Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1855-11-16
Mist&ttan&0ns.
From Ballou's Pictorial
AN UNNTEANT REBUKE:
ALHE LESSON.
BT sYLYANUs CoRR. JR.

LIFE LESSON.
BY sYLvANUs COBB, JR.
Charles Nelson had reached his thirty
fifth year, and at that age he found himself
going down hill He had once been one of
the happiest of mortals, and no blessing was
wanted to complete the sum of his happiness.
He had one of the best of wives, and his
children were intelligent and comelv He
was a carpenter by trade, and no man
could command better wages or be more
sure of work If any man attempted to
build a house Charles Nelson must have the
Job, and for miles around, people sought him
to work for them. But change had come
over his life A demon had met him on his
way, and he had turned back with the evil
spirit. A new and experienced carpenter
had been sent for by those who could no lon
ger depend upon Nelson, and he had settled
IN the village and now took Nelson's place.
On back street, where the great trees
threw their green branches over the wav.
stood a small cottage, which had once been
the pride ofthe inmates. Before It streach-
cd wide garden, but tall, rank grass grew
up among the choking flowers, and the pa
ling of the fence was broken in many plac-
es. The house itself had once been white,
but it was now dingy and dark. Bright
green blinds had once adorned the windows,
but now they had been taken off and sold.
And the windows themselves bespoke pow
erty and neglect, for in many places the
glass was gone, and shingles, rags and old
hats had taken its place. A single look at
the house and Its accompaniments told the
story. 1t was the drunkard's homeI
Within sat a woman vet in the early wears
Of life, and though she was still handsome
70 look upon, the bloom was gone from her
check, and the brightness had faded from
her eyes. Poor Mary Nelson! Once she
had been the happiest among the happy,
but now none could be more miserable
Near her sat two children, both girls, and
both beautiful in form and features; but
their garbs were all patched and worn, and
their feet were shOeless. The eldest was
thirteen years of age, and the other two
years younger. The mother was hearing
them recite a grammer lesson, for she had
resolved that they should not grow up in 10
norance. They could not attend the COM
mon school, for the thoughtlesS children
sneered at them and made them the subject
of sport and ridicule; but in this respect
they did not suffer, for the mother was well
educated, and she devoted such time as she
could spare to their instruction.
For more than two years. Mary Nelson
had earned all the money that had been us
ed in that house. People hired her to wash,
iron and sew for them and besides the mon
ey paid, they gave her many articles of food
and clothing. So she lived on, and the only
joys that dwelt with her now was teaching
her children and praying to God.
Supper time came, and Charles Nelson
came reeling home. He had worked the
day before at helping move building, and
thus had earned money enough to find him
self in rum for several DAYS. As he STUN
bled into the house the children crouched
close to their mother, and even she shrank !
away, for sometimes her husband was ugly
when thus intoxicated.
Oh, how that man had changed within
two years! Once there was not a finer look
ing man in town. In frame he had been
tall, stout, compact and perfectly formed,
while his face bore the very Jeau-ideaI of
manly beauty. His noble form WAS now
bent, his limbs shnmk and tremulouS, and |
his face all bloatad and disfgured. He was
not the man he had once been, the fond
husband and doting father The loving
wife had prayed and implored, but all to no
purpose; the husband was bound to the
drinking companions of the bar-room, and
he would not break the bonds.
That evening Mary Nelson ate - sup
per, for all the food she had in the house
there was not more than enough for her hus-
band and children; but when her husband
had gone she went out and picked a few
berries, and thus kept her vital energy alive.
That night the poor woman prayed long
and earnestly, and her little ones prayed
with her
On the following morning Charles Nelson
sought the bar-room as soon as he arose,
but he was sick and faint, and liquor would
not revive him, for it would not remain on
his stomach He had drank very deeply
the night before, and he felt miserable. At
length, however, he managed to keep down
few glasses of hot sling, but the close at
mosphcra of the bar-roOm seemed to stihe
him, and he went out.
The poor man had sense enough to know S
that if he could sleep he should feel better, I
and he had just feeling enough to wish toI
keep away from home; so he wandered off
towards wood not far from the village,
and sank down by the side of stone wall q
and was soon buried in profound slumber. !
Wien he awokc, the sun was shining down S
hot upon him, and raising himself to a sit r