The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1844-04-12
A week passed on, and Job daily as

May was in rap,ures. Only one thing
disturbed her felicity; Harry was no, by
to par,ake of il. ~, is foolish in him to
stay away SO long" ,ho't she; "(or
though we must not be lovers, we might
certainly be friends" Perhaps the
change would not have been SD easy.
| May!
One morning, after breakfast, Job rose
from the table. and put on his old hat,
MAY had just braided him new one
saying as he did so, III am going up to
the Admiral this morning. Ned Wat
kins, and some of my friends there. will
begin to wonder at my long absence.
Only think, May, i. is whole week
since ! have beea there"
Mays smile changed 10 look Of un-
disguseahle distress at this nnwelcome
announcement. "Oh. lather!' she ex-
claimed in a tone Of touching en,realy.
lido not 60 any more to that wretched
place. have been so happy this pas,
week, cannot spare you away. You
will not 20, dear ia,her!"
Job s,noolhed her bright hair, and
looking good hunoredly into her troubled
face. replied. "lf go. your friend Harry
will come 10 see you again; but SO long
as stay. you are not likely to enjoy
much of his society. will not he in
your way. my child," and without stop
ping TO listen to her earnest remonsiran-
ces, he imprinted a tender kiss upon her
cheek. and hurried away To the Admiral.
lie found The usual bar-room club as
sembled. Immediately upon his en-
trance, they began their assaults upon
him for his long absence. lie evaded
them. marching up to the bar, and throw.
ing down sixpence. "Give us mug Of
Sou. Zip. Rawley.' said he; and while
this was preparing. he picked up the
stump Of an old pen, dipped it into the
ba,ter-,l,ick ink that stood on the desk.
and drawing an old letter from his pock-
ct. tore off The back, and scribbled upon
j, the following remarkable words:
"rhis cerlties that !, Job Woodell do
hereby give my solemn pledge to abstain
wholly, hencefor,l, and forever. from the
use of all Intoxicating drinks as bever-
age
(Signed) Jon WooDELL."
May Is, 1912.
This he placed in the hands of his old
fellow lipler, Ned Watkins. bidding him
read il aloud to his companions. while
he seize,l the mug Of flip" and hurried
to TIE door. Lifting il towards his lips.
TO make the temptation as strong as pos
sibe. he suddenly turned it upside down.
splling its smoking contents upon the
ground. Then placing the mug in this
reversed position upon the bench. he took
his pipe from his mouth, and delivered
This br ef soliloQny :-"Jnb Woodell,
thou art a man again. The letters thai
bound thee are broken, and thou art free
--"Joh Woodell. thou art a father.
IIencefor,h the child of thy lost May has
a fathers arm to rely upon for her sup
port. and fathers heart To bless and
cherish her. Job Woodell, thou art re-
deemed. Go home, now, and sing thy
hallelujahs "
Having thus made and solcmnized this
GOOD RESOLUTION, lie entered the bar
room in quest Of his hat. lle found the
group huddled together. in vain striving
to spell out his rude h,erogIyphics.
Here, let me read it for YOU" said Job,
and taking The paper from Ncds hand,
he proclaimed il their aslonished ears,
lidings Of his redemption.
-! job Woodell ~ exclaimed Ned
Watkins. prefacing the name with loud
oath. "Whal has brought you TO this
nonsense 7"
"My daughters iore has brought me
to this sense" was the calm reply. as he
turned with serious aspect towards the
door.
When he entered his own house, he
found Harry there. standing with Mays
hand caspcd in Ills, and both looking We
ry much, afflicted. May sprang forward
with al, %. nation Of joy. and twined
her arnIen cxtiSn. "Oh, father! l was
sure you's in he,um, you are so very
kind of late. 'woo
"Bu, why do you welcome me. my
love, since my arrival will be signal for
llarry's departure And pray what have
you been saying TO each other, TO cause
YOU To hook sOrrOwful !"
"Ifarry is going TO leave US. papa.
Ilo has adopted your old profession Of
J whaling, and goes on, in the Dolphin to-
{ morrow. lie was just bidding me fare.
} we'll. as you entered"
"Ah! how Is this : I ,honght you
: loved May too we'll 10 leave her." said
, Job. laying his hand on Harry's shout.