The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1876-09-15
THE DOOR IN THE HEART.
BY MRS. V. F. TOWNSEND

! And so it is with the drunkard Far
away up great many pairs Of winding
| stairs in his heart is a door, and on that
| door Is written man, and we must knock at
that door. once, twice, seven times; yes,
seCen times seUen, that it may open unto us.
| John B. Cough.
He was sn old man. Not so old
either, for the wrinkles that marred
his cadaverous visage were not the an
tograph that Times fingers have laid
there, and the hand that placed upon
the low table the well-drained glass
did not tremble SO with the weakness
that age i.duces; yet very old and very
wretched looked the sole occupant of
that narrow room, with its red curtains
and its floor stained with tobacco juice,
and an atmosphere abundantly seasoned
by the bar-room intO which it opened.
a hat Git must have been intended tor
one) half concealed the owners un-
combed locks, and upmistakable eei-
dehce of familiar acquaintance with
.'brickbats and the gutter did that
same hat produce. Then there was
coat, out of whose sleeves peeped pair
of elbows IN rejoicing consciousness that
they 'scould afford to be out" Add to
these pair OF faded pants, and you
have, reader. the tout ensemble of the
wretched being who had just commenc.
ed his daily potations in the only grog
shop he was allowed to frequent. And
yet the wretchel, friendIess creature that
sat there, half stupeied with the effects
of his morning dram. had heart, and
far up many pairs of winding stars in
that heart was door, easily passed by,
and on that door, covered with cobwebs
and dust of time and sin, was written
"MAN % But nobody dreamed OF this,
and when the Temperance men" had
gone 10 him with the pledge ,and promis-
ed him employment and responsibility
if he would sign it and others we'll
meaning men, too, had rated him
soundlv for his evil ways, and he had
turned deaf ear to all these things,
and gone back with blind pertinacity to
his cup again, every body said that Old
Billy Strong's case was hopeless one.
All none of these had patiently
groped their way up the hearts wind
ing stairs and read the inscription on
the hidden door there. But while the
unhappy man sat by the pine table that
morning. the bar-keeper suddenly en-
tered, followed by lady with pale,
high brow. mid, hazel eyes, and
strangely winning expression on her PEN
kive face. The old man looked up with
a vacant stare of astonishment, as the
bar-keeper offered the lady chair, and
pointed to the occupant of the other,
saying
''That's Billy Strong, ma'am," and
with lingering glance of curiosity, left
that gentle woman alone with the as
tonished and now thoroughly sobered
man.
The soft eyes of the lady wandered
with sad, lingering expression over
old BilPs features, and then III . low,
sweet voice, she asked ::
sam rightly informed Do / ad-
dress Mr. William Strong ?"
All with these words the lady had
got further up the winding stairs, nearer
the hidden door, than all who had gone
before her.
: Yes, that is my name, ma'am," said
old Bill, as he glanced down at his
shabby attire, and actually tried to hide
the elbow. which was peeping ont far
thest, for it was long time since he
had been addressed by that name, and
somehow it sounded very pleasant to
him.
81 am glad to meet you Mr. Strong,"
said the lady. 81 hare heard my father
speak of you so often. and OF the days
when you and he were boys together,
that | almost feel that we were old ac-
quaintances. You surely can not have
forgotten Charles Morrison ?''
mo! 10 Charlie and | used to be
old cronies," said Bill, with sudden
animation, aud light in his eye such
as had not been there iii many day,
except when rum lent II a iittul bril-
llancy.
Ah the lady did not know, as per-
haps the angels did, that she had
mounted the stairs, and was softly feel
ing tor that unseen door, SO she went on:
81 almost feel as if / could see the
old spot upon which your homestead
stood, Mr. Strong, / have heard my ta-
ther describe it SO often The hill with
its crown of old oaks at the back of
your house, ard the field of golden
harvest grain that waved in front.
Then there was the green grass plat be-
tore the front door, aud the huge old
apple tree that threw its shadows
across it, and the great old-fasIlioned
portico, and the grapevine that crept
around the pillars, aud the rose-bush
that looked in at the bedroom window
and the spring that went shining and
singing through tie bed of mint at the
side OF the house,
Old Bill moved uneasiIy III his chair,
and the muscles around his mouth
twitchtd occasionally; hut unraindfal
Ct this, in the same low, melting tones,
the lady kept on:
Many and many were the hours, -
SO father would say, willie and | used
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 WiIlie's mother
standing in the front door, with her
white cap, and check apron, and the
pleasant smile that always lay around
her lips, aud hear her cheerful voice