Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-03-13
Old Roger johnson.

Roger Johnson, fumbling the bit of SILL
yer in his palm. Ten CENTS he repeat
ed chldishly, feeble smile fitting over
his lips, with sickly glare on his hag-
eard features-"it isn't much, but it will
buy me my breakfast, dinner and supper
all in one-and God be thanked for
that
His words died away in an inaudible
whisper, as hugging his tattered gar
ments around him, he tro!ted along the
street.
It was at the close oe a rude winters
day. The evening dusk had fallen, and
a few fakes of snow fluttered down out
of the dark grey clouds that huttered
over the city. AS old Roger picked his
way carefully across the icy slabs, gay
young lampligbter passed on his evening
rounds, set his ladder against post near
by, mounted smartly aud touched with
match the eager jet of gas which cast
yellow radiance all around the old mans
feet
'Ha ? said Roger, with the very ghost
of a laugh fitting airily from his numb,
cold lips, that's a good omen. Light,
light, golden light, too, all over my poor
old ragged shoes. So in my life have
been groping, though heaven knows l
capered as gaily as any schoolboy once
and walked as proudly as any youth af-
terwards-till now the cold winter night
is setting in, and its all powerful dark
before me-so dark, and chill and threat
ening! But there will come CLEAN
soon, just like this which brightens all
around, and
The old man was mumbling again,
with a sort of childish, dreamy glee,
when, setting his foot incauliousIy upon
a piece of ice, he slipped and fell help
Iessly upon the frozen ground.
tEIillo, old man-you hurt? cried
merry schoolboy.
He's down there looking after pin,
laughed another sliding by with a sled at
his heels.
The boys passed on, and the old man
struggled to regain his feet. But be
was feeble and rheumatic, and the fall
had we'll nigh shaken the life out of him.
When he came a little to himself, he OBJ
served that kind gentleman was assis-
ting him with kind words.
No, I am not much damaged said
Roger, gratefully. Thank you, sir; it
wouldn't have been much matter if had
broken my neck. l amt of much ae-
count in the word-nobody will miss old
Roger johnson out of it,
Have you far to go ? asked the stran-
ger. /
No, not tonight, thank heaven.
live, or rather stay, right round the cor
ner here, third door up the alley
We'll, good night to you. Mind and
keep your legs under said the stranger.
He passed on, and the old man drag
ging his sinking limbs into a provision
store on the corner, purchased a loaf of
bread with the bit of silver to which he
had clung tightly all the while-then
creeping with unsteady steps into the al
ley, entered a dark, dilapidated door,
with his supper under his arm.
AS he was stumbling up dismal
old stair case, a sharp feminine voice
called out to him from the foot of the
first landing:
is that you, Johnson ?
i suppose it is, though | sometimes
more than half suspect that it is some
body else,' replied the old man.
why don't you speak ? I'd open the
door so you could see,' cried the other.
Where does that light come from /?
asked Roger. DO you indulge in lamp
light before it is fairly dark, Mrs. Stone?
Come in here, and you shall see
There, you did not expect such fire as
that, did you, johnson 2
Bless you, woman, that l didn't
You are as warm as toast here. How |
Jolly it is to see stove all aglow like
that Where did your coal come from?'
'Ob,' said Mrs. Stone, Sidney brought
me three dollars to-day, and the children
were all a shivering and chattering over
the little wood fire, so took it into my
head that these three dollars should go
towards making US all warm once, if we
never get warm again in our lives. So
what did do but 60, and order quar-
ter of ton of coal, and the young ones
have been as merry as crickets ever
since. They're quite content to 60 with
out their supper, so there's good fire
to cuddle down by. Come in +; it's
free warm, johnson. As long as the
coal lasts want everybody to enjoy it
who can. You shall sit with us this eve