Juliet signal. [volume] (Juliet [i.e. Joliet], Ill.) 1844-1???, 1848-09-26
''HG will Forgive You Father"

AO VIII EUISlhC lUu FHIHcFI"
He stood leaning Upon a broken gate
in front of his miserable dwelling. His
! tattered hat was in his hand, and the cool
breese lifted the matted locks which GOV.
cred his once noble brow. His coiShta.
nance was bloated and disfgured, but in
his eye there was an unwanted look-Ga
mingled expression ofsadness and regret.
Perhaps he was listening to the low, mel.
aucholy voice of'his patfent wife, as she
sooihcd fhe sick babe on her bosom: or
Perchance he was gazing upon the sweet
face of his eldest daughter, as at the open
window she piled her needle to obtain for
her mother and the poor children scan.
~ sustenance. Poor Maryl for herself
she cared not, young as she was, her spir.
it was already crushed by poverty, un.
kindness and neglect. As the inebriate
thus stood, his eyes wandered over the
miserable habitation before him. The
windows were broken and the doors
hingeless; scarce vestige Of comfort re.
nained; yet memory bore him back TO
the days of his youth, when it was the
abode of happiness. In fancy he saw
again the old arm chair where sat his
father, with the Bible upon his knee, and
he seemed to hear the sweet notes of his
mother. as she laid her hand upon the
head of her darling boy, and prayed that
God would bless him and preserve him
from evil. Long years had passed away,
yettears came into the eyes of the drunk.
ard at the recollection of his mothers
love.
''Poor MOTHER" he muttered, it is we'll
that thou art sleeping IN the grave: it
would break thy heart to know that thy
son is wretched and degraded being-a
miserable outcast from society,". ii.
He turned slowly away. Deep within
an adjoining forest was a dell where the
beams ofthe sun scarce even penetrated.
Tall trees on either side, whose branch.
es, meeting above, formed a canopy of
leaves, where the birds build their nests,
and poured forth happy songs. 'Thither
the drunkard bent his steps. It had been
his favorite haunt in the days of his child
hood. and as he threw himself upon the
soft green sward, the recollections of
past scenes came crowdiDg over his mind.
He covered his face with his hands and the
prayer ofthe prodigal burst from his lips
10 God, receive returning Wandered"
Suddenly soft arm was thrown around
his neck, and sweet voice nurmured-
''He will forgive you Misunderstanding
to his feet, the inebriate saw standing be
fore him his youngest daughter, child of
six years.
"Why are you here ANNEX" he said
ashamed that the innocent child should
have witnessed his grief
IL came to gather the lilies which
grow upon the banks" she replied; see l
have got my basket full, and now am
going to sell. tAefii."
"And what do you do with the inouey7''
asked the father, as he turned his eyes TO
the basket, where among the broad green
| leaves the sweet lilies Of the valley were
peeping forth.
The child hesitated: she thought she
had said too much, perhaps her father
would demand the money, and spend it in
the way in which all Of his earnings
went. 8,1a4
'sYou are afraid to tell me, Anne, !" said
her father, kindly. ''Weli, do not blame
you, have no ght to my children's con.
| fidence." a1 t.i.s2.a
The gentleness OF his tone touched the
heart Of the affectio6ate child. She threw
her arms around his neck, exclaiis1ing-
''Yes father, i viii tell you: Mother buys
medicines for poor little Willie. We have
no other way 10 get it,. Mother and Ma
ry work all the time they can get to buy
bread. !" ~ ts oa
A pang shot through the inebriate':
heart: ''Iha9e robbed them of the com
forts of life," he exclaimed; "ffom thi:
moment the liquid fire passes my lips NJ
more." sa @ afs 21 g
@ Anne stood gazing at him in astonisb
:. ment. She could scarcely comprehen,
her fathers words; but she saw that som,
change had taken place. She threw bacI
ergoIden ringlets. and raised her larg
blue eyes, with an earnest look 10 hi
. face1s'Will you never drink any NOR MOI
fTunn7's she whispered, ffnidIy.a af