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Volume 3 (1858-1859) (592 pages)
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Page: of 592
DID I LOVE HER? 11
me that my Mary, too, after withering
away like the tender flower beneath the
rude blasts, had gently sank to rest!
The letter closed as follows:
“Her last breath sounded your name,
and when they told her, the day before
she took her departure from earth, that
it must be, she smiled contentedly, and
only requested that her body be laid near
your mother, who, like herself, knew and
loved you so well.”
Reader, all this happened many years
ago. Ihave since visited the old village,
and faced those whose conduct caused so
much anguish. I looked about me, and
my eyes met many changes and strange
faces, There stood the same old trees,
still blooming, with the return of spring,
The old school house, where Mary and I
spelled the hard words, and rejoiced in
each other’s triumphs, was there; new
faces occupied the long, pine benches. The
tall hills we used to climb appeared as
high and as fresh as eyer; but with my
eyes, just then, I could see nothing beautiful about me—not even the butterflies
Mary and I used to chase!
He who visits the old-fashioned village
about which I have been talking, will
doubtless find somebody who will remember the main features of this story. He
will, I dare say, hear more than I have
told—much more. He will hear how that
“wild, reckless young man” faced those
who had injured him, and how, on a certain occasion, with one hand pointing to
two newly-made graves, and the other
towards Heaven, he forgave them all! ,
The visitor will hear more than this. He
will hear how, up to the hour of their
death, that bad young man supported and
consoled the aged parents of Mary.
I never married. I never expect to
marry. But one word more of my Mary:
“Did I love her?”
Marysville, June 1, 1858.
FAREWELL.
T ask no farewell token
Of thine afar to bear ;
No link of bright gold broken,
Nor locks of thy dark hair.
My soul shall still be near thee,
Though far from thee I fly—
I only wish to hear thee
Say “Bless you and good-bye.”
This miniature that beareth
Thy semblance I refuse,
Because my fond soul weareth
One that it may not lose. '
The love that needs a token
To keep its faith may die ;
Then all I would have spoken
Is “ Bless you and good-bye!”
San Francisco, May 28, 1858.
THE BRIDAL BELLS.
Merrily ring the bridal bells !
Merrily, all the day;
Merrily sing the little birds—
It is the pleasant May.
Sing on, sweet birds! Oh! sweetly sing!
Bloom, little flowers, so gay ;
Shine, sun, on my sweet, Mary’s head!
For we are married to-day.
The pleasantskies are bright with smiles,
The earth is dress’d in flowers;
The little rills dance down the hills,
And sing among the bowers.
Merrily ring the bridal bells,
O’er the hills far away ;
Merrily dance two happy hearts,
For we are married to-day. 6.7. s.
San Francisco, May, 1858.