The Shasta courier., 1867-10-26
SHASTA COURIER
THE MAN AT THE DOOR.

" No tramps here" said and shut the
door IN bis face. The wind blew so coulC
hardly do it, and the sleet was beating or
the pane, and the bare trees were groanine
and moaning as if they suffered in tht
storm.
No tramps here, I'm lone woman, anC
| am afraid of em.;'
Then the man | hadn't seen vet for tn,
dark. went away from the do0r-champ
champ, came through the slush, and hearC
the gate creak as the gate always does, anC
then champ, champ, came the man bacl
again, and he knocked on the door knocked
not halt so loud as he had beforehand
opened 1t hot and angry This time | saw
his face, pale ghost of a face, with yellow
brown hair, cropped close, and great star
ing blue eyes and he put his hand agains
the door and held it open
How far is it to the next house, ma am p
said he
Three miles or more" said I.
And that is not a tavern? %
No." said | 4" no drinks to be got there
it's Miss Mitten's, and she's as set agains
tramps as | am"
- | don't want to drink" said the man
- but do want food. You needn't be afraiC
to let me in, ma'am. I've been wounded
and am not able to walk far, and my clothe,
are thin, and it's bitter cold. I've beer
trying to get to my parents at Greenbank
where | can rest until I'm better; and al
my money was stolen from me three DAYS
ago. You needn't be afraid just let me
lie before the fire, and only give me crust
to keep me from starving, and the Lord will
bless You for it."
And then he looked at me with his mild
blue eyes in way that would have made
me do 1t, If it hadn't been that | had seen SC
much OF those impostors. The war was Just
over, and every beggar that came along said
be was soldier travelling home, and had
been wounded and robbed. One that | had
been fool enough to help limped away out of
sight, as he thought, and then, for | was at
the garrett window shouldered his crutches
and tramped 1T with the strongest
No doubt your pocket is full of money"
said L, land you only want a chance to rob
and murder me. Go away with you"
Drusllla, that's my niece, was baking
short cake in the kitchen. Just then she
came to the door and motioned with her
mouth to me. DO let him stay, aunty,"
and if | hadn't had good sense | might, but
l knew better than a chit of sixteen
Go away with you," says |, louder than
before. won't have this any longer"
And he gave akind of grOan, and took his
hand from the latch, ard went champ, champ.
through the frozen snow again and | thought
him gone, when there he was once more.
hardly with a knock at ala faint touch
like a child's now.
And when opened the door he came quite
in, and stood leaning on his cane, pale as a
ghost. his eyes bigger than ever.
We'll, of all impudence n' said I.
He looked at me, and said he Madam.
| have a mother at Greenbank. I want to
live to see her. | shall not if try to 90 anv
further to night"
"They all want to see their mothers. -
said and just then it came into my mind
that l hoped my son Charles who had been
a solder-an officer he had got to be, mind
you-wanted to see his, and would soon.
" have been wounded, as you see," said
he.
Don't 90 a showing me your hurts,
said they buy 'em. so they told me. to
go begging with now. | read the papers.
tell ye, and I'm principed, SOS our clergy.
man, agn giving anything. unless it's thro'
some well organized society. Tramps are
my abomination, and as for keeping you all
night, you can't expect that of decent folks
-go~
Drusilla came to the door and said. "Let
him stay, aunty," with her lips again, but
took no notice.
SO he went, and this time did not come
back; and | sat down by the fire and listen
ed to the wind and sleet, and felt the warm
fire, and smelt the baking cakes and the
apples stewing, and the tea drawing on the
kitchen stove; and | ought to have been
very comfortable, but wasn't. Something
seemed tugging at my heart all the time.
gave the fire poke and lit another can.
die to cheer myself by, and | went to nv
work basket to get the sock / had been knit
ting for my Charlie and as | went to get it
l saw something lying on the floor l pick
ed 1t up. 1t was an old tobacco pouch, ever
so much like the one l gave Charlie, with
fringe around it, and written on in ink.
= Z. +. to R. H." and inside was bit of
tobacco and an old pipe, and letter: and
when spread it out | saw at the top, "My
dear son.
L knew the beggar must have dropped it,
and my heart gave one big thump as though
1t had been turned into hammer.
Perhaps the story was true and he had n
mother. | shivered all over, and the fire
and the candles and the nice comfortable
smell might not have been at all 7 was so
cold and wretched
And over and over again had to
say to myself what l had heard our Pastor
say so often, Never give anything to
chance beggars, my dear friends: alTavs
bestow your aims on worthy persons. throuyb
well organized societies." before | could
get a bit of comfort. And what an old fool
was to cry, ! thought, when l found NV
cheeks wet.
But did not cry long, for as l sat there.
hash and crash and jingle came sleigh over
the road, and it stopped at our gate, and |
heard my Charles voice crying, " Halloa.
mother - And out l went to the door. and
had him in my arms, my great. tall, hand
some son. And there he was in his uniform,
with his pretty shoulder straps and as hearty
as if he had never been through any hard
ships He left me to put his horse up, and
| had by the fire again my own boy. And
Drusilla, who had been up stairs and had been