The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1880-04-17

peareu on tue Stage again u ncAt ROIu Cun'h
encircled her neck, aud n handsome gold watch
was tucked inside her belt, disclosing one
third of its highly wrought case
had written in pencil ITO my dear daugh
ter from her happy and proud father Wear
It, but be discreet and keep the secret Till We
get home. PAPA EDWARD"
Presently she came upon the stage Ia read
an essay The color came and went on her
fair checks. She made "A little bow, and then
glanced sharply towards where SILLY and |
were slowed away in the corner. The excite.
mcnt in my eyes must have betrayed ne, tor
she smiled perceptibly and then began to read,
| in clear. sweet voice, An essay entitled "our
Absent Friends"
1t was Of course generally known tina, she
was almost an orphan, and the interest was
great At the delicate illusions to her absent
father. many hundkcrchiels were raised to dim
eyes, and al the close Lulu raised her own
| handkerchief and wiped away tear. Then
glancing towards me she saw the tears rolling
down my checks, and she knew that her long.
absent papa had returned and was before her.
She preserved her presence of mind wonder.
! fully, and when at length it was all over and
! | stood in the hall and extended my hands
as she came out, she did not hesitate no
mcnt, bat rushed into my arms, eXclaming
"Iou are my own dear papa come home
again. NUu | knew Tue uhu8uttE Was lHC
counterpart Of her sweet mother. Directly
she had me in the opposite room, and crying
to Billy to keep guard over me, she rushed
back to the school room and brought her little
brothers The dear little fellows took to me
instantly, and | was very happy. Then
turned to my daughter and said;
Lulu, your mother"
"Shc IS here too" and in moment the
child was gone for her mother whom Billy
had detained in the hall She came IN with a
| little look of wonter upon her carcwOrn face.
One glance was sufficient for that true heart,
and in another moment clasped her to my
bosom.
CONCLUSION
never drank again. But 1t was sad for
me to look around among my friends and
mark the absent ones julie beverley was
gone. Frank Mower was no more, Nick
Flourman-,hc genial clerk and accomplish
ed scholar had gone to his long home Tom
Owen, the talented and promising lawyer, had
allowed his bright light to be eclipsed in the
hour of its brilliancy. And my poor friend
and boon companion, Ed. Ericsson, was snatch.
ed from our view, and his animated cOune-
nance no longer greeted us, and his winning
smile and manly voice were gone from earth
forever; while poor Charley Hoopston had
just glided into a prcmaturely early grave.
A few of the boys" remained OH how
fer But among my medical friends practic
ing in the city there was not a dissi pated man
and dropping into the court room, was re-
Joiced beyond measure To find not single
"bummer" at the bar instead there were men
countenances. Among the editors found no,
a single moderate" drinker even. And among
the clerks and officers constituting the court
house clique" not q single dissipated man.
Turning towards the labOrIng men found
them happyfaced and healthy, while peace
comfort and plenty reigncd in their homes
Again meeting my former friends, l discovered
no flushed faces, no unsteady steps-nOt even
among my German and Irish friends. Meet
ing my genial friend, the famous photograph
er, whom | scarcely recognized, 80 handsome
had he grown, said
"My dear old friend, in the name of wonder
tell me why l sec such marvellous changes
among my old friendsy'
3 why said he, "it's as plain AS the nose on
your face-I mean an ordinary nose (glancing
at my immense proboscis), A reformed man
I George Goodford, one who had been low down
The ladder that reached to the lowest hell, has
been among us, and the boys" have been at
tracted as by powerful magnet, as his rich
full tones fell upon their ears, and their hearts
were taken captive and their ready hands have
, subscribed their names to the temperance
pledge"
4 Up came my ancien, friend, "Decmus"
"TIow are you, Hunt, my boy"
took his hand, but gazed upon him with
new wonder. For the first time in twenty five
years beheld my old boon companion clothed
and IN his right mind, and nov an hOnored
member of the illinois legislature. Said Dee
mus:
"Hunt, tell you we have cleared out all OF
the saloons in north and west o. A few
grOg holes cling to the south bluff, west of the
bridge but it has become disreputable fol
young men to be seen going to or returning
from the down river south bluff, and the large
full bell.ed men you used to note standing al
the saloon doors have changed their business
and are respectable grocers with neither bal
nor screens, and are the finest looking fellows
about town.
"And where is George GoodfOrd ?" said |.
"lIc Is working in the good cause" and
his friends are canvassing the district for him
We propose to send HIM to congress and have
at least one radical temperance man there"
1885
1t Is done George went to congress, and
among other things obtained ten millions OF
dollars towards our ship canal; and now, as
the state has made an appropriation of two
and a half millions, and Chicago donation
| of half a million, IN our imagination we see
the ships heavily laden passing our flourish
ing city on their way south 10 the gulf, and
north to the river with the thousand isles Our
fair city has redeemed not only her railroad
but also her water power bonds; and we are
not only the happiest, but the most honest
looking people you ever saw.
(7he End)
Ex-President Woolsey of Naie on National
| Habits"