The Van Buren press., 1859-08-24
couldn't go until papa was nome, and SO we
came for him first"
"He is here


could be aroused.
AS soon, however, as his eyer 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 to lead him away.
"Oh dear !" exclaimed the man " no had
looked on with wonder and interest THAT
is temperance lecture that 1 can't stand
emotion. "and give them sober father"
81 guess you never saw them before, I"
said one of the tarkeepers, lightly.
'No, and l never wish to again at least
in this place. Who is their father %
Fireman, the lawyer"
'Not the one who a few years ago con-
Quoted with SO much ability the case against
the Marine Insurance Company
''The same"
'Is it possible ?"
A group now formed about the man, and
good deal was said about Freemqn's fall
from sobriety. One who had several times
seen Ady and Jane come in and lead him
home as they had Just done, spoke of them
with much feeling; all agreed that it was a
most touching case.
"To see," said one, chow passively he
yields himself to the little things when they
come after him. l feel sometimes, when ]
see them, almost weak enough to shed
tears"
"They are his good angels" remarked
anothcf. 'But I'm afraid they arc not
strong enough to lead him back to the paths
which he has forsaken."
"You can think what you please about
| ~ Iarpap ca;1 tho 10 pIlorJ ssb,,t I
can tell you my opinion upon the subject
would let two little things like them go
time Of night"
One of those who had expressed 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.
"And here is my hand for that" said
another.
The landlord, finding that the majority
Of the company were likely to be against
him, smothered his angry feelings and kept
silence. n few minutes afterwards two or
three of the inmates of the bar room went
away.
About ten o'clock on the next morning,
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 beforehand for
what l am going to say. Will you prom
ise not to be offended ?''
eff you offer me an insult, / shall resent
it," said the lawyer.
$50 far from that, came with the desire
TO do you great service"
every we'll, say on
81 was at Lawson's Refractory last
night
"Well."
"And l saw something there that touch
ed my heart. If l slept at all, it was only
to dream of it. l am father, sir have
two little girls, and love them tenderly-
Oh sir, the thought of their coming out in
a cold winter night, in search of me, in such
a polluted place, makes the blood feel cold
in my veins
Words SO unexpected, coming upon Mr..
Freeman when he was comparatively sober,
disturbed him deeply. In spite of his en-
deavors to remain calm, he trembled all
over. He made an effort to say something
in reply, but he could not utter a word.
'My dear SIR" pursued the stranger,
''you have fallen at the hand of the mon
ster, 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 &nner,
their love to you, conjure you to rise supe-
rior to this deadly foe. Reward those dear
children with the highest blessing their
hearts can desire. Come with me and sign
the pledge of freedom. Let us, tho stran-
gers to each other, unite in this good act
Come %
Half bewildered, yet with a 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, unexpectedly, and to the
jog of his family, Mr.. Freeman was perfect
ly sober when he came home. After tea,
while Ady and Jane were standing on Ell
ther side of him. as he sat nea their moth
er, with an arm around each of them, he
said in low whisper, as he bent his head
down and drew closer:
'.Ycu will never have to come there for
me again"
The children lifted their eyes to his face,
but half understanding what he meant
Il will never go there again. he added,
81 will stay at home with you
Ady and Jane now comprehending what
their father meant, overcome with Joy, hid
their faces in his lap, and wept for 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 table by which
she was sitting. She opened it hastily.
1t was his pledge, with the 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 fonder embrace than
they had known for years.
The children's love had saved their
father. They were, indeed, his Guardian
angels.