The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-02-07
SOME SWEET DAY "
Oh memory, thou choicest blessing;
When joined with hOpe.-ByrOn.

w hC4 JOIuCu Will uOpS.- DVIOt
Not so many years ago in a large
Southern city I met a lovely little crea-
ture, with dark eyes, shapely figure, and
the prettiest black curly hair an artist
ever raved over
In the course Of tine, by daily con-
tact, we became quite intimate, al
though I was very poor, and she was
heir, apparent to thousands. In the
| evenings after I returned from work,
we together with other young folks,
would enjoy ourselves in social parlor
games, and invariably circumstances
werasuch that Mary and myself would
be mated as partners in all the amuse-
ments of the evening.
I recall one evening in particular.
We, as children, had just finished q
| game of "Dectective" in the large
yard surrounding u home, and sit
ting about resting from romping,
it so happened Mary and myself chose
the same spot. Seated side by side I
asked her if she thought we would adj
mire each other so much when maturer
yea had overwhelmed US. 20 yes"
she replied, Il believe [ shall begin to
love you ere then" I being of very
poor family, Is regarding %pecuniary
matters, was at a loss what answer to
make to this pleasant reply to my ques-
ton, but giving full sway to my pas
sionate affection, being encouraged in
a measure by herfree and unrestrained
remark, I poured forth the welled up
love of my whole life. With all the
fervor of first love lending emphasis [
explained how I had been her helpless
captive since first we met. How those
beaU'jcI dark brown eyes had rem
dered me a willing slave; how the
sweet smiles that lit up her coun-
tenance with radiance rare had pene-
trated my young heart, and when my
heart was too full for further u%tterance,
and l sat gazing into those dreamy
black eyes, 1 could read there the
depth of love that lay within. Ere
she spoke 1 knew my happy fate-that
l had won her pure and loving heart.
Days wore into weeks, weeks into
months and into years, still we were
true and as devoted as on the night
our troth was pledged. In the course
Of time I removed to a distant part
of the State and We communi
Gated through the mail. Once
each week I would receive her
welcome letter, and punctually
each week an answer would be re-
turned till once three weeks elapsed
ere her missive reached me. In the
meantime she wrote me again inquir-
ing why l neglected to answer her last
letter-and if I was weary Of the cor
r~espondence [ could burn her letters,
and make her aware of the fact so she
could do the same with mine. I, in a fit
of passion, burned her letters and mott
fed her to that effect 10 a very harshly
worded note.
A month later l was sorry for what
I had hastily done. Mary was the girl
| WuOu L lON0A "4Ch al buS d1NO1 VI
first love, but my pride prevented me
from making an open acknowledge
ment and craving her pardon. Two
years later she died. When I heard
of her death tears welled up into my
eyes and I wept like a child. Though
we were as strangers I mourned her
death as if she had been my own sister,
and now [ look forward to that day of
days when all shall meet again upon
the eternal shore of bliss. Some would
persuade me there is no life after we
have launched upon the dark and tur-
bulent river.
Will I never see my love again2
Oh! make me not believe that when
the dark angel Of death stole silently,
like a thief, into her chamber and with
his cruel wand severed body and spirit,
and she, borne upon angels wings
through ethereal regions, did not soar
into a heaven of bliss; and that she