Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-04-15
NY Little First-Love-An Old
Mans Story.
BY MARY KYLE DALLAS.

only few doors from us. AT FIRST | used
to watch her playing with her doll, in her
little front q .rden, without daring to
speal, to her. Her parents were he "
relghbors, and nine were not acquainted
with them; but after awhile J began to
make childish ovo.tures to acquaintance
in the shape Of smiles and lingerings at
her gate, aud at last in a speechless offer
Of candy through the palings The candy
was accepted and we were friends then3e.
forth.
Often used to take my little cart and
go to her gate and whistle there. Then
She would bring out her doll, dressed in
hat and shawl put it in the wagon, aud
take hold of the cross handle, Of which |
held one side, and away we would 90
down the road, generally stopping at the
graveyard, which was green and pretty
and had neither torrors nor sad associ>
aticns to us. There we would play until
we heard The clock strike six.
1t was always after school that we star
ted on these excursions, and then we
would pack the doll into the wagon, ard
60 home again. We always talked
great deal on the way, and | supposed
listener would have been mu,h amused
at our chat. We, however, thought it
very sensible,
VAS fond of telling her my school
troubles, and she hated my teacher, old
Nh. Birch, worse than | did. Once
wien lie had ruled me on both palms so
that tLey were sore | remember she
kissed them, aud vowed to e. next day
and steal tue ruler and break it. She
did creep to the window for that purpose,
Lut there she grew frightened. It. was
before school hours; Lut Sic could not he
sure that Mr. Birch was not hiding in
some corner ready to pounce out upon
her. and she ian away.
She hal her troubles, too: ono was
ncedlework. She hated to take tiny
stitches,anG she always tangled her,thrcai.
| used to comfort her by promising that
when | was a man she should be my wife
and never sew one stitch; but there she
always shook her little head.
II shall have to make your shirts, you
Know" she would say, land I'll try to
learn. only hate it now"
Yes, We we've betrothed to each other
in our baby fashion. We had even ex
changed bcadrings. We were going to
build house in the woods, and live there
together always, as soon as was grown
When | SHUT my eyes and lean back in
my chair for my afternoon nap. can
somc.im2s see a picture of my little
sweetheart that seems to bring her straight
before me. Her sweet, big blue eyes
her rosebud mouth, her pretty, round
white shoulders, her pale yellow hair fal
ling over them--thoro she sits, in her
Llue gingham dress, holding her doll in
lcy arms aad talking to me. The shad-
ows Of the willows Autter over her as tic
wind swings the branches to and fro, and
my heart is fall of innocent baby love is
felt for her. If there be angels, l think
they love as my little sweetheart and
loved each other
How many days, how many months
passed over thus? Not many. 1t was
spring when | first saw her in the garden,
1t was autumn when we went for the last
time to the old graveyard. E
| had no idea that it was the last time
then. Neither had she. We we've as
merry as usual, and grew glceful over a
visit was to pay to my uncle in New
York. | shoald be gone week, said +;
nd that was Saturday. The next Satur,
day we would see each other.
We'kissed at parting, and she made
,se kiss her doll TOO. As | went into my
house, saw her standing at her gate.
looking at me wistfully. 1 smiled at her.
She lifted the doll in the air and waved
its kid hand toward me.
At dawn next mcrning l was of upon
my journey.
That week seemed like a year, it was
50 full of adventure, of sightseeing and
amusement. 1 came back a travelled
man in my opinion.
After | had had my dinner, my first
thought was Of my little sweetheart.
gathered up the fine new treasures that.