Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-11-27
but, unmindful of this, in the same low, melting


seek, or ong on the grass, telling each other the
wonders we would achieve when we became men,
and when the sunset laid its crown Of gold on the
top of the oaks on the hill, | can see Willie's
mother standing in the front door, with her white
cap and check apron, and the pleasant smile that
always lay around her lips and her cheerful voice,
calling, Come, boys, come to supper"
One after another tie big. warm, blessed tears
came rolling down old Bits pale cheeks. All!
the lady had found the door, then
81 was always at home at Willie's,' father
would say, and used to have my bowl of fresh
milk and bread, too and when these had disap-
peared, Willie would draw his stool to his mothers
feet lay his head on her lap, and She would tell
us some pleasant story, it might be of Joseph, or
David, or Of some good child who had afterward
became great man, and then she would part
Nille's brown curls from his forehead, and in
voice | can never forget, say, Promise me, VIII
lie when you 90 out from your home into The world
and It's temptations, and your mother has laid down
her grey hairs, to sleep IN the church yard, yon-
der, promise my child that the memory OF her
prayers and counSels shall keep you from all evil
waysh And Willie would raise his head, lift his
blue eyes proudly to his mother, and answer i
promise you, | will make a first rate man, mother
And after be had said his evening prayer we
would go, happy as the birds that nestled in the
branches OF the apple tree, to rest and chen, just
as We were sinking to sleep, would bear we'll
known football the stairs, and a loving face
would bend over US to see if We were nicely tucked
up. 1t is a long time, father would say, after
pause, since l have heard from Willie-but sure
am, that he has never fallen into any evil ways =
The memory of his mother would keep him from
that"
Rap, rap, rapl went the words Of the lady at
the door in that old mans heart. Creak, creak,
~, I T.. L
God hold We not your breath to listen J The la
dy could see the subdued man bury his head in his
hands, and while his whole frame shook like an
aspen leaf, she heard him murmur, amid child
like sobs:
my mother, 0, my mother p
And she knew the tears, that were washing
those wrinkled cheeks, were washing out, also,
many durk page in the record Of old Bilis past
life, that stood against him. So, with a silent
prayer Of thankfulness, she went on.
But there was one scene my father loved to talk
Of better than all the rest 1t was of the morning
YOU were married, Mr. Strong. 1T was enough
TO do ones eyes good he would say, 'to look at
them, as they walked up the old church asle-he,
with his proud, manly tread, and she delicate,
fragile creature, fair the orange blossoms that
trembIed in her hair. | remember how clear and
firm his voice echoed through the old church, as
he promised to love, protect and to cherish the
gentle being at his side; and | know he thought
as looked down fondly at her, that the very
winds Of heaven should not visit her face too rough
ly.' And then my father would tell us of home
made very bright by watchful affection, and the
dark-eyed boy, and Of the iair-haired girl, who
came, after a while, to gladden. it, and then, you
know, he removed TO the West, and lost sight Of
you, Mr. Strong.
Once again The lady paused, for the agony Of
the strong man before her was fearful to behold;
and when she spoke again, it was in a lower and
more mournful tone:
Il promised MY father, previous to his death,
that, if ever | visited his native State, [ would
seek out his old friend. But when | inquired for
YOU, they unfoded terrible story to me. Mr..
Strong; they told me of broken and desolate
household; Of dark eyed boy who left his home
in disgust and despair, for one on the homeless
seas; Of the gentle and accomplishing wife who
went down. with prayer on her lips for her errlns
husband, broken hearted, to the grave; OF the
fair haired girl hey placed by her side in little
while o. it is a sad, sad story, have heard OF
my fathers old friend y
at was it was | that did it ALL l killed
them p said old Bill, in a voice hoarse with emo
ton as he lifted his head from his clasped hands
and looked upon the lady, every feature wearing
such look of agonizng remorse and helpless de-
spair, that she shuddered to behold it.
Wide, wide open stood the door then, and the
! lady FASTENED to pass in A small fair hand was
laid gently upon old Bill's arm, and sweet voice
murmured
Even for all this there is redemption, and YOU
well know in what manner In the name OF the
mother that loved you. in the name of your dying
wife, and of the child that sleeps beside her, asl
you. will you sign the pledge ?"
Il will" said old Bill, and he brought down
his hand with such force on the pine table, that 1t
rheumatic limbs with difficulty maintained thei
equilibrium, and then eagerly seized the pen an'
pledge the lady placed before him. and when h
returned them to her. the name of WILLIAM STRoN'
lay in broad, legible characters upon the paper
There was an expression, ludcrous from inten
sty of curiosity, the bar-keeper's physlogno
my, as the lady passed quietly through the ''shop,
after her long interview with old Bill; and the ex
preston was in no degree lessened, when, a te'
moments after, old Bill followed her without stop
; ping as usual, to take ''second glass and Il
neUer passed orer that threshold again"
Reader of mine, if you are Of those whose tru
D earnest souls bear ever about them one great dc
l sire to benefit their fellow men, if yonr heart
!. vearnng over some erring brother man, whoi
YOU would gladly raise from the depths of degrf
II dation and misery, and point to the highway
e peace and virtue, remember that somewhere in h
e heart must be a door which, when rightly apple
to, will open unto you. See toit that ye find it.
Mrs. GENERAL PIERcE.-The Portsmouth q
It H. Chronicle states that General Pierce is abo
to take up his residence in Portsmouth. The re
son for this step is understood to be that the heal
Of his wife is benefited by the sea air. The Chro
is cle adds. that Gen. Pierce, on the 4th of Marc
D. LII oorrv with him to the White House in Was