Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1870-06-03
SELECTED STORY
THE DOOR In THE HEART

| "AiunAoA LIS loIcuedU anu WnlteneG MS nalr
and the hands locked together on the low
pine table did not tremble so with the weak.
ness OF old age; yet very old and very mis-
cradle looked the solitary occupant Of tina,
narrow room or entry, with its faded red
curtains, and its atmosphere rendered almost
lntolerable by the bar-room into which i,
opened. A hat bearing unmistakable evil
dence of long intimacy with "brick-bats and
cutters" maintained a safe position on one
side of the owners head, and pair Of
elbows thrust themselves through his coat
sleeves in rejoicing consciousness that they
could "afford to be out" Add to this.
reader, pair of pants whose original color
it would have been a matter of time and
study to determine. and you have the tout
ensena6led of the wretched being who occupied
tho old grog shop which he was allowed to
frequent in all the village of Greenfield.
And yet that miserable, solitary, friendless
creature, sitting there half stupefel with the
effects Of last nights revel, and utterly
unconscious that outside, the May morning
of God, with its glorious birthrig ht of sun
shine and dews and bird songs, has heart,
and ''far away up great many pair of
stairs In his heart, is a door," covered with
cobwebs and dust, and on that door is word
written, which Time aud Sin have never
been able to efface-and that word is Man
But nobody ever dreamed of this, and
people shook their heads, and said Billy
Strong's case was hopeless one. Had not
many kind hearted persons reasoned with
him earnestly on the evils of his ways p
Had not the Temperance men" gone to him
with pledge and promised him employment
if he would sign it? And this had been
utterl in vain.
All, none of them had CROPPED their way
up the winding stairs, and read the name 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
soft, hazel eyes, and face that child
would 60 to in any trouble.
The old man looked up with "a vacant
gaze Of wonder, as the r.keepor offered
lady chair and pointed to the occupant
of the other saying, "That's Billy Strong,
madam ;" and with a lingering stare, sur
prise and curiosity, left the gentle woman
alone with the astonished and now thorough
ly sobered man.
The soft eye of the lady wandered, with
a sad, plying expression over Bills features
and then. in low, sweet voice, she asked
IAN | rightly informed Do [ address Mr.
William Strong?"
All with thes, words the lady had gotter
further up the winding stairs, nearer thu
door, than all that had gone before her.
Eyes, that is my name, ma'am, said Oh
Bill, and he glanced down at his shabby at
tire, and tried to hide the elbow which wa
peeping out the farthest; for it was Ion!
time since he had been addressed by tina
name, and somehow it sounded very pleasan
to him.
L am very glad to meet you, Mr.. Strong,
said the lady, I have heard my father speal
Of you SO often, and Of the days when yo
and he were boys together and l almost fee
as if VIC we're old acquaintance. 70
surely cannot have forgotten Charles Nor
rison {"
'sNo, no Charles and [ used to be oil
) cronies," said Bill, with a sudden ANNA
ton, and light in his eye, such as had no
been there for many days, except when rur
lent it fitful brilliancy.
f All the lady did not know, as perhap
the angels did, that she had mounted til
stairs and was softly feeling for that unsee
door. So she went on, Il almost feel a
though could see the old spot upon whic
= your homestead stood. Mr.. 5. have hear
my father describe it SO often. The hill
with its crown of old oaks, at the back
your house and the field Of golden harves
grain that waved in front Then there wa
a green grass plot before the front door, an
the huge old apple tree that threw. Its shad
ows across it, and the great ola-fashione
portico, and the grapevine that crept aroun
, the pillars, and the rosebush locked IN
. the bedroom window, and the spring tia
! went flashing and singing through the be
of mint at the side of the house.
l Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair, an
the muscles around his mouth twitched oc
casionally but, unmindful OF this, In tn
same low sweet tone, the lady kept on:
l "Many and many were the hours-so ia
Their would say-Willie and used to pas
under the shadow Of that old apple tree
playing at hide and seek. or rolling an
tumbling about on the grass telling eac
other the things we would certainly 90 whe
we become men the sun sets its cap OF goi
on the tops of the oaks, I can see Willie
mother standing in the front door, with ne
. white cap and cheap apron, and the pleasa1
: smile that always lowered around una ner lps
3 and hear her cheerful voice calling, ICON
boys, come to supper. ,,.aoo
:, One after another the big, warm blesse
tears came rolling down Old bhrs cneeks
All the lady had found the 1 door then g. =.