Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1859-06-24
"They are his eeod nnpels.o re-

IHey uIe HIS beOu uHSeiS, re-
marked another. ''But l am afraid
they are not strong enough to lead him
back to the paths which he has forsak-
en-"
"You can think what you please
about it, gentlemen" said the land
lord, "but can tell you my opinion
upon the subject l wouldn't give much
for the mother who would let two little
things like them 60 wandering about
the streets alone at this time of night"
! One of those who had expressed an
interest in the children, felt angry at
this remark, and retorted with some
( bitterness
'And l would give less for the man
who would make their father drunk"
Ditto to that" responded one of
the company.
''llerc's my hand for that" said
another.
The landlord, findin that the major
ity of the company were likely to be
against him, smothered his angry feel
ings and kept silence. Soon after
several OF the company left the bar
room and 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, a stranger entered, and
after sitting down, said:
II must crave your pardon before
hand for what am going to say. Will
YOU promise not to be offended 20
eff you offer me an insult, shall
resent it," said the lawyer.
$50 far from that, l came with the
desire to do you great service"
Every we'll, say on"
81 was at Lawson's Refractory last
night
"Wen!"
"And I saw something there that
touched my heart. If l slept at all, it
was only to dream of it. l am faith
er, sir! I have two little girls, and
love them tender y. Oh! sir, the
thought of their coming out in cold
winter night, in search Of me, in such
a polluted place, makes the blood feel
cold in my veins"
Words 50 unexpected, coming upon
MIR. Freeman when he was compare
lively sober, disturbed him deeply. In
spite Of his cndeavors to remain calm,
he trembled all over. He made an ef-
fcrt to say something in reply, but he
could not utter word.
"N1y dear sir" pursued the strang-
er, "you have fallen at the hand Of
the terrible monster, intemperance, and
feel that you are in great peril. You
have not, however, fallen hopelessly ;
you may rise if you will. Let me,
then, in the name Of the sweet babes,
who have shown, in so wonderful a
manner, their love to you, conjure you
to rise superior to this dreadful foe.
Reward those dear children with the
highest blessing their hearts can desire.
Come with me and sign the pledge of
freedom. Let US, though strangers to
each other, unite in this good act.
Come -
Half bewildered, yet with new hope
in his heart, Freeman arose and suffer-
ell the 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 up to
} his face, but half understanding what
he meant.
81 will never go there again." he
added, Il will always stay at home
with you"
Ady anu Jane now compromising
what their father meant, overcome with
icy, hid their faces in his lap, and wept
for very joy:
Low as this had been said, every
WORD reached the mcther's ear, and
while her heart stood trembling between
hope and fear, MIR. Freeman drew a
paper from his pocket and threw it on
the table by which he was sitting. She
opened it hastily-it was his pledge,
with tho well-known signature at the
bottom.
; With cry Of Joy she sprang to his
side, and his arms encircled his wife,
as we'll as his little ones, in tenderer
embrace than they had known for
years.
The children's love had saved their
father. They were, indeed, his Guard
an .7ngels.
Work FOR JUvENrLEs.-There is
} sound philosophy in the following ad-
vice to juveniles. It remains to be