The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-02-16
ele1teo Gale,
:. lie win Forgive You, Father.

He stood leaning on broken gate In
front of his miserable dwelling. Histat.
tered hat was in his hands. and the cool
bree 20 lifted the matted locks which GOV
cred MS noble brow. His countenance
was bloated and disfgured, but in his eye
was an unwonted look-a mingled ex-
preston ofsadness and regret. Perhaps
he was listening to the melancholy voice
ofhis patient wife as she soothed the sick
babe. on her bosom; or perchance he was
gazing on the sweet face Of his eldest
daughter, as at the open window she PHI
ed her needle to obtain for her mother & the
poor children sustenanCe. Poor Mary!
for herselfsh cared not; young as she
was. her spirit was crushed by poverty,
unkndness and neglect. AS the inebri
ate thus stood. his eyes wandered over
the miserable habitation before him.
The windows were broken and the doors
hingeless, scarce vestige of comfort re-
NAMED, yet memory bore him back to
the days of his youth, when it>was the a.
bode Of peace and happiness. In infan-
cy he saw again the old arm chair where
sat his father with the bible upon his knee
and SCENE d to hear again the sweet tones
of his mother as she laid her hands upon
the head Of her darling boy and prayed
that God would bless him and preserve
him from evil. Long years had passed
away. yet tears came into the eyes Of the
drunkard at the recollection of his moth
er's love.
"Poor mother" he mut:ered ,"it is we'll
that thou art sleeping in the grave; it
would break thy heart to know that thy
son is wrstched and degraded being-a
miserable outcast from society"
He turned slowly away. Deep with
in an adjoining forest was dell where
the beams ofthe sun scarce ever penetra-
ted. Tall trees grew on either side,
whose branches, meeting above, formed a
canopy of leaves, where the birds built
their nests, and poured forth happy songs.
Thither the drunkard bent his steps. 1t
had been his favorite haunt in the days
ofhis childhood, aud as he threw himself
upon the soft green sward, the recolec.
tons ofpast scenes came crowding over
his mind. He covered his face with his
hands, and the prayer of the prodiga
burst from his lips-'"O God! receive q
returning wanderer" Suddenly soft
arm was thrown around his neck, and g
sweet voice murmured-"He will llforgive
you, father" Starting TO his feet. the in
ebriate saw standing before him his young
est daughter, child of six years. r
"Why are you here, Annel" he said
ashamed that the innocent child coul,
have witnessed his grief.
"I came to gather the lilies which
grow upon the banks" she replied; "see
have got my basket full, and now | an
going to sell them"
"And what do You do with the money!
asked the father, as he turned his eye
to the basket, where among the broa'
green leaves the sweet lilies of the val
ley we're peering forth.
The child hesitated, she thought sh
had said too much; perhaps her fathe
would demand the money, and spend
in the way in which all his earnings wen
you are afraid to tell me, Annie,
said her father kindly. "Well,, do n,
blame you. have no right to my chi
dren's confidence"
The gentleness of the tone touched th
heart of the affectionate child. Sh
threw her arms around his neck, and e'