Year: 1862

All my life long had known Mary Moore.
Our mothers were old playmates and fret
cousins. My first recollection is of a Young
gentleman in turkey-red frock and morocco
shoes, rocking cradle, in which reposed a
sunny. haired, blue-eyed baby, not quite year
old That young gentleman was /, myself,
Harry Church, that blue.eyed baby was Mary
Moore.


Later still, | saw myself at the little red
school house, drawing my painted sled up to
the door, and arranging my overcoat upon it,
that Mary might ride home. Many black
eye have gained on such occasions, for other
boys liked her besides me, and she, am afraid.
was something of firt, even in her pinsfore
How daintily she came tripping down the steps
when L called her name. How aweetly her
blue eyes looked up to me from the enyious
folds OF her winter hood. How gaily her merry
laugh rang out, when by dint of superhumsn
exertione, kept her sled before the rest, and
let her stand upon the steps exultingly to see
them all go by. The fairy lsugL No one but
Mary could let her heart lie 60 on her Inns. Il
followed that laugh up from my days Of child
hood, till grew to be an awkward; blushing
youth; followed it through the heated noon
OF manhood; and now, when the frosts of ago are
shivering my hair, and many children climb to
my knee and call me "father," find that the





hairs and all, am following that music still.
When l was fifteen, the frat great sorrow of
my life came to me. was sent away to a west
ern school, and was obliged to part with Mary.
We were not to see each other for three long
years. This, to me, was like a sentence Of
death, for Mary was like life itself to me. But
hearts are very tough things after all. I left
college in all the fush and vigor of my nine
teenth year. l was no longer awkward and en-
barrassed l had grown into tall, slender
stripling, with very good opinion of myself in
general and particular. If thought Of Mary
Moore, it was to imagine how would dazzle
aud bewilder her with my good looks and won.
derful iattainments, never thinking that she
might dazzle and bewilder me still more.
was sad puppy, know; but as youth and
good looks have fed, trust may be believed
when say that self-conceit has left me also.
| An advantageous proposal was made to me at
this time, and, accepting it, gave up all idea
Of profession, and prepared to 20 to the Indies.
In my hurried visit home of two DAYS saw
nothing Of Mary Moore. She had gone to q
boarding school in Massachusetts,, and was not
expected home till the next fall. gave one
| sigh to the memory of my little blue-eyed play.
mate, and then called myself man again.


"ln year." thought, as the stage whirled
away from our door, in year or three years
at the most will return, and If Mary ia as
pretty as she used to be-why, then, perhaps
may marry her."


stroked back my budding moustache with
complacency, while l settled the future of
young lady l had not seen for four years.
never thought OF the possibility of her refusing
me-never dreamed that she would not stoop
with grateful tears to pick up the handker-
chiet whenever l chose to throw it at her
feet.


But now know that had Mary met me then
she would have despised me. She was AZ far
above me as the heavens above the earth. Per-
haps, In the scented and affected student. abe
might have found plenty of sport; but 40 for
loving me, or feeling the slightest interest in
me, save regret that should make such an
unmitigated donkey of myself, know che
would not.


| India was my salvation, not merely because
Of the plentiful share of gold had laid up. but
because my earnest labor had counteracsed the
evil OF nature and made me better man, And
when at the end of three years prepared to re-
turn, wrote nothing to the dear ones was
about to meet of the reformations which I
knew had taken place. "They loved me ae |
was" murmured to myself, "and they shall
ma Tor themeelvesif am better worth the Low
ing az | am"


| Pe~AeN ~ Neuy eohcu lTum tuhb lana OF
gold for the friends was about to meet, The
gift for Mary Moore was one selected with a
beating heart-a ring of rough, virgin gold
with my name and hers engraved inside. That
was all, and yet the little toy thrilled me
strangely as l balanced It upon the tip of INV
finger. To the eyes of others It was but a small
plain circlet, suggestive though perhaps, by its
daintiness, of the dainty white hand that was
to wear It.. But 70 me--oh, mellow much was
embodied there! A loving smile on beauti.
full face--low words Of welcome--a happy home
and sweet face smiling theFe--a group OF merry
children to climb upon my kneeesli these de-
lights we're hidden in that ring of gold.


A tall, bearded, sun -bEonzed man, knocked
at the door of my fathers house. The lights
in the psrlor windows and the hum of convey
sation and cheerful laughter showed me that
company was assembled there. hoped INV
sister Lizzie would come to the door, and that
might greet my family when no stranger e
eyes were looking curiously on. But no, a ser.
want girl answered my summons; they were
too merry In the parlor to heed that long absent
one when he asked for admittance Some such
bitter thoughts were passing through my mind
as heard the sounds from the parior, and saw
the hali-suppressed smile on ths servsnts face.