{"newspaper_name": "The Washingtonian.", "edition": "01", "page": "p1", "byline": ""}
{"character_count": 2888, "word_count": 519, "ccnet_language_score": [0.9891999959945679], "ccnet_perplexity": [1172.300048828125], "fasttext_language": ["en"]}
He turned slowly away Deep within an
adjoining forest was dell, where the beams Of
the sun scarcely ever penetrated. Tall trees
grew on either side, whose branches, meeting
above, formed a canopy of leaves, where the
birds built their nests, and poured forth happy
songs. Thither the drunkard bent his. steps.
It had been his favorite haunt in the days OF
his childhood, and as he threw himself upon
the soft green sward the recollection Of. past
scenes came crowding over his mind. He CO.
vered his face with his hands, and the prayer
Of the prodga burst from his lips" q God!
receive returning wanderer" Suddenly
soft arm was thrown around his neck, and
sweet voice murnured, "he will forgive you,
father" Starting to his feet, the inebriate saw
standing before him his youngest daughter, a
child Of six years. W.


"Why are you here, Anne?" he said, ashamed
that the innocent girl should have witnessed
his grief ..@ FRI.


81 came to gather the lilies whichgrow upon
the banks,'' she replied "see, have got my
basket full, and now am going to sell them"


"And what do you do with the money!"
asked the father, as he turned his eyes to the
basket, where, among their broad green leaves,
the sweet lilies of the valley were peeping
forth.


The child hesitated: she thought she had
said too much perhaps her father would de-
mand the money, and spend it in the way IN
which all his earnings went.


"You are afraid to tell me, Anne," said her
father kindly. "Wcll I do not blame you; !
have no right to my chidren's confidence.


The genteness of his tone touched the heart
of the affectonate child. She threw her arms
around his neck, exclaimirg,


"Yes, father, will tell you. Mother buys
| medicines for poor little Willie. We have no
other way TO get it. Mosher and Mary work
| all the time they can to buy bread"
A pang shot through the inebriate's heart.
!" I have robbed them of the comforts of life, y
he exclaimed" from this moment the liquid


fire passes my lips no more"


! Anne stood gazing at him in astonishment
i


She could scarcely comprehend her fathers
words-but she saw that some change had
taken place. She threw back her golden ring
lets, and raised her large blue eyes, with an
earnest look, to his face


"Will you never drink any more rum?' she
| whispered timidly. .k.


4" "Neper! Anne," her father replied solemnly.
Joy danced in her eyes. "Then we will all
be so happy" she cried, "and mother won't
weep any more oh, father, what happy home
ours will be'' Years passed away. The words
of little Anne, the drunkards daughter, had
proved true. The home of the reformed man
was indeed happy one. Plenty crowned his
board--and health and joy beamed from the
face of his wife and children-where once
squalid misery alone could be traced. The
Pledge had raised him from, his degradation,
and restored him once more to peace and hap
pipess.-Noroich Spectator st