Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-12-21
Sclrtt Storp.
OLD ROGER JOHNSON.

Roger johnson, IunlDnng thc Dlt OF silver
in his palm. Ten cents, he repeated,
chldishly, feeble smile fitting over his
lips, with Il >ickly glare on his haegered tea
break fast, dinner and suppcr-all in one
and God be thanked for that, "
His words died away in an inaudablo
whi,p per, as hugging hi, tattercd garments
around he, he tOttered along the street.
1t was the close of IA rude winter day.
The evening dusk had fallen, anl a few
fakes of snow tluttered down out OF the dark
gray clouds that settled over the city. AS
old Roger picked his way carefully across
the icy slabs gay young lamplighter passed
on his evening rounds. set his ladder against
post near ly, mounted smartly, and
touched with match the eager jet of gas
which cast yellow radicnce all around the
old man $ feet.
"Ia!' id Roger, with the very CHEST
of laugh, fitting airily from his numb,
cold lips, that sa goo omen. Light. light,
golden light, too, ali over my OR old rag
| ged shoes. So in my life have been group
ing, though Heaven knows | capered as
gaily as any schoolhoy once, and walked as
lightly u nyyouth af,ciwa d-till now the
cold winter night is setting in; and its all
powerful dark dciore me-so dark and chill,
and threatening But there will come Il
CLEAN soon, just like this which brightens
all around and-and-'
The old man was mumblng again, with
Il sort of childish, dreamy glcc, when set
ting his foot incantiously upon piece OF ice
he slipped and fell hclplcssly upon the frozen
ground.
"IIillo, old man, are you hurt p cried ii
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 well
nigh shaken the life out of him. When he
came little to himself, he observed that IA
good gentleman was assisting him with kind
words.
"No, l am not much damaged" said
Roger gratefully. ''Thank you, sir; il
wouldn't have been much matter if | hat
. broken my neck. amt Of much accoun
in the world-nobody would miss old Roge
johnson out Of it.
"Huve you far to go?' asked the stranger
"Not to night thank Heaven. | live
or rather stay, right round the corner here
? third door up the alley. -.
"Well, good night to you. Mind an
keep your legs under, cried the stranger
He passed on, and the old man, draggin
his sinking limls into a provision store o
the corner, purchased loaf Of bread wit
the bit of silver to which he clung tight
all the while, then creeping with unsteadl
steps into the alley, entered dark, dilap
I, dated door, with his supper under his arm
u AS he was stumbling up dismal ol
staircase, sharp feminine voice called OIL
to him from the foot of the first landing:
''ls that you, Johnson"
. 81 suppose it is, though | sometim,
more than halfsuspect it is somebody else,
J, replied the old man.
"Why don't you speak I'd open ii
door so you could see" cried out the othe
"Where does that light come from !!
asked Roger. ''Do you indulge in laml
- light before it is hardly dark, Mrs. Stone?
Y Come in here and you shall see. Their
you. Johnson" l....
Bless you, woman, that l didn't. 1o
D are as warm as a toast here. How Jolly
is to see II stove all aglow like that? Whel
did you get your coal trom?
c. "Oh, said Mrs. State ''Sidncy brougl
me three dollars to-day, and the childre
I, we're all shivering and chattering over tll
little wood fire, so | took it into my hea
that these three dollars should go towar
making us all warm once, if we never e
. warm again in our lives So what did l c
but go and order a quarter of a ton of Goa
= and the young ones have been as merry
u. crickets ever since They're quite conte
to go without their supper, so there's goc
fire for them to cuddle down by. Come i
it 5 free warm, johnson. As long as Il
coal lasts | want everybody to enjoy wi
can. You shall sit with us this evening
. your room is awful dreary, Johnson.
. The frozen tear thawed in the old man
T. eyes, but his voice was so choked that
could notexprcss his thanks. Seating hii
Of self in rickety old chair he warmed his co
B shins, and rubbed his shrivelcd hands ov
- the stove, patting the chidren's heads, a
ended by dividing the larger portion of
loaf among them, reserving but a scan
, fragment for himself.
Mrs Stone demonstrated against his ge
erosity. But the children seized upon t
food so eagerly that the grateful old man
80 cared with tears running down his cheel
that it did him more good to see them {
than it would to sit down to most boun
ful feast
The meagre meal was soon conclude
when heavy footsteps were heard on :
=, stairs. The poor woman's heart ceased
30 beat. She turned so pale that the old m
- observed her change Of countenance even
the dim light. ,........
sh- "It is father" whispered the children