Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1855-05-24
miscellaneous
OLD ROGER JOHNSON.
BY PAUL CREYToN.

Ten cents, he repeated, chidshy, feeble
smile fitting over his lips, with sickly glare
on his haggard leaturesj ''tisn't much; but il
will buy my supper breakfast, dinner. and
supper, all in one-and God be thanked for
ehat-God be thanked for thatp
His words died away 10 an inaudible whiS-
per, as hugging his tattered garments around
him, he tottered along The street.
1t was at the close of a rude winters day.
The evening dusk had fallen, and few fakes
{ tfsnow futtered down out OF the dark gray
clouds that lowered nbeve the city. As old
Roger picked his way carefully across the icy
slab, gay young lamplightet passing Oh his
evening round, set his ladder agans; post
close by, mounted smartiy, and touched with
match the eager Jets of gas, which cast
yellow radiance oil around the old mans feet.
'Hap said Roger, vito the very ghost Of a
laugh, fitting aiTiy from his numb, cold lips,
'thst is good omen. Light, light, golden
light, too, all over my poor old ragged shoes.
So, in my life, Pve been gropirg, groplng
though Heaven knows copered as gaIly as
any school-b boy once, and w0Iked as proudly
as any youth, afterwards-iill now the cold
winter night is setting in, and it all-pOwer-
ing dark before me-so dark, and chill, aud
threatening But there will come gieam
soon---just like this which br!ghtenS all
around me-and-0nd-'
The old man was mumbling agan--wih a
sort OF childish, dreamy glee, which, setting
his foot incautiousy upon clod OF ice, he
slipped, and fell helplessy upon the frozen
ground.
'Hi!lo, old cove-you hurt p cried merry
school boy.
He's down there looking af'er pin laugh
cd another, sliding by, with a sled at his heels.
The boys passed on and the Old man clrug,
gled 10 regain his feet. But he was feeble
and rheumatic. aud the fall lad well nigh
shaken the life out OF him. When lie came
q little 10 himself, he observed that a Kind
gentleman was assisting him with cheering
words.
mo, I am not much damaged said Roger,
gratefully. Thank you, sir, it wouldn't have
been much matter if had broken my neck.
sint of much account in the world--nobody
would miss old Roger Johnson
'Have you far 10 goP asked The stranger.
Not 10 night, thank Heaven. | live, OF
rather stay, right around The corner here, third
door up the alley
well good night 10 you. Mind and keep
your legs under you,' cried The stranger.
He passed on, and the old man, dragging his
co,n.r' nurchased loaf of bread with Bit
of silver 10 which he had cupg tightly all the
while. then creepjng with unsteady steps into
Tho aIisv. entered dark. dilapilnied doorway
with his sumner under his arm.
As he was Stumbling IN dismal old stair
case. a shsrp feminine voice cried out 10 him
from the faor of the first landing:
'Is that you, Johnson 2
I snose il is. though sometimes u ere than
old man.
.Wbv didn't vou sneok9 I'd have on.ned
Al. 5oo, so Won couId seq, cried the o.her
.WL,,a Joes ,ho, liobt come rromD asked
Pc, sn' Won ;ninI.e in lnmnIiytt. for !,
!. .Ssrd,v d.,k Mrs Stone ln
sCome in here. and you'usee There Won
Adm, eynsct sucb a fire as that, did Won.
,un I"nn eNp'' J, ''" 'N'
.pIa.s vou u,omsn. that I didn't You are
,,.rrO 90 ,oo,, in bore How ioIlv !, is IN see
.,nra al of oIow like hat Wbere did
xo,,r oo,i emo from .,
''1I Io sa;d M,s SIo,e .svdnev broucht me-
,h,sa doIIors .dav. and the chldren was all
'"'s1 uos W oL,,,or;no co m ,be s,;n,,y Il,
.,s n,ond e.. tool il inio INV head tLat Ines.
,n,aa 1ona,s should On IN ceiling ne ali warn
anne r. we wss neyer warm agoin in On,
Ives So what did | do but 90 and order q
onaIier of ion of coal; and the Young ones
SSovs S bsen ss me merry as crickets ever sji1ce.-
Tha,,y 10 nui,s con,ent IN % without ,teir sun.
49,, so there's gond fire for tLem TO cudII.
fown hv Come in !: IFS free warm John.
sOn A. limo as the coal losls. / wonl eyerv.
bodv n enioS il that can, You shall 81, viii
ns his evrning-your room is So awful drear,
Jobnson p,
Tho T,oyen ,ears i6nwed in tbe old man,
.ves bmt h;s voice was en- chnked that h,
ooouI5 NJ, o~n,ess his tbanks Sealing LimseI
!" a r;cIeiv nli chair he warmed his coI(
.h;ns and rnhhed his shriveled hands over tbt
s,nva n,t,e1 The children,s heads and end.
~, a! d!r'i',;n1 r; the lave, nor,fon nr his Ioo
~ 49, W uha,s .ton, sse,v;nS "s bri Scont. rraOmSn
Sn.JS Sa. h;1saIr saI"'
'oi n c., x.or,,,oied o,,i,s, b;s ,eoeros
MS d. S.V ,ho ohiJrsn ssi1ad mnon ,%e ood g,
ro,iv ~" thot th.. "ra,.GnI oli man 6ecIaTeJ
SL ooSty, - s"r. ~" do,yn Lilo cbaeLs tbo, !;
I;S ,i liz, ro n'nrs anoS ~ see ibem sot ,l,an i
o oId TO- h;nn IN cit down to eat ,,ost hopn.
,;f"i % SaaOt St "'"'
MI M 'sr ,''o,.r uo,I wos soon concluded wbe,
bsarv foo,siens we're heard on The stairs
III ,oos ,Uon1or,s hea,t almost ceased IN heat
cha ip",n.d pvU. 90 na,e that the old man ohsety4(
,bsr cbanSe Of comntenonce. even in that din
i;gbt
Ns s.Is 4 father o wb;qnersd the children.