The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1881-12-21
The CRYSTAL BELL.

[ was seated in the bar room of half.
way house one stormy winter night,
where / was obliged to stop on my way
| to New York. The landlord of the inn
was one of the surly kind, who never
spoke an unnecessary word and hardly
vOuchcd an answer to civil question.
This was doubly disagreeable to me, be-
Cause there we're no bookn or newapa-
pers, neighbors or acquaintance within
the promises, with whom to chat and
ssip, and so beguile few hours that
here hanging heavily on my hands.
After various Intellectual attempts to ell
ter into a conversation with my host, who,
from the dignity of his manner, was
styled "Gcr.' Dudley, | was just
about falling asleep when the door sud-
denly opened and man walked in.
After he had shaken the large flakes of
snow from his coat, he walked to the
fire which was cracking merrily in the
CRATE. He looked exceedingly shabby,
his apparel consisting Of threa1bere
coat which was buttoned to his throat,
old and thoroughly-drenched shoes,
which came within few inches Of
meeting his pants. Poor fellow he
looked altogether as though he had not
eaten meal for a week, with his
pockets innocent of "cash" during n
still longer time,
When he entered, tho General (who
was seated at the bar counting his
money! raised his head and inspected
his new customer from head to foot. l
noticed the poor man was somewhat
frightened mt the stern look, but he
seemed to gatlrrr enough courage to ask
in an imploring manner: "Can | find
shelter for the night 2"
"Full, every room full, sir y answer
cd the General. 1--WE seldom accommo-
date strangers.
at is a bad night answered the
stranger. "And shall not be par'icu-
lar where you may place NE, any small
corner will be welcome"
"Sorry, sir, very sorry but | cannot
help YOU" and the General coolly went
back to his former occupation.
The stranger cast one longing look at
the bright fire, another at the finty
landlord, then turned and was about to
leave the room, but all my fear and re-
snect for the General vanished at the
moment
"Stopi" I cried, rising from my
cboir { wait a minute, sir, this weather
is too bad TO allow man to spend the
NIGHT ont Of doors True. [ have not the
nloasure Of knowing YOU, but my bed
room contains TWO Deas' one Oh WHICH ~
at your dlspoSei.
In my anxiety to see the eilec1 my
words produce" On NY iih 1 n d. W." nou
overilear the thanks wii'cn tle s'tuiRei
expressed. do not remember ever nay
ing seen such picture OF surprise. wy
courage eDoed percepuo'y ai'er my
speech was finished, Tor cXpec'e" ho'il-
ing less than to be put out OF doors III
company win the stranger. lohiy Blcas
est astonishment tlle oeiielai cii"iiseo
his manner and SAID:
eff Mr.. Massey wishes to practice
such unseliish generosity, have no OBJ
lection to his plan.'
This change gave me my native cour-
age, and determined "to strike while
the iron was hot. peremp1oriiy Or
dered a hot supper.
"But you have Just eaten your sup
INV ronlisd the General irving to re-
p Gain his former dignity.
d" THAT does not matter want to
oot ooain. 7 often eat two suppers."
Tn nv victory over the General | be-
gan TO be impertinent. Suffice it to
saw saw that within half an hour We had
steaming supper between us. During
the meal the stranger anu niS o1n w
r mat a ' more 1'9 agreeable companion. He
hnd %a na everywbere-had seen every
tbing and knew everything. Nomatter
unnp what subject | touched, he was at
I hpma "A He amused me to such an ex-
tont that we sat together in my room
u ,u,ti ' nearly / o'clock, and it never en-