Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-05-24

dark hours he had yet known. Always uni
now, he had seen some little ray OF hope whe
the gloom was thickeSt; but in the preSen
angu ish, nothing was left him but TO die.
Once the old man started up and curse
himself for fool He was hall famiShed in
wintly ganeL aud the reflection thai he ha
given away 10 the greedy ones of Jacob Sion
nearly The whole Of his last loaf, fred him wit
Indignation al his own folly.
Il ought TO Starve,' he mutteTed. 'The wor
is all sefShneSs, ant he who gives anythin
is a dull dolt-let him suffer But 0, thi
hunger and cold have deserved so much ?
There were others well fed and warmed
that night. Roger thought OF them he visit
ed in fancy the houses Of the rich he saw
happy families with smiling faces sitting arount
glowing hearthS. Then he wept again no
now in envy or remorSe. He thanked Goo
that there was comfort in the world, although
his 'ot was 10 suffer. He thought OF the MAJ
who gave him the money that purchased III,
loaf; Of him who lifted him up when he hat
fallen, and spoken kind words TO him OF The
good and patient Mrs. Stone, the mother o
The children he had fed and for all his hun
gel pangs he felt richly compensated, in tn,
consciousness Of having done one self forget
llllSJ NNhill'OlC uNlJ NIlNH IIIIy III SDIlt
of his poverty and rags, o brother 10 all the
good and noble hearts that lhrobbed in human
clay.
The old mans limbs meanwhile grew chill
and Numb d he was wondering if it woult
he possible for him 10 get warm if he went Il
bed, when he heard a step on the stairs, anc
presently saw light shining through lie wide
cracks around the door.
Have YOU gone to bed, Johnson p
Il was Mrs. Stones voice, and the old mlr
aroused himself TO answer.
'No; thought I'd try sitting freeze first,
said he, with sad, playful humor. 'Anythins
wanting?'
Eyes, replied the woman. There is q mai
down stairs wants 10 see you.
"To see me :? echoed the aStonished lodger
starting up. you don't mean me p
Mrs. Stone did mean him, indeed and he
FASTENED to shake the coverlid from his shoul
derS. and accompany her down stars. All
was quiet in her room Jacob having fale
asleep by The stove. SIupefed by The heat
TIL caller was waiting in the dark entty-way
below and the woman held 'he lamp while
Roger went down to speak TO him.
The old man was tremulouS with vague
apprehension that some hing was going to hf D
pen to him i; nor was this feeling entirely dis
sipated when, in the person who took his hanl
and addressed him in kindly tones, he recog
nlzed ;he man that had SO lately helped hin
10 regain his footing in the slippery street.
q was afraid | should not find you,' said ht
visitor. But from the time | left YOU, you
words, 'oId Roger Johnson--around the corner
;hird door up The aiIey--kept ringing in m,
ears, and | was finally compelled 10 come bacl
and look for you.'
God bless You, sir articulated the shiver
ing old man. This is an honor don't know
how have deserved, you must have made ;
mistake
'None a; all. thought you might be yer,
poor and in need OF assistance
'True. true, am poor enough, but
Rogers voice failed him and he began tc
shake again, as with an ague.
you are cold,' sad his new friend. Com,
let's step into your yonder shop and talk owe
matters
Roger hesitaed.
'i hey turn me out, sir, when 90 there L
get warm.'
They will not turn me out replied the 9th
er. Come along
They entered a common refreshment saloon
and 10y the counenance and protection OF hi
new friend, Roger was permitted 10 enjoy
seat by the stove.
'You look like a man who has seen har
times observed the STRANGER.
Il have suffered almost every thing, sir re
piled Johnson, in Subduet, unsteady tone
Il don't know why an left 10 live
"But you have some idea of happiness il
store for you yet no man is without that yov
know
d sometimes dream OF such thing. hav
hopes, | have hopes, SIT - rainbow. c0lored
some OF 'em are too. But IFS III deluSion. -
My castles are built in The air, and they'r
ioIever tumoled down about my ears. Iknoy
what would make mt happy, sir; but Whist
The use oI taking? 1t is something | can
have
Speak it out, friend Johnson ? cried IL,
stranger. But be careful and not place you
expectations TOO high. The gods love modes
ty you know"
'Wel. sir, it's just this nothing more no
less than three meals day.
'Three meals day!
q knew you'd call il extravagont,' sal
Roger, with faint smile. But | would no
mind your rich dishes ; only give me pIent
ol bread and poiatoeS-wllh now and then
bit OF cheese, or salt fish, or maybe q NOSE
OF dried beei or smoked bacon make me Suu
of that, day after day, as iOEg as live, 50 tina
| can keep clear OF the aims house, aud YOU,
see me happy man, if there is not anothe
in creation p
'And haven't you as much alreadyP criet
the oStoniShed stranger.
Rnurr Tpnlia1 thai with bic yooy ba,lih l..
had found II difficult to get work that winter
and 1t was always so painful for him TO aSI
aims, that his subsistence had moi averaged
half meal day.
Good Heavens = exclaimed his friend; il
all this wasletul city, is it possible that on,
man can be found reduced to such extremes
One, too, whose happiness would be so cheap
ly purchased-three poor meals dayn
Cheap, If one had the money SuggeSte
Roger.
4 have the money! and by all that's pre-
cious, will devote so much Of ii 10 pension
hat will afford you this royal bliSSp
'0h, sir, don't jest with me =
Pm not iesing, friend Johnson To shoV
you how earneS; am--waiter, cook This mai
.he choicest steak you have. Or would vol
prefer mutton chops, or anything else on th
bill Speak for YOURSELF
AS soon as The old man had sufficiently re
covered from his amazement 10 realize hi
good fortune, he made choice Of some col
fowl, with hot buscuit and coffee, becaus
these comforting items could be most readl
Produced.
The sympathetic stranger, who, by the way
was fine looking man Of forty, with taste
irl whisker and an exceedingly pleasant ey
seemed 10 enjoy The meal although he taste
nothing, quite as much as the furnished Rnre