Preble County Democrat, 1857-06-11

Tall, bearded and sun-bronzed, I knocked at the door of my father's house. The lights in the parlor windows and the hum of conversation and cheerful laughter, showed me that company were assembled there. I hoped my sister Lizzie would come to the door, and that I might greet my family when no strange eye was looking curiously on. But no; a servant answered my sum summons. - mons. summons. They were too merry iu the parlor to heed the long absent one when he asked for admittance. A bitter thought like this was passing through my mind, as 1 heard the sounds from the parlor, and saw the half-suppressed smile upon the servant's face. I hesitated for a moment before I made myself known, or asked after the family. And while Istood silent,astrange apparition grew up before me. t rout behind the servant peered out a small golden head a tiny, delicate form fol followed, - lowed, followed, and a sweet, childish face, with blue eyes, was lifted up to mine so like to those of one who had brightened my boyhood, that I started back with a sudden fooling of pain. " What is your name, my little one?"' I asked, while the wondering servant held the door. She lifted up her hand as if to shade her cj-es, (I had soon that very attitude in auothor, in my boyhood, many and many a time,) and answered iu a sweet, bird-like voice ' Mary Moore." "And what else?" I asked quickly. " Mary Moore Chester," lisped the child. My head sank down like lead. Here was an end to all the bright dreams and hopes of manhood. Frank Chester, my boyish rival, who had often tried and tried in vain, to usurp my place beside the girl, had succeeded at last, and had won her away from me ! This was his child his child and Marv's ! I sank, body aud soul beneath this I blow, and hiding my face in my bauds I leaned against the door, while my heart wept tears of blood. The little one gazed at me, grieved and amazed, and put up her pretty lips as if about to cry, while the p-irplexcd servant stepped to the parlor door, and called my sister out, to sec who it could be that conduct conducted - ed conducted himself so strangely. I heard a light step, and a pleasant voice saying : " Did you wish to see my father, sir?" I looked up. There stood a pretty sweet-faced maiden of twenty, not much changed from the dear little sister I had loved so well. I looked at her for a mo moment, - ment, moment, and then, stilling the tumult of my heart by a mighty effort, I opened my arms and said : 'Lizzie, don't you know me?" "Harry! Oh. my brother Harr' !" she cried, and threw herself upon niy brcast. She wept as if her heart would break. j. cuuiu nut ccn. i uiuw uci gcuti i . , r ia j i j . , :.,,! into the lighted parlor, and stood with her ; , , ., 6 ' belorc them all. a,, i j c 1 Therc was a rush and cry of joy, and .i r . j - J " T 1.1 1 T .1 1 tl rnrn Tn v lairn'r .inn mnuinr snr if to- wards me, and welcomed me home with ! heartfelt tears. Oh, strange and passing is such a greeting to the wayworn wan wanderer! - derer! wanderer! And as I held my dear old mother to my heart, and grasped ray ray-father's - father's ray-father's hand, while Lizzie still clung beside me, I felt that all was not yet lost, and though another had secured life's choicest blessing, many a joy remained for me in this dear sanctuary of a home. There were four other inmates of the room who had risen on my sadden en entrance. - trance. entrance. One was the blue-eyed child whom T hail already seen, :id who now stood beside Frar.fc Chester, clinging to his hand. NVir t.v M .-..i L.zzie Moore, Mary's eldest chiid and in a distant cor corner, - ner, corner, to which she had hurriedly retreated when my name was spoken, stood a tall and slender figure half-hidden by the heavy window curtains that fell to the floor. When the first rapturous greeting was over, Lizzie led me forward with a timid grace, and Frank Chester grasped my hand. " Welcome home, my boy !" he said with the loud, cheerful tones I remem remembered - bered remembered so well. " You have so changed that I should never have 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, graver, and more like a man, than when he went away, but his eyes and smiles are the same as ever. It is that heavy beard that changes him. lie is my boy still !" "Ay, mother," I answered, sadly,-" am your boy still." Heaven help me? At that moment 1 j

