The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1857-08-29

BY MRS. CAROLINE 4. soULE.

"Mayn't 60 with you, papss Please
say may, won't you"
! The words were uttered in plaintivs and
sadly entreating tone, the hands Of the
speaker ciasping the knees Of the listener.
1t was . boy of seven short years who
lisped them; . beautiful boy with fair high
brow, around which there clustered . glori-
Gus wreath of auburn curls; with dark,
flashing eyes cheeks rosy with health lips
like the cherries of summer, and voice like
the birds which taste them. There were
tears in those eyes at this time, though and
the dimpled mouth was quivering.
It was . man Of some five and thirty
years who listened to his plea; . man who
had been of noble looks and princely bear
ing. An, had been! for the blighting truth
was written over form and face. His locks
were matted, his forehead scowling, bis eyes
l--Ied. but not With tears; there were fur
fowt en bio checks, too, and . british look
to the expression Of his lips. Twice did the
little boy address him ere he answered.
Then pushing the child rudely from him, he
said, in q stern voice, "No, no. It's no
place for you"
Again those fair, small hands encircled
the knees.
"You 60, papa. Why can't ], to0' Do
let me CO."
For . moment the heart of the inebriate
| seemed to wake from its sleep. He shud.
dered as he tho ght of the character of the
place his pure-souled boy would enter. He
took the child tenderly in his arms and kiss
ed him as of old, then putting him down,
he said kindly:
| "You must not ask me again to take you
there. 1t is no place for little boys" and
Selling his hat he hurried from the room,
murmuring to himself, as he paced away to
the brilliant bar-room, "and no place for
men, either Would to God: had never
gone"
For long time Willie stood where his
father had left him, then turning to the few
embers that family glowed upon the hearth,
| he sat doxn in his little chair and resting
his head upon his mothers lap, said, ear.
nestly:
"Mamma, why isn't that pretty store
good p ace Tor little boys: Papa loves to 60
| there"
1t was a trying question for the poor
heart.broken woman. She had so far kept
from her son the knowledge Of her fathers
/ sin. She could not bear that he should look
with shame upon him, or that his gentle and
pure heart should thus commune with so
| intense a grief. Kindly she toyed with his
| long ringlets for a while. then said endear-
| ingly, Papa knows better than you, what
is best for bis little boy. When you grow
/ older you will learn why he does not wish
to take you" Then rising, she carefully
but down her babe upon its little bed and
| tied on her hood and cloak.
Mind the cradle, now, Willie; I'll come
back soon and then you shall have some
supper and a nice fire to sit by, too, and
! taking q large basket of ironed clothes, she
wen, out. 4 wealthy mother would have
been scared to death at the thought only OF
/. leaving so young . boy at nightfal' all alone
! with an infant to care fOI and an open fire
place to sit beside. But poor Mrs. ~ knew
! well she could trust Willie with his sister,
! and as for burning up, there were not Goals
/ enough to thaw his blue, stiff fingers. No,
/ she did not fear to go and leave him, for he
/ had thus been left many time and had al
/ ways carefully obeyed her.
! And he meant to now; but poor little iel-
| low! his thoughts would wander to that
( brilliant corner store whittier he knew his
father always went at evening, and his brain
was busy with eager wanderings. He knew
! his father loved to GO, and he knew there
must be something there he liked, for he
never come home again till lorg after Willie
was asleep. What lay behind those scarlet
curtains was mystery he sought in vain to
ravel.
| At length he whispered, eagerly as il to
encourage a longing wishs Papa used to
| tell me, If wanted to know anything very
bad, to persevere and would find it out
| Now do want to know what makes him
love to 90 there so. know there must be
pretty things behind those windows
should not wonder" and his checks were
glowing, "if it was like fairy house. Why
can't ge?"
Poor Willie! The temptation to know
/ was too strong to be resisted, so ne hunted
through the closet for candle, for ne was
thoughtful little fellow and would not leave
his little sister to the only danger that could
menace her. He found bit of tallow dip,
and lighting it, drew the stand close to her
that the fame might scare away the rats and
mice should they sally out ere his ieturn:
81 won't stay long, pretty dear, said ne,
pressing tender kiss on her sleeping lids,
and drawing the blanket close over her fair
arms. "No, Ill come back soon, but do
so want to take one peep"
Swiftly his little feet bore him over the
nayement and in a trice he stood beside the
curtained door.
"How light it is, and how they laugh and
talk. 1t must all be very funny there"
A cold November blast swept around the
corner as he spoke, penetrating his worn,
summer clothes, and causing his mesh TO
culver, and his teeth to chatter.
IL don't believe they'd hurt me, ii
should 90 in awhile, I'm such little boy
and I'm so cold out here" ne said, as ne
pushed tie door carefully from him, slipping
in and closing it without a breath OF noise
For a moment he was bewildered with the
light and clatter, and half wished he were
away. But the warm air was grateful to III:
chilled limbs, and finding that no one SEEM
ed to notice him, he stole towards the glow
ing crate and spread out his purple palms
before the blaze. The group of men that
encircled the bar, were drinking when he
entered. Soon, however, they sat d"wr
their asses and dispersed about the room
"Hallo," said one, in loud tone, as going
to the fire he spied little Willie. Via
are you doing here, my little fellow? who
are you; what do you want?"
. 81 don't want anything, only to see whs'
YOU do here. My name is Willie NJ. NY
papa loves to come here, and 1t looked So
pleasant through the windows, Though
ia like to. But mustn't stay long, for Eve
left the baby alone"
i. The mans tones were softened as he spoke
again to him. -,
and where is your mother, boy?"
30, she's gone to take home the wash sir
: Pana don't have so much work as he usee
to once, and we're very poor now, ana sh'
> has to help him." -
=. And does it look 50 pleasant in here Al
. YOU thought it would, my child !"
S 40. YES, it does, sir. | don't wonder paps
: loves to come here SO much, it's so cold anc
. d.rk At home. But I should think he'c
! bring mamma and me and little sis. How
E she would laugh to see this f're ana al thos
pretty bottles and those flowers win hgnt
E n them.-Please SIR" and he earnestly seiz
t ed the rough hands of his listener, "pleas
. sir. tell me why little boys cant come her