Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1875-03-27
MY FIRST LOVE.

"A AAsA'A AV' IL
was young STRIPPING, Just sixteen,
the sole idol and comfort of an over-fond
mother. We lived all alone in q neat
little villa at Shepherds Bush and
mother was bent upon making a great
man of me- She confidently believed
that 1 possessed any amount of unde-
veloped talent, and denied herself a
thousand little comforts in order to Sc
cure for me the advantages necessary to
bring it into action.
/ shared her belief then and when my
sixteenth year and my academical course
both eliminated at once, thought my
fortune made. As a matter of course,
the next step to betaken was matrimony.
By way of beginning, set myself to
work to get up poem, to be dedicated
to the fair one of my choice, Miss Jessie
Weaver. At last it was finished, and
elaborately copied on scented, rose
colored paper There were some two
dozen verses, think, containing swashy
sentiment, and morbid melancholy, suffi-
cient to stock q regiment of ordinary
novels.
L sent the poem to Jessie, with no
doubt about its reception. I held too
high an opinion of her good sense to be-
lleve, for an instant, that she would fail
to appreciate it; and she didn't, as her
gay laugh and dancing eyes attested at
our next meeting. #...#.
"You'n be famous by-and-bye,
Charley, " she called after me, over the
garden gate I" second Byron"
There was gay ruby brooch on exhi-
bition in one of the shop-windows at Not
ting Hill, and on this I had set nv
heart; but the price was five guineas.
How should ever manage to get it2 1
made known my desires and intentions
to mother on my return home. She
looked serious and thoughtful for a mo-
ment then she arose, and going to the
& corner cupboard, took down the blue
china bowl, in which she kept her
money. can see her now, with her
slight figure and pale face, as she stood
In the glow of the freight, counting
over the heaps of silver pieces she had
poured upon the table.
"Only five guineas," she said, with
suppressed sigh, as she returned the
surplus three or four half-crowns to the
bowl but take it, my boy, and well
come"
L took it, and bought the brooch for
Jessie.
Isn't it splendid, mother 2" said.
few evenings after, as I was giving
the finishing touches to my toilette pre-
paratory to the all-important visit.
She'll be sure to take it, won't she %
"Io be sure she will, my boy" she
replied, fondly futtering round me, pol
lshlng the bright brass buttons ON nv
blue cloth coat with the corner of her
apron, and twisting my hair over her
thin fingers; "and she'll take YOU,
too, If she's not devoid of appreciation. u
My heart swelled with gratified vanity
as put the gittering toy in my pocket,
and started. She followed me out, and
then down to the garden gate.
"Good-bye, my boy" she called, as l
hurried through. Hm 5
Something in her voice made me look
back, and | noticed that her face had a
strange, white look, and her eyes were
running over with tears.
What is it, mother2" I asked, turn
ing and taking her hand. t# Z ( |
Nothing-nothing at all, my dear.
Only this new Joy won't make you quite
forget me, will it, Charley2"
"Oh, mother, no." 1 cried, throwing
my arms roundher neck, and kissing her
white cheeks. Il shall never love any
one else as love you. & -t \ a
My darling, my PRIDE she mur.
INJURED. " No other mother ever had
such son-you never caused me mo.
ment's sorrow, Charley"
" am glad of it mother. Good-byer'
" Goodbye, my boy
left her standing there in the autumn
dusk, and went up to Major Weaver's
The fates were propitious. / found
Jessie alone in the parlor, singing tc
her guitar.
"'Tis you, Charley" she said care
lessly, as entered. "There, sit dow
while sing to you"
obeyed reluctantly enough, for wa
in fever of impatience. To this day
have no idea of what she sang; but thu
instant she finished, / was at her side.
Jessie, I said, unfolding the scented
paper that contained the brooch
here's a present I've brought you
But she cut short my declaration
which l had "cut and dried" weeks
beforehand, with a scream of delight.
For me, Charley 2" she cried, as tn
glittermg toy flashed on her sight /; e I'll
the very thing l wanted. You dear
darling boy-how shall I ever than