The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1865-12-06

mended, with an oath, why she did not
hold light.
"Hush!" said Mrs. Stone to the COVER
ing little ones.
She opened the door, and presently a
shabby, frost bitten middle-aged man
came clustering into the room. 1t was
the woman's husband, who always, when
he had money to spend, deserted his fam
lily for the grog-shep, and who returned
to them for shelter.
He was brutal, tyrannical man,
though he had not always been so, in
scotland his appearance was the sig
nal 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 because
she had that day spent all of her oldest
sons earnings for fuel; and when the un-
feeling father snatched from the hands Of
a sickly child the crust that had been
given her to knaw, the old man spoke out
his indignation. This led to a sharp
quarrel, and he was driven with oaths
from the room. Jacob slammed the door
after him, and the feeble old man crept
up to his cold and windy attic.
He sighed as he sat there in the gloom
on his uninviting bed. The comfort he
had just tasted made the present desola-
ton more bitter by its contrast. The old
man huddled together his tattering bed
covering wrapped around him and sobbed
like little child. 1t seemed the darkest
of all the hours he had yet known. AL
ways, until now, he had some little ray of
hope when the gloom was thickest, but in
the present anguish nothing was left him
but to die.
Once the old man started up and ours
ed himself for fool. He was half fam
ished in a wintry garret, and the refec-
tion that he had given away to the greedy
ones of Jacob Stone nearly the whole OF
his last loaf fired him with indignation al
his folly.
~ deserve to starve p he muttered
''The world is all selfshness, and he who
gives anything is dolt; let him suffer 7!
But, oh this hunger and cold Have
deserved SO much.
4 There were others we'll fed and warn
that night. Roger thought of them; he
saw happy families with smiling faces
sitting around glowing hearths. Their
he wept again-not now with envy or re
morse. He thanked God there was com
fort in the world, although his lot was tt
suffer. He thought of the man who gave
him the money TO purchase the loaf; o
him who had lifted him up when he hac
fallen, and spoke kind words to him; o
, the good and patient Mrs, Stone, th'
mother of the children he had fed, ant
for all his hungry pangs he felt richl,
compensated for having done one self
forgetting charitable act, which mad'
| him, in spite of his poverty and rags,
brother to all the good and noble heart
that throbbed in human clay.
The old mans limbs. meanwhile grey
numb and cold, and he was wondering
it were possible for him to get warm if b
: went to bed; when he heard footstep ol
, the stairs, and presently saw a ligh
shining through the wide cracks aroun
the door.
"Have you gone to bed yet, John
SON ?"
1t was Mrs Stones voice, and the oil,
man reused himself to answer.
mo, 1 thought I would try sittini
freeze first said he, with sad, playful
) humor. Anything wanting p
7 eyes" replied the woman, "theres
man down stairs who wishes to Sc
} you"
, ssTo see Inc !'' echoed the astonishet
lodger, starting up. "You didn't meal
me ?'
Mrs. Stone did mean him, indeed, an
/. he hastened to shake the ceverlid fror
his shoulders, and accompany her dow
: stairs. All was quiet in her room, ia
cob having fallen asleep by the stove
stupifed by the heat The caller wa
: sitting waiting in the dark entry way be
low, and the woman held the lamp Will,
Roger went to speak with him.
The cid man was tremulous with ap
prehension that something was going t
t happen to him; nor was his fear entirel
] dissipated when, in the person who too
g his hand and addressed him in kindl
Z words, he recognized the man that had S
q lately helped him to regain his footing i
{ the slippery street.
I 81 was afraid I should not find you,
! said the visitor; "but from the time yo
left your words-'Old Roger Johnson
around the corner-third door up the a
> ley,' kept ringing in my ears, and l wa
: finally compelled to come back and loo
!, for you
| "God bless you, sir" articulated th
shivering old man; ''this is an honor
know not how deserved; you must hay
J made mistake"
"Not at all. / thought you might nee
: assistance
7 aTrue, true, I am poor enough, but
u ! but
y Rogers voice failed him, and he bega
= to shake again with ague.
,e "You are cold" said his new frien'
y "Come let's step into yonder shop an
talk over matters
:. Roger hesitated.
70 "They turn me out, sir, when l G
: there to get warm
- "They will not turn me out, replie
= the other $50 come along"
~ They entered common refreshmel
- saloon, and by the countenance and pr
lection of his new friend, Roger was pc
~ mitted to enjoy seat BY the stove.
is "You look like man who has SCI
~ hard. tim as,' observed the stranger.