The Bloomfield times. [volume] (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1867-187?, 1870-06-28

very pleasant to him.
L am very glad to meet you, Mr..
Strong" responded the LADY, "I have
heard my father speak of you so often,
and of the days when you and he were
boys together, that 1 almost feel as if
we were old acquaintance. You surely
cannot have forgotten Charles Morrison?
"Oh, no, Charley and 1 used to be
great cronies," said old Bill, with sudden
animation, and light in his eye, such as
had not shone there for long time ex-
cept when rum gave it a ftful brilliancy
Nh ! the lady did not know, as perhaps
the angels did, that she had mounted the
stairs and was softly feeling for that un-
seen door; so she went on:
81 almost fee, Mr.. Strong, as if I could
see the old spot upon which your home
stead stood l have heard my father de-
scribe it so often. The hill, with its
crown Of old oaks at the back of your
house, and the field of yellow harvest
grain that waved in front Then there
was the grass before the front door, with
the huge apple-tree that threw it's shad-
ows across it; and the old portico, with
the grapevine that climbed over it, and
the white roses that peeped in at the
bedroom window, and the spring that
went shining and bubblng through the
bed Of green mint at the side of the
house"
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair,
and the muscles around his mouth occa.
sionally, but unmndful of this, the lady
kept on in the same low, melting voice
GO Many and many were the hours so
father would say, that Willie and used
to pass under the shadow of that old ap-
ple-tree playing at hide and seek, or loll-
ing on the grass and telling each other
the great things we meant to do when we
became big.men, while Willie's blue eyes
would sparkle with hope and happiness ;
and when the sunset laid crown of gold
on the top of the oaks on the hill, Will
lies mother might be seen standing in
the portico, with her snowy cap, and
checked apron, and we would hear her
voice calling, Come, boys, come to sup
per-"
One after another the big, warm,
blessed tears went rolling down old Bills
cheeks, and falling on the pine table,
All {! the lady was at the door then.
GO was always at home at Willie's,'
father would say, and used to have my
bowl of fresh milk and bread, too; and
when these had disappeared, Willie
would draw his little stool to his mothers
feet, and she would tell him some pleas
ant story of Joseph or David, or some
good boy who afterward became great
man, and then she would part WiJhe1s
brown curls from off his forehead, and say
in a trembling voice l can never forget,
Promise me, Willie, when you are
man, and the gray hairs of your mother
are resting in the church-yard yonder,
you will never disgrace her memory
And Willie would draw up his slight
form, lift his blue eyes proudly to his
mother and say, Never fear, mother I
will make good man, and great one,
too,' and then, after we had said our
evening prayers, we would go contented
and happy as the bird that nestled in the
old apple tree, to rest. Then just as we
were sinking into some pleasant dream,
we would hear well.known football on
the stairs, and kind face bending over
would inquire if we were nicely tucked
up. 1t is long, long time,' father
would say, since l heard from Willie,
but I am sure he has never fallen into
any evil ways The words of his mother
would keep him from that"
Rap! rap rap went the words of the
lady at the door of old Bills heart
Creak creak creak went the door on
its rusted hinges. The lady could only
see the subdued man bury his face in his
clasped hands, and while his frame shook
like an aspen leaf, she heard him murmur
among childlike sobs, my mother OH
my mother" With silent prayer of
thankfulness' she resumed:
But there was one thing my father
loved to talk of better than all the rest.
1t was of the morning you were married,
MIR. Strong. 1t was enough to do ones
eyes good to look at them,' he would say,
as they walked up the old church aisle