The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-02-20
An OLD GLERGYMAN'S STORY

One afternoon. | was startled in my
study by hearing the sound of an axe in
the rear of the house. was wondering
who could be there, disturbing the almost
Sabbath stiffness of the midsummer day,
when Maria, the housemaid, came to in
form me that there was a strange man at
the woodpile, and to request that should
90 and see who he was.
| looked from q window, and discovered
an addressed fellow carelessly swinging
the axe, and hacking here and there stick
in an undecided manner, with his head
down, and his face shaded by the brim of
very bad hat.
There was something in his staggering
attitude which thought recognized; but
it was sometime before could realize that
in those beggarly habiliments saw the
son OF one OF the most worthy and re-
spected citizens in the neighborhood.
stepped to the door,
Martin Lockwood, " | said, SIS it you 2"
suppose its me-, said he, giving the
axe a reckless flourish with one hand and
striking it into log. 81 thought | would
cut little wood for you, by way of amuse-
ment."
made no answer, and he stood mo-
ment looking at anything except up
rolling the quid in his cheek, and wiping
the sweat from beneath his hat-b rim-with
an evident attempt to keep up the old
staggering manner. while conscious shame
was mastering him.
guess you are a little astonished at
seeing me, - he said after an awkward
pause, resuning his hold on the axe-handle
and leaning on it.
Yes, Martin. am good deal aston
ished.'
I've a way OF astonishing folks. as
tonish lnyselfa little hardly know how
| came here, but here | am. If Pm not
welcome, III put Off again. The world is
wide. I'm bound to live somewhere. A
man must live, You know"
He laughed at first, but his voice grew
hard and bitter and there was a look OF
wildness and desperation in his eyes, as he
procceded and saw that the shame
which covered him was being shaken and
flung away by rising and swelling passions.
Oh are welcome, Martin come in. :"
lie lung down the axe, which he had
again seized, with savage recklessness. and
followed me, swinging his hat, and taking
long strides through the hall, with a Taught
mess defiant of rags
Il had thought you came to see me-
Martin, | should have welcomed YOU be-
fore. lou have picked up new fashions in
your travels. | am not used to visitors
who go chopping at the wood-pile, instead
of knocking at the door Sit down: I'll
take your hat
He sank Fslouchingly into a chair; but
instead of giving me his hat, he scaled it
carees>ly into one corner of the ROOM
. suppose l wouldn't be considered fit
to enter a decent mans house," said he,
crossing his legs with an arrogant bend of
the neck. Il wouldn't knock and be re-
fused. I've been something Of a scamp
and great deal of a fool know it as
well as anybody"
And you are sorrer for it than you are
willing any one should think said |.
There is no use in being sorry for what
cannot De helped
"les, there is-great use in it, Martin.
Repentance is the water which helps us to
wash clean again when we have been in
the mire. To pass over your errors with a
reckless and desperate air, as you are en-
deavoring to, is to add foolishness to
folly''
"Well, you are right, there" said Mar
tin, frankly, penetrated by the direct
truthfulness with which l met him. 81
don't know whether | am exactly sorry,