Kenosha tribune & telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1856-1859, 1858-12-30

enough to she'd tears.
They Are his good angles, " remark
ed baFther. "But Pm afraid they are
S%ong enough to lead him back to
gDdths which he has forsaken.
TX on can think what you please about
AZ, gentlemen, said the landlord ; y" but
can tell you my opinion upon the sub
ject; wouldn't give much for the moth
er who would let two little things like
them go wandering about the streets,
alone, at this time Of night. "
One Of those who had expressed in
tercst III the children, felt angry at this
remark, andrcmonstratcd with some bit
terness-
And would give less for the man
who would make their father drunk.
" Ditto TO that, responded one of the
company.
-" And here is my hand for that" said
another.
The landlord finding that the MAORI
ity of the company were likely to be
against him, smothered his angry feel.
ings and kept silent. A few minutes
afterwards, two or three of the inmates
Of the bar-room went away.
About ten o'clock on the next morn
ing, while Freeman, who was generally
sober in the fore part of the day, was in
his office, stranger entered, and after
sitting down said
81 must crave your pardon before
hand for what / am going to say. Will
you promise not to be offended ?"
If you offer me an insult, [ shall re
sent it, y said the lawyer.
So FAR from that, l come with the
desire to do you a great service. y
" Very well, say on. -
6 ! was at Lawson's Refractory, last
night. +"
Dwell. A."
"And I saw something there that
touched my heart. If | slept at all, it
was only to dream Of it. / am father,
sir! l have two little girls, love them
tenderly. Oh! sir, the thought of their
coming out in cold winter night, in
search of me, in such polluted place,
makes the blood feel cold in my veins. y
Words SO unexpected, coming upon
Mr.. Freeman when he was comparative.
ly sober, disturbed him deeply. In spite
of his endeavors to remain calm, he
trembled all over. He made an effort
to say, something in reply, but he could
not utter word.
" My dear sir" pursued the stranger,
you have fallen at the hand of the mon
ster intemperanoe, and | feel that you
are in great peril. You have not fallen
hopelessly. You may yet rise if you
will. Let me, then, in the name of those
sweet babies who have shown, in so
wonderful manner their love to you,
conjure you to rise superior to this
deadly foe. Reward those dear child
rem with the highest blessing their hearts
can desire. Come with me and sign
the ph-dge Of freedom. Let us, though
strangers to each other, unite in one
good act.-Come -
Half bewildered, yet with new
hope in his heart, Freeman arose and
suffered the man, who drew his arm
within his, to lead him away. Before
they separated, both had signed the
pledge.
That evening, unexpectingly, and to
the JOY Of his family, Mr.. Freeman was
perfectly sober when he came home.
After tea, while Ady and Jane were
standing on either side of him, as he
sat near their mother, with an arm
around each Of them, he said in q low
whisper, as he bent his head down and
drew them closer
"You will never have to come there
for me again"
The children lifted their eyes to his
face. but half understanding what he
meant.
81 will never go there again." he
added, " | will stay at home with you"
Aly and Jane now comprehending
wha, their father meant, overcome with
joy, hid their face in his lap, and wept
tor very joy.
Low as this had been said, every word
reached the mothers ear, and while her
heart stood trembling between hope
and fear, Mr.. Freeman drew a paper
from his pocket and threw it on the ia
bic by which she was sitting. She
opened it hastily.
1t was his pledge,with his well known
signature at the bottom.
With a cry ofjoy, she sprang to his
side, and his arms encircled his wife, as
well as his little ones, in a fonder en-
brace than they had known for years.
The children's love had saved their
father. They were, indeed, his Guar
dian A'1ge5S.