The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-05-12
a Father Reclaimed.

G ---' o - --- RI ~ ~
A Father Reclaimed.
naf iBgH 1t4-- f.u3 Ire 55
/ was once asked by Mr.. Grant to call
on two young ladies' who had desired to
see me. went to the house, was shown
into "a room, and received by Young
lady who motioned me to seat. AS i
sat there for moment, waiting for her to
speak, gave glance round the room.
There were evidences OF better DAYS
/" lang syne," though shivered, for there
was no fire in the CRATE, and the weather
was cold when the lady said: "Mr.
Cough, my sister intended to meet you
with me; but she has sprained her ankle,
and is unable to see you. My mother has
been confined to her room for several
weeks, and to her bed for some days.
On, sir, 1T is hard for daughter to speak
OF a fathers intemperance but what can
| do2 | have sent for you as a last resort
My father is good and kind. when free
from drink; but when under its influence,
IS cruel-he actually robs us of the com
mon necessaaies of life-and would not
ask you to sit in cold room, mad we
materials for a fire., / involuntarilv
glanced at a piano forte that stood In
q corner OF the room. She noticed it, and
said very quIckly." You may think that
poverty and pride go together; and the,
DO I'D You wonder why don't sell my
plano-forte | can not sell it. Ny father
bought 1t for me on my birthday years
ago 1t is like an old friend. learned
TO play on it. Mother loves o hear the
The tunes that remind US Of days gone ny
- fear forever. My father has asked
me to sell it; and suppose did? II
would but procure him the means of IN
toxication for time, and we should be
! little better for the sale L can not sell
! 1T. will not part from my piano, unless
my father takes it away By force"
left them. Mr. Grant sent them pro
visions and wood. In day or two
called again. The fatherswas there. AT
ter asaort conversation, he said tosmy
surprise J" A1r. Cough, have you pledge
with you?" L have" !" / will sign IT,"
1 Immediately produced it; he at once
wrote his name, andstood up a pledged
man, no more 70 drink intoxicating liz
uor | watched the young girl when be
said q will sign It. She oiastsd her
hands, with lips apart, her eager ;es
/
y anxious, till the name was recorded.
Then she sprang to him, twined her arms,
as well as she could, around his neck,
(she was little creature). How she
chung to his breast Then unclasping
her hands, she said: 80 father l am
proud OF you. Mr.. Cough, he signed it
and he'll never break it. / know him
he'll never break it. No. no nv father
Will live sober man. 0 father! father
/ The tears were raining down her
checks. as he passed his hand caressingly
over her face, when she said Father.
you spoke of selling the piano-forte. We
can seIi for Leonard, and he will sell it
tomorrow, and what it brings will pay
what we owe, and we shall have some
thing to start with again, shan't we IA
| there" Yes, the poor heart was comfort
ed, and she would give her piano-her
told misunderstanding Why? Because
her rather would live sober man Oh,
you who sneer at temperance and mock
our pledge, come and look at scene like
This! And, thank God, there have been,
and will be, many like it. a9a
/ There is not man who has labored in
this field OF reform, but can give you such
incidents by the score--mothers, sisters
wives, and lighters, lifted from despair
to hope, from anguish to joy. A lady
told me her father had been a drunkard
or years had broken his wife's heart
I-she was the only one left of the family
that seemed to Gre for him and she had
devoted herself to him; watching him.
nursing him, even going to the grog shop
TO take him home. Think of I'll A young
laughter leading home drunken father
She induced him to attend lecture
gave in Philadelphia, in which / DIES.
cribed the sorrows of the drunkard's
children. He sat there, his hands con
valsively twitching, then turning to her.
said in choked voice.: Birdie, dear,
! dld you ever suffer like that with NE ~
All she could say was go fatherl dear
father y Birdie I'll sign the pledge
| Wilt" go father, dear father!" AT
the close of the lecture he came up and
/ signed it. And, said the lady, from
chat day he never touched it. He lived
out six years after,and died a sober man. "
Thank God for the green spots, these
bright CLEANS Of sunshine amid the gloom
love to call them to mind they rest me
when weary, comfort me in trouble, and
| nave many, many times encouraged me
when have been Respondent b.
| Tough
LIVE SToCK.-As the weather grows
warmer, vermIn increases in ntlmbera on