The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-10-24

kV a
scribe it so often. The bill, with its crown
! OF old oaks at tho back OF your house, and
the field of golden harvest grain that
waved in front. Then there was the groen
grass plat before the front door, and tho
huge old apple tree that threw it's shadows
across il, and the groat old fashioned porti-
90, and the vino that cropi round tho pillars,
and the rosobush that looked in at the bed
room window. and the spring that went
shining and singing through :ho bed OF
mint at the side Of the house
Old Bill moved uneasily in bis chair, and
tho muscles around his mouth twitchcd 90
casionally; but, unmindfu OF this, in the
} same low, molting tones, the lady kept on
, "'Many aud many wore the hours, so faith.
or would say. Willie and used to pass
under the shadow Of that old apple.trse.
} playing A. hids and-seok, or lolling on the
grass telling each other the wonders we
would achieve whom We became men; aud
when the sunset laid its crown of gold on
tho tops Of the oaks on the hill, can see
. Willies mother standing in the front door,
) with Der white cap aud check apron, aud
, the pleasant smile that always lsy around
her lips, and hear her cheerful voice calling
. Come, boys, come to supper"
One after another tho big, warm, blOsssd
.ears came rolling down old Bills pale
, checks. Ah the lady had found tho door
theu.
IL was alwsys at home, at Wilie's, faith.
or would say, aud used to have my bowl of
fresh milk, and bread, too, and whom these
had disappe 1red, Willie wsuld draw bis stool
to bis mothers feot, lay his head on her lap,
aud she would tell US some pleasant story,
it might be OF Joseph or David, o, of some
good child Who afterwards became a great
man, and then she would part Willie's
brown ours from his forehead, and in a
voice | can uevor forget, say: Promise
me, Willie, when you go out from your
! home into the world, and it's temptations,
and your mother has laid down with her
gray hairs to sloep in the church-yard yon-
der, promise, my child, that the memory OF
/. hor prayers and counsels shall keep you
from all evil ways Aad Willie would
raise his head, lit his blue eyes proudly to
his mother, aud answer: Il promise you,
will make a firstrate man, mother and
after he had said hS evening PRAYER, We
would GO, happy as the birds that neslled in
tho branches ot the apple-tree, to rest; aud
then, ust as We were sinking to sleep, We
would bear woll known football on The
stairs, and q loving face would bend 0Vei us
to see if we wero Biceiy tucked up. 1t is q
long tune father would say, after pause,
since heard from Willie but sure | am,
shat hs has .nevor fallen into any evil Ssys.
Tho memory OF bis mother would keep
; him from that"
Rap, rap, rap! won't the words Of the
lady ut the door in t.at old mans heart.
Cresk, creak, creak went tho door on i.s
rusty hinges, (apgels OF God, held ye not
your breaths to iis,rn? Tho lady could
ouly see the subdued man bury his face ia
his hands, and while his whole frame shook
y like an aspen leaf, she heard hin murmui
amid ehildlike sobs:
my mother, ., my mother !"
And she knew tho toars that were washing
those wrinklsd cheeks, wore washing ouI
also many u dark page in the record of old
. Bills past life that stood against him SO
' With silent prayer OF thanktuiuess, she re-
sumcd:
But there was one scene my fs,be,
J loved TO talk of better than all the rest. Ii
was of the morning you we're married, Mr.
Strong. 1t was enough to do ones eyes
good, he would say. to look at them, as they
. walked up the old church aisle, be with hil
u proud, manly tread, and she. q delicate
fragile CT eaturo. fair as the orange blossom
that trembled in her hair. l remembe
: how clear and 6rm her voice echoed through
tho old church. as he promised to love, pro
tect and cherish the gentle being 81 hi
Z side; aud know he thought, Ms he locke
9 down fond!y upon her, that the very " ind
d of Hoavon should not visit her face to
! roughly. And then my father would tell u
y of home made very bright by wstchfu
), affection, and of the dark.eyel boy, and O
y the iair-hairod girl. who came aftor Will
y 10 gladden. it,-and thon, YOU know, he re
u u moved to the West, and lost sight of you
? Mr. Strong"
y Once again tho lady paused, for the sgon.
y . of the strong man before her was fearful Il
', behold, aud when she spoke again, il was il
" u lower and moro mOurnful tone:
y IL promised my father, previous to hi
I death, that If ever visited his native State
}, l would seek out his old friend. But, whe,
inquired for you, they unfoded q torribl
u u story TO me, Mr.. Strong: They told me o
u a broken and desolale household; of a dark
- eyed boy that left his homo in disgust AM
- despair, for oue on tho homeless seas o
% the gentle, accomplishing Wiio, that wen
,, down with prayer on her lips, TO
- for her erriug husband, broken hesrtec
~ to the grave; Of the fair. haired girl tho
u placed by her side in little whilo. Of
y 10 a sad, sad story / have heard of m
'r fathers old friend"
i was )! lb was tunt u'u "
killed them |" said old Bill, in a voice hoars
. with emotion, es he lifted his head from hi
cEaped hands, and looked upon the lady
7 every feature wearing such look of agoni
~ Iing remorse and helpless despair, that sh
4, Ahnddered to behold il, Wide. wide oper
~ stood the door then, and the lady hsitone
y, to pass in. small, fair hand was lai
ID gently upon old Bills arm, and 9 swe0
| Voice nurnrured
=, Even for sll this. there is redemption
"a and you we'll know in what manor. In tn
name of tho mother that loved you, in th
~ namo of your dying vito, and OF the chill
that sleeps beside her, ask you, will 20
,t sign the pledge !"
d. II WILL" said old Bill; and he brough
r. down bis hand with such force on the pin
Id table, that its rheumatic limbs with difficult
l. maintained their equilibrium, and the
W eagerly seized the pen and pledge tho lad
q placed before him, and when he retutne
" them to her. the name of Ruli,am Stroni
y lay in broad, legible characters upon th
paper.
!" There was an expression, ludicrous fror
30 its intensity Of curiosity,on the bar-koopor
IN physiologomy, as the lady pGssod quietl
l. through The 'shop," after her long interVie,
10. with old Bill, and the expression was in n
90 degree lessened, when, few moments aftel
old Bill followed her without stopping, a
ID usual, 10 take a "secOnd glass; and he nevt
O. passed oper fhs threshOld dgain.