Year: 1862

known you; but no matter for that-your
heart is in the right place. I know


"How can you say he is changed?' said
my mother gently. To be sure he looks
older and graver, and more like a man than
when he went away; but his eyes and smile
are the same as ever II is that heavy beard
that changes him. He is my boy still"


ayes, mother I answered sadly; Il am
your boy still"


God help mel At that moment felt ike
q boy, and it would have been a blessed relief
to have wept upon her bosom, as had done
in my infancy. But kept down the beating
of my heart, and the tremor Of my lip, and
answered quietly, as looked in his full, hand
some face


"You have changed too, Frank, but 4 think
for the better"


"Oh, yes-thanll you for the compliment
Ny wife tells me grow handsomer every
day"


His wife Could I hear that name and
keep silent still2


"And have you seen my little girl2" he
added, Fitting the infant in his arms, and kiss
ing her crimson cheek. "IteIl you Harry,
there is not another like her in the United
States Don't you think she looks very much
like her mother used tor


''Very much, I faltered.


"Hallol !" said Frank, with a suddenness
that made me start violently, "I had forgot
ten to introduce you to my wife. I believe
you and she used to be playmates in your
young days. Eh, Harry" and he slapped me
on the back. For the sake of old times and
because YOU were not at the wedding will
give you leave to kiss her once; but mind
old fellow, don'trepeat the ceremony. Come,
here she is, and for once I will manage those
terocious moustlches Of yours in the opera
ton"


He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushing,
towards me- A CLEAN oflight and hope, al
most too dazzling to bear. came over me, and
I cried out before I thought, "Not Maryl"


It must have betrayed my secret to every.
one in the room but nothing was said; even
Frank was this time silent. kissed the fair
cheek of the young wife and hurried to the
silent figure looking out of the window.


"Mary-Nary Moore" said I, in low
voice, "have you alone no welcome to give
the wanderer"


She turned and laid her hand in mine, and
murmured hurriedly; I am GLAD to see you
here, Harry"


Simple words-and yet how blest they
made mel would not have yielded up that
moment for an emperors crown. There was
the happy home group, and the dear home
freside, and sweet Mary MooreI The eyes I
had dreamed ofby night and by day were
falling before the ardent gaze ofmine, and the
sweet face I had 50 long prayed to see was
there before me-more beautiful than before.
I never knew till that moment the meaning
Of real happiness.


Many years have passed since that happy
night and the hair that was dark and glossy
then is fast turning grey. am growing to
be an old man, and can look back to long,
happy and well-spentlife And yet sweet as.
it has been, would not recall a single day,
for the love that made my manhood so bright
shines also upon me in my white hairs. An
old man? Can this be so? At heart I am
as young as ever. And Mary, with her bright
hair parted smoothly from her brow that has
a slight fUrrow in it, is still the Mary of my
early days. To me she can never grow old or
change The heart that held her in infancy,
and sheltered her piOusly in the flush and
beauty of womanhood, can never cast her out
till life shall cease to warni it. Nor even then,
for love still lives in Heaven.