Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-31

gotten Charles Morrison
"Nof no! Charles and [ used to be oio
cronies." said Old Bill, with sudden AMI
nation, and light in his eye, such a.
| had not been there for many days, except
when run lent it ftful brilliancy.
An. the lady did not know. as perhaps
the angils did, that she had mounted the
stairs. and was softly feeling for that IN
seen door.
So she went on, 81 almost feel as
| though I could see the old spot upon
which your homestead stood, MIR. Strong.
I have heard my father describe 1t so
often. The hill, with its crown OF OLD
oaks, at the back of your house, and the
field of golden harvest grain that waved
| in front. Then there was green grass
plot before the front door, and the huge
old apple tree that threw its shadows
across it, and the grape vine that crept
| around the pillars, and the rose bush that
looked in at the bed room window, and
the spring that went flashing and singing
through the bed of mint at the side OF the
| house."
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair,
and the muscles around his mouth
twitched occasionally but unmindful OF
| IQ1s, III tuo bdIlc AO"t oWSSS sSSt
| lady kept on /:
"Many and many were the hours, 80
| father would say, Willie and l used to
pass under the shadow of that old apple
tree, PLAYING at hide and seek, or rolling
| and tumbling about on the grass, telling
each other the things we would certainly
do when we became men the sun set its
cap of gold on the top of the oaks; can
see Willie's mother standing in the front
door, with her white cap and apron and
the pleasant smile that always lowered
around her lips, and hear cheerful voice
calling, come boys come to supper.
One after another the big, warm, bles-
sed tears come rolling down Old Bills
cheeks. All ! the lady had found the
| door then.
II was always at home at Willie's,
father would say, and used to have my
fresh milk and bread, too; and when
this had disappeared, Willie would draw
his stool to his mothers feet, lay his
head on her lap, and she would tell us
some very pleasant story, it might be OF
Joseph or David, or some good child, who
afterwards became a great man; and
then she would part Willie's brown curls
from his forehead, and in a voice l can
never forget, say, Promise me, Willie,
when you go into the world and its temp
tations, and your mother is laid down to
sleep in the churchyard yonder, promise
me, child, that her prayers and her mem-
ory shall keep you from all evil ways
And Willie would lift his laughing blue
ewes to her face and say, III be first
rate man don't be afraid, mother And
then, after we had said our prayers, we
would go to our bed as happy as the
birds that went to their nests IN the old
apple branches by the window, and just
as we were sinking to sleep, we would
hear soft football on the stairs, and a
loving face would bend over us to see If
we were tucked up. 1t is long time,
father would say, after pause, since
have heard from Willie, but am sure
that he has never fallen into any evil
ways The memory of his mother would
keep him from that"
Rap, rap, rap! went the words of the
LADY, at the door of that old mans heart.
Crack. crack, crack went the door on its
rusty hinges, while far above them both,
the angels of God held their breath and
listened. But the lady could only see the
subdued man bury his face in his hands,
and while his whole frame shook like an
aspen leaf, she heard him murmur amid
| ehild-like sobs:
"My mother! Oh, my mother
| And she knew the tears that were wash
ing those wrinkled cheeks were washing
out also many dark page in the record
of Old Bills past life; SO, with silent
PRAYER of thankfulness, she resumed
But there was one scene my father
loved to talk of better than all the rest.
1t was the morning you were married,
Mr.. Strong. 1t was enough to do ones
| eve good-he used no cay, 10 look at them
| as Uney walked mp the old Churvh aisle ,
be with his proud, manly tread, and she
a delicate and fragile creature, fair as the
orange blossom that trembled in her hair.
I remember how clear and firm his voice
sounded through the old church, as he
promised to love, protect and cherish the
fair girl at his side and 1 knew as he
looked npon her, that the very winds of
heaven should not visit her fair face too
roughly. And then my father would tell
us about house made very bright by
watchful affections, and of dark-ey ed
boy and fair-hsired girl who came after
a while to gladden. it; and then you
know he removed to the West and lost
sight of you, Mr.. Strong"
Once again the lady paused, for the
agony of the man before her was fearful
to behold; and when she spoke again, it
was in lower and more mournful tone
| 81 promised my father, previous to
| his death, that if ever | visited his native
State, would seek out his old friends.
kept my promise. But when [ inquired
for you, they embodied a terrible story to
me, Mr.. Strong; they told me of the gen.
tie accomplishing wife, who went down
with prayer on her lips for the erring
husband, broken-hearted to the grave, and
of the fair-haired girl they placed in lit
tie while by her side. Oh, it is a sad,
sad story have of my fathers old friend"
at was 1 1t was that did it all. 1
killed them |" said old Bill, in a voice
hoarse with emotion, as he lifted his head
from his clasped hands and looked upon
the lady, every feature wearing such a
| look of agony and remorse that she shud-
dered to behold it. Wide, wide open
stood the door then, and the lady fastened
| to pass in. A small hand was laid gently
on old Bills arm, and a sweet voice muir
INJURED:
"Even for all this there is redemption
In the name of the dear mother that loved
you, in the name of your dying wife,
and of the dear child that sleeps beside
her, sign the pledgep
81 WILL" said old Bill, and he brought
down his hand with such force on the
pine table that its rheumatic limbs hardly
regained their equilibrium, and he ca
gerly sliced the pen and pledge the lady
had placed before him, and when he re-
turned them to her, the name of WILL
LIAM STRONG Law in broad lauihla
characters upon the paper.
There was an expression, ludicrous
from its extreme curiosity, on the bar
keepers face as the lady passed quietly
through the shop after the long interview
with old Bill and the expression was in
no degree lessened when, few moments
after, old Bill followed her, without stop
ping to take his first glass. And he neper
passed over that threshold again.
And now, reader, you whose heart
| throbs with tenderness and ravara,oa CO..