Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-06-09
MORNING LEADER.
THE GOOD ANGELS.

"Come, Ady and Jane, it's time you were in
bed , said Mrs. Freeman TO hcr two little girls, /
about nine O'Clock one evenihE Ady was nine |
yeats old, and Jane was a year and a half
younger, The two children had been sitting at |
the work table with their mother one Of them |
studying her lesson, aud the other engaged on a /
piece Of faAcy needle work.
Papa hasn't come yet" answered Ady.
"No dear But iCs getting late, and It's time
you were in bed. He may not be at home for
an hour"
Ady 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 little lamp on the mantel-
piece" said Mrs Freeman, after a few moments,
looking around as she spoke; when she saw
that the children had both put on their bonnets
and were tying their warm capess sclose about
their necks She understood very we'll the
meaning of this, and therefore did not ask a
question, although the tears came TO her eyes
and her voice tremblcd as she said
cit is very cold out to night, children"
''But we won't feel il, mother" replied Ady
eve will run along very quick
And the two little ones went out before their
mother, whose feelings were choking her so,
could say another word. As they closed
the door after them, she raised her eyes upward,
and murmured:
"God bless and reward the dear children"
Il was bleak winter night and as the little
adventurers stepped into the street. the wind
swept hercely along, and almost drove them
back against the door. But they caught each
other by the hands, and bending their little
forms to meet the pressure of the cold rushing
air, hurried on the way they were going as fast
as their feet could move
The streets were dark and deserted but the
children were not rfraid. Love filled their
hearts and left no room for fear.
They did not speak word to each other as
! they hastened along. After going distance of
several bloeks, they stopped before a house,
over the door Of which hung handsome orna-
mental gas lamp, bearing the words "oysters
and Refreshments"
| 1t was a strange place for two little girls to
enter, and at such an hour; but after standing
a moment, they pushed against the green door,
which turned lightly upon its hinges, and step
ped into large and brilliantly lighted bar
1 room
BLESS us !" exclaimed man who sat read.
ing. "Herc are those babes again"
| Ady and Jane stood near the door and looked
all round the room. But they did not see the
object of their search, and going mp 10 the bar,
they said timidly to a man who stood behind It,
pouring liquor into glasses:
"Has papa been here tonight 7"
The man leaned over the bar until his face
was close to the children, when he said in an
angry wav
II don't know anything about your father
And see here 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 started back from him, and were turn
ing towards the door with sad faces when the
person who had first marked their entrance,
called out loud enough for them to hear him
"Come here, my little girls"
The children stopped and looked at him,
when he beckoned them to approach him, and
sA.s y0e looking IOr your father" he in
quired,
Eyes, sir" replied AJy.
"And what did the man at the bar say to
youl"
"He said that papa wasn't here; and that if we
came here any more he would set his big dog
on us"
ale did ?"
ayes, SIR"
The man knit his brow for an instant, and
said
"Who sent you here!"
"Nobody," answered Ady.
"Don't your mother know that you have
come Z"
"Yes sir. She told us to go to bed, but we
couldn't go until papa was home, and SO we
came for him first"
"IIe is here"
"Is he :" And the children's faces brighten,
ed
ayes, he's at the other side of the room, asleep
I'll wake him for you"
Half intoxicated and sound asleep, it was
with some difficulty that Mr.. Freeman could be
aroused.
AS soon, however, as his eyes were fairly
opened, and he found that Ady and Jane had
each grasped one of his hands, he rose up, and
yielding passively to their direction, suffered
them 10 lead him away.
"Oh dear ~ exclaimed a man who had looked
on with wonder and interest "That's TEN
perance lecture that | can't stand. God bless
the little ones" he added, with emotion, "aDd
give them a sober father"
81 guess you never saw them BEFORE /" said
one of the bar-keepers, lightly
mo, and l never wish TO again; at least in
this place. Who is their fatherl"
"Freeman, the lawyer"
"Not the one who a few years ago conduct.
ed with SO much ability the case against the
Marine Insurance Company"
"The same"
"ls il possible"
group now formed about the man, and
good deal was said about Freeman's fall from
sobrety One who had several times seer
Ady and Jane come in aud lead him home al
they had Just done, spoke of them with mucl
. feeling all agreed that 1t was most touching
c case.
ITO see, said one, chow passiyely he yield
himself to the little things whom they come af
y Ter him. / feel sometimes when | see them
y almost weak enough TO shed tears"
"They are his good angels" remarked an
other "But I'm afraid they are not strong
enough to lead him back to the paths which h'
G has foTsaken."
Il "You can think what you please about il
gentlemen" said the landlord "but ] can tel
you my opinion upon the subject; ] wouldn't
G give much for the mother who would let two
!, little things like them go wandering abou
the streets, alone at this time Of night"
One of those who had expressed interest IN
the children, felt angry at this remark, and re
G torted, with some bitterness
4 "And / would give less for the man who
a would make their father drunk"
4 "Dtto 10 that" responded one of the com
pany.
"Aud here is my hand for that" said an
other.
Y The landlord finding that the majority of the
. company were likely 20 be against him, smoth
cred his angry feelings and kept silence. A
Q few Minutes afterwards, two or three Of the in
= mates Of the bar room went away.
c About ten o'clock on the next morning
a while Freeman, who was generally sober in
the fore part Of the day, was in his Office, O
/ stranger entered, and after sitting down, s.id
81 nust crave vour DaYdon befOrehaDd fOI