The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1871-08-05
An Angel in a Saloon.
rRuE INCIDENT.

A TRUE INClDENI.
One afternoon in the month of June, lSoO, a
ladv in deep mourning, followed by a child,
entered one Of the fashionable saloons In the CITY
of n. The writer happened to be passing
at the time. and, impelled by curiosity, followed
her in to see what would ensue- Stepping up 10
the bar and addressing the proprietor, VINO nap
pened to be present, she salG:
'sSir, can you assist me! l nave III ouo Nv
friends, and am unable TO work al
He glanced at her, and then at the child, Win
a mingled look of curiosity and pity h'iueuiy
he was much surprised to see a woman IN such +"
MACE begeing. but, without asking any .ques-
tions. gave her some change, and then turning 10
those present he SAID: Can't
some of you assist her a little! lucy az
cbeerfnIIv acceded to the request, and soon d
purse of two dollars was raised ana put III 10
:. Madam said the gentleman who gave her
the money, Z" why do you come to a saloon -! u
isn't a very proper place tor a iady' anu why ~
Won driven to such a step!
y" " Sir 7 know it isn't a proper place for me to
he in. and YOU ask why l am driven to such a
step. [ will tell you in one short word, point
inc to. a bottle behind the counter Labelled
: whisky" that is what Drought ne nee-
WHISKY"
81 was once happy and surrounded by all the
Injuries that wealth could procure, with a fond
and indulpent husband. But in an evil hour he
was tempted, and not possessing the will to resist
that temptation, fell, and in one short year my
dream of happiness was over, my home forever
broken and desolated, and the kind husband and
the wealth some called mine, lost, lost, never to
return, and all by the accursed wine cup.
You see before you only a wreck of my
former self, homeless and friendless, and with
nothing left me in this world but this little
child" and weeping bitterly, she afectionately
caressed the golden curls that shaded a face of
exquisite loveliness. Regaining her composure,
and turning to the proprietor of the saloon, she
continued
"Sir, the reason I occasionally enter a place
like this is to implore those who deal in the
deadly poison to desist, to stop a business that
spreads desolation, ruin, poverty and starvation.
Think one moment of your own loved ones, and
then imagine them in the situation | am in. l
appeal to your better nature, | appeal to your
heart, for L know you possess a kind one, to
retire from a business SO ruinous to your patrons.
Did you know that the money you receive
across this bar is the same as taking the bread
from out of the mouths of the famished wives
and children of your c~ustomers? That it strips
the clothes from their backs, deprives them of all
the comforts of life, and throws unhappiness,
misery, crime and desolation into their once
happy homes. Oh. sir. | implore, beseech and
pray you to retire from a business you blush to
own you are engaged in before your fellow men,
and enter one that will not only be profitable to
yourself, but to your fellow creatures also. You
will excuse me if L have spoken too plainly, but
Il SONi0 AZ hCiP IL WILL Il bAiOhSiN VI bbO tACOA
and unhappiness it has caused me-"
Madam, | am not offended, p" he answered in
a voice husky with emotion. - but thank you
from my heart for what you have said"
Mamma, . said the child-who meantime had
been spoken to by some of the gentlemen present
taking hold of her mothers hand, :" these
gentlemen wish Inc to sing Little Bessie for
them. Shall | do SOP"
"Yes, darling, if they wish you to-
They all joined in the request, and placing her
in N abair Sho Sonr in n VIC nhII1ich uOioo Tho
following beautiful song:
Out in the gloomy night sadly | roam,
| have no mother dear, no pleasant home
Even 7 # p @[G li IL me Bessie 3 q should 7 %Gu die cry
Weary and tired I've been wandering all day,
Asking for work, but Pm too small, they say;
On the damp ground L must now lay my head,
Fathers a drunkard, and mother is dead.
We were so happy till father drank rum,
Then all our sorrow and trouble BEGUN
Baby and I were too hungry to play;
Slowly they faded, till one summer night
Then with big tears slowly dropping l said,
Fathers a drunkard, and mother is dead ~
Oh! if the temperance men would only find
Poor wretched father and talk very kind
If they would stop him from drinking, then
should be so very happy again!
Is il t too o late. 5 emsa nm men? Please Try
All the day long I've been begging for bread
Fathers a drunkard, and mother is dead.
The games of billiards were left unfinished, the
cards were thrown aside, and the unemptied
glasses remained on the counter all had pressed
hNois C'AO VAbh SiA NSHIy , cOhAS "itii dNiiSCC uitA
some with pity beaming from their eyes, entranced
with the musical voice and beauty of the child.
who seemed better fitted to be with angels above
than in such a place.
The scene [ shall never forget to my dying day,
and the sweet cadence OF her musical voice still
rings in my ears, and every word OF the song, as
it dropped from her lips, sank deep in the hearts
Of those gathered around her.
With her golden hair falling carelessly around
her little shoulders, her face of almost ETHEREAL
I~k- 81 o.I.- - IL -
ingly upon the men around, her beautiful blue
eyes illumined with a light that seemed not of
earth, formed a picture of purity and innocence
worthy the genius of a poet or painter.
At the close of the song many were weeping :;
men who had not shed a tear for years now wept
like children. One young man who had resisted
with scorn the pleadings of a loving mother, and
the entreaties of friends to strive to live a better
life, to desist from a course that was wasting his
fortune and running his health, now approached
the child and taking both her little hands in his,
while tears strearned down his pale cheeks, ex-
claimed, with deep emotion
God bless you, my little. angel you have
saved me from ruin and disgrace, from poverty
and a drunkard's grave. If there were ever
angels on earth, you are one; God bless you, God
bless you - and putting a bill in the hand of the
mother, said, : : Please accept this trifie as a token
of my regard and esteem, for your little girl has
done me a kindness l can never repay. And re-
member, whenever you are in want. you will ever
find in me a true friend at the same time Civ
ing her his name and address.
Taking her child by the hand, she turned to 60,
but pausing at the door, said:
"God bless you, gentlemen! Accept the
heartfelt thanks of a poor, friendless woman, for
the kindness and courtesy you have shown her.
Before any one could reply, she was gone.
A silence of several minutes ensued, which
was at last broken by the proprietor, who ex-
claimed
Gentlemen, that lady is right, and L have
sold INV last GLASS of whisky. If aDv Of Won want
more, you will have to go elsewhere"
"And L have drank my last glass of whisky -
said a young man who had long been given up as
utterly beyond the reach of those who had a deep
interest in bis welfare-as sunk too low ever to
reform. There is a temperance organization in
this city called the Temple of Honor and at
their next meeting l shall send up my name to
, be admitted. Who will 60 with me?"
"I-I-I, and l." several exclaimed in q
chorus, and fifteen names were added to his.