The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1855-08-16
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From Ballou's Pictorial.
THE UNMEANT REBUKE.
A LIFE LESSON.
BY sYLvANUs CoBD, JR.

Charles Nelson had reached his thirty
fifth year, and at that age he found him
self going down hill. He had once beer
one of the happiest of MORALS, and no
blessing was wanting to complete the
sum of his happiness. He had one o.
the best Of wives, and his children were
intelligent and and comely. He was a car
penter by trade, and no man could com
mand better wages, or be more sure oi
work. If any man attempted to build a
house, Charles Nelson must boss the job
and for miles around, people sought him
to work for them. But a 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 car
penter had been sent for by those who
could no longer depend upon Nelson, and
he had settled in the village, and took
Nelson's place.
On back street, where the great trees
threw their green branches over the way,
stood small cottage, which had once been
the pride tits inmates. Before it stretch
ed wide garden, buttall, rank grass grew
up among the choking flowers, and the
paling of the fence was broken in many
places. 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 of
and sold And the windows themselves
bespoke poverty 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 accompani-
ments told the story. 1t was the drunk
ards home
Within sat a woman vet in the early
years of life, and though she was still
handsome to look upon, the bloom was
gone from her cheek, 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 chill
dren, both girls, and both beautiful in form
and feature; 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
grammar lesson, for she had resolved
that her children should not grow up
in ignorance They could not attend the
common school, for thoughtless children
sneered at them and made them the sub
ject of sport and ridicule; but in this re,
spect they did not suffer, for their mother
was we'll educated, and she devoted such
time as she could spare, to their instruc'
ton.
For more than two years, Mary Nelson
had earned all the money that had been us
ed in that house. People hired her tc
wash, iron and sew for them, and besides
the money paid, they gave her many arti
cles of food and clothing. So she lived on
and the only joys that dwelt with her now
were teachinghe children and praying to
God.
Supper time came, and Charles Nelson
came reeling home. He had worked the
day before at helping movea building, and
thus had earned money enough to find
himself in rum for several days. AS he
stumbled into the house the children
crouched close to their mother, and even
shank away, for sometimes her husband
was ugly when thus intoxicated.
o, how that man had changed within
two years Once there was not a finer
looking man in the town. In frame he
had been tall, stout, compact and perfect
lily formed, while his face bore the very
beau-ideal of manly beauty. But all was
changed now. His noble form was bent,
his limbs shrunken and tremulous, and his
face all bloated and disfgured. He was
not the man who had once been the fond
husband aud doting father. The loving
wife had prayed, and wept, 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 no sup
per, for of all the food she had in the
house there was not more than enough for
husband and children; but when her hus-
band had gone she went out and picked a
few berries, and thus kept her vital energy
alive. That night the poor woman pray
ed long and earnestly, and her little ones
prayed with her.
On the following morning Charles Mel
son 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 re,
main on his stomach. He had drank very
deeply the night before, and he felt miser'
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