The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-06-30

81 almost feel as IL / could see the
old spot upon which your homestead
stood, MIR. Strong, | have heard my ia
Their describe il So often. The hill with
its crown Of old oaks at the back ofyour
house, and the field of golden harvest
grain that waved in front. Then there
was the green grass plat before the
front door, and the huge old apple tree
that threw its shadows across il, and
the great old-fashioned portico, and the
grapevine that crept around the pillars,
and the rose-busb that looked in at the
bedroom window, and the spring that
went shining and singing through the
bed of mint ut the side of the house."
Old Bill moved ~uneasily in his chair,
and the muscles around his mouth
twitched occasionally; but unmindful
Of this, in the same low, melting tones,
the lady kept on:
Many and many were the hours"
so father would say, "Willie and fused
to pass, the shadow of that old apple
tree; playing at hide-and-seek or lolling
on the grass, telling each other the Won
ders we would achieve when we became
men; and when the sunset laid its
crown Of gold on the top OF the oaks on
the hill, | can see Willie's mother stand
ing in the front door, with her white
cap, and check apron, and the pleasant
smile that always lay around her lips,
and hear .ier cheerful voice calling,
Come boys, come To supper"
One after another the big, warm,
blessed tears came rolling down old
Bits cheeks. All, the lady had found
the door then.
81 was always at home at Willie's,r
father would say, land used TO have my
bowl of fresh milk, and bread, too, and
when these disappeared, Willie would
draw his stool to his mothers feet, lay
his head on her lap, and she would tell
us some pleasant story; it might be of
Joseph or David, or of some good child
who afterwards became a great man,
and then she would part Willie's brown
curls from his forehead, and, in a voice
| can never forget, say:
Promise me, Willie. when you 20
out from your home into the world and
its temptations, and your mother has
lain down with her gray hairs TO sleep
in the chsrchyard yonder, promise, my
child, that the memory Of her prayers
and counsels shall keep you from all
evil waysP"
"And Willie would raise his head,
lift his blue eyes to his mother, and an
swer: 'lpromise you | will make a first
rate man, MOTHER and after he had
said his evening prayer, we would 90,
happy as birds that nestled in the
branches of the apple tree, to rest; and
then just as we were sinking to sleep.
ua uuopl1 haor a nell I-.u. g.. S.n /
on the stairs, and a loving face would
bend over Us to see if we were nicely
tucked up. 1T is a long time father
would say, after a pause, ssince | heard
from Willie, but sure | am that he has
never falle 4 into any evil ways. The
memory of his mother would keep him
from that
Rap, rap, rapl went the words of
that lady at the door of that old mans
heart. Creak, creak, creak, went the
door on its rusty hinges: CANCELS of
God, held We not your breaths to lis
temp The lady could only see the sub
dued man bury his face in his hands,
and his whole frame shook like an as-
pen leaf, as she heard him murmur amid
childlike sobs:
"My mother, O my mother,"
And she knew the tears that were
washing those wrinkled cheeks were
washing out also many n dark page in
the record of old Bills past life that
stood against him so, with Il silent
prayer Of thankfulness she resumed:
But there was one scene my father
loved To talk about more than all the
rest. II was OF the morning you were
married, Mr.. Strong. 1T was enough
to do ones eyes good he would say,
'to look at them as they walked up the
old church aisle, he with his proud,
manly tread, and she, adelicate, fragile
creature, fair as the orange blossoms
that trembled in her hair. | remember
how clear and firm his voice echoed
through the old church as he promised
to love, protect and to cherish the gen.
tie being at his side, and | knew he
thought, as he looked down fondly up
on 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 watchful affection, and
Of a dark-eyed boy and fair-haired girl
who came, after "A while, to gladden. il;
and then you know he removed to the
West and lost sight of you, Mr.. Strong.n
Once again the lady paused, for the
agony of the strong man before her
vas fearful to behold, and when she
spoke again, it was in a lower and more
mournful tone.
al promised my father previous to
his death, that il ever | visited his ma
tive State, | would seek out his old
friend. But, when inquired for you,
they unfolded 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 tine homeless seas;