The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-07-24
[From Ar;hur's Home Gazelte.1
TIE DOOR In THE HEART.
BY MISS VIZ. TOWNSEND.


BY MISS V. F. TOWNSEND.
s'Shc was stern, hard woman! But far away
upa great many pairs of winding stairs in her
heart, was a door, easily passed by, and on that
door was writtcn-WoMAN.' -BOc.
Aud so il is with the drunkard. Far away
upa yreat many pairs of winding stairs in his
heart is door. and on that door is written man,
and we must knock at that door once. twice,
seven tunes; yea, seventy times seven that it
may open unto us.-John b. Cough.
He was old man. Not so old either,
for the wrinkles that marred his cadav-
erous vlsagr were not the autograph
that Times fingers had laid there: and
the hand that placed upon the low table
the wrll-draiued glass, did not tremble
so With the weakness that age induces:
yet very old and very wretched looked
the sole occupant of that narrow room,
with its red curtains and floor stained
with tobacco juice, and an atmcsY here
ahundantly seasoned by the ba:-room
into which it opened. A hat Git must
have been intended for one) half con-
craled the owners uncombed locks, and
unmi>takeablr evidence Of a familiar ac-
quaintaucc with ',brickbats and the gut
teri did that same hat produce. Then
there was coat, out OF whose sleeves
peeped IA pair Of elbows in rejoicing
consciousness that they ''could afford to
be out" Add to these shabby pair of
faded pants, and you have, reader, the
tout cN&emJle ofthe wretched being, who
bad just commenced his daily potations
in the only grog shop he was allowed
TO frequent. And yet the wretched,
trirndless creature that sat there half
Supplied with the effects of his morning
dram, had heart, and far up a great
many pairs of winding stairs in that
heart was q door, easily passed by, and
on that door, covered with cobwebs and
dust, of Time ana Sin, was written,
"MAN!" But nobody dreamed OF this,
and when the "1emperance menu had
gone to him with the pledge, and pro-
missed him employment and respecta-
biIity If he would sign it: and others
(wcll meaning men too) had rated him
soundly for his evil ways, and he had
turned deaf ear to all these things, and
gone back with blind pertinaclty to his
cups again, everybody said old Billy
Strong's case was a hopeless one.
All! none Eof these had patiently
CROPPED their way up the hearts winding
stairs and read the inscription on the
hidden door there. But while the I'M
happy man sat by the pine table that
morning, the bar keeper suddenly enter
ed, followed by a lady with pale, high
brow, mild hazel eyes, and strangely
winning expression on her pensive face
The old man looked up with vacant
stare Of astonishment, as the bar-keeper
offered the lady chair, and pointed to
the occupant of the other, saying:
"That's Billy Strong, ma'arn,' and
with lingering glance of curiosity, left
that gentle woman alone with the as
tonished and now thoroughly sobered
man.
The soft eyes of the lady wandered
with sad, pitying expression, over old
Bills features, and then in low, sweet
voice, she asked:
cam | rightly informed! DO | ad-
dress Mr.. William Strong!"
All! with those words the lady had
got further up the winding stairs, nearer
the hidden door than all who had gone
before her.
eyes, that is my name, ma 'am," said
old Bill, and he glanced down at his
shabby attire. and actually tried to hide
the elbow which was peeping out farth-
est, for it was a long time since he had
been addressed by that name, and some
how it sounded very pleasant to him.
81 am very glad to meet you, Mr..
Strong" said the lady" 81 have heard
my father speak Of you so often, and of
the days when you and he We're boys
together, that almost feel as if we were
old acquaintance. You surely cannot
have forgotten Charles Morrison z"
"No! no! Charlie and used to be old
cronies," said old Bill, with sudden ami
nation, and a light in his eye, such as
had not been there tor many day, ex-
cept when run lent il fitful brilliancy.
"Ah! the lady did not know, as per-
haps the angels did, that she had mount
ed the stairs, and was softly feeling Tor
that unseen door, SO she went on: