, 1859-04-29
DOWN HILL.
A Picture Of Real Life.

friend, heard the name 0f John Anderson called.
There is hard case" remarked my friend.
looked upon the man in the prisoners dock. He
was standing up, and he pleaded guilty to the
crime Of theft. He was q tall man, but bent and
infirm, though not old. His garb was torn, spare
and filthy; his face all bloated and bloodshot; !;
his hair matted with dirt, and his bent form quiv.
cred with delirium. Certainly never saw
more pitiable object. Surely that man was not
born william. I moved from my place to get a
Elirer view Of his face. He saw my movements
and turned his head He gazed upon me single
instant, and then covering his face with his hands,
he sank powerless into his scat.
"Good Godr invOluntarily calculated, start
ing forward. "Will-"
! had half spoken his name when he quickly
raised his head, and cast upon me look OF such
imPlOring agony, that my tongue was at once tied:
Then he covered his face with his hands asked
my legal companion il the prisoner had counsel.
He said no. ! told him to do all in his power
for the poor fellows benefit, and would pay him.
He promised, and left. l could not remain
to see the man tried. Tears came into my eyes
as gazed upon him, and il was not until had
gained the street and walked some distance. that
| could breathe freely.
John Anderson! Alasl he was ashamed to be
known as his mothers son. That was not his
name, but you shall know no other. will cali
him by the name that stands on the records of
the court.
John Anderson was my schoolmate, and II was
not many years ago-not over twenty, that we
lcit our academy together-he to return to the
home Of his wealthy parents, and to sit down
in the dingy sanctum Of a newspaper Office for
few years. and then wander across the &C an.
was g'ne soTe four years, and when rsturncd,
found John married man. His father was
dead, and left John priucely Eriun".
"Ah, c." said he to me, as he met me at
the railroad station, "you shall sec what bird
have Gagged. Ny Ellen Is a perfect lark-a
robin very princess Of all birds that ever looked
beautiful or sung sweetly."
lie was an enthusiast but not mistaken, for
found his wifi. oil he had said, simply Omittng the
poetry. She was truly one Of the most beautiful
women ever saw. And so good, too, so loving
and so kind. Aye, she 50 loved John, that she
r,aly loved all his friends What lucky fellow
to find such wife. And what lucky woman to
find such husband; for John Anderson was as
handsome as she was. Straight, tail, manly, and
Ace as faultlessly noble and beautiful as ever
an artist copied And he was good aud kind,
generous and true
spent week with them, and was happy all
the time Johns mother lived with them, fine
old lady as ever lived, and making herself the
constant joy and pride in Boosting Of her son,
darling boy as she called MIN. gave her an
account Of my adventures by sea and land in
foreign climes, and she kissed me when lef.
She said she kissed me because l loved her Gar.
ling.
/ did not 500 John again for four years. ar.
rived at his house late in the evening. He was
not at home; but his wife and mother were there
to receive me; aud two curly headed boys were
at play about E,lcn's chair. knew at once they
were my friends children. Everything seemed
pleasant until the little ones were in bed and
asleep, and happy, and then could see that Fl.
len was troubled She tried to hide it, but fAce
ccaled.
At length John came. His face was flushed,
and his ewes looked ini.amed. lie grasped my
hand with hearty laugh-calIed me "old fellow,
old dog" and must come and live with him, and
many other extrayagant things His wife tried to
hide her tears, while his mother shook her head
and said-
"Hell sow his wild oats soon. Ny darling can
never be bad man."
"God grant il" said | to myself; and well
knew that the same prayer was on Ellcn's lips.
It was late when retired, and might not
have done 50 even then had not John fallen asleep
in his chair.
On the following morning I walked out with
my friend. l told him I was sorry to see him as
| saw him the night before.
"0h," said he, "that was nothing. Only q
little party. We had glorious time. l only
wish you had been there"
At first thought wonld say no more, but
was il not my duty! knew his nature better
than he did himself His appetite and pleasures
bounded his own visions. | knew how kind and
gentle he was-alas! too kind, too gcnerousi
"John, could you have seen Ellen's face last
evening, you would have trembled Can you