All my life long I had known Mary Moore. All my lite 1 loved her. Our mothers were old playmates and first cousins. My first recollection is of a boy, in a red frock and morocco shoes, rocking a cradle in which reposed a sunny-haired, blue-eyed baby, not quite a year old. That boy was niyaelt Harry Church; that blue-eyed baby baby-was - was baby-was Mary Moore. Later still, I see myself at the little school house, drawing my little chaise 'up to the door, that Mary might ride home. Many a beating have i gained on such occasions, for other boys be beside - side beside liked her, and she, I fear, was some something - thing something of a flirt, even in her pinafore. How elegantly she came tripping down the steps when I called her name ! how sweetly her blue eyes looked tip at me! how gaily rang out her merry laugh ! that fairy laugh ! No one but Mary Mary-could - could Mary-could ever bring her heart so soon to Iter lips. 1 followed that laugh from the days ot my childhood until I grew an awkward, blushing youth ; I followed it through the heated noon of manhood; and now, when the frosts of age are sil sil-veringmy - veringmy sil-veringmy hair, and many children climb my knee and call me '"father;." I find that the memories of youth are strong, and that, even in gray hairs, I am fol following - lowing following its music still. When I was fifteen the first great sorrow of my life came upon my heart. 1 was sent to school, and was obliged to part with Mary. Wc were not to sec each other for three long years ! This, to me, was like a sentence of death, for Mary was like myself to inc. But hearts are tough things after all. 1 left college in all the flush and vig vigor - or vigor of my nineteenth year. I was no longer awkward and embarrassed. I had grown into a tall, slender stripling, with a very good opinion of myself, both in general and particular. If I thought of Mary Moore, it was to imagine how I would dazzle and bewilder her with my good looks and wonderful attain attainments - ments attainments never thinking that she might dazzle and bewilder me still more. I was a coxcomb, I know ; but as good looks have fled, I trust I may be believed when I say that self-conceit has left me also. An advantageous proposal was made to me at this time, and, accepting; it, I gave up all idea of a profession, and prepared to go to the Indies. In my hurried visit home of two days, I saw nothing of Mary Moore. She had gone to a boarding school at some distance, ' and was sot expected home until the following May. I uttered one sigh to the memory of my little blue-eyed play playmate, - mate, playmate, and then called myself " a man again." " In a year," I thought, as the vehicle hurled away from our door " in a year, or three years at the very most, I will return, and if Mary is as pretty as she used to be, why then, perhaps, I may inarry her." And thus I settled the future of a young lady whom I had not seen for four years. I never thought of the possibility of her refusing me never dreamed that she would not condescend to accept my offer. But now I know that, had Mary met roe then, she would have despised me. Perhaps, in the scented and affected student, she might have found plenty of sport ; but as for loving me, or feeling the slightest interest in me, I should have perhaps found I was mistaken. India was my salvation, not merely because of my success, but because my laborious industry had counteracted the evil in my nature, and made me a better man. When at the end of three years T nreDared to return, I said nothing of the reformation in myself which I knew bad taken place. " They loved me as I was," I mur murmured - mured murmured to myself, " and they shall find out for themselves whether I am better worth loving than formerly." I packed up many a token from that

We wish to say a word to young ladies about your influence over young men. -Did you ever think of it ? Did you ever realize that you could have any influence at all over them ? We believe that a young lady by her consent, consistent, Christian example, may exert an untold power. You do riotkn.ow the respect, the almost worship, which young men, nd matter how wicked they may be them themselves, - selves, themselves, pay to a consistent Christian lady, be she young ot old. . A gentle gentleman - man gentleman once said to a lady who boarded in the same house with him, that her life was a constant proof of the truth of the Christian religion: .Qften the simple request of a lady will keep a young man frord doing wrong. We have known this to be the case very frequent frequently; - ly; frequently; and j'oung men have been kept from breaking the Sabbath, from drinking, from chewing, just because a lady whom they respected, and for whom they had an effection, requested it. A tract git git-en, - en, git-en, an invitation to go to Church, a re request - quest request that your friend would read tho Bible daily, will often be' regarded, when more powerful appeals from Other sour sources - ces sources would fall unheeded updti his Heart: Many of the gentlemen whom you nieei in society are far away from their own homes away from the influence of par parents - ents parents and sisters and they will respond to any interest taken in their welfare. We all speak df a young man's danger from evil associates, and the very bad influence which his dissipated gentle gentlemen - men gentlemen companions have over him. We