Year: 1861

eyes to her face and say, IN be irst-rlte
man don't be afraid, mother And then.
after We had said our prayers, we would go
to bed as happy as the birds that went to
their nests in the old apple branches by the
window, and just as we were sinking to
sleep, we would hear a soft football on the
stairs, and loving face bend over to see if
we were nicely tucked up. It is a long
tlme-tather would say, after pause
since / 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 la
dy at the door of the 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 and
listened. But the lady could only see the
sabdued man bury his face in his hands
and while his whole frame shook like an as
pen leaf, she heard him murmur, amid
childhke sobs:


My mother. Oh my mother


And she knew the tears that were wash
ing those wrinkled checks were washing
out also a dark page in the record Of old
Bills past life; so, with a silent prayer Of
thankfulness, she resumed:


But there was one scene my father low
ed to talk of better than all the rest. It
was on the morning you were married, Mr.
Strong. It was enough to do ones eyes
good-he used to say-to look at them as
they walked up the old church aisle he
with his proud, manly tread, and she del
lcate, fragile creature, fair as the orange
blossom that trembled in her hair | re-
member how clear and firm his voice sound
ed through the old church, as he promised
to love, and protect the fair girl at his side;
and | know, as he looked upon her, that
the very winds Of heaven should not visit
her face too roughly


and then my father would tell us Of a
home made very bright by watchful atten-
tions, and of darkeyed boy and fairhair-
ed girl who came after 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 man was fearful to behold and
when she spoke again, it was in lower
ana more 'mOurntuI tone:


| promised my father, previous to his
death, that if ever I visited his native state
| would seek out his old friend But when
inquired for you, they unfolded terrible
story to me, Mr.. Strong; they told me of a
broken, desolate household of the gentle,
accomplishing wife, who went down with
prayer on her lips for the erring husband,
broken-h hearted to the grave; and of the
fairhaired girl they placed, in little while,
by her side. Oh, it is a sad, sad story I
have heard of my fathers old friend


1t was | 1t was | that did it all
killed themp said old Bill, in voice hoarse
with emotion, as he lifted his head from
his clasped hands and looked upon the la
dy, every feature wearing such a look Of
agony and remorse that she shuddered to
behold it. Wide, wide open stood the door
then, and that lady hastened to pass in A
small hand was laid gently upon old Bills
arm, and a sweet voice murmured:


Even for all this there is redemption.
In the name of the mother that loved you,
in the name of your dying wife, and Of the
child that sleeps beside her, l ask you, will
you sign the pledgeE


4 WILL said old Bill; and he brought
down his hand with such force on the pine
table that its rheumatic limbs hardly re-
gained their equilibrium, and he eagerly
seized the pen and pledge that she had pla-
ced before him, and when he returned them
to her, the name Of William Strong lay in
broad, legible characters upon the paper


There was an expression, ludicrous from
its extreme curiosity, on the bar-keeper's
face, as the lady passed quietly through the
shop after the long interview with old
Bill and the expression was in no degree
lesscned when, in a few moments after, old
Bill followed her without stopping as usual
to take his first glass. And he acUcr pas
sea ooer that threshold again.!


And now, reader, you whose heart throbs
with tenderness and reverence for humani-
ty, fallen, despised, miserable though it may
be, remember that somewhere in the heart
Of your fellow man is door, which, though
closed for many years, viii surely open to
the hand that knocks in kindness and the
voice that calls in love.