The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1849-03-23
lie will forgive you. Father

N W." -" S'S sVu' "thNs.
He stood leaning upon broken gale in
front of his miserable dwelling. His latter
ed hat was in his hands, and the cool breeze
lifted the matted locks which covered his
noble brow. His countenamce MAS hluaieJ
and distipured, bnt in his eve there was an
unwonted look--a mingled expression Of
sadness and regret. Perhaps he was listen
ing 10 the melancholy voice Of his patient
wife as she soo,hed the sick babe, on her
bosom or perchance was gazing on the
Swce, face ofhis eldest daughter. as al the
open window she piled her needle to obisi
Ter her mother sustenancr. Poor Mary
for herself she cared not Young as she was,
her spirit was crushed by poverty, unkiud-
ness aud neglect AS the inebriate thus
stood, las eyes wandered over the miserable
habiiation before him. The windows were
broken and the doors hnCeless, scarce n
resiige OF comfort remained, yet memory
bore him back TO the days Of his youth
when il was the abode Of peace and happi.
ness. In infancy he saw again the old arm
chair where sat his father with the bbleup.
on his knee, and seemed to hear again the
sweet toucs Of his mother as she laid ber
hands npon the head Of her darling boy, and
prayed that God would bless him. and pre-.
serve him from evil. Long years had pass.
cdaway, yet tears came into the ewes Of the
drunkard at the recollection Of his mothers
love.
"Poor mother: he mu,iersd, oct is wei
thou art sleeping in the grave: it wOuli
break thy heart TO know that thy son i.
n wretthed and degraded being-a misera
ou'ca>t from society,""
lie turned slowly away. Deep within
All adjoining forest was dell where the
beam of the sun scarce ever rrnctra,cd
TAU trees grew on either side. hose bran.
chcS, meeting above. formed a canopy q
leaves where the birds build their nests aud
poured forth happy songs. Thither the
drrnkard bent his steps. II had been hi,
favofitr haunt in the DAYS Of his childhood
and as he threw himself upon the soft greer
sward, the rccollC c'on o. rns scenes rnfnt
crowdinc over his mind. He covered III,
face with his hands. and the rray or of III,
prndiga' burst from his hp>-"Oh Cod re-
ceire are'urnur wauicrer,' Suddenly .
soft arm was thrown around His neck, ~,
a sweet Voice mnrnured-s'TTc viii rrrciv,
You tather." Starting w HI. feet. the inc
briair saw Standing before him. his Young.
e>tdauehtcr, II child 81 six years.
"Why AZ. Won here. Aunr 80 he sail, n
>hancd that the Innocent child should hav,
witnessed hi, grief.
came 10 gahcrthe lilies which crow M.
on the banks" ,he replied; "s,c.I hav,
got my basket full, aud now am going ,c
sell them"
"Aud what do you do with the money 2
asked the father, a. he turned his eyrSt,
the basket, where among the bread greer
leaves the sweet lilies of the valley wer,
peeplng forth.
The child hcsita,ed, she thought she hac
said too much; perhaps her father wonlc
demand the money. and spend i. in the way
inwhich all his earnings went.
"Nou are afraid to tell me Anne" sair
her father. kindly. "Wrll I do no, blam.
you, have 40 righ, TO my chillren's conf
demce,"
The Centleness VI tone touched the hear
Of the aiTectonate child. She threw he
arms around his neck and exclaimed, aye,
father. viii tell Mother buys medi
lines for poor little Willie. We have II,
other way to getit, Mother aud Mary worl
all the time they can get to buy bread"
~ lNUE NlVl lllI'llEl ~ lllt lllfUElUlF near
-''1 have robbed them Of the comforts o
l'ie." he exclaimed: "from this momentth
liquid fire passes my lips no more"
Anne stood gazing a, him in astoni,hmcn'
She could scarcely comprehend her fathers
words but she saw that some change ha,
'nken place. She threw back her colder
Iinglcts, raised her large blue eyes, with OF
earnest look 10 his face-"Will YOU neve
drink any more rum 20 she whispered tim
idly.
"'Ncrcr' dear Anne" her father reptile,
solemnly.
Joy danced in her eyes. "Thcn we vii
all beso happy. Oh, father, what a happ,
hone ours will be-"
Years passed away. The words Of It'll
Anuc, the drunkard's daughter, had prove,
true. The home ofthe reformed man. he
father, was indeed a happy one. Plcn',
crowned his hoard. and health and joy beam
ed from the face of his wife and children
where once squallid misery alone could b,
traced. The pledge had raised him from
his degradation, md restored him once NOR,
10 peace and happiness.