see myself at the school,
h)usc, drawing my little chair up to the
door that Mary might ride home. Many
Il beating have ! gained on such occa'
sions, for other boys besides me Liked
her, aud she, lear was something of Il
hirt, even in ncr rinatorc. How Gle
gantly she came tripping down the steps
when I called her name. How sweetly
her blue eyes looked at me. How eaily
rang out her merry laugh, Nc one but
Mary could bring her heart so soon to
hcl lips followed. that laugh from
my days Of childhood till grew an awk~
ward, b.u>h;ng youth; | followed it
| through the heated noon OF manhood
and now when tie ilosts of aye arc silv0
eriug my hair and many children climb
upou my knee aud call me "Fathcr," |
nd that the memories OF youth are
strong and that, even in gray hairs, |
an foil wing the music still.
When | was fifteen the first great sOr-
row OF my life came upon my heart. |
was sent tn school, aud was obliged to
.,urt with Mary. I''e were rot to see
ZACH other for three long years.--This,
20 ne, was like Il scntancc TO death, fOr
,iary was like life itself to me. But
hearts are tough things, after all.
left college with all the fash and
yiSor Of my nineteenth year. | was no
longer awkward or embarrassed ! had
.rowD into IA tall slender STRIPPING, with
very good opinion of lIysclt, both in
general aud particular. III thought OF
Iary Moore, it was 10 Imagine how /
;ould%iazz'e aud hcwilder her with my
!ooG looks and wonderful mental attain.
mcnts, and never thinking she might
ldzzie and bowildcr me still more. !
vas coXccmb, | know, but as youth
,ll gopdhuois have fled, trust may
&c believed when | say that self conccit
,aS left me also.
Au advantageous proposal was made
ne at that time and accepting il, | gave
l,p all idea Of profession and prepared
- 70 to India. In my hurried visit
home of two days I saw nothing of Mary
Nourc. She had gone to a boarding
ch0ol -, some distance and was not cX.
pectcI home until the following May
uttered sigh 20 tie memory of my
li:tlo playmate ana ;hen called myself u
man again.
In a year, I thought, as the vehicle,
whirlcd away from our door--,in year,
or 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. Aad thus | settled the iu.
turc of young lady whom | had not
seen for four years | never thouhght
Of the possibility OF her refusing Inc
never dreamed that she would not con,
descend to accept my offer.
But now | know that had Mary met
me then she would have dcSpiscd nc.
Perhaps in the scented and affected stu
dent she might have found plenty of
sport bat as for loving me, I should,
perhaps have found myself mistaken.
India vas NY salvation, not mereI y be.
cause of my success, but because my la
borious industry had counteractcd the
evil iu my nature and has made me a
better man Whcn at the end of three
years, prepared to return, said moth
in. of the reformation Of myself, and
they shall find out for themselves wheth
er | am better worth loving than form
crly.
! packed Up many token from that
romanlio land of romance agd gold foI
the friends | hoped to meet, The Gift
for Mary Moore ] selected with beat
ing heart it was a ring Of rough viz
gin god, wilh my name aud hers en-
gIavod inside that was all, and yet the
sight Of the little toy strangely thrilled
me rs ! balanced it on the tip of my fin
ger To the eyes Of others it was but
small plain gold cmclct, suggesting
thoughts, perhaps by its elegance, Of tue
beautiful white hand that was to wea1
it. But not to me. How much wa
embodied there All these delight
we're hidden within that little ring 0
gold,
Tall, bearded, and .bronzed,
knocked at the door Of my father
house. The lights in the rarlor win
dows ana the hum Of conversation ant
cheerful laughter showed me that com
pany was assembled there. | hope
sister Lizzie would come to the door an'
l might -rco',my family when no strang
eye vs. booking cMc.cssly On. But 10