Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1859-05-19

Ditto to that" responded one Of
the company.
"And here is my hand for that"
said another.
The landlord finding that the ma
jority OF the company were likely to
be against him, smothered his angry
feelings and kept silence. 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 gener-
ally sober in the fore part Of the day.
was in his office, stranger entered,
and after sitting down said:
IL must crave your pardon be-
forchand for what am going to say.
Will you promise not to be Offend
ed?"
III you offer me an insult, / shall
resent it," said the lawyer.
80 far from that. came with the
desire to do you great service"
Very well. say on
Il was at Lawson's Rcfectory, last
night"
We'll"
"And / saw something there that
touched my heart. II l slept at all. it
was only to dream of it. / ain a
father. sir! / have two little girls.
and love them tendcrly. Oh! sir,
the thought Of their coming out in a
cold winter night in search Of me. in
such polluted place. makes the blood
feel cold in my veins"
Words SO unexpected. coming upon
Mr.. Freeman when he was compare
lively sober disturbed hira deeply. In
spite Of his endeavors TO remain calm,
he trcmblcd all over. He made an
effort to say something in reply, but
he could not utter word.
My dear sir" pursued the strang-
cr. "you have fallen at the hands of
the monster, intemperance. and | feel
that you are in great peril. You have
not, however, fallen hopelessly. You
may yet rise if you will. Let me, then,
in the name of the sweet babes who
have shown, in so wonderful q man
ner, their love to you, cCnjurc you to
arise superior to this deadly foe. Re-
ward those dear children with the
highest blessing their hearts can de-
sire. Come with me and sign the
pledge of freedom. Let us, though
strangers to each other. unite in this
one good act. Come!"
Half bewildercd, yet with new hope
in his heart, Freeman arose and suf-
fered tho man, who drew his arm
within his, to lead him away. Before
they separated, both had signed the
pledge.
That evening, Unexpectedly. 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 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, 81 will always stay at home
with you"
Ady and Jane now comprehending
what their father meant, overcome with
joy, hid their faces in his lap and wcpt
for very joy.
Low as this had been said, every
word reached the mothers ear, and
while her heart stood tremblingbetween
hope and fear, Mr.. Freeman drew a
paper from his pocket and threw it on
the table by which she was sitting
She opened it hastily.
1t was the pledge. with the we'll
known signature at the bottom.
With cry of JOY she sprang to his
side, and his arms cncircled his wife
as we'll as his little ones, in fonder
embrace than they had known for
years.
The children's love had saved their
father. They were, indeed, his
Guardian angels.
Joshua II. Giddiuys on the Oberiin
Rescue Gases.
i The Cleveland Leader publishes a