Year: 1868

All my life long / had known Mary
Moore, All my life loved her.


Our mothers were old playmates and
first cousins. My first rccolleetions are
of a,boy, in red frock and morocco shoes
rocking cradle in which reposcd sun
ny haired, blue eyed baby, not quite a
year old. That boy was myself-Harry
Church that blessed baby was Mary
Moore. ..r


Later still l sec myself at the little
school house, drawing my little chaise up
to the door that Mary might ride home.
Many beating haze | gained on such
occasions, for other boys besides me liked
her, and she fear was something of "a
tiirt, even in her pinafure. How elegant
y she came tripping down the steps when
l called her name. How swoctly hei
blue eyes looked up at me, How gaily
rang out her merry laugh. No one but
Mary could ever bring her heart so soon
to her lips. / followed that laugh from
my days Of childhood till grew an awk-
ward blushing youth-I followed it through
the heated noon of manhood-and now,
when the trosts of age are silvering my
hair, and many children, climb upon my
knee and call me q father, find that the
memories of youth are strong, and that,
even in my gray hairs, | am following the
music still, -........, .y


- When l was fifteen the first great sor-
row of my life came upon my heart ]
was sent to school, and was Obliged to
part with Mary. We were not to see each
other for three long years. This to me,
was like sentence to death, for Mary
was like life itself to me- But hearts are
tough things after all, II. .-t4.. s..
j, / left college in all the fiuslI and vigor
Of my nineteenth year. was no longer
awkward and embarrassed. l had grown
into tall, slender STRIPPING, with very
good opinion of myself, both in general
and particular. If thought of Mary
Moore it was to imagine how could
dazzle and bewilder her with my good
looks and wonderful mental attainnents,
and never thinking she might dazzle and
bewilder me still more. was coxcomb,
l know; but as youth and good looks
have fled, j trust that may be believed
when l say that self conceit has left me
also. !, ..I.rd


An advantageous proposal was made to
me at that time, and accepting it, gave
up all idea Of a profession, and prepared to
go to India. In my hurried visit home
of two days, ! saw nothing of Mary Moore.
She had gone to a boarding school at some
distance, and was not expected home un-
til the following May. uttered one sigh
to the memory of my little blue eyed
playmate, and then called myself g man
again. sg AK .r


In year | thought, as the vehicle
whirled away from our door, in a wear,
Or three years at the very most, will re-
turn, and if Mary is as pretty as she used
to be, why, then perhaps l may marry
her. g.,.s isf..-... -.
7, Aud thus l 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 condescend to accept my offer.


But now l know that, had Mary met
me then, she would have despised me-
Perhaps in the scented and affected stu
dent she might have found plenty of sport /;
but as for loving me, or feeling the slight
est interest in me, should have perhaps
found myself mistaken India was my
salvation, not merely because of my sue
cess, but because my laborious industry
had counteracted the evil of nv nature.
and had made me better man. When
at the end of three years prepared TO re-
turn, said nothing Of the reformation in
myself which / knew had taken place.


They loved inc as ] was, murmurcd