The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1865-06-02
An OLD Ma Eo,e,t.iara.

winds rusled furiously: the surface
lot the earth was covered with ice, and
the scene was one of cheerless desc.
lation in the sweet country where
lroses and verdure had filed the air of
lSnmmer with fragrance, Winter had
tj0stled Summer away, and with his
tchilling breath had frosen every liv
ling thing. .
/ The gusts of wind caused thr
lllinds to creak and loose blinds ca
swing, when lady opened her front
door to see wnat would I've the result
of the mighty tempest. She looked
out, she hardly knew why, but the
sight she saw transfixed her gaze.
There in the street before her door
stood an Il man, with his silvery
Ihair streaming in the " in I, hi. clothes
thin and OLD, while 10y the aid of a
cane he was struggling to stanl on
the smooth ite with that fearful wind
sweeping against him. As the lady
Opened her door, he turned towards
her and endeavored to step that way
She watched him as he tried to speak
tn her and to come towards her.
"lIc is certainly intoxicated the
lady thought; and suddenly closing
her door. she went hack into her
warm sitting room When she reach
ed the window, she saw that he had
stoppe !, aud was looking at the clos
ed door in despair. No anger was in
his thin face but q look of suffering
and of disappointment. Putting his
cane upon the hard ice again, he turn
ch hack to the road.
The lady watched his uncertain
steps. and 8 on she pitied him His
frame shook with the cold, and his
benumbed bands could scarcely grasp
his heavy staff II was more than .
quarter Of y mile to the next house
AMI every step Of the way was glare
ice" How could he ever get IN re?
The lodv grew ashamed. "Of what
am afraid? she asked herself
"Ol u poor old man who is SO feeble
he can scarcely standS
"But, something whispered, "pnr
haps he il not so feeble as he pre-.
tends. He may be intoxica ed that
IA why he IA on this retired roal on a
day like this. II you take him in
and warm him, he may prove to he
ugly" The evil counsel prevailed,
and the lady watched him till she saw
him nearly fall. Then her pity spoke
again, "Poor old man, he can never
walk to the next house; he will sure
perish, and shall he responsible for
his death I must not leave him Co
die and so into eternity unprepar-
ed .
Again she opened the door, apd
again the old man turned towards
her !!o tried to walk. but the ice
and the winl-werc against HIM The
ln'iy's pity grew strong, and hying
down her path she offered him her
hand. re took it and she was shock.
led at his henumbed situation. Ten.
deriy she lel him into the house and
lplacel in in q chair before the warm
fire. Then she removed his cap and
thin mittens, and sat down beside him
watching to see whether he was really
intoxicated as she had imagined.
IL hank you, LADY," he said, In q
igentlc voice IL thoughtI was about
to perish, hut the Lord has provided
Tor me The Lord brought me to
your door that YOU might help me-
How the lady's heart rebuked her
Instead of being a drunkard, he was
one of the Lord chosen ones. What
if she had permitted him TO die' She
sltufldered ut the thought
at is too cold foryou 20 be out to
day" she sail
II know it, madam, but have
come long way to see an old friend
Tie stage lett me At the corner bacl
here, and | have walked the rest o
the way. Isnpl ose have nea y
reached my friend house. He is oil,
like me, and for many years hay,
not seen him.
What is your friends names'
"William Smith"
! William SMITH echoed the LADY
"Why, he lives in the very mex
house. He is dear, good old man.
Yes answered the visitor. "ht
was always good. Perhaps you have
heard him speak of me, My name i,
Jacob Snow"
The lady held her breath. "Jacot
SnoW!' she repeated, Are you tht
former benetactor ot John Towle, my
husband fatherf
'-Yes." the old man replied, IL
knew John rowle, bat couid not be
friend any one now, tor | have lost
my property, aud | am TOO Old 10 gel
more
''Stay with US them said the lady
overwhelmed at the thought that she
had been tempted to let the good mar
perish.
Soon her husband came in, and in
the neat day, when tAe olu man wenI
W ylslL Ills lrlend, he was carried IL !
nlce slelsn, ana lovlny Hands adutl'
lsLered " uis wanJS fiis sratiLaae,
hts lerNenL piety and uoep numiiity
were rlcn seward ior the l.ldy klud'
ness. sac loved " itsteu 10 nis aoiy
conversation, aud lett tuat sue llau
iu,I,.t.tl anLeriaintI ..an anOeI ullii.