believe it is just as true that the gentle gentleman's - man's gentleman's character is formed, to a very great extent, by the ladies that he asso associates - ciates associates with, before he becomes a com complete - plete complete man of the world. We think, in other words, that a young man is pretty much what his sisters and a young la lady - dy lady friend chooses to make him. We knew a family where tho sisters cnouraged the younger brother to smoke, thinking it was manly, and to mingle with gay, dissipated fellows, be because - cause because they thought it "smart," and ha did mingle with thctn, until he came just like them, body and soul, and abused the same sisters, shamefully. The in in-fluuee - fluuee in-fluuee began farther back than with his gentlemen companions. It began with his sisters, and was cSrried on through the forming years of character. On the other hand, if his sisters are watchful and affectionate, they may, in various ways by entering into little plans with interest, by introducing their younger brothers into good ladies soci society, - ety, society, lead them along until their charac-. tor is formed, and then a high-toned respect for ladies, and a manly self-respect, will keep them from mingling with low society. If a young man sees that the rclig'.on which in youth he was taught to venerate, is lightly- thought of and perhaps sneered at, by the young ladies with whom he associate, we can hardly expect him to think that it is the thing for him. Let none say thttt they have no influence, any more thau you can live without breaking. One is just as unavoidable as the other. Be ware, then, what kind of influence it is you are constantly exerting. An invi invitation - tation invitation to take a glass ot wine, or to play a game of cards, may kindle the fires of intemperance or gambling which wi 1 burn forevor. A jest given at tho ex penses of religion; a light trifling man manner - ner manner in the house of God, or any of thd numerous ways, in which you may show your disregard for the souls of Others; may be the means of ruining ndariy for time and eternity. Home Journal.

felt like a boy, and it would have been a blessed relief to have wept upon her bosom, as I had done in my infancy. But I kept down the beating of rrfy heart and the tremor of my lip. and an answered - swered answered quietly, as I looked in his full handsome face : " You have changed, too, Frank, but I think for the better." "Oh, yes! thank you for the compli compliment,'" - ment,'" compliment,'" he answered with a hearty laugh. " My wife tells me I grow handsomer every day !" " His wife ! Could I hear that name and keep silent still ?" And have vou seen. 8, nrnrt ler crimson cheek. I tell you, Harry, there is not auother in the world. Don't you think she looks very very-much - much very-much like her mother used?" " Very much," I faltered. " Hallo !" cried Frank, with a sudden suddenness - ness suddenness that made me start violently," I forgot to introduce you to my wife. I believe you and she used to be playmates in your young days eh, Harry ?" and he slapped him on the back. ' For the sake of old times, and because you were not here at the wedding, I'll give you leave to kiss her at once ; but mind, old fellow, you arc never to repeat the cer ceremony. - emony. ceremony. Come, here she is, and I for once want to see how you will manage those ferocious mustaches of yours iu the operation." He pushed Lizzie, laughing and brush brushing - ing brushing towards me ! A gleam of light and hope, almost too dazzling to bear, came over me, and I cried out before I thought: ' Not Mary I" I must have betra3"ed my secret to every one in the room. But nothing was said. Even Frank, in general so obtuse, this time was silent. I kissed the fair cheek of the wile, and hurried to the silent figure at the window. " Mary Mary Moore," I said in a low, eager voice, " have you no welcome to give the wanderer?" She turned and laid her hand in mine, and murmurod hurriedly : ' I am glad to see you here, Harry." Simple words ; and yet how blessed they made me ! I would not have yielded tip that moment for an emperor's crown ! For there was the nappy home groupc, and the dear home fireside, and there sweet Mary Moore ! The eyes I had dreamed of bv dav and night were fall ing of happiness until came ! Many years have passed since that happy night, and the hair that was dark and glossy then is fast turning gray. I am growing to be an old man, and can look back to a long and happy, and 1 hope a well-spent life. And vet, sweet as it has been, I would not recall a sin- trie da-, for the love that made my man manhood - hood manhood so bright shines also upon my white hairs. An old man ! Can this be so? At heart I am as young as ever. And Marv. with her bright hair parted smoothly from a brow that has a slight furrow upon it, is still the Mary of my early days. To me she can never grow old nor change. The heart that held her in infancv. and sheltered her in beauty of womanhood, can never cast her out un until - til until life shall cease to warm it. Nor even then, for love still lives above. . in i n i ur n Kissing 1

