Show I 1 the drunkards good angels BY T S anthun ARTHUR comeal come como ady y and jane june it is time you w were ere in in bed said airs mrs freemin to her little girls about nine one evening ady was nine years old and jane was a year and a half io younger younger unger the two children had been silting sitting at the work table with their mother one of them studying her lesson and tile other engaged on a piece 0 of i fancy needlework papa popa hascol hasiot come home yet answered ady no dear but it is gettin and it is time lime you were in bed he may na not be at home for an on hour ady laid aside the work and left the abe table and jane closed her books and put them away in her it chool school satchel ayott you can light the lamp on the mantel piece stid s bild lid tid airs freeman amr a few moments looking g around as she spoke when she saw the children de had put on their bonnets and were tv tying ing the their ir arm capes close about their necks she site understood very well the meaning of 0 this thi and therefore did not ask a question qi estion albough the tears came in her eyes and lier her voice trembled as she e ne ald sid sald aid it is very cold out to night children but abut we winfeel won olei Veel feel it mot mother mottier bier fier replied ady awe wen 11 run along very quick and the two little ones went out before their mother whose feelings were choking her could say a word more As they closed the door after them and left her ber alone she raised her eyes upwards and murmured god bless and reward the dear children lowas it was a bleak winter night as the little adventurers stepped into the street the windswept wind wini swept fiercely along and almost drove them back against the do door or but they naught caught each other firmly by the hands and bending their forms forma to meet the pressure of the cold rushing air hurried on their way where they were going as fast as their feet could move the streets were dark and but the children were not afraid hope gulled filled their hearts and left no room for fear they did not speak a word to each other as they hastened along after going for a it distance of several blocks they stopped before a house ov erthe door pf af which was a handsome lam iam lamp P bearing hearing the words oysters Oy etera elera and refreshments Y it was a strange place for girla flik filk ilik e them to lo enter arid and al at 1 f achan hours ilour bul but after ader standing a few minutes they ibey pushed a garist the gr grean f n door it lightly upon its ils bances h mires and stepped into a large and arid bridi brilliantly antii antly lighted bar room liless us I 1 exclaimed a man who wilo sat reading at a vabie fable there are those tilse babes again ail ady y and jane stood near the door dom and arid looked all around the but not the 4 object they went up tip to the bar and P mid tid sid timidly to a man who stood behind it pouring liquor into inlo glasses las ilas papa bf eil eri here hereto tonight to night the man lanea caned I am l niver fiver the lar until his face was wagn close lose to the children and said in in abery anery way 1 11 I dont know anything about abort your father and don drin t come heie here ite lie again if you do ill call my iny bic big dog out of the yard and make him bite you I 1 ady and jane feit felt frightened as weli veil by the harsh manner as angry words of the man ard ard they slatted back from him and were turning towards he live door with sad rad ad face faces when the person who first marked their entrance called out loud enough for them to heat him com hore my little lilile ciris girls f 1 the children stopped and looked al at him when hen ben lie he beckoned thern them to tiley did BO so aa arp are re you lookin tr for sor bor for your father lather he asked ves VPS sir replied ady what did the man al at the br say any to in your lie lle lie ile said papa was not hate hote and that if we came kiy anore more lit ili he M auld set sel his big dog doe do on us the ngn roan knit his brows for or an instant and said WIM gent tent you here lere iere kobory nobody No bory boey 1 answered ady don 1 t l y ur mollier know kilow yu have arme yes gyes sir fir she sh told us to go to bed but we could alil nili he is here I 1 1 I lie be and the childrens faces brightened dyes ye lie tip is i at the other oilier end of the room atleed ill io an and wale him up fr you lou ou half intoxicated and asleep it was with biffi cully rully that mr air treeman freeman could bp be aroused As A soon hoever hom how eyer ever as his eyes were faidy opened and he ne found that ady arld and jane had each grasped tightly lightly one of 0 his hands he rose up and yielding passive passively ly to their direction lie he sulfred suffered them to lead hi him in away 1 I uns gurs UPS you never saw him before sald eaid one of the bar keepers no nor never wish again al at least in this place who is their fat father hier fier freeman the