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

Peateu, cHllulSniyi IeeDIe smile nlttlnS
over his lips, with sickly glare on his
haggard features; ''t1sn't much, but it
will buy me my breakfast, dinner and
supper-all in one-and God be thank
ed for that"
His words died away in an inaudable
whisper, as hugging his tattered gar
ments around him, he tottered along the
street.
It was the close OF rude winters day.
The evening dusk had fallen, and few
flakes of snow futtered down out of the
dark gray clouds that settled over the
city. As old Roger picked his way care
fully across the icy slabs gay young
Ilamplighter passed on his evening rounds,
set his ladder against a post near by,
mounted smar.ly, and touched with a
match the eager jet of gas which cast
yellow radiance all around the cid man s
feet
"Ha! said Roger, with the very ghost
of laugh, fitting airily from his numb,
cold lips, "that's good omen. Light,
light, golden light, too, all over nay poor
old ragged shoes. So in my life 1 have
been grouping, though Heaven knows I
capered as gaily as any schoolboy once,
and walked as any youth afterward-till
now the cold winter night is setting in,
and its all powerful dark before me-so
dark and chill, and threatening But
there will come CLEAN soon, just like
this which brightens all around, and,
and"
The old man was mumbling again, with
a sort of childish, dreamy glee, when set
ting his foot incautiously upon piece of
| ice he slipped and fell helplessly upon
the frozen ground.
"Hillo, old man, are you hurt ?" cried
merry schoolboy,
"Hes down there looking after pin, -
laughed another, sliding by with sled
at his heels.
The boys passed on, and the old man
struggled to regain his feet. But he was
feeble and rheumatic, and the fall had
we'll nigh shaken the life out of him.-
When he came little to himself, he obs
served that good gentleman was assist
| ing him with kind words.
"No, I am not much damaged" said
Roger, gratefully. "Thank you, sir; it
would't have been much matter if I had
broken my neck. I amt of much ac-
count in the world-nobody would miss
old Roger johnson out of it,
"Have you far to go?" asked the
stranger.
"Not to night, thank Heaven. I live
or rather stay, right round the corner
here, third door up the alley"
"Well, good night to you. Mind anc
keep your legs UNDER cried the stran
ger.
He passed on, and the old man, drag.
ging his sinking limbs into provision
lstore on the corner, purchased loaf oi
bread with the bit of silver to which he
clung tightly all the while, then creeping
with unsteady steps into the alley, enter
ed dark, dilapidated door, with his sup
per under his arm.
As hewas stumbling up a dismal ole
staircase. sharp feminine voice calico
out to him from the foot Of the first land
ing:
s'Is that you, johnson ?''
81 suppose it is, though I sometime:
more than half suspect it is somebody
else" replied the old man.
ssWhy don't you speak I'd open the
door so you could see," cried out tht
other.
"Where does that light come from p
asked Roger. "Do you indulge in lamp
before it is hardly dark, Mrs
Stone ?"
"Come in here and you shall see.-
There, you did not expect such fire al
that, did you, johnson p
"Bless you, woman, that didn't
You are as warm as toast here. How
Ijolly it is to see stove all aglow like
that? Where did you get your Goa
from ?" -.
"Oh." said Mrs. Stone, "Sidney brough
me three dollars to-day, aud the children
were all shivering and chattering over th
little wood fire, SO took it into my hea'
that these three dollars should go towart
making us all warm once, if we never ge
warm again in our lives. So what did
do but 60 and order quarter of a ton 0
coal, and the young ones have been al
merry as crickets ever since. They
quite content to go without their supper
so there's a good fire for them to cuddl
down by. Come in; it's free warm
johnson. AS long as the coal lasts
i Wdus CfCIJ OOuy W OpJOJ ~ " hO 0aH.
You shall sit with us this evening you
room is awful dreary, Johnson
The frozen tear thawed in the old man
!, eyes, but his voice was SO choked that h
could not express his thanks. Seatin
himself in rickety old chair he warme
his cold shins, and rubbed his shrivele
/ hands over the stove, patting the chi
i drcn's heads, and ended by dividing tn
. larger portion of his loaf among then
reserving but scanty fragment for hin
: lself.
Mrs. Stone demonstrated against h
generosity. But the children seized upo
the food SO eagerly that the grateful ol
man declared with tears running dow
{ his cheeks, that it did him more good
see them eat than it would to sit down
q most bountiful feast.
The meagre meal was soon conclude
when heavy footsteps were heard on tt
stairs. The poor woman's heart CEASE
to beat. She turned so pale that the o.
N man observed her change of countenant
= even in the dim light.
at is father!" whispered the chi
dren.