Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-02-20
DELAWARE, OHIO, FEBUARY 20, 1868.

face in his hands, and while bis whole frame
shook lille an aspen leaf she heard him mur.
mur, amid childlke sobs
My mother Oh, my mother =
And she knew the tears that were washing
those wrinkIed cheeks, were washing out also
many dark page in the record of Old Bills
past life. so, with a silent prayer Of thankful
ness she tesu1cd
But there vas one scene my father loved
10 talk of better than all the rest. 1t was on
the morning you were married, Mr.. Strong
Il was enough TO d. ones eyes good-he used
to say-to look at them as they walked up
the old church isle the with his proud, manly
tread, and she delicate, fragile creature, fair
as the orange blossoms that trembled in her
hair. / remember how clear aud firm his voice
sounded through the old church, as he promis.
ed to love, protect. and cherish the fair girl
at his side; and know, as he looked upon her
that the very winlS Of heaven should not visit
her face too roughly
"Aul then my father would tell US Of home
made very bright by watchfnl affections and OF
dark-eyed hoy and fair-haired girl who
came after while to gladden. ii; and then you
know be removed to tho West and lost sight
of you, Mr. Strong"
Once again the lady paused. for the agony OF
the man before her was fearful TO behold; and
when she spoke again, it was in lower and
more moueniul tone:
"L promised my father, previously to his
death, that if ever visited his native state,
would seek out his old friend. But when en-
qnired for you. they nnfolded terrible story
to me. Mr.. Strong; they told me of broken
ISOLATE household; of the gentle uncODplain-
ing wife, who went down with a prayer on her
lips for the erring husband. broken-hearted to
the grave; and Of the fair-haired girl they
placed in little while by her side. Oh, it is
sad, sad, story 1 have heard of my fathers
old friend'
1T was L. 1t was that did it all ]
killed them y said Old, Bill. in voice hOarsC
with emotion, as he lifted his head from bis
clasped hands and looked upon the lady, every
feature wearing such look of agony and re-
morse that she shuddered to behold it. Wide
wide open stood the door then, and the lady
FASTENED TO pass in. A small hand was laid
gently on Old Bills arm, and u sweet voice
murmured:
Even for all this there is redemption. II
the name of the mother that loved you, in the
name of your dying wife, and of the child thai
sleeps beside her. ask you, will you sign the
pledgc?"
Il WILL said old Bill, and he brought down
his hard with such force on the pine table thai
its rhumatic limbs hardly regainel their equi
librium, and he eagerly seized the pen and the
pledge, the lady placed before him, and when
he returned :hem to her, the name of VIZ
LIAM STRONG lay in broad, legible characters
upon the paper.
There was an expression ludicrous ffonq fts
extreme curiosity, on the bar-keepers face, as
the lady passed quietly through the shop
after the long interview with old Bill and the
expression was in no degree lessened when, in
few moments after, old Bill followed her with
out stopping, as usual, to take his first glass
And he neUer passed orer that threshold
again
And now, reader, you whose hear throbs
with tenderness and reverence of humanity
fallen, despised. miserable though it may be, re-
member that somewhere in the heart OF your
fellow man is door, which, though closed for
many years will surely open to the hand that
knocks IN kindness, and the voice that calls in
love.