Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-02-24

lady q CHAIR, ana pointed to the occupant
Of the other, saying: -
''That Billy Strong, ma'sm," !" and With q
lingering glance of curiosity, left the gentle
woman alone with the astonished and now
thoroughly sobered man.
The soft eyes of thelady wandered with q
sad pitying expression over Bill's features,
and then in q low, sweet voice, she mildly
asked:
cam rightly informed! De / address
Mr.. William strongY ...
All, with these words the lady had gone
further up the winding stairs, nearer to that
hidden door, than all who had gone before
her. g.. -s.-
eyes, that is my name, ma'am," said old
Bill, as he glanced down at his shabby attire,
and actually tried to hide the elbow which
was peeping out the farthest, for it was
long time since he had been addressed so
pleasantly, and somehow it sounded very
strange to him. -a....
"1 am very glad to oneetyou, Nh. Strong"
said the lady. CT have heard my father
tell of you so often, and of the days when
you and he were boys together, that almost
feel as if we were old acquaintances. You
surely cannot have forgotten c. aries Morri-
SOM"
"No! no! Charlie and used to be old
cronies," said old Bill, with sudden anima
ton and light in his eye, such as had not
been there for many day, except wheh
rum lent it ftful brilliancy.
The lady went on:
81 almost feel as if could see the old
spot upon which your homestead stood Mr..
Strong-I have heard him describe it 50
often. The hill with its grown old oaks, at
the back of your house, and the field of
golden harvest grain that waved in front.
Then there was the green grass plot that
waved 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 vine that crept around the
pillars; and the rose bush that looked into
the bed room window, and the spring that
went shining through the bed of mint at
the side of the house."
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair, and
the muscles around his meuth twitched oc
casionally: but unmindful of this, in the
same low melting tones, the lady continued:
''Many were the hours'-so lay father
would say-sWillie and / used to be under
the shadow of that old apple tree, playing
at hide-and-seek, or lolling on the grass
telling each other wonders we would achieve
when We became men-and when then the
sun set laid its crown of gold on the top of
the mighty old oaks on the hill, l can see
Willie's mother standing in the front door,
with her white cap and pleasant smile that
always lay around her lips, and her cheerful
voice calling, come boys to supper"
One after another the big warm tears
came rolling down the old mans cheeks.
All, the lady had found the door then.
81 was always at home," as Willie's
father would say, and used to have my
bowl of bread and milk, too, and when
these had disappeared, Willie would draw
his stool to his mothers feet and she would
tell some pleasant story-it might be Of Jo-
seph or David, or some good child, who az
terwards became great man and then
she would part Willie's brown eurls from
his forehead, and in voice l cannot forget,
say, Promise nae, Willie, when you 60 cut
from, vour home in the world and Its TENN