Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-08-16
The Door in the Heart.

And so it is with the drunkard tar
away up a great pair OF winding
stairs in his heart, there is door
easily passed by, and he must knock
at that door once, twice, seven times, |
yea, seventy times seven, to open it
John b. Cough" .rore-
He was an old man. Not so very
old either, for the wrinkles that
marked his cadaverous visage, were
not the autograph. that times fingers
had laid there, and the hand that
placed on the low pine table the well
drained cup, did not tremble SO with
the weakening that age induces; yet
very old, and very wretched looked
the sole occupant Of that narrow
room, with its red curtains and floor
stained with tobacco saliva, and an
atmosphere abundantly seasoned by
the bar-room into which it opened.
A hat, it must have been intended
for one, half concealed the owners
uncombed locks, and uGmistakable
evidence of familiar acquaintance
with brick-bats and the gutter, did
that same hat produce.
Then there was a coat, out of
whose sleeves peeped pair of elbows
in rejoicing consciousness that they
"could afford to be out" Add to
these, reader, a shabby pair of faded
pants, and you have the tout ensem-
BILE" Of the wretched man who had
just commenced his daily potations in
the only grop-shop he was allowed
to enter.
And yet that wretched, friendly
man that sat there, under supplying
effects of his morning dram, had a
heart and far away up a great many
pair of winding stairs in that heart,
was a door easily passed by, and on
that door, covered with cobwebs of
time and neglect was written "Man."
But nobody dreamed of this; and
when the temperance man had gone
to him and promised him employment
and responsibility if he would sign
the pledge, and others-well meaning
men-had rated him soundly for his
evil ways, and he had turned deaf
ear to all these things and gone back
with pertinacity to his cups, every
body said old Bill Strong's case was
a hopeless one.
All! none of these had CROPPED
their way up the hearts winding
stairs, and read the inscription on the
hidden door there.
But while the unhappy man sat by
the pine table that morning, the bar
keeper suddenly entered, followed by
lady with pale, high brow, milo
hazel eyes, and strangely winning
expression on her mild face. The
man looked up with vacant stare of
establishment as the bar-keeper tend
cred the lady seat, and pointed tt
the other saying, THAT'S Bill Strong
ma'am," and with glance that indi
Gated very plainly his wonder at wha
she could want there, left her alone
with the astonished and now thor
oughly sobered man.
The soft eyes of the lady wand
cred with sad, plying expression
over old Bills features, then in low
sweet voice, she asked:
cam | rightly informed, do | ad
dress Mr.. William Strong"
All with those few words, the lad
had got farther up those winding
stairs, and nearer the hidden doc
than all who had gone before her.
eyes, that is my name" said oil
Bill, and he glanced down at his shat
10y attire, and actually tried to hid
the elbow that was peeping out.
was a long time since he had bee
addressed as Mr.. William Strong, an
somehow it sounded very pleasant t
him.
a am very glad to meet you, Nh
Strong" responded the lady. "
heard my father speak of you so o
ten, and of the days when you and h
were boys together, that | almost fe
as if we were old acquaintance
You surely cannot have forgotte
Charles Morrison ?"
ooh! no; Charlie and | used I
be great cronies," said old Bill, vii
sudden animation, and light in h
eye such as had not shone there for
long time, except when rum gave it
ftful brilliancy.
All the lady did not know, as pc
haps the angels did, that she hs
mounted the stairs and was soft
feeling for that unseen door, so 81
went on:
II almost feel, Mr.. Strong, as if
could see the old spot upon which yo
homestead stood, | have heard n
father describe it so often. The hi
with its crown of old oaks at t
back of your house, and the field
yellow harvest grain that waved
front. Then there was the gre
grass before the front door, with t
huge apple tree that threw
shadows across it; and the old pr
tico with the grapevine that climb
over it, and the white rose that pee
ed in at the bedroom window, a
the spring that went shining and bl
bling through the bed of green m
at the side of the house."
Old Bill moved uneasily in
chair, and the muscles around
mouth twitched occasionally, but l
mindful of this the lady kept on
the same low, melting voice:
"Many and many were the hou
so father would say, that Willie an
used to pass under the shadow of t.
old apple tree, playing at "hide a
SEEK" or rolling on the grass and t.
;nr, ooob otbor tho orraot thinou