The Republican journal., 1876-09-14

an aspen leaf, as she heard him murmur
amid childlike s0bs:
"My mother, o my mother ~
And she knew the tears that were wash
ing those wrinkle checks were washing
out also many a dark page in the record
of old Blll's past life that stood against
him; 50, with silent prayer of thankful
ness she resumed
''But there WAS one scene my father
loved to talk about more than all the rest
1t was the morning you were married, Mr..
Strong 1T was enough to do ones eyes
good, he would say, to look at them rs
they walked up the old church aisle, he
with his proud manly tread, and she, a
delicate, fragile creature, fair as the OF
ange blossoms that trembled in her hair.
| remember how clear and firm his voice
echoed through the old church as he prom
ised to love, protect and to cherish the
gentle being at his side. and | knew he
thought, as he looked down fondly upon
her, that the very winds of heaven should
not visit her too roughly And then my
father would tell us of a home made bright
by watchlu affection. and OF a dark eyed
boy and tair-haired 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 ag-
ony of the strC NC man before her was fear
tul to behold and when she spoke again,
il was in a l. wer and more mourniul tone
II promised my father previous to his
death. that if ever | visited his native
State, would seek out his old friend.
But when inquired for YOU, they unfold
ed a terrible tale to me. Mr. Strong. They
told me of a dark-eyed boy who left his
home in disgust amid despair for one on
the homeless seas; of the gentle and un-
complaining wife who went down, with q
prayer on her lips ior her erring husband,
broken-hearted to the grave; Of the falr
haired girl they placed by her side in Il lit
tie while. Oh . it is a sad, sad story |
heard OF my fathers old friend
at was killed them ~ said old Bill.
in voice filled With emotion as he lifted
up his head from his clasped hands and
looked upon the lady, every feature wear
ing such n look OF agoniZing rcmorse and
helpless despair that She shuddered to be-
hold it, Wide open stood the door then,
and the lady hastened to pass in. A small
hand was laid gently upon Bits arm, and
II sweet Nblct HlullHultti
Even for all there is redemption, and
you we'll know in what manner. In the
name OF the mother who loved YOU, in the
name OF our dying Wife, and Of the child
who sleeps beside her, ask You, will You
sign the pledge ?"
II will" said old Bill, and he brought
down his hand with such force on the pine
table that its rheumatic limbs with diff
Guilty maintained their equilibrium, and
then seized the pen and pledge the lady
had placed before him, and when he re-
turned them to her the name OF William
Strong lay in broad, legible characters up
on the paper.
Thereswas an expression, ludicrous from
its intensity, of curiosity on the bar keep
er's physiognony, as the lady passed quiet
ly through the "ShOp' after her long in
terview With old Bill, and the expression
was in no degree lessened when few
moments after old Bill followed her with
out stopping, as usual. to take a second
glass and he nerCr pus@ed orer that
Mrcsh0M 0g0iu,
Reader Of mine, if You are If those
whose true, earnest souls bear ever about
them one great desire to benefit their
tellow-men; if your heart is yearnng over
some errlng brother man, whom you
would gladly raise from the depth of deg
relation and misery. and point to the
highway Of truth and virtue, remember
that somewhere in his heart must be Il
door, which, when rightly applied to. will
open unto you. See to it that ye find it.