The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1874-02-13
NARY MOORE.
A PLEASANT LOVE STORY.

All my life had known Mary Moore;
all my life had loved her.
Our mothers were old playmates and
first cousins. My first recollections are
of boy, in red frock and morocco
shoes, rocking a cradle, in which re-
posed sunny-haired, blue-eyed baby,
not quite a year old. That boy was
myself-Harry Church; that baby was
Mary Moore. ..#
Later still, I see myself at the old
school-house, drawing my little chaise
up to the door that Mary might ride
home. Many beating have gained
on such occasions, for other boys be-
sides me liked her, and she, fear, was
something of a firt, even in her pima
fore. How elegantly she came tripping
down the steps when called her name
how sweetly her blue eyes looked at
me, how gaily rang out her merry laugh.
No one but Mary could ever bring her
heart so near her lips. I followed that
laugh from my days of childhood till l
grew an awkward, blushing youth 1
followed it through the heated noon Of
manhood; and now when the frosts of
age are silvering my hair, and many
children climb upon my knee and call
me "father," I find that the memories
of youth are strong, and that even in
gray hairs, I am following the music
still.
When was fifteen the first great sor-
row of my life came upon my breast. l
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 sentence of death, for
Mary was like Life itself to me. But
hearts are tough things after all.
Ileft college in all the flush of my
nineteenth year. l was NO longer awk-
ward or embarrassed. 1 had grown into
a tall, slender STRIPPING, with very
good opinion of myself both in general
and particular. If / thought of Mary
Moore, it was to think how 1 could
dazzle and bewilder her with my good
looks and wonderful mental attainments,
and never thinking she might dazzle
and bewilder me still more. / was
oo1comb, / know, but as youth and good
looks have fed, trust that 1 may be
believed when 1 say that self-conceit
has left me also.
An advantageous proposal was made
me at that time, and accepting it, gave
up all idea of a profession, and prepared
to go to India. In my hurried visit
home of two days I saw nothing OF
Mary Moore. She had gone to board
ing-school at some distance, and was
not expected home until the following
May. uttered sigh to the memory
Of my little blue-eyed playmate, and
then called myself ga man again.
In year, I thought as the vehicle
whirled away from our door, will re-
turn and II Mary is as pretty as she
used to be, why then, perhaps l may
marry her.
And thus I settled the future of a
yonng lady whom I had snot seen for
four years.e-I never thought of the pos
sibility Of her refusing me-never
dreamed that she would not condescend
to accept my offer.
But now / know that had Mary met
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, should
perhaps have found myself mistaken.
India was my salvation, not merely be-
cause OF my success, but because my
laborious industry had counteracted the
evil in my nature, and had made me a
better man. When at the end of three