The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-04-17

''She a stern hard woman. But far away up
great many pairs of winding stairs in her heart was
door easily passed by, and that door written
WOMAN. Charles Dickens.
"And SO it is with the drunkard. Far up a great
many pairs of stairs in his hearts, door, and many
pairs of stairs in his heart door, and that door is
written NAN and must knock at it once twice, seven
times-yea, seventy times seven, that may open upon
us."-John B. Cough.
He an old man-not so old either, for the Years
Of his life could have wrinked his forehead, and
whitened his hair and the hands locked together the
low pine table did not tremble so with weakness and
age; yet very old and very miserable looked the solitary
occupant Of that room entry with its faded
red curtains and its atmosphere rendered almost inoe
rable by the bar-room into which it opened. hat
bearing unmistakable evidence of long intimacy with
brick bess and the gutter" maintained safe position
one side OF the owners head; and pair of elbows
thrust themselves through his coatseeves, i'll rejoicing
consciousness that they could aford to be out" Add
to this, reader pair of pants whose original color it
would have been matter Of time and study to deter
mine and YOU have the tout ensemble of the wretched
being who occupied the back of the only grogshop
which he allowed to frequent in all the village of
Greensheld.
And yet that miserable, solitary frendess creature,
sitting there half supifed with the effects of last nights
reyel, and utterly unconscious that outside the May
morning has been born of Cod with its glorious birth
right of sunshine and bird songs, has heart; ''far
away up great many pairs of stairs in lis heart is
door, covered with cobwebs and dust and on that door
able to efdce; and that word is man."
But nobody ever dreamed Of this and people shook
their heads and said Billy Strongs hopeless
one. Had not many knd-hearted persons reasoned
with him earnestly the evils of his ways had not the
Temperance men gone to him with the pledge, and
promised him employment lc would sign it-and all
this had been utterly in vain.
All, none them had groped their way up the wind
ing stairs and read the the hidden door there.
But while the unhappy man satby the pine table that
Il. III !
lady with soft hazel eyes and face that achild would
have gone to in any trouble
The old man looked up with a vacant gaze of wonder
as the barkeepcr offered the lady chuir and pointed
to the occupant Of the other, saying:
"That's Bill Strong, madam and with lingering
stare of surprise and curiosity left the gentle
alone with the astonisbed and now sobered man.
The soft eyes Of the lady wandered with sad, pity
ing expression over old Blrs features, and then in
low, sweet voice, she asked
''Am rightly informed? Do address Mr.. William
Strong?"
Ali with these words the lady had gotten further up
the winding stairs the hidden door, than all who
had gone before her.
Eyes that is my name nlGan, said old Bill, and he
glanced down 1T his shabby attire and actually tried to
hide the elbow which peepng out the tarthest for
it long time since he had been addressed by that
name and somehow it sounded very pleasant to him.
Il am very glad to you Mr.. Strong" said the
lady 81 have heard my father speak of you so often
anu oil the DAYS NEen YOU ana ne were DOFS lO5eLHcI
that | almost feel rs If old acquaintance od
surely cannot have forgotten Charles Morrisson?"
NO! mol Charlie aud used to be old cronies," said
old Bill with sudden animation, and light i'll his eyes
such as had been there for many day except when
rum lent it ftiIi brilliaucy.
Ali the lady did not know as perhaps the angels did,
that she had mounted the s.ars, and softly feeling
/ for that unseen door.
Il almost feel as though could see the old spot upon
which your homestead stood, Mr. Strong; have heard
my father describe it often. The hill with its crown
of old oaks the back Of your house. and the field OF
golden harvest grain that waved in the front Then
there was green plot before the front door, and
the huge old apple that threw It's shadows across
it. and the great odtashoned portico, and the grape
vine that cept around the pillars and the rosebush that
looked in at the bedroom window and the spring that
went flashing and singing through the bed of mint at
! the side of the house,
Old Bill moved uneas,ly in his chair and the muscles
around his mouth twitched occasionally; but unmindfu
of this, in the low sweet tones the lady keep
'Many and many were the hours so the father would
say, Willie and used to pass under the shadow of that
old apple tree playing at hde-and-Seck, rolling ant
tumbng about the grass telling each other the things
we would certainly do when We become men; and when
the sunset sets its cap of gold the top of the oaks
can see Wilies mother standing in the front door, with
her white cap and check apron, and the pleasant smile
that always hoyered around her lips and hear her cheer
ful voices calling, come boys, come to supper"
Que after another the big warm, blessed tears came
found the door then.
Il was always at home at Wile's father would say
and used to have fresh milk and bread, too; and
when this had disappeared Willie would draw his stool
to his mothers feet, lay lis head her lap and she
would tell MS some very pleasant story it might be OF
Joseph or David, or some good child who afterwards
became great man; and then she would part Willies
brown curs from his forehead and in a voice never
can forget, say, promise me- Nillie when you go out
in the world and its temptations and your mother is laid
ftl1 tlat
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, III be tustrae man; don't be afraid
mother
''And then after we had said our prayers, we would
20 to bed happy as the birds that went to their nests
in the old apple branches by the window, and Just
we were sinking tc sleep, would hear soft football
on the stairs and loving face would bend over to see
if we nicely tucked up 1t is long time, father
would say after pause but sure am that he haslevel
fallen into any evil ways The memory Of his mother
would keep him from that"
Rap rap rap went the words of the lady at the door
Of the old mans heart crack crack went the door on
its rusty hinges; while far above them both the angels
of God held their breath and listened But the lady
could only see the subdued man bury his face in his
hands, and while his whole frame shook like an aspcI
leaf she heard him murmur amid childish sobs,-
''My mother Oh my mother"
And she knew that the tears that washing those
Wflnkeu CHethS were Washing OUT diSO lttlN q va
page in the record Of old Bits plsle with silent
PRAYER of thankfulness, she reslm1ed-
Bat there was one scene my father loved to talk
better than all the rest 1t was the morning you were
married Mr.. Strong. It was enough to do ones eye
good he used to say, to look al them they walk NJ
the old church sdehe with his proud manly tread anc
She delicat fragile creature, fair the orange bios
sum trenDed IN her halr, remember now cieai
and firm his voice sounded through the old church as ne
promised to love- protect and cherish the fair girl at hi
side; and know, as he looked down fondly upon her
that the very winds of heaven should rot visit her face
too roughly" And then my father would tell us of
dark eyed boy aud fair-haired gid who came after
while to gladden. it, and then you know he moved to tn
west and lost sight of you, Mr.. Strong"
Once again the lady paused fog the agony of the MAJ
before he was fearful to behold, and when she spok
again it was in a lower and mournfu tone
Il promised my father previous to his death, that
/ ever visited his native State would seek out hi
friend. But if when l enquired Of you they unfolde
a terrible story to me- Mr. Strong they told me of
broken desolate househod of the gentle uncomplain
ing Wife who went down with prayer her lips 70
the errng husband brokenhearted to the grave; and
the fair haired girl they in little while placed by be
side. Oh, it is a sad, sad story have heard Of m
fathers old friend"
at was l! 1t was l. taas did it all! killed them,