Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-03-23

churchyard yonder promise me, child that
her prayers aud her memory shall keep you
from all evil ways" Aud Willie would lift his
laughing blue eyes to her face and say " III !
be a first-rate man don't be afraid, mother.
And then, after we had said our prayers, we
would 90 to our bed as happy as the birds
that went TO their nests in the old apple
branches by the window, aud just as we were
sinking to sleep, we would hear a soft football
on the stairs, and loving face would bend
over US to see if we were tucked up. 1t is a
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 mud listened. But
the lady could oul see the subdued man bury
his face in his hands, aud while his whole
| frame shook like an aspen leaf, she heard him
murmur amid chd-like sobs
| My mother Oh, my mother l'
And she knew the tears that were washing
those wrnkled cheeks were washing out also
many dark page in the record Of Old Bills
past life so with a silent prayer Of thank
tulness, 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 eye good-hc used
to say, to look at them as they walked up the
old church aisle be with his proud, manly
tread, and she a delicate and fragile creature,
fair as the orange blossom that trembled in
her hair 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 ! knew as he looked
upon 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 watchul affec-
tions, aud Of dark-eyed boy and a afair-haired
girl who came after a while to gladden. it :;
aud 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 a lower
and more mournlul tone
promised my father, previously 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
unoded a terrible story to me, Mr. Strong f;
they told me of the gentle, uncomplainiug
wife, who went down with q prayer on her
lips for the erring husband, broken-hearted
to the grave, and Of the iair-haired girl they
placed in a little while by her side. Oh, it
is a sad, sad story l have Of my fathers old
friend
" 1t was | 1t was | that did it ALL
killed them :" said old Bill, in a voice hoarse
with emotion, as he lifted his head from his
clasped hands aud looked upon the lady, every
feature wearing such look Of agony and re-
morse that she shuddered to behold it. Wide,
wide open stood the door then, and the lady
FASTENED to pass in. \ small hand was laid
, gently upon old Bills arm, aud sweet voice
e murmured
" Even for all this there is redemption. In
f the name Of the dear mother that loved you,
, in the name Of your dying wife, and Of the
r dear child that sleeps beside her, sign the
! pledge" I"
:" will" said old Bill and he brought
Z down his hand with such force on the pine
A table that its rheumatic limbs hardly regained
their equilibrium, and he eagerly seized the
b. pen and pledge the lady had placed before
5 him, and when he returned them to her, the
A name OF WILLIAM STRONG lay in broad, legi.
Y Bile characters upon the paper.
= There was an expression, ludicrous from its
J extreme curiosity, on the bar-keeper's face, as
D the lady passed quietly through the shop af.
ter the long interview with old Bill and the
=. ] 4 i.
e few moments after, old Bill followed her
without stopping to take his first glass, Ant
e he Rercr passed over that threshold again.
l. And now, reader, you whose heart throb
/. with tenderness and reverence for humanity
e fallen, despiscd, miserable though it may be
remember that somewhere in the heart o
e your fellow man is door, which, thougl
y closed for many years, will surely open to tn
e hand that knocks in kindness and the yoic,
" that calls in love