Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-01-20

had not always been so, in SCOTLAND his
appearance was the signal for general trouble
and fear. 1t made poor old Roger Johnson's
heart burn in his bosom to hear Jacob Stone
demand money of his wife, and curse her be-
cause she had that day spent all oftheir oldest
sons earnings for fuel; and when the .unfeel-
ing father snatched from the hands of sickly
child the crust that had been given it to gnaw,
the old man spoke out his indignation. This
led to sharp quarrel, and he was driven with
oaths from the room. JacoB slammed the
door after him, and the feeble ledger crept
darkling up to his cold and windy attic.
He sighed as he sat there in the gloom on
the uninviting bed. The comfort he had Just
tasted, made the present desolation more bit
ter by its contrast The old man huddled to-
gether with the tattered bed-covering wrapped
around him, and sobbed like little child. 1t
seemed the darkest of all the dark hours he
had yet known. Always, until now, he had
some little ray of hope when the gloom was
thickest, but in the present anguish nothing
was left him butte die.
Once the old man started up and cursed
himself for fool. He was half-famished in
wintry garnet, and the reflection that he had
given away to'the greedy ones of Jacob Stone
nearly the whole of his last loaf, fired him
Wlun lnulgnatlOn at his own Jolly.
II deserve to starve," he muttered. 'The
world is all Selfshness, and he who gives any
thing is dull doIt; let him suffer! But, o,
this hunger and cold Have | deserved so
much?
There were others well fed and warmed
that night. Roger thought of them; he saw
happy families, with smiling faces, sitting
around their glowing hearths. Then he wept
with 10
thanked God there was comfort in the world,
although his lot was to suffer- He thought
Of the man that gave him the money that
purchased the loaf; of him who had lifted
him up when he had fallen, and spoken kind
words to him; of the good and patient Mrs.
Stone, the mother the children he had fed !;
and for all his hungry pangs he felt richly
compensated for having done one self-forget-
ting, charitable act, which made him, in spite
OF his poverty and rags, a brother to all the
good and noble hearts that throbbed in hu-
man clay.
The old mans limbs, meanwhile, grew
numb and cold; and he was wondering if it
were possible for him to get warm if he went
to bed; when he heard step on the stair,
and presently saw light shining through the
wide cracks around the door.
''Have you gone to bed, Johnson?"
1t was Mrs. Stones voice, and the old man
aroused himself to answer.
mo. L thought I'd try. sitting freeze
first" said he, with a sad, playful humor.
Anything wantingr
eyes," replied the woman" there is a man
down the stairs wishes to see YOU
''fo see mel" echoed the astonshed lodg-
er, starting up. ''You didn't mean me ?"
'Mrs. Stone did mean him indeed, and he
fastened to shake the coverlid from his Shout
derS and accompany her down stairs. All
was quiet in her room, Jacob having fallen
asleep by the stove, stupetied by the heat.
The caller was waiting in the dark entry way
below, and the woman held the lamp while
Roger went to speak with him.
The old man was tremulous with a vague
apprehension that something was going to
happen to him; nor was this fear entirely dis
sipated when in the person who took his hand
and addressed him in kindly words, he recog-
nized the man who had 50 lately helped him
to regain his footing in the slippery street.
81 was afraid | should not find you," said
the visitor; ''but from the time that | left,
''your words-'Old Roger Johnson-around
the corner--thlrd door up the alley" kept
ringing in my ears, and | was finally COM
PEELED to come back and look for YOU
''God bless you, sir" articulated the shv.
ering old man. This is an honor | know not
how [ have deserved; you must have made a
mistake"
''Not at all. l thought you might have
need Of assistance"
True, true, am poor enough, but"
Rogers voice failed him, and he began to
shake again as with ague.
''You are cold" said his new friend
"Come, let's step into yonder shop and talk
over matters"
Rogers hesitaed.
''They turn me out, sir, when go there to
get warm"
''They will not tarn me out" replied the
other. $50 come along"
They entered a common refreshment sa-
loon, and by the countenance and protection
Of his new friend, Roger was permitted to en-
JOY seat by the stove"
''You look like man who has seen hard
times" observed the stranger.
Il have suffered almost everything, sir"
replied Johnson, in a subdued, unsteady tone.
81 don't know why | am left to live"
"But you have some idea of happiness in
store for you yet; no man is without that,
you know"
II sometimes dream of such thing. |
have hopes, L have hopes, sir-rainbow col
ored, some Of 'em are, too. But it's all delu-
sion. My castles are built in the air, and
they are forever tumblng down about my
ears. | know what would make me happy,
sir; but what's the use of talking? Itssome
thing | can not have"
''Speak out, friend Johnson" cried the
stranger. "But be careful not to place your
expectations too high. The gods love mod
esty, you know"
"Well, sir, it is Just this-nothing more or
less than three meals day"
''Three meals day!'
81 knew you'd call it eX ravagant," said
Roger, with faint smile. But would not
mind your rich dishes; only give me plenty
of bread and potatoes-with now and then a
bit OF cheese, or salt fish, or may be morsel
of smoked beef or dried bacon. Make me
sure of that day after day, as long as | live, SO
that | can keep clear of the almshouse, and
you'd see me happy man, if there's not an
other III creation"
'And haven't you as much already?" cried
the astonished stranger.
Boyer replied that with his poor health, it
was difficult to get work that winter, and it was
so painful to ask aims, that his subsistence
did not average half meal day.
sGood heaven !" exclaimed his friend; Sin
all this wasteful city, is it possible that a man
can be found reduced to such extremes? One,
too, whose happiness can be so cheaply pur-
chased-three poor meals day."
"Cheap, if one had the money" suggested
Roger.
81 have the money, and by all that's pre-
cious, will devote so much of it to pension
that will afford you this royal bliss"
go, sir, don't jest with me-"
81 am not testing, friend Johnson To