Fremont weekly freeman. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1850-1853, 1850-11-16
From the Cincinnati Gazette.
Somebody's Father.


The omnibus was slowly pursuing IFS way
up one Of the loug hills that lead tS the out
skirts Of Cincinnati, when the attention Of its
various inmates was directed to a man lying
by the road side, with flushed and swollen
face and trembling limbs, who vainly strove to
raise himself from the earth, mutteFing brok-
On and inchoherent, sentences, and ever and
anon falling back into the dust which had al
ready plentifnlly begrimmed his face hands
and clothes Some of the passengers gazed
On him with contemptuous smile of pity,
some with an expression of loathing and dis
gust, while few of the coarser sort on the
top, burst forth into expressions of vulgar de-
rision. '
sGoitAold chap said one Try it again.
shouted another, as he made fruitless at
tempt to rise. Fails pretty timber, guess,
said third
"A little boy about Eve years old, was stretch.
ing his neck to watch the sight, and joined un-
hesitaringly in the laugh set up on the outside
I Hush, hush my deari' said gentle wo-
! man by his side, don: laugh Henry-that
1 man IS some poor chid's father suppose
L The boy seemed to feel at once the force of
this appeal, for he looked with astonishment
L and sorrow into his mothers face, and several
sful air, to kave felt the force of the gentle ap
spea1, and looked more as christians should look
Son the fallen creature they were leaving be-
shind.
h And there indeed was somebody's father
aslthe genGlevoice had said. Look with US
sinside Of this low and shattered room, and
4 there you see pale and faded woman sitting
; up sick and feeble, BY decaying fire, striving
: with a trembling hand and falling eye, to fin
2 isha piece of sewing; her head is weary and
! giddy-the room often seems turning round
I and round with sickening motion, and her hand
often stops and trembles as she still urges her
needle slender and feeble as herself, and like
herself the only reliance of those he'll pless ones
around her. On the floor, sits the baby often
pulling at her dress and raising his hands in
dumb show to try to make her feel that he is
weary Of apparent neglect, and wants to find
| warmer seat in her lap; while two pale wist-
full Hooking children, are gazing from the door
asif expecting something, and weary of delay.
sOh! Mary do take up Benny said the
mother. after vainly striving to raise him, and
Keep him a little longer TIL / finish this work
md then you can carry it up to Mrs and
get the money orit, and you shall have some
hing good for supper
sOh dearl why doesn't Father come says
he girl, as she takes her little brother from
he floor. He told us certainly, that he would
% back in an hour, and bring the medicine
or you, and some things for US !: and he has
lot come back yet
The woman sighs-long experience has
aught her why he does not come, but she on
iy says 4 know he meant to be home before
At last the boy steals in silently and pale
md. standing behind his mothers chair, says
lpprehensiYely, mother, he is eoming-but he
las'nt got anything for US know The moth
n has gussed as much before, and the tired
nd hungary children looked with discour-
ged and hopeless air from their mother to
! ach other, as the door is pushed widely open
nd the man who lay by the roadside totters
and throws himself into a chair.
No child goes to him. When the unthirk-
, 1gbaby puts out its little hands, its sister
hecks it with 'hush Benny be still they
II know that this father is no father now, and
1at there is no safety but in keeping out of
is way. - a
And ret that man left his house in the
corning with as warm heart towards his chill
rem, with as solemn purpose to Withstand
smptation, as sincere desire to provide some
ing for his own, as man could have; that
ian is naturally warm hearted and affection
te and proud Of his children, and only this
corning he promised to that sick heart-brok-
lwoman, that he would begin a new life
e went out from bis home honestly meaning
.come home with comforts for his wife and
tie ones, and to make a cheerful evening
'eside. But what in his work shop among
le companions he daily meets, he has been
sailed by temptation too strong for him-he
.syielded, and this is the result.
A year or two since, the hand of christian
iotherhood, was everywhere stretched forth
our city, to stay the failing resolution OF
sh EandereFs-to seek out and save those
- were ready to perish How many desc
te homes were then made cheerful, how ma
sorrowful hearts were filed with Joy, by
ose noble efforts. But of late we here toe
ten, that the cause of Temperance, in our
", is going back, that haunts of vice are in
easing in number and throwing far 8ad wide
cir temptations. unchecked and unrestraned
re those who labored SO nobly and success
ilY, in D Ast times, then, weary in we'll doing
IS the cause grown old and lost its interest
is tnot Just as dreadful for man to loose
II and body, now, as ever it was-are not
sacred relation of the family the same,and
: anguish and despair caused by their utter
eek, as real and true now, as when they
re the theme of every tongue?
Let it be hoped that the energies of our
immunity, always forward and efficient in
ID works in time past, are not dead but on
sleeping; and that the same vigorous and
aeVolent hearts and hands, that have
ought so much good among US in former
les, will rouse again, to new and successful
ort sss IS ausf