Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-09-15
hidden door than all who had gone be.

old Bill, and he glanced down at his
shabby attire, and actually tried to hide
the elbow which was peeping out far
thest, for it was 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. "I have heard
Imy father speak of you SO often, and of
the days when you and he were boys to-
gether, that almost feel as if we were
old acquaintances. You surely cannot
have forgotten Charles Morrison"
"No no Charlie and used to be
old cronies," said old Bill, with sudden
animation, and light in his eye, such as
had not been there for many day, ex-
cept when rum lent tia fitful brilliancy,
All, the lady did not know, as perhaps
the angels did, that she had mounted the
steps, and was softly feeling for that un-
seen door, so she went on:
"I almost feel as if could see the
old spot upon which your homestead
stood, Mr.. Strong. have heard my fa-
thor describe it so often. The hill, with
it's crown ofold oaks, at the back of your
house, and the field of golden harvest
grain that waved in front. Then there
was the green grass plat before the front
door, and the huge old apple tree that
threw its shadows across it; and the great
old-fashioned portico, and the grape vines
that crept around the pillars; and the rose
bush that looked in at the bed room win
dow, and the spring that went shining
and singing through the bed of mint at
the side of the house,
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair,
and the muscles around his mouth twich
ed occasionally; but unmindful of this, in
the same low, melting tones, the lady
continued:
Many and many were the hours, =
to pass under the shadow of that old ap
pie tree, playing at hide and seek, or lol-
ling on the grass, telling each other the
wonders we should achieve when we be-
came men and when the sunset laid its
crown of gold on the top of the oaks on
the hill, l 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 hear her
cheerful voice calling-Come boys; come
to supper"
One after another, the big, warm bles-
sed tears came rolling down old Bills
pale cheeks. All, the lady had found the
door then.
/" i was always at home as Willie's
father would say; and used to have my
bowl of fresh milk, and bread too, and
when these had disappeared, 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 Jo-
seph or David, or some good child who
afterwards became great man; and then
she would part Willie's brown curlS from
his forehead, and in voice can never
| forget, say "Promise me, Willie, when
you 60 out from your home into the world
and its temptations, and your mother has
laid down with her gray hairs TO sleep in
the church yard yonder,-promise my
child, that the memory of her prayers and
counsels shall keep you from all evil ways.
And Willie would raise his head, lift his
blue eyes proudly to his mother, and an
swer, Il promise you will make first
rate man, mother And after he had said
his evening prayer, we would go, happy
as the birds that nestled in the branches
of the apple tree, to rest, and then, just
as we were sinking to sleep we would
hear we'll known football on the stairs,
and 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 heard from Willie, but sure l am
that he hasAneyer fallen into any evil
ways. The memory of his mother would
keep him from that"
Rap, rap, rap, went the words of the
lady at the door of that mans heart
Creak, creak, creak, went the door on its
rusty hinges (angels of God, held ye not
your breaths to listen!) The lady could
only see the subdued man bury his face
in his hands, and while his whole frame
shook like an aspen leaf, she heard him
murmur amid childlike sobs
"My mother o my mother!
And she knew the tears that were wash
out many dark page in the record of old
Bills past life, that stood against him.
So, with silent prayer of thankfulness,
she resumed:
"But there was one scene my father
loved to talk of better than all tho rest
1t was of the morniug you were married,
Mr.. Strong.
"It was enough to do ones eyes good,
he would say, 'to look at them as they
walked up the old church aisle he. with
his proud manly tread, and she, delicate
fragile creature, as fair as the orange bios
SONS, that trembled in her hair. re-
member how clear and firm his voice
echoed through the old church as he pro-
missed to love, protect and to cherish the
gentle being at his side and know he
he thought as he looked down fondly up
on her, that the winds of heaven should
not visit her face too roughly And then
my father would tell US of home
...aLn ,n,., hr;r.kt hr. matchEnl affactinn