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

He was an old man Not so old, either;
for The wrinkles that marrcd his cadAverous
visage were not the autographs that Times
hugers had laid there, and the hand that
placed upon tho low table the we'll drained
glass, did not trsmblc SO with tho wehkness
that age induces; yet very old aud very
wretched looked the sole occupant of that
marrow room. with it's rcd curtains, and hoor
stained with tobacco juice and su atmosphere
abuudantly seasoned by the bar.room into
which it opened. A hat liz must have been
Intended for oDe) half concealed the own
or's uncombed locks, and unmistskeable evi
dence OF q familiar acquaintance with brick
bats and the gutter" did that same hat pro
duce. Then there was u coat, out OF whose
sleeves peoped u pair of elbows in rejoicing
consciousness that they could afford TO be
out" Add to those shabby pair Of faded
pants, and you have, reader, the tout en-
sembLe of tho WreiGhed being. who had just
commenced his daily potaiions in the only
grog shop he was allowed to frequent. And
vet the wretched, friendl0ss creatur1 who
sat there half stupihod with the effects Of
his morning dram, had heart. and far up
a grea, many pairs of winding stairs in that
heart was door, easily passed by, and on
that door, covered with cobwebs and dust,
of Time and Sin, was written "MAE" But
nobody dreamed of this, and whom tho
TEN mperance men" had gone TO him with
the pledge, and promised him employment
and respectability il he wOuid sign it, and
others, (well meaning men, too,) had rated
him soundly for his evil WAYS, and he had
turued deaf ear to all these things, and
gone back with blind pertinacity to his cups
again, everybody said old Billy Strong't
case was hopeless one.
/ All / none of these had patiently CROPPED
their way up the hearts winding stairs, and
| read the inscription on the hidden door
there. But while the unhappy man sat by
tho pine table that morning, the bar keeper
suddenly entered, followed by a lady with a
pale, hi gh brow, mild hazel eyes, aud O
strangely winning expression on her pen
sve face The old man looked up with q
vacant stare of astonishmcnt, as the bar
keeper offered tho lady q chair, and pointed
to the occupant of the other, saying;
"Thats Billy Strong. ma'an," and with
lingering glance of curiosity, left that gen
tie woman alone with the astonshed and
now thoroughly sobere6 man.
The soft eyes of the lady wandered with
q sad, pitying expression over old Bills fea
lures, aud then, in low, sweet voice, she
asked
"Am rightly informeds Do address
Mr.. William Strong ?"
Ahl With those words the lady had got
further up the winding stairs, nearer the hid
don door, than all who had gone before her
"Yes, that is my name, ma'sm," said old
Bill, and ho glanced down at his shabby at
tire, and actually tried to hide the elbow
which was peeping out farthest, for it was Q
long time since he had boen addressed by
that namo, aud somehow it sounded very
pleasant to him.
i 81 am very glad to meet you. Mr.. Strong,
said tho lady. II have heard my father Sc
often speak of YOU, and of the days wher
you aud no were boys together, aud al
most feel as if we were old acquaintanees
You surely cannot have forgotten Charles
Morrison p
"No mol Charlie aud fused TO be ole
eronies." said old Bill, with sudden anima
tion and light In his eye, such as bad no
been there for many day, except whel
rum lent il fitful brillianoy.
Al Ahl the lady did not know, as perhap
i the angels did, that che bad mounted th,
Q stairs, and was softly feeling for that uuLeel
!. door, as she won't ont