The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1939-01-07
Associations
By DOROTHY DOUGLAS
GMcClure Syndicate.
WNU Service.

AVA thing bordering on associa-
tons, whether it was her sisters
baby's first rattle or an erstwhile
sweetheart's old Christmas gifts.
She was always collecting material
mementoes as also she harbored a
hundred and one little brain memo
ries.
1t was quite natural, then, when
Mary had the pleasure of her first
trip to England that she should
make straight journey to the little
Sussex village where her parents
had courted and wed. For Mary
was that somewhat choice blend of
the human tree which divided its
characteristics nicely between Eng
lish parentage and American birth.
Her parents had rather a sweet
romance in the fact that they had
as young members of the village
circle each laid a cornerstone in
the parish church in which later
they were married. Their names
carved in the dull red stones were
as plain as the day upon which they
were cut, and Mary was so thrilled
when she saw them that she nearly
wept.
Laid by Mary Anne Smith, July
9, 1897" was on the base of one pill
lar, and Laid by John Cromer, July
9, 1897" was on another. That was
the day they had met, and from
then on the world for them had been
a wonderful place, for love encir-
cled them with its glorious wings.
Mary dropped onto her knees in
one of the pews and felt a tremen-
dous wave of emotion spread over
her. After her prayers she sat back
and could picture how dainty her
sweet mother must have looked in
her bridal dress standing beside her
handsome young husband-there at
that lovely altar.
She wondered if there was a
chance that the same rector would
be in charge. She supposed not.
However, Mary heard the gentle
steps of an elderly minister pad
ding along the small corridor and
she went out to chat with him.
He beamed at her out of kindly
eyes.
81 remember all young lovers
whom 1 have married." he said
upon hearing her story, land I've
been here thirty odd years. Come
my DEAR" he said, land I'll show
you your parents names"
They were standing inside the
tiny vestry room with their heads
close together over the great regis
| ter when young fellow bounded in
from the fine old rectory gardens.
"Oh, Dad!" he shou ed, then
stopped swiftly. Pm sorry -
didn't know there was anyone with
you" He stood half smiling and
half wonderingly, for Mary W 8 in
deed lovely person to disco r in
close proximity to ones own 4ther.
This young lady," said the old
rector beaming at his big son, ''is
Miss Mary Cromer. She has come
all the way from America to see the
church in which her parents were
married. Miss Cromer, this is my
son, Tom Walker"
The two young people shook hands
shyly but apparently very warmly.
81 was wondering" said Mary
wistfully, ''if there was the slightest
little thing 1 could have from the
church-as a memento. If there
isn't anything, 1 will just take a
tiny stone from the gravel path or
a few leaves from one of those love-
ly trees"
A moment that might have be-
come awkward was interrupted by
the approach of the rector's wife
a sweet, white-haired mother whom
Mary loved at once.
81 sent Tom to bring you in to tea
but" she too then noticed the
stranger. 'I'm so sorry-I thought
you two were alone"
The rector again went through the
ceremony of introducing Mary-this
time to his wife, and added, "This
young lady is wanting some small
memento from the church to take
home to her parents, but 1 don't
know what it could be-"
MY dear" smiled Mrs. Walker,
"only last night you and Tom were
speaking of having new offertory
bags. I'm sure Miss Cromer would
love to have one of the old ones
they were in use when her parents
attended service together"
ooh, exclaimed Mary joyfully, 81
should simply love it. Is it one of
those sweet little bags with handles
on each side? We don't have that
kind in America-I think they are
so quaint"
The big son was silent all this
time but his heart leaped joyfully
when he heard his mother insisting
on Mary coming in to share the tea
hour in the old manse drawing
room.
Tom dear, you take Miss Cromer
and get her one of the old collection
bags. We might forget it later"
If took Ton1 2 IOno yubi1a to, ,oro