Doesticks shows up the stories about garroting propensities so prevalent late ly in the city in this wise : Pigford, my esteemed friend and fel fellow - low fellow boarder, at Mrs. Shaglev's, has been garroted; and it really" seems as if the robbers must have intimately known his private affairs, because the event occur occurred - red occurred on the very night of the day he re received - ceived received a remittance from England to pay Mrs. Stagely five months board. He appeared at breakfast table next morning with a countenance so mucli damaged, and so cast down on her ac account, - count, account, that she could not find it in her heart to refuse him three month's lon longer - ger longer credit until he could get another re remittance - mittance remittance from England. Jenks another of our boarders, was garrotted twice in one week it has a bewildering effect upon our Jenks it makes him unsteady in his legs, and causes his breath to smell of rum punch. On the first occasion of the robbing and choking outrage, he rung the area-bell of the house on the outside of the street, until a policeman interfered and brought him home, then Jenks inveigled the po policeman - liceman policeman iuto the house and delivered him over to me with many formalities, assuring me that he was a garroter whom he had overpowered and captured by main strength, and he showed the star on M. P's breast as the place where the invincible fist of Jenks had ''smashed his jaw." Jenks was garroted two days after, and brought home by a gentle gentlemanly - manly gentlemanly looking individual who picked his pockets at the door, took his over overcoat, - coat, overcoat, and changed hats with him, and then rung the bell for the girl to come and let Jenks into the house. The girl came, and found that individual trying to whittle off one of the pickets of the iron fence with his penknife, and mean time making a furious attempt to sing the words of "Ever: ng Hymn to the lrgin, to the classic air oi "Hoot Hog, or Die." The Mania has cxleudod to the kit chen, and the servants are now follow ing the example of their betters, and getting "garroted on every iarorable opportunity. If the boy goes to th butcher's he is invariably, according to his own account, attacked by a band of ruffians and robbed of the money before he gets home. This had happened for successive days in broad daylight, and has co-t Mrs. Stagely four and sixpence o.tch time. J cent Sally the errand girl with a dime for some boor, and she re turned in tears with the news that she too had been "garrotted," and had lost the change. She had her fist full of candv, and had two big apples in her pocket, which I suppose the robbers had given her.

' Somewhere about here." writes a Southern correspondent, "lives a small farmer of such social habits that his coming home intoxicated was once no unusual thing."' His wife urged him in vain to sign the pledge. "Why, you see," he would say, "I'll sign it after a while, but I don't like to break right off at once; it ain't whole wholesome. - some. wholesome. The best way is to get used to a thing by degrees, you know. "Very well old man,' his helpmate would rejoin, "see now if you don't fall into a hole one of these days, while you cau't take care of yourself, and nobody near to help you out." -'urc onottgb, ss trio verify the proph prophecy, - ecy, prophecy, as he returned home drunk one day, he fell into a shallow well, and af after - ter after a deal of useless scrambling, he shouted for the '-light of his eyes" to come and help him out. 'Didn't I tell you so?" said the good soul, showing her cap frill over the cd;c of the parapet; "you've got into a hole at last, and its only lucky I'm in hear ing, or you might have drowned. ell, she continued, after a pause, letting down the bucket, take hold." And up he came, higher at each turn of the windlass, until the old lady's grasp slip slipping - ping slipping from the handle, down he went to the bottom again. This occuring more than once, made the temporary occupant of the well suspicious. "Look here," he screamed in a fury, at the last splash, "you're doing that on purpose I know you are !" ell, now I am, responded ins old woman, tranquilly, while winding him up once more. "Don't you- remember telling mo it's best to get used to a thing by degrees ? I'm afraid if I bring you right up on a sudden, you wouldn't find it wholesome." The old follow could not help chuck- line at the application of his principle, and protested he would sign the pledge, wet as he was. "For vou see." she added, very em phatically, "ij you ever fall into a ditch igain, 1 11 leav:: you here l will : A't iekcrboclccr.

