Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-12-21
MILLERsBURG. OHIO. THURSDAY, DECEMBER q, 1865

little ones
She opened the door. and presently
shabby, frost bitten middle.aged man came
clustering into the room. 1t was the wo:
mans husband, who always, when he had
money to spend, deserted his family for the
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 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 because she had that day spent
all Of her Oldest son earnings for fuel; and
when the unfceing father snatched from
the hands ofa sickly child the crust that had
been given her 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 old man crcpt up to his
cold and windy attic
He sighed as he sat there in the gloom on
his unnviting bed The comfort he had
Just tasted made the present desolation more
bitter by its contrast. The old man hud-
died 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. Always, until
now, he had some little ray of hope when
the gloom was thckest but in the present
anguish nothing was left him but to die.
Once the old man started up and cursed
himself for fool He was half famished
in wintry garrct, and the reflection that
he had given away to the greedy ones of
Jacob Stone nearly the whole Of his last loaf
fired him with Indignation at his folly.
II deserve to starve ~ he muttered.-
'Thc world is all selfshncss, and he who
gives anything is a dolt let him suffer-
But, oh this hunger and cold! Have |
deserved so much. y ..
There were others well fed and warm that
night Roger thought of them; he saw
happy families with smiling faces sitting
around glowing hearths. Then he went
again-not now with envy or remorse He
thanked God there was comfort in the world,
although his lot was to suffer. He thought
of the man who gave him the money to pur
chase the loaf; Of him who had lifted him
up when he had fallen and spoke kind words
to him; Of the good and patient Mrs. Stone.
the mother of the children he had fed, and
for all his hungry pangs he felt richly com
pcnsated tor having done one selftorgetting
charitable act, which made him, in spite of
| his poverty aud 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 wandering if it
were possible for him to get warm if he went
to bed when he heard footstep on the
stairs, and presently saw light shining
through the wide cracks around the door.
Have you gone to bed yet, johnson
1t was Mrs. Stone 5 voice, and the old
man reused himself to answer.
No, l thought l would try sitting
freeze first said he, with a sad, playful
humor. Anything wanting?'
Yes" replied the woman, there 5 {
man down stairs who wishes to see you.
TO see me - echoed the astonishet
lodger, starting up ''You didn't NEAR
mr|'
Mrs Stone did mean him, indeed, and he
fastened to shake the coverlid from hi,
shoulders, and accompany her down stairs
All was quiet in her room, Jacob having
fallen asleep by the stove, stupltied by the
heat. The caller was sitting waiting in the
dark entry way below, and the woman helc
the lamp while Roger went to speak witt
him.
The old man was tremulous with appre
hension that something was going to happel
! to him; nor was his fear entirely dissi patet
, when, in the person who took his hand anC
addressed him in kindly words, he recog
! nized the man who had so lately helped hin
to regain his footing in the slippery street
! IL was afraid | should not find you,
+ said the visitor; ''but from the time yo'
i left your words-'Od Roger Johnson
+ around the corncr-third door up the alley,
y kept ringing in my ears and | was finall
compelled to come back and look for you.
God bless you, sir, articulatcd tn
= shivering old man; this is an honor
), know not how | deserved; you must hav
y made mistake"
d 'Not at all. Thought you might nee
y assistance"
o. True, true, am poor enough, but
H but"
h h Rogers voice failed him, and he began
il, shake again with ague.
~ "You are cold, said his new fi'nd.
/. Come let's step into yonder shop and ta
n over matters.
ii Roger hestatcd.
NJ NJ "They turn me out, sir, when go the
to get warm. "
'They will not turn me out, " replied Il
os other $50 come along
- They entered common retreshmcnt s
loon, and by the countenance and prott
,c ton Of his new friend, Roger was permit
y. !, to enjoy seat by the stove. PIP. r5 r...
); You look like n man who has seen ha
~ times, y observed the stranger.
!, II have suffered almost everything, sir
% replied Johnson, in subdued, unstea'
ii tone, II don't know why am left to life
~ ''But you have some idea Of happiness
IN store for you yet no man is without thi
II you know. ...
~ ~ Il somotmes dream of such Il thing.
have hopes, sir-rainbow colored, some
ht 'cm are too. But It's all delusion. \
an an castles are built in the air. and they are fl
"a ever tumbling down about my ears. knc
nd what would make me happy, sir ; hut what
I'd the use of talking? It's something | ca
et not have. -.rr.s r..-E
10 i, Speak out, friend Roger johnson
~ Il cried the stranger But be careful not
ns n, place your expectations too high. The go
nt have modesty you know" !" -
m cd "Well, sir, it is just this--nothing mo
IN. nor less-three meals day. y r..
he "Three meals day."
ho 81 knew you'd call it extravagant, s;
~ Roger, with faint smile, But ! wol
not mind your rich dishes; only give
rs plenty of bread and potatoes now a
he then bit of cheese or salt fish, or may
M. a morsel Of dried beef or smoked bacon,
ld Make me sure ofthat, day after day, as 10
,'u 'nr as live, so that | can keep clear Of
nd almshouse, and you d see happy man,