Litchfield enquirer., 1856-02-14
Every Deseriptien ef 4s~-s
 TO B.P R I " 2 ! " e NBATLY AND PROMPTLY EXECUTED AT THssoFFfcE.
OLD ROGER JOHNSON.
BY PAUL cRtYroN. .

BY PAUL cRtyroN.
 "Ten cents, ten cents v murmured oid Roger Johnson, fnmbling the bit of silver In his palm. "ren crmts.' he repeatad. chiidishly. feeble smile fitting over his lips. with sickly glare on his haggard features; '''tisn'i much. but it will buy my supper-bfeakfast, dinner. supper, all in one--and God be thankful for that God be thankful fnr that -
 His words died away in an inandible whisper. as hugging his tattered garments around him, he tottered along the street.
 It was at the close of rude winters day. The evening dusk had fallen. ami a few fakes of snow had Auliered down ou; of lie dark gray clouds tha, hoa,ed over the city. As old Roger picked his way carefully actoss the icy slabs, gay young slamplighter passed on his evening round {, set his ladder against post vciose by. mounted 4sinartiy, and touched with maich the eager jet of the gas. which east . yellow fadiance all around the old mans feet.
 .. Ha :" said Roger. with the very ghost j of a laugl, flirting airily from his numb. cold lips. ]" alsat's Q good omen. Light. light. golden light, too, all over ny poor old ragged shoes.s So, in my life, have been gfopi0g. though heaven KNOWS ca- ,,ere,i as gaily as any school boy once, and s walked as proudly as any youth afterwards, siti now the cold winter night setting in, snd it's a'i. powerful dark before me. so dark {. and chill, and threatening But there will bsighiens all around me--and--and-'
 ..ll t.tt. |, n sort Of childish. dreamy glee, when set ting his loot iacautionsly upon clod of ice, he slipped, and fell helplessly upon the frozen ground.
 "il'ilo, old man, are you hurt '" cried amerry schoo; boy
 " He's down there hooking after pins" laughed another, sliding by, with sled d, his heels.
 The boys passed on, and the old man struggled to regain his feet But he was feeble and rheumatic. aad the fill had well nigh shaken the life oui of him. When he eame sa little to himself. he, observed that kind gentleman Was assisting him with ch.ering words.
 s "N0, 1 am not much dan,aged,' said Roger gratefully. " Thank you. sir, il wouldn't have been much matter if l had broken myeneck l aia't of much account ia ,he world iy would miss old Roge. Johnson"
 :. Have you far to 70 !" asked the sIan- ger.
 |" Not tonight, thank heaven. l live. or ra,hsr stay, right around the corner here, third door ap the alley"
 "Wsll, good night to you. Mind and keep your legs under you" said the sttan. ger.
 Ike paced on, and the old man, dragging Ais shaking limbs Into provision shop on the corner, purchased loaf of bread win the bit of silver to which he had cIuna tightly all the while. then creeping wi,t unassady s,eps into the alley en,esed a dark. dilapidased doorway with his supper under his arm.
 Al hs was stumbling up dismal old staircase, sharp feminine voice cried on so him from the floor of the first landing
 s"la shat you, Johnson '"
 ..l sappose u is, though l sometimes mora than half believe ] am somebody slse." rerlied the old man.
 "Why dija't you speak 2 have open d the door. So you could see" cried th' other.
 "Whets does that light come from Y asked Roger. -a Do you indulge in lamp hxhs, Cor 1t Is hardly dark. Mrs Stone n < .s Conc ia here, and yoa'Ii see. There you didn't expect such fire as that. dit yuu. Johnson "
 Bless you. woman. that didnt!- aY You are n wxrm as toast hen. How iolly itis to see stove all of glow lik, that Where did your coal come from T
 MO,n saia Mrs. Stone, Sydney bToush me tIsee dollars to-day-and the childrrr was stl shisering aud chatsessng on th' liuls wood Ere, ! took it into my head Una shsse tisss dollars should 70 to getting U all wasm n once. if ws were never wasa ae1in in onf lives. So what did dc hu Ro and ordse quarter of ton of coal-- md tho younr ones have been ss merry . .csisksss ever since. They're qsiss conter ste 70 wishout shsis supper. so there's encd 6fs fos them to huddse down oy.- Gone h. is,s . free wsrms Johnson. \ leax as the coal last, want everybody eniaF it thas can. Noa shail sli wiih sshis sssoiae -yesf room is awful disss,
 Tne fsssea taars shawsd h ths old msn' axao. h~t hia soino was ko choksd that D coa.1 nos expsess his thanks Seslin Atqaoaf In . rlokassy cd chAit, hs waTme hiaeoN shina and Euhhsd hss shsivslle hands essr ths stcve- ras.ed tho chiidssn' VI