lawyer the rip rie who a few years ago conducted with so much ability the case against the marine insurance company the same some I 1 Is il if possible A little croup now formed around the tile man and a good 2135 anup deal was wab a said about freeman and his fall la from sobriety one ore who had several times seen ady and jane come in and lead him home as they had just done said it was a most touching case to see said one how pass passively isely ively he yields himself to the little things when ahoy they come after afler him some sometimes times limes when I 1 see them I 1 am almost weak to shed tears ai they pre f re his good angels remarked another but I 1 am afraid th they eyare arm are not quite irone trone strona irons enough to lead him back to the he has I 1 you may think u what hat bat you please about it gentlemen apke ite the lie landlord but I 1 can vil VII you yon I 1 eive give much for a mother who would let id two little things thines ilire lilie hem them go wandering abo about 11 tahe the streets al arine one at this time lime of night one ot of those who expressed interest in ill tit the little children felt oot angry at this remark and retorted with some bitterness and I 1 would give less for the man who make ma it e their father drunk ditto to that responded one of the company arld and arid here is mv hand to that said another the tile landlord finding that a majority of his company were likely to be against him smothered his ins angry feelings and kept silent A few minutes afterwards two or three of the inmates of the bar roon ant away away awny about ten tile the next morning while al mr r freeman ix who ho was generally sober in the fore part of the day was in his office a stranger en entered enter terril rd and afier after sitting bitting down said 1 11 I must crave your pardon beforehand for what I 1 am going to say will you promise not to be oi offended Tended if ft y you 0 u offer me an insult I 1 will certainly ree resent i it t so aso far from that I 1 came with the thi design to do you xou a great ser Fer service vice very well say on ill 1 I was at lawsons Law sona sons refectory ory last night well 1 and I 1 saw something there that touched my heart iii ill irl lri slept at all last night it was only to dream of it I 1 have haxe two little girls and I 1 love them tenderly oh sir the thought of them coming out in a cold winter night in search me and at tit such a place makes the blood run cold in my veins words so unexpected coming upon freeman when he lie was comparatively comparative ys sober disturbed him deeply in spite of his big endeavors tore to remain m air ali calm lie he trembled all over he made an to a say ay sm something ething in rep reply v but could not utter er word my aly dear sir 1 7 pursued the stranger have fallen by the hand of the monster monster intemperance and I 1 feel that you are in in great peril you have not however fallen hopelessly yon may rise yet if you sou vou you will let me in name of those sweet babes who have shown so wonderful a manner their love for you all re you to rise superior lo 10 that thai deadly foe R ward ard urd these good children with the highest bless blessing ing their hearts can desire come colle with me and arid ging sing the pledge of 1 freedom let us thoi though gli strangers to each other unite in this one on act half bewildered red yet with a new heart bear free man arose and suffered tile the man who wio drew his aim arm through his to lead lim irm away before they separated both had signed the pledge thit thil evening unexpectedly y of ochia his family faintly mr air freeman wa wit sober when lie came home hoine after tea lea uhlie while hile bile ady arty and jane were standing on either side of him us as lie sit near their 1 I mother nn an arm ami round each nf of them lie said in a low Wb whisper isper bending his head bead dw vi and drawing I 1 t jem closer to tit him you will never have to come at after alter ter me again the tile chil children dreis lifted up their eres ejea quickly to his face but hair half understanding what he meant 11 1 I will never go there agin lie added 11 1 will always stay at home with you ady and jane now ngow comprehending what their father meant overcome with jy joy hid their faces aces in ilia ins lap tind rind wept fur for very gladness low ns as all this had been said every word reached the mot mothers herr heri ear and while lie ile lier iler heart trembled between hope and fear mr freeman drew a paper from his pocket and arid threw it on the table by which she was wait sitting silling she opened it hastily it was the pledge wilh his well known 1 signature big tig nature subscribed at the bottom with wits a cry iry of joy she sprang to his side and his arms encircled his wite wile as well veil as her tier little ones cities in lit a fonder embrace than they had known for years the children love had their father they were indeed his hiis good angels |