Year: 1861

lie lONeQ Her.


Our mothers were old playmates and first cousins
NJ first recollection is OF boy in red frock and morocco
shoes rocking cradle in which Feposed sunny-haircd
blue-eyed baby not quite year old That boy was
myself Harry Church; that buecyed baby Mary
Moore


Later still. see myself ct the little school house,
drawing my little chase upto my door, that Mary might
ride home Many beating have gained on such
sions for other boys besides me liked her. and She
fear was something of firt, even in her pnaforcs
How elegantly she came tripping down the steps when
called her name! how sweetly her blue eyes looked up
at mel how gav rang ont her merry laugh No one but
Mary could ever bring her heart to her lips.
followed that laugh from my days Of childhood till
grew an awkward bushing youth; folowedit through
the heated noon of manhood and now when the frosts
of age are syering my hair and many children climb
nv knee and call me father find that the memories
of youth are strong and that even in my gray hairs
am following its music still


When was fifteen the first great Of my,life
came upon my heart | was sent to school and was
obliged to part with Mary We were net to see each
other for three long wears This, me was Ikea
tence of death for Mary like life itself to me.


But hearts are tough things after all.


left collegein all the flush and vgor my nineteenth
year. had grown into tall slender stripping, with
very good opinion Of myself both in general and par
ticuar If thought of Mary Moore il was to imagine
how | would dazzle and bewider her with my good
looks and wonderful at ainHaents-never thinking that
she would dazzle and bewilder me still more. was
coxeomb, knew, but youth and good looks have
fed trust that Imay be believed when say that self
conceit has left me also.


| An advantageous proposal was made to me at this
time and accepted it. Igaye upall idea Of profession
and prepared 60 to the Indias Ia my hurried Wis
home of two days | saw nothing Of Mary Moore. She
had gone to boarding school at some distance, and
was not expected home till the following June uttered
one sigh the memory of my little blue eyed playmate
and then called myself "a man again


In year." l thought as the vehicle wiirlcd away
from the door"in year, three years at the very
most will return and if Mary pretty she used
to be, why then, perhaps, may marry her


And thus | settled the future Of young lady whom
had not seen for four years never thought of the
possibility of her refusing me-never dreamed that she
would not coudescend to accept my ctfer
n But now i know that had Mary met me then, she
would have dispised me Perhaps in the scented and
affected student she might have found plenty Of sport
but as for loving me- feeling the slightest interest in
me- ! should have perhaps found | was mistaken.


India was my salvation, not merely because of my
success bu because my laborous industry had counter
acted the evil ofmy nature; and made M better man
When at the end Of three years Iprcpaed to return,
said nothing OF the reformation ofmyself which knew
had taken place


They loved me as I was Imrnured to myself
'and they shall tnI out for Themselves whether am
better worth loving than ever


packed up many token from the land OF romance
and gold for the friends hope to meet. The gift to
May Moore ! selected with beating heart; it was d
ring ofrough virgin gold with mg name and hers inside
that was all and the sight of the little toy strangely
thrilled balanced it on the tip end Of my LITTLE
finger.


To the ewes of others it was but a small plain crcet
suggesting thoughts perhaps by its elegance, of thu
beautiful white hand that to wear It. But to m'
how much to be embodied there! loving smii'
on beautiful face-,oy words OF weleome-a iu5urt
and sweet smiling face group of merry children t
climb my knce-tll these delights were hidden in tha
lite ring Of gold.


Tall bearded and sun-bronzed knocked at the doc
of my fathers house The lights in the parlor window
and the hum of conversation and cheerful laughta
showed me that the company bad assembled there
hoped that my siser Lizzie would come to the door tina


might gre my family whenno strange eye was lool
ug curi0usIy on.


But no q servant ansS cred my summons. They wcr
too merry in the parar to heed the long absent on
when lie asked for admittance. bitter thought ll&
this passed through my mind heard the soundstron
the paror, and saw the halt suppressed smile on til
, servants face


Ihesitated for moment before made myself known
or asked after the family Aud while stood silent,
strange apparation grew up before me. From bchin
the servant pcercd out small golden hcad-tny deli
cate feet followed aud sweet childish face, with blu
eyes vas lifted up to minc-so like to those of one VII
had frightened my boyhood that started back with
sudden feeling of pain


''What is your name my little oncz" | asked, Will
the wondering servant held the door.


she llllcu ileT di!u US II 70 oiAc Ni v
seen that very attitude in another in my boyhood, man
and many time, and answered in a sweet birl-lik
voice;


MARY Moore


And what clse?H / asked quickly.
'sMary Moore Chester lispcd the child


VI head sank down like lead Here was al end +
al tie bright dreams and hopes Of my youth and man
hood Frank Chester, my boysh rival, who had oitc
tried and tried in vain to usarp my place beside tn
gir bad succeeded last and won her way from me
This was his child-his and Marys
sank BODY and soul beneath this blow. And hidin
my face in my hands leaned against the door while N
heart wept tesrs OF blood. The little gazed at nC
aricycd and amazed and put up her pretty lips as
about to cry while the perplextd servant stepped up
the rarlor door and called my sister ont to who
, could be- that conducted himself so strangely.


heard light s5ep, and sweet pleasant voice saying


sDid YOU wish to my father, sir?'


/ looked up There stood pretty, sweet-face
maiden of twenty, not much changed from the dea
little sister Ihad loved 50 we'll looked at her for
; moment, and then stiiHg a tunult of my heart by
mighty effort, opened my arms and sad;


''Iizzie don't YOU know me-
, siTarry Oh, my brother Harry She cried, an
threw herself upon my breast She wcpt as if her hea
would break


could not weep, drew her gently into the Iighte
parlar and stood with her before them all.


Thcre was rush and 4 cry OF JOY, and then my fttht
and mother sprang towards me, and welcomed me HON
with heartfelt tears Oh strange and passing sweet
such greeting to the wy-worn wanderer! And hel
my dear oldmoher 20 my heart and graspcd my father
hand while Lizzie still clung beside me, felt that a
was not vet l6st and though another had secured life
choicest blessing many JOY remained for me IN th
dear sanctuary home.


There we're four other inmates Of the room who ha
risen on my sudden entrance. One was the biuecye
child whom ] had already seen, and who now stood b.
side Frank Chester cingng his hand Near by stoo
Lizzie Moore, Marys eldest sister, and in disal
corner to which she had hurredly retreatcd when N
name was Spoken stood tail slender ngure, hall h'
den by the heavy window curtains that fell to the foo


When the first rapturous greeting was over I.izI
led me forward with timd grace, and Frank Chcstt
grasped my hand.


sWe.come home my boy he said with the lou
cheerful tonees remembers so well. "Ionh have change
so that | should never have known YOU. But n
matter for that; your heart is in the right place know


sHow can you say he is changed?' said my motht
gently eTo be sure, he looks older and graver, an
more like man than when he went away, but his ey'
and smile are the same as 1t is the heavy bear
that changes him But he is my boy still
h SAY mother answered sadly am your boy still


Heaven help me- At that moment felt Ike bo
and it would have been great relief to have wept upo
her bosom as | had done in my infancy. But kel
T down the beating OF my heart and the tremor of N
I-}r-,, -nI ,b biS full hlDl