Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1862-10-18
THE boon IN THE HEART.


She was q stern hgrd woman But far
away mp great many pairs Of winding
81 airs In her heart, was a door easily pass
ed by, and on that door wns vritten--Wo o.
MAN" Boz.
And so it is with the drunkard. Far
away up great many pairs of winding
stairs in his heart ia is o door, aud on that
door was written man, aud We must knock
at the door once, twice, seven times yea,
seventy times seven, that it may be opened
unto us."-- Cough.
He was an old man. Not so old either !;
for the wrinkles that marred his csdaver-
Gus vissge we're not the autographs that
the fingers Of time had made there and
the hand that plOced upon the table the
well druined glass, did not tremble so with
the weakness that age induces yet very old
h very wretched looked the sole occupant
Of that narrow room, with its red curtains
and floor stained with tobacco Juice, and
an atmosphere abundontly seasoned by the
bar.room into which it opeued. A hat
for such il seemed intended-balf concealed
the owners uncombed locks, and unmstak-
able evidence of q familiar acquaintance
with "b ickbats aud the gutter" did that
same hat produce. Then there was coat,
out Of whose sleeves peeped pair of el.
bows in rejoicing consciousness that they
could "sfford 10 be out" Add 10 these
shabby pair of pants. and you have, reader,
the SaWt ensemble of the wrc,ched being,
who had just commenced his daily potatous
in the only grog shop he was allowed to
frequent And yet the wretched, friendless
creature who Sat there half supplied with
The effects of his morning dram, had heart,
and fur up great many pairs of winding
stairs, in that heart was door, easily passed
by, and on that door covered with cob.webS
and dust, Of Time aud Sin, was written
MAN " But nobody dreamed of this, and
when the Temperance men" had gone TO
him with the pledge, and promised him en-.
ploy ment and responsibility if he would
sign it, and Others, (well meaning men, too,
rated him soundly for his evil ways, and he
had turned a deaf ear TO all these things,
and gone back with blind pertinacity to his
cups again, everybody said old Billy Strong's
case was hopeless one.
Ah none OF these had patiently CROPPED
their way up the hearts winding stairs aud
read the inscription on the hidden door
there. But while the unhappy man sat
by pine table hat morning, the bar-kceper
suddenly entered, followed by lady with
pale, high brow, mild hazel eyes, and a
strangely winning expression on her pensive G
face. The old man looked up with va
cant stare Of astonishment,a ,as the bar.keep
er offered the lady chair, and pointed to
the occupant of the other, saying
"Thal's Billy Strong, ma'am," and with
lingering glance of curiosity, left that
gentle woman alone with the astoniShcd
and now thorongly sObered man.
The soft eyes of the lady wandered with
sad plying expression over old Bll's fea-
tnres, and then in q low, sweet voice she
asked
Am rightly Informed 2 Do address
Mr.. William Strong Z"
All | with these words the lady had got
further up the winding stairs, nearer the
hidden door, than all who had gone before
her.
Yes, that is my name, ma'am, said old
Bill, and he glanced down at bis shabby
attire, and he actually tried to hide the ell
how that was peeping out fartherest, for
it was long time since be had been ad.
dressed by that name, and somehow it
sounded very pleasant to him.
am very glad to meet you said the Indy.
I have heard my father SO often speak OF
you, and Of the days when you and he were
boys together, and / almost feel as if we
were old scquaintances. Yon surely could
not have forgotten Charles Morrison
No no Charlie and l used to be old
cronies, said old Bill, with sudden ANNA,
nation and a light in his eye. such as had
not been there for many day,except when
rum lent it fitful briliancy.
Ah | the lady did not know, as perhaps
the angels did, that she had mounted the
stairs uud was softly feeling for that unseen
door, as she went on
almost feel as if could see the old
spot upon which your homestead stood,
Mr.. Strong, have heard my father des.
cribe il 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 the green grass
plat before the front door, and the huge
old apple.tree that threw its shadows
| across u, Onu the great OluiaSnlOneu pOf'
ico, and the vine that crept round the
pillars, aud he rosebush that looked in at
the bedroom widow, and the spring that
went shining 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 oc
casionnIly but uumindful of this, in the
same low, melting tones, tho lady kept
on:
Many and many were the hours, so faith
er would say, w lie aud l used to pass
under The shadow Of that old apple.tree
playing at hide and seek, or loling on the
grass, telling each other the wonders w
would achieve when We became men, anC
when the sunset laid its crown of gold OF
the tops of the oaks Of the hill cal
see Wliie's mother standing in the from
door. with her white cap and check apron
aud the pleasant smile that always la!
around her lips, and hear her cheerful voc,
caliug-COme boys, come TO supper.
One after another the big warm, blessed
tears came rolling down old Bills pal
ltha laAy had fnnn6 tho doc