The Lambertville press. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1858-1???, 1860-10-10
B. B. BLACKWELL, EDITOR

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gone before her.
Yes, that is my name, ma'am, y
said Old Bill, and he glanced down at
his shabby attire, and actually tried to
hide the elbow which was peeping out
farthest for it was long time since
he had been addressed by that name,
aud, somehow, it sounded very pleas
antto him.
am very glad to meet you, Mr..
Strong" said the lady. I have heard
my father speak Of you so often, and
Of the days when you and he were
boys together, that I almost feel as if
We were old acquaintance. You
surely cannot have forgotten Charles
Morrison ?"
"No I! no Charlie and ] used to be
old cronies," said old Bill, with sudden
animation, and light in his eyes such
as had not been there for many day
except when rum lent it a ftfnl brill
liancy.
All the lady did not know, as per-
haps the angles did, that she had
mounted tho stairs, and was softly feel
ing for that unseen door So she
went on
II almost feel as though could see
the old spot upon which your home
stead stood, Mr. Strong, have heard
my father describe it so often The
hill, with its crown of old oaks, at the
back of your house, and the field Of
golden harvest-grain that waved in
front. Then there was a green grass
plot before the front door, and the
huge old apple tree that threw its
shadows across it, and the great old
fashioned portico, and the grapevine
that crept around the pillars, and the
rose bush that looked in at the bed
room window, and the spring that
gent flashing and singing through the
bed of mint at the side of the house. "
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair
and the muscles around his mouth
twitched occasionally : but nnmindful
of this, in the same low sweet tones, the
lady kept on -" Many and many
were the hours,-so father would say,
Willie and I used to pass under the
shadow of that old apple-tree, playing
at hide and seek, or rolling and tnm-
bling about on the grass, telling each
other the things we would certainly
do when we became men and when
the sunset set its cap Of geld on the
top of the oaks, I can see Willie's
mother starding in the front door,
with her white cap and check apron,
and the pleasant smile that always
lowered around her lips, and hear her
cheerful voice calling, 4" Come, boys,
come to supper"
One after another the big, warm,
blessed tears came rolling down Old
Bills pale cheeks, All the lady had
found the door then.
81 was always at home at Willie's,
father would say, and used to have
my fresh milk and bread, too and
when this had disappeared, Willie would
draw his stool to his mothers feet, lay
his head on her lap, and she would
tell us some pleasant story,-it might
be of Joseph Or David, O. Of some
good child who afterward became Q
great man and then she would part
Willie's brown curls from his forehead,
aud in a voice ] never can forget, say,
Promise me, Willie, when you go
out into the world and its temptations
and your mother is laid down to sleep
in the church-yard yonder, -promise,
my child, that her prayers and her
memory shall keep you from all evil
ways"
"And Willie would lift his laughing
blue eyes to her face and say, I'll be
first rate man don't be afraid moth
err"
q And then, after we had said ouI
prayers, we would go to bed happy as
the birds that went to their nests in
the old apple branches by the window
and, just as we were sinking to sleep,
we would hear a soft football on the
stairs, and a loving face would bend
over to see if We were nicely tucked
up. It is long time, mother would
say, after pause, since I heard from
Willie, but sure / am that he has new
or fallen into any evil ways. The
memory Of his mother would keep hin
from that
Rap, rap, rap went the words 0
the lady at the door Of that old mans
heart. Creak, creak, creak ! went th'
door on its rusty hinges while ia
above them both, the angels Of Coz
held their breath and listened Blu
the lady could only see the snbdnet
man bury bis face in his hands, ant
while his whole frame shook ike al
aspen-leaf, she heard him murmuf
amid childlike sobs,--
My mother oh, my mother y
And she knew the tears that wer'
washing those wrinkled cheeks wer'
4 yvaeh;no, out also many n dark nasl