Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1861-08-09
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An! with these words the lady had
gotten further up the winding stairs,
nearer the hidden door, than all had
gone before her.
eyes, that is my name, nEa am" said
Old Bill, and he glanced do at his
shabby attire, and actually tried to hide
the elbow which was pcepirg out farth-
est; Tor 1T was long time since he had
been addressed by that name, and, some
how, it sounded very pleasant to him.
81 am very glad to meet you, Mr.
Strong" said the lady. Il have heard
my father speak of you so often, and Of
the days when you and he were boys to-
gether, that | almost feel as if we were
old acquaintances. You surely cannot
have forgotten Charles Morrison?'
mo, no! Charlie and | used to be old
cronie>, said Old Bill, with sudden ami,
nation, and light in his eyes such as
had not been there for many day ex-
cept when rum lent it ftful brilliancy
All! the lady did not know, as per-
haps the angels did, that she had noun
ed the stairs, and was softly feeling for
that unseen door, she went on:
''''l almost feel as though | could see
the old spot upon which your home
stead stood, Mr. Strong, l 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 the
front. Then there was green grass
loT hoc tl.
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 bedroom wintsow,
and the spring that went 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 unmindtul of
this, in the same low sweet tones, the
lady kept on: MANY and many were
the hours-so father would say-Willie
and used to pass under the shadow of
that old apple tree, playing at hidc-and-
seek, or rolling and tumbling about on
the grass, telling each other the things
We would certainly do when we became
men; and when the sunset its cap of gold
on the top Of the oaks, l can see Willie 5
mother standing 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, Come, boys, come to sup
per-
One after another the big, warm,
blessed tears came rolling down Old
Bills pale cheeks, All! the lady had
found the door then.
Il was always at home at Willies
father would say, and used to have my
fresh pailk and bead, too; and when this
had disappeared, Willie would draw his
stool to his mothers feet, lay his head
on her. lap, and shs would tell us some
very pleasant story, IL Might be OF
Joseph or David, or of sJme good child
who afterward became great man. and
then she would part Willie's brown
curls from his forehead, and in voice
| never can forget, say, "Pomise me:
Willie, when you go cut into the world
and its temptations, and your mother is
laid down to sleep in the church-y yard
yonder promise ME, chill, tha5 her
prayers and her momory shall keep you
from AL evif ways"
"And Willie weald lift his laughing
blue eyes to her face and say, "I'lf be a
] first rate man; dou't be afraid mother.
"And then, after VIC had said our
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 soft football on the stairs,
and loving face would bend over to
see if we were nicely tucked up, 1t is
long time, father would say, after a
pause, since l heard from Willie, but
sure am that he never fallen into any
eyil ways. The memory of his mother
would keep him from that.
Rap, rap, rap! went the words of the
! lady at the door of that old mans heart.
/ Crack, 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 naan bury
! his face in his hands, and while his
whole frame shook like an aspenleaf
she heard him murmur, amid childiike