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

BY MRS. CAROLINE A. soULE.

BY MRS. CAROLINE A. SOULE.
"Mayn't / go with you, pa? Please
say / may, won't you %
The words were uttered in plaintive
and sadly entreating tone, the hands OF
the speaker clasped the knees of the
listener.
1t was boy of seven short years
who lisped them; a beautiful boy with
a fair high brow, around which there
clustered a glorious wealth of auburn
curls; with dark, flashing eyes; cheek
rosy with health; lips like the cherries
of summer, and voice like the birds
that taste them. There were tears in
those eyes at this time, though, and the
dimpled mouth was quivering.
1t was man of some five and thirty
years who listened to his plea; man
who had been of noble looks and
princely bearing. Ay, had deen!! fol
blighting truth was written over form
and face. His locks were matted, his
forehead scowling, his eyes-red, but
not with tears; there were furrows on
his cheek, 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 a stern voice, :" No, no.
It's no place for YOU"
Again those small hands encirclcd
the knees.
"You go, papa. Why can't I, too
Do let me CO."
For a moment the heart of the inc
briate seemed to wake from its sleep
He shuddered as he thought of the
character of the place his pure-souled
boy would enter. He took the child
tenderly in his arms and kissed him a:
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 seizing his hat hurried from
the room, murmuring to himself, as he
paced the way to the brilliant bar-room
"and no place for men either. Would
to God / had never gone"
For a long time Willie stood where
his father had left him, then turning
toward the few embers which family
glowed upon the hearth, he sat dowr
in his little chair and resting his heat
upon his mothers lap, said earnestly:
"Mamma, why isn't that pretty store
a good place for little boys? Pap:
loves to 90 there"
1t was trying question for the poor
heart-broken woman. She had so fal
kept from her son the knowledge of hi.
fathers sin. She could not bear thai
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, endearingly
+" "Papa knows better than you what il
best for his little boy. When you grow
older you will learn why he does MOI
wish to take YOU" Then rising, she
carefully put down her babe upon it.
little bed and tied on her hood and
cloak.
"Mind the cradle, now, Willie; III
come back soon and then you shall have
some supper, and nice fire to sit by
too," and taking large basket of irone6
clothes she went out. A wealthy
mother would have been scared to deatf
at the thought only of leaving so young
a boy at nightfall all alone with ar
infant to care for and an open fireplace
to sit beside. But poor NJ. knew wei
she could trust Willie with his sister
and as for burning up, there were moi
Goals enough to thaw his blue, stiff fin
gers. No, she did not fear to 90 an6
leave him, for he had thus been left
many q time and always carefully
obeyed her.
And he meant to now; but poor
little fellow! his thoughts would wan
der to that brilliant corner store whittier
he knew his father always went al
evening, and his brain was busy with
eager wanderings. He knew his father
loved to 60, and he knew there must
be something there he liked, for he
never came again till long 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 wish, Papa
used to tell me, if / wanted to know
rery bad, to perseyere and / would find
it out. Now / do want to know what
makes him love to go there SO. know
there must be pretty things behind