Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1852-09-15
THE GOOD ANGELS.

bed" said Mrs. Freeman to her two little daugh-
ters about nine o'clock one evening. Ady was
nine years old, and Jane was year and half
Younger. The two children had been sitting at
the workable with their mother, one of them
studying her lesson, and the other engaged on
piece of fancy needlework
"Papa hasn't come home yet" answered Ady.
"No, dear, but it's getting late, and it is time
you were in bed He may not be home for an
hour"
ADV laid aside her work, and left the table,
and Jane closed her books, and put them away
in her school satchel.
"You can light the lamp on the mantle-piece,"
said Mrs Freeman, after few moments, and
looking around as she spoke, she saw the chill
dren had both put on their bonnets, and were
tying their warm capes close about their necks.
She understood well the meaning of this, and
therefore did not ask question, although the
tears came to her eyes, and her voice trembled
as she said, is very cold tonight children"
"But we don't feel it, mother" replied Ady.
"We'll run along very quickly"
And the two little ones went out, before their
mother, whose feelings were choking her, could
say word. As they closed the door after them
and left her alone, she raised her eyes upward,
and murmured, God bless and reward the dear
children"
1t was dark winter night as the little adven-
turers stepped into the street; the wind swept
fercely along, and almost drove them back into
the door. But they caught each other tightly
by the hands, and bending their little forms to
meet the pressure, hurried on the way they were
going as fast as their little feet could move
The streets were dark and deserted, but the
children were not afraid: love filled their hearts,
and left no room for fear. They did not speak
a word to each other as they fastened along
After going for considerable distance, they
stopped before a house over the door of which
was handsome ornamental gas-lamp, bearing
the words, I" Oysters and Refreshments" II was
a strange place for two little girls like them to
enter at such an hour; but, after standing for a
they pushed against the green door,
which turned lightly on its hinges, and stepped
into large and brilliantly lighted bar-room.
"Ah!' exclaimed a man who was reading at
the table, 'here are those babes again."
Ady and Jane stood still near the door, and
looked all around the room, but not seeing the
object of their search, they went to the bar, and
said timidly to man who stood behind it, pour
ing liquor into glasses, "Has papa been here to-
night!"
The man leaned over the bar until his face
was close to the children, and said n an angry
way, 81 don't know any thing about your father.
And see-don't you come here any more. If
you do, I'll call my big dog out of the yard and
make him bite you"
Ady and Jane felt frightened as well by the
harsh manner as the angry words of the man,
and they turned back from him, and were walk
ing toward the door with sad faces, when the
person who had first remarked their entrance,
called loud enough for them to hear him, "Come
here, my little girls"
The children stopped and looked at him, when
he beckoned for them to approach, and they did
so.
care you looking for your father?" he ask
ed
"Yes, sir" replied Ady.
"What did the man at the bar say to youg'
{" He said that papa was not here and if we
came here any more he would set his big dog on
u.s."
"He did?"
" Yes sir"
The man knit his brow for an instant, then he
SAID, Who sent you hereY"
"Nobody," answered Ady.
"Don't your mother know you have come?"
Yes, sir. She told us to 60 to bed; but we
couldn't go until papa was home. And so we
came for him first"
"He is here"
T" Is he?' and the children's faces frightened. |
"Yes, he's at the other side of the room. I'll |
wake him for you"
Half intoxicated and sound asleep, it was with
some difficulty that Mr. Freeman could be arous-
ed. As soon, however, as his eyes were fairly
opened, and he found Ady and Jane had each
grasped one of his hands, he rose up, and yield |
ing passively to their direction, suffered them to
lead him away.
go DEAR" exclaimed man who had looked
on with wonder and deep interest, "that's tenn
perance lecture can't stand God bless the lit
tie ones," he added, with emotion, "and give
them sober father"
{" guess you never saw them before ?" said
one of the bar-keepers lightly.
"No, and | never wish to do so again-at
east in this place Who is their father ?"
Freeman, the lawyer"
"Not the one who, a few years ago, conduct
ed with so much ability the case against the Ma
rine Insurance Company
"The same"
is it possible? 2"
A little group now formed round the man,
and good deal was said about Freeman and
MS fall from sobriety. One who had several
times seen Ady and Jane come in and lead him
home as they had just done, spoke of them with
much feeling, and argued that it was IA most
touching scene.