y i n The North Carojpbgus tells the following capital spor which it is indebted to thc"stujgecch of a Vir Virginia - ginia Virginia member of CflHv?3 We have read nothing that hBjfilcd our cachi cachi-natory - natory cachi-natory muscles mordBphtly into play, f"ir o lr,no. Trillin The proprietor of Si j-ynrd adjacent mia, conclu- . sort of a store for the pur pur-ffriTtTrrn - ffriTtTrrn pur-ffriTtTrrn sr raw to a certain town lqHTK ded to build a stand, on 0110 of the main iat rw?Se of vending hiiflw hides. aini the l!fcT fter coniptetUMWiq is buildin"-. he beiran to consider sort of a sign it would be best to put up for the purpose of attracting attention to his new establishment ; and for days and weeks he was sorely puzzled on this subject. Several devices were adopted, and on further consideration rejected. At last a happy idea struck hiin. He bored an auger-hole through the door doorpost, - post, doorpost, and stuck a calf 's tail into it with the bushy end flaunting out. After a while, he noticed a gras-e looking per sonage standing near the door, with hi; spectacles, ;azing intently on tlic sign. And there he continued to stand, ga gazing - zing gazing and gazing, until the curiosity of the" tanner was greatly txcited in turn. He stepped out and addressed the indi individual - vidual individual : 'Good morning,' said lie. 'Morning,' said the other, without moving his eves from the sign. 'You want to buy any leather?' said the store-keeper. 'No.' 'Do you wish to sell hides?' 'No.' 'Are vou a farmer?' 'No.' " 'Are you a merchant?' 'No.' Are you a lawyer?' 'No.' 'Are you a Doctor?' 'No.' 'What arc you then?' 'I'm a Philosopher. I have been standing here for an hour; trying to see if I could ascertain how that calf got tlirouch the auger hole, and 1 can t make it out, to save my life.'

Jytliat .note. I lank ever whatTmearts to wieat you. Closely e: Sit at the window and look over the way to your neighbor's excellent man mansion, - sion, mansion, which he has recently built and paid for, and sigh out, "Oh, that I was a rich man !" Get angrv with vour neighbor, and think you have not got a friend in the world. Shed a tear or two, take a walk in the burial ground, continually saying to yourself, "when shall I be buried here'?" Sign a note for your friend, and never forget your kindness; and every hour in the day whisper to yourself, "I "wonder if he y body examine every bill you take, and doubt its being genuine, till you have put the owner to a great deal of trouble. Believe every shilling passed to you is but a sixpence crossed, and express your doubts about getting rid of it, if you should take it. Put confidence in nobody, and believe every man you trade with to be a rogue. Never accommodate, if you can possibly help it. Never visit the sick or afflict afflicted, - ed, afflicted, and never give a farthing to the poor. Buy as cheap as you can, and screw down the lowest mill. Grind the faces and the hearts of the unfortunate. Brood over your misfortune, your lack of talents, and believe at no distant day you will come to want. Let the work workhouse - house workhouse be ever in your mind, with all the horrors of distress and poverty. Then you will be miserable to your heart's content, (if we may speak) sick at heart and at variance with all the world. Nothing will cheer nor encour encourage - age encourage you; nothing will throw a gleam of sunshine or a ray of warmth into your heart. All will be as dark and cheer cheerless - less cheerless as the grave.