Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1863-02-20
TIE Dooa IN THE HEART.
by VIRGINIA F. TOWNSEND.


She was a stern, h Ird woln4n But far away
up great many pIirs of winding stairs in her
heart, was a door easily pascal by, and on that
dOdf 'Fas written WOMAN.-Caarbes Dickens.
And 40 it is with the drdnkafd. Far up
great m IN ptirs of winding Stairs if in his heart
Is door, and on that door is written N ~.
and we must knock on it once, twice. sescn
times yea, seventy times seven; that it may
open unto us.--JoAn B. Cough.
He was an old nan-not so old either, for
the years Of bis life could not have wrinkled
his forehead and whitened his hair, and the
hands locked together on the low pine table,
did not tremble so With the weakness of age
yet Terv CD Cd and very miserable look j iae sol
itary occupant SS that narrow room or entry,
VIII lis faded red curtains, and its atmosphere
rendered almost intolerable by the bar-room
into which it opened. \ hat, bearing unmis-
taxable evidence of long intimacy with ''brick-
bats and cutters" mAintaiael safe position
on one side Of the owners head +; and pair Of
elbows thrust themselves through his coat
sleeves in rejoicing consciousness that they
could afford to be out" Add 10 this, read
er, paiF of pants whose original color it
would have been a matter Of time and study
to determine, and You have the tout ensemble
Of the wretched being who occupied the back
room Of the only grog-shop, which be was OBJ
ligedto frequent, in all the village Of Greenfield
And yet that miserable, solitary, friendess
creature, sitting there half stupefed with the
effects of last nights revel and utterly uncon-
scious that, the May morning had been born
of God, with its glorious birthrigth of sunshine
II bi.1a gsf.,
away, up great many pairs Of stairs in his
heart, is door," covered with eobwebs and
dust and on that door is word written,
which Time and Sin have never been able to
effdce-and that word is MAN.
But nobody ever dreamed Of this, and peo-
pie shook their heads, and said Billy Strong's
ease was hopeless one. Had not many kind
hearted persons reasoned with him earnestly
on The evils Of his ways? Had not the tenn
perance men" gone to him with the pledge
and promised him employment if he would
sign il? And all this had been utterly liz
vain.
All, none Of Them had groped their way up
the winding stairs, and read the name on the
hidden door there!
But while the unhappy man sat by the pine
table that morning, The bar keeper suddenly
entered, followed by lady, with soft, hazle
eyes, and face that a child would have gone
to in trouble.
The old man looked up with vacant gaze
Of wonder, as the bar-keeper offered the lady
chair, and pointed to the occupant of the
other, saying
That's Bill Strong, md lm," and, with a
/
The gentle woman alone with the astonished
and now thoroughly sobered man.
The soft eyes Of the lady wandered, with a
sad pitying expression, over Bill's features,
aud then, in low, sweet voice, she asked:
Am 1 rightly informed Do address
Mr.. William Strong ?"
All with these words the lady had gotten
further up the winding stairs, nearer the hid
den door, than all that had gone before her.
Yes, that is nay name, ma'am, said Old
1 Bill and he glanced down at his shabby attire,
and actually tried to hide the elbow which
was peeping out farthest; for it was long
time since he had been addressed by That name,
and, somehow, it sounded very pleasant to
him.
am very glad to meet you, Mr.. Strong
said the lady. '' have heard my father speak
of you so often, and of the days when you and
he we're boys together, that almost icel as if
we were old acquaintances. You surely can
not have forgotten Charles Morrison ?"
"No! no Charles and l used to be old
cronies," said Old Bill, with a sudden anima-
tion, and light in his eyes such as had not
been there for many day except when rum
lent it itful brilancy.
All. the lady did not know, as perhaps the
angels did, that she had mounted the stairs,
and was softly feeling for that unseen door =
so she went on:
almost feel as though could see the old
spot upon which your homestead stood, Mr.
Strong, have heard my father describe it SO
often. The hill, with its crown of old oaks,
at the back of your house, and the field o.
golden harvest that waved in front. Then
there was a green grass plot before the front
door, aud the huge old apple tree that threw
its shadows across it, aud the great old fash
iOned portico, and the grapevine that crep
around the pillars and the rose bush that look,
ed in at the bed room window, and the spring
that went flashing and singing through th'
bed Of mint at the side Of the house"
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair and the
muscles around his mouth twitehed occasion
ally but, unmindful of this, in the sam3 low
sweet tones, the lady kept on;
" Many and many were the hours-so father
would say Willie and I used to pass unde
the shadow of that old apple tree, playing al
: hide and seek, or rolling and tumbling abou
: on the grass, telling each other the things VI
, would certainly do when we became men ant
9 when the sun set its cap of gold on the top o
I the oaks, can see Wiliie's mother standing
in the front door, with her white cap and checl
a apron, and the pleasant smile that always hov
5 cred around her lips, and hear her Cheerful
i voice calling, " Come, boys, come to supper.
: One after another the big, warm. blessed
J, tears came rolling down Old Bills pale checks
r All the lady had found the door then.
0 /" l was always at home at WilIie's- -flthc
= wonld say-and used to have my fresh milk an
n bread too; and, when this had disappeared
t Willie would draw his stool to his mo hor's lee
It lay his head on her lap, aud she would tell u
5 some very pleasant story, it might be of il
a seph or David, or some good child who after
IS wards became great man; and then sh
p would part Willie's brown curls from his fore
Il head, and in voice can never forget, sa
is Promise me, Willie, when you go into tn
: world and its temptations, and your mother
It laid down TO sleep in the church-yard yendel
o promise me child, that her prayers and he
ii memory shall keep you from all evil ways
'e And Willie would lift his laughing blue eyt
to her face and say, I'll be frst-rate maj
don't be afraid. mother. And then, after v
D had said our prayers, we would 60 to bed {
is happy as the birds t at went to their nests
o. the old an,,la- roe hrnnnhns hr tho ,,,ir,lo,