Year: 1879

When the first rapturous greeting was over
Lizzie led me forward with timid grace,
and Frank Chester grasped my hand.


welcome home, my boy" he said, with
the loud cheerful tones remember so well.
You have changed 80 that never would
have known you but no matter about that,
your heart is in the right place know"


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


"Aye, mother" answered, sadly, 81 am
your boy STILL"


Heaven help me at that moment I felt
like 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
tremor OF my lips and answered quickly, as
| looked into her full, handsome face:


/" You have changed, too, Frank, but I
think for the better" ...


40, yes-thank you for the compliment"
he answered, with hearty laugh. "My
wife says grow handsome every day."


His wife Could hear that name and
keep silent still


"And have you seen my little girl ?" he
asked, lifting the infant in his arms. and
kissing her rosy cheek al tell you, Harry,
there is no such other thing in this world.
Don't you think she looks very much as her
mother used to ?"


"very much,' faltered.


Halo ~ cried Frank, with suddenness
that made me start violently. a. have for
gotten to introduce you to my wife be-
lieve you and she used to be playmates in
10. \ L
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, you are never
to repeat the ceremony. Come, here she is;
and for one want to see how you will man.
age those ferocious mustaches of yours in
the operation"


He pushed Lizzie, laughing and blushing,
toward me. A CLEAN Of light and hope,
almost too dazzling to bear, came over me,
and | cried out before | thought, "Not
Mary ?"


| must have betrayed my secret 10 every
one in the room, but nothing was said
even Frank, in general so obtuse was for
this time silent. | kissed the fair cheek of
his young wife, and hurried to the silent
figure looking out Of the window.


Mary-Mary Moore |" said, in a low,
eager tone, have you no welcome to give the
wanderer ?"


" am glad to see you here, Harry"


Simple words, and yet how blessed they
made me. would not have yielded her up
for the moment for even an emperor's crown.
For there was the happy group and dear
home fireside, with dear Mary Moore. The
eyes had dreamed of day and night were
falling beneath the ardent gaze of mine, and
the sweet face | had so long prayed to see
was there beside me. l never knew the
meaning of happiness until that moment.


Many years have passed since that night,
and the hair that was black and glossy is
fast turning gray. | am now an old man,
and can look back to a happy, and, hope. a
well-spent life. And yet, sweet as it has
been, would not recall single day; for the
very love that made my boyhood SO bright
shines also on my few white hairs.


And an old man-can this be SOP At
heart l am as young as ever. And Mary,
with her bright hair parted smoothly from
her brow that has slight furrow upon it,
is still the Mary of other days. To me she
can never grow changed. The heart that
held her in infancy and sheltered her in the
flush and beauty Of womanhood can never
cast her out until life has ceased to warm
it.-Selected.