Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes County, Ohio) 1856-1865, 1861-04-11
Misedlaneons.
THE DOOR OF THE HEART.
BY VIRGINIA F. TOWNsDEN.

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She was stern, hard woman. But far away
up great many pairs Of winding stairs in hel
heart, was door not easily passed by, and on
that door was written WoMAN.-CHARLEs DICK.
| EMS.
And so it is with the drunkard Far MP :
great many pairs of winding stairs in his hear
is door, and en- that door is written MAN, anc
we must knock at it once, twice, seven times
yea. seventy times seven, that it may open IN.
to us.-JoHy B. COUGH.
He was an old man-not so old either
for the years of his life could not have
wrinkled his forehead and whitened his
hair, and the hands locked together on the
low pine table, did not tremble so with
the weakness of age; yet very old and
very miserable looked the solitary occu-
pant of that narrow room or entry, with
lis faded led curtains, and its atmosphere
rendered almost intolerable by the bar-room
into which it opened. A hat, bearing un-
mistakaJle evidence oflong intamacy with
'brickbats and gutter" maintained safe
position on one side of the owners head
and pair of elbows thrust themselves
through his coat-sleves in rejoicing con-
sciousness that they could "aford to be out. "
Add TO this, reader, pair of pants whose
originnl color it would have been matter
of time and study to determine, and you
have the tout en- semble of the wretched
being who occupied the back of the only
grog shop, which he was allowed to fire.
quent, in all the village of Greenfield.
And yet this miserable, solitary, friendless
creature, sitting there half stupifed with
the effects of last nights revel, and utterly
unconscious that, outside, the May morn
ing has been born of God, with its glorious
birth right of sunshine and dews and bird
songs, has heart, and aJar aacay," up a
great many pairs of stairs in his heart, is
door, covered with cobwebs and dust; !;
and on that door is word written, which
Time and Sin have never been able to ef-
face-and that word is MAN.
But nobody ever dreamed of this, and
people shook their heads, and said Billy
Strong's case was hopless one. Had
not many kind hearted persons reasoned
with him earnestly on the evils of his way !?
Had not the Temperance men" gone to
him with the pledge and promised him
employment if he would sign it! And
all this had beed utterly in vain.
All, none of them had groped their way
up the winding stairs, and read the name
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
soft, hazel eyes, and face that child
would have gone to in any trouble.
The old man looked up with a vacant
gaze Of wonder, as the bar-keep offered the
lady chair, and pointed to the occupant
of the other, saying:
"Thats Bill Strong, madam" and, with
a lingering stare of surprise and curiosity,
left the gentle woman alone with the as
toDished and now Thoroughly sobered man.
The soft eyes of the lady wandered,
with a sad, pitying expression, over Bills
features, and then, in low, sweet voice,
she asked:
sam l rightly informed? Dol address
Mr.. William Strong"
Alb! with these words the lady had got
ten further up the winding stairs, nearer
the hidden door, than all had gone before
her.
"Yes, that is my name, ma'am," said
Old Bill, and be glanced down at bis shah
by attire, and actually tried 10 hide the
elbow which was peepipg out farthest; for
it was long time since he bad been ad-
dressed by that name, and, somehow, it
sounded very pleasant to him.
81 am very glad to meet you, Mr.. Strong"
said the lady, 81 have heard my father
speak of you so often, and of the days
when you and he were boys together, that
l almost feel as if we were old acquain-
tance. You surely cannot have forgotten
Charles Morrison
No! no! Charlie and l used to be old
cronies," said Old Bill, with sudden ami
nation, and light in his eyes such as had
not been there for many day, except
when rum lent it fitful briliancy.
All! the lady did not know, as perhaps
the angels did, that she had mounted the
stairs, and was softly feeling for that un-
seen door. So she went on:
81 almost feel as though could see the
old spot upon which your homestead stood.
Mr.. Strong, have heard my father de-
scribe 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 the front. Then there was a
green grass plot before the front door and
the huge old apple tree that threw its