Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-23
The Door in the Heart.
By vmGINIAF. TOWNSEND.

hA NAhNANAA = INV NataNhs
She was a stern. hard woman But far away
ap great many pairs Of winding stairs in her
heart was door easily passed by, and ON the door
was written Woman 20 Charles Dickens.
8nd so it is with the drunkard Far up a
great many pairs of winding stairs in his heart
D. a door, and on that door is written Man. and
you must knock at it once, twice seven times,
yes seventy times seven, that it may open unto
us. John b. Cough.
He was an old mah-not so old either, for
the years Of his life could not have wrnkled
his forehead aud .,whitened his hair, and the
hands locked together on the low pine table
did not trembe 80 with weakness of old age
yet very old and very miserable looked the
solitary occupant Of that narrow room or en-
try, with its faded red curtains, and its at
mosphere rendered almost intolerabe by the
bar room into which it opened A hat bear
ing unmistakable evidence Of long iutima-
cy with brick bats and cutters maintained a
safe position on one side Of the owners head,
and pair Of elbows through his coat sleeves
in rejoicing consciousness that they could
afford to be out" Addto this, reader, pair
Of pants whose original color it would be a
matter Of time and study to determine and
you have the tout ensemble Of the wretched
being who occupied the only grog shop which
he was allowed to frequent in all the village
Of Greenfield
And yet that miserable, solitary, frendess
creature, sitting there half stupiGed with the
effect of last nights revel, and utterly uncon-
scious that, outside, is the May morning of
God, with its glorious brthrght of sunshine
and dews and bird songs-has a heart, and far
away up a great many pair Of stairs in his
heart, is door, covered with cobwebs and dust,
and on that door is a word written, which Time
and Sin have lever been able to ciface-aud
that word is Mas.
But nobody ever dreamed of this, aud peo-
[ pie shook their heads, aud said Billy Strong 5
case was hopeless one. Had not many kind
hearted persons reasoned with him earnestly
on the evils Of his ways? Had not the tenn
perance men gone to him with pledge and
promised him employment if he would sign
lit? And all of this had been utterly in vain.
All, none of them had groped 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 sud.
denly entered, followed by lady with soft
hazel eyes, and face that a child would have
gone to in any trouble.
The old man looked up with a vacant gaze
of wonder, as the bar-keeper offered the lady
chair, aud pointed to the occupant Of the
other, saying, That's Billy Strong, madam, q
and with lingering stare Of surprise and Gu
riosity, left the gentlewoman alone with the
now thoroughly sObered man.
The soft eye of the lady wandered with a
pitying expression, over Bills features, and
then, in low, sweet voice, she asked, " Am
| rightly informed DO address Mr.. vii.
liam Strong2"
All with these words the lady had gotter
further up the winding stairs, nearer the hid
den door, than all that had gone before her.
" Yes, that is my name, ma am, said Old
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 loug
time since he had been addressed by thai
name, aud somehow, it sounded very pleasant
10 him
" 1 am very glad to meet you, Mr. Strong,
said the lady 81 have heard my iathe
speak of you so often, and of the days wheI
you and he were boys together, that almos
feel as if we were old acquaintance Yol
surely can't have forgotten Charles Morri
SOM
" No no Charles and | used to be OLE
cronies, said Old Bill, with a sudden anima
ton, aud light in his eye, such as had no
; been there for many days, except when run
lent it a Gtful briliancy
Ah, the lady did not know, as perhaps thu
angels did, that she had mounted the stairs
and was softly feeling for that unseen door.
: So she went on, " almost feel as thougl
: | could see the old spot upon which you
/, homestead stood, Mr.. Strong. | have hear,
my father describe it so often. The hill
with its crown of old oaks, at the back 0
your house, and the field of golden haryes
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 shadow
across it, and the grape vine that crcpt aroun
a the pillars, and the rose-bush that looked /
: at the bedroom window, and the spring tina
! went flashing and singing through the bed q
4 mint at the side of the house"
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair, an
T the muscles around his mouth twitched occa
5 sionally; but, unmindiul Of this, in the sam
J, low, sweet tone, the lady kept on
Many and many were the hours-so fathc
b. would say-Willie and used to pass unde
the shadow of that old apple tree, playing a
e hide aud seek, or rolling and tumbling abou
- on the grass, telling each other the things "
e would certainly do when we became men tn
sun set its cap of gold on the top of the oaks
[ can see Willie's mother standing in III
. front door, with her white cap and apron an
the pleasant smile that always hovered aroun
n her lips, and hear her cheerful voice calling
Il come boys, come to supper"
IS One after another the big warm, besse
tears came rolling down Old Bills cheek
G All the lady had found the door then.
/. I" was always at home at Willies-iatht
/, would say--and used to have my fresh mil
K and bread, too and when this had disaI
d peared, Willie would draw his stool to h
mothers feet, lay his head on her lap, an
d she would tell US some very pleasant story,
If might be Of Joseph or David, or some goc
n child, who afterwards became a great man
"a and then she would part Wilie's brown cur
,f from his forehead. aud in voice / can ney,
. forget, say, Promise me, Willie, when yC
go into the world and its temptations, al