The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-09-02

and his cheeks were glowing, IT 1t was
like fairy house. Why can't | go 7"
Poor Willie! The temptation to
know was too strong to be resisted; so
he hunted through the closet, for a
candle, for he was a thoughtful little
fellow and would not leave his little SIS
ter 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 return.
81 won't stay long,, pretty dear"
said he, pressing tender kiss on her
sleeping lids, and drawing the blanket
close over her fair arms. "NO, I'll
come back soon, but do so want to
take one peep"
Swiftly his little feet bore him over
the pavement, 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" 49,
A cold November blast swept around
the corner as he spoke, penetrating his
worn, summer clothes, and causing his
flesh to quiver, and his teeth to clatter.
81 don't believe they'd hurt me, if ]
should 90 in while, / am such little
boy and am so cold out here" he
said, as he pushed the door carefully
from him, slipping in and closing it
without breath of noise. For mo-
ment he was bewildered with the light
and clatter, and half wished he were
away. But the warm air was grateful
to his chilled limbs, and finding that no
one seemed to notice him, he stole
towards the glowing CRATES 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 down their
glasses and dispersed about the room.
"Holla," said one, in loud tone,
as going to the fire he spied little Willie,
"What are you doing here my little
fellow? Who are you? what do you
want?"
"I don't want anything, only to see
what you do here. My name is Willie
M. My papa loves to come here, and
it looked so pleasant through the win
dows 1 thought I'd like to. But l
mustn't stay long, for I've left baby
alone"
The mans tones were softened as he
spoke again to him.
"And where is your mother, boy %
90, she's gone to take home the
wash, sir. Papa don't have as much
work as he used to once, and we're
very poor now, and she has to help
him. y
"And does it look so pleasant in here
as you thought it would, my child?"
90, yes it does, sir. don't wonder
papa loves to come here so much, it's
so cold and dark at home. But /
should think he would bring mamma
and me and little sis. How she would
laugh to see this fire and all those pretty
bottles and those flowers with lights in
them. Please, sir" and he earnestly
seized the rough hands of his listener.
"Please, sir, tell me why little boys
can't come here with their fathers"
"For Gods sake do not tell him,
Bancroft" said deep anguishd voice.
"He deems me pure and holy. Heav-
ems what wretch am! My boy, my
boyr' and Willie was clasped in his
fathers arms, "you have saved me,
saved me from earth's vilest hell. Here,
with my hand upon thy sinless brow, l
promise never again to touch the cup
l have drank so deep. And my broth
ers in sin, as ye value your souls saliva
ton, tempt me not to break my vow.
Help me, Heaven-help me, men, so to
live hereafter, that papa may never
blush to take his boy along-that if
papa goes there, Willie may 90 too"
Silently the door closed after them
and silence dwelt in the saloon behind
them. The preacher had been there
in cherub form, and crazy, loose, unholy
thought, or light ribald jest was hushed.
One by one they stole away and many
wife wore smiles that night, nor did
the old bartender even, curse the little
one that had robbed him of so many
dimes. Too deeply in his heart had
sunk the voice of that cherub preacher.
"Don't you like me, papa? Are
you cross at me? ?" asked Willie, in a
hesitating tone as they stood few mo-
ments on the pavement, for the scene
in the room was an enigma to the child
and he half feared reproof.
/ was thinking what mamma would
like best for SUPPER" said the father.
"Was you, was you?'' was the eager
question, in gladsome voice. 90,
get oysters and crackers and tea, papa,
and a candle, cause there is only a
piece. And please, papa, tell mamma
not to be cross at me, cause / left the
baby. / don't believe she will though,
cause you know if / hadn't gone as /
did, you wouldn't perhaps have come
home yet, and she does love to have
you home SO much. o, feel just like
crying, / am SO glad" "a
"And l feel just like crying too,"
said his father, solemnly, and ere mid
night he did cry, and his wife, too, but
they were holy tears, washing his heart
of the dust that had gathered on its
beauty, and, hers of the sorrow that
had draped it as pail.
sB Actions speak more forcibly
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