Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1860-12-05
Tho Door in the Heart.

WoMAN. and SO it is with the drunkard. Far
heart is door, and that door is written MAN And
VIC must knock at that door, once, twice, seven
unto us."-JoHN B. GoUGH.
He was an old man not so old either f,r
the wrinkles that marred his cadayerous Wis.
age were not the autograph that times I'm.
gers had laid there; and the hand that nlaced
upon the low table the well drained glass.
did not tremble so with the weakness that
age induces yet very old and very wrctcbcd
looked the sole occupant of that narrow room
with its red curtains, and floor stained with
tobacco juice, and an atmosphere abundanly ly
seasoned sd haE the has room into Which i
one, half concealed the owners uncoinbed
locks, and unmistakeable evidence of farnil.
lar acquaintance with 'brickbats and the gut.
ter did that same hat produce. Then there
was coat, ,out of whose sleeves peeped pair
of elbows in rejoicing consciousness that
they could afford to be out Add to these
pair of faded pants, and you have, reader,
the tout eneenbte of the wretched being who
had just commenced his daily potations in
the only grog-shop he was allowed TO fre-
quent. And yet the wretched creature that
sat there, half stupefied with the effects of
his morning dram, had heart, and far up a
great many pairs of winding stairs in that
heart was door easily passed by, and on
that door, covered with cobwebs, and dust of
time and sin, was written, man. But
no body dreamed of this, and when the tenn
perance men had gone to him with the pledge
and promised him employment and respecta-
biiity if he would sign it; and others (well-
meaning men, too) had rated him soundly
for his evil ways, and he had turned deaf
ear to all these things, and gone back with
blind pertnaclty to his cups again, every
body said old Billy Strong's case was a hope
less one.
An, none of these had patiently CROPPED
their way up the hearts winding stairs. and
read the inscription on the hidden door there.
But while the unhappy man sat by the pine
table that morning, the bar keeper suddenly
entered, followed by lady with a pale
high brow, mild hazel eyes, and strangely
winning expression on her pensive face.
The old man looked up with vacant stare
of astonishment as the bar keeper offered the
lady chair, and pointed to the occupant of
the other, saying:
lingering glance of curiosity left that gentle
woman alone with the astonished and now
thoroughly sobered man.
q
sad plying expression over Billy's features.
and then in low sweet voice she asked:
Am rightly informed, Do | address
Mh5ddMshi Ma dMshisR aS5 StgQpG Sa III VINO usa gone before
he..
Yes, that's my name, ma am said lid Bill
ly, and he glanced down at his shabby attire,
and actually tried to hide the elbow which
was peepibg out farthest, for it was long
time since he had been addressed By that
name, and somehow it sounded very pleas
ant to him.
Il am very glad to meet you, Mr.. Strong
said the lady. I have heard my father sreak
of you SO often, and of the days when you
and he were boys together, thatI almost feel
as If we were old acquaintance. You surely
cannot have forgotten Charles Morrison
No, no! Charlie and used to be old cro-
Mes said old Bill, with sudden animation,
and light in his eye such as had net been
there for many day, except when rum lent
it fitful brilliancy.
All, the lady did not know, as perhaps the
angels did, that she had mounted the stairs
and was softly feeling for that unseen door
so she went on:
i almost feel as if could see the old spo
upon which your homestead stood, Mr.
Strong, have heard my father describe i
so often. The hill, with its crown. of ole
oaks, at the back of your house, and tn,
field of garden harvest that waved in front
Then there was the green grass plot befor
the front door, and the huge old apple tre
that threw its shadows across it; and tn
great old fashioned portico, and the crap
vine tina. crept round the pillows and tn
rose bush that looked in at the bed room
windows, and the brook that went shinin,
and singing through the bed of mint at tn
side of the house
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair, an
the muscles around his mouth twitched oc
casionally; but unmindful of this, in tn
same low, melting, tones, the lady contin
ued
Many and many were the hours'-s So ia
ther would say, Willie and used to pas
under the shadow of that old apple tree, PLAY
ing at hide-and-seek, or lolling on the grass
telling each other the wonders we woul
achieve when we became men and when tn
sRpsstK spg SaKs le5f 81 tie fi Can see wies moth
er standing in the front door with her whit
cap and check apron, and the pleasant snil
that always lay around her lips, and hear nc
cheerful voice calling, Come boys, come
| supper
|. One after another, the big, warm, blessc
, tears came rolling down old Bills pale cheek
Alb, the lady had found the door then.
r always was at home at Wilie's father wou
:. saw. sand used to have my bowl of fres
= milk and bread too; and when these hf
disappeared, Willie would draw his stool
q his mothers feet, lay his head on her ls
and she would tell us some pleasant stor,
it might be of Joseph, or David, or sou
good child who afterwards became gre
man and then she would part Willie's brow
. curls from his forehead, and in voice | G.
a reyer forget, say, Promise me, Willie, wh
:: You go out from your home into the wor
, and its temptations, and your mother b
:, laid down with her gray hairs to sleep in I
!. church yard yonder- promise, my child, th
p the memory of her prayers ana eonns
n shall keep you from all evil ways A
= : Willie would raise his head, lift his blue ey
- =, proudly to his mother, and answer, i pro
% isc you will make first rate man, mothe
~ And after he had said bis evening prayer,
would 90, happy as the birds that nestle
branches of the apple tree to rest, and tn
Ia lust as we were sinking down to sleep,
= would hear q we'll known football on
~ stair, and a loving face would bend over
= to see if we were nicely tucked up. 1T II
-, - long time father would say after pau
- since I heard from Willie, but sure
- that he has never fallen into any evil wa
,ha The memory of his mother would keep
ore from that
G ~, Rap, rap, rap, went the words Of the !
-. 80 ~ the door of the old mans heart. Crs
!, + of creak, went the door on its rusty hinges,
- oelS of God held va not your breath TO