The Richmond Indiana palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1854-1855, 1855-10-18
THE UNMEANT REBUKE.
A LIFE LESSON.
By SYLVIA NUS COBB, JR.

Charles Nelson had reached his thirty hftl
ga, and al that age he found himself going
down hill He had once been one of the hap
r;sst of mortals, and no blessing was wanting
e complete the sum Of his happiness, HI
b.d one of the best of wives, and his chill
dren were intelligent and comely. He was {
carpeuter by trade, and no man could com
m.nd better wages, or be more sure Of work
Ifany man attempted to build house, Charles
Nelson must boss the job and, for miles
around. people sought him to work for them
Rut change had come over his life. A de-
mon had met him on the way, and he had
turned back with the evil spirit. A new and
.Yper,enced carpenter had been sent for by
Hose who could no longer depend upon Mel
son. 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 way, stood
asmalI cottage. which had once been the pride
Of lis inmates. Before it stretched wide
garden. but tall, rank grass, grew among the
choking flowers, and the paling of the fences
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
Of and sold. And the windows themselves
bespoke poverty and neglect, for in many pla-
css the glass was gone, and shingles. rags and
old hats had taken its place. A single look
at the house and its Accomplishments told the
story II WAS the drunkard's home.
Within sat woman yet in the early years
Of lie, 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 Neson' Once she had been the
harpisst among the happy, but now none
could be more miserable Near her sat two
children both girls, and both beautiful in
form and feature; but their garbs were all
pa,chea and worn, and their feet were shoe
less The eldest was thirteen years of age,
and the other two years younger. The mo-
ther was hearing them recite grammar les
son, for she had resolved that her children
should moi grow up in ignorance. They
could not attend the common school, for
thoughtless children sneered at them and
made them the subjects OF sport and ridicule;
but in this respect they did not suffer for their
mother, was well 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 been used IN that
house. People hired her TO wash, iron and
sew for them, and besides the money paid,
they gave her many articles Of food and clo-
thing. So she lived on, and the only joys
that dwelt with her now were teaching her
children and praying to God.
Supper time came, and Charles Nelson
came reelng home. He bad worked the day
before at helping move 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 she even shrunk away, for
sometimes her husband was ugly when thus
intoxicated.
o, how that man had changed within two
years! Once there was not finer looking
man in the town. In frame. he had been
tall stout, compact aud perfectly formed
while his face was the beau ideal of manly
beauty. But all was changed now. His no.
bic form was bent, his limbs shrunken, and
tremulous. and his face all bloated and dis
hsured. He was not the man who had once
been the kind husband and 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
oaT-room, and he would not break the
bonds.
That evening Mary Nelson ate no supper.
ior OF sll the food she had in the house. there
was not more than enough for her husband
and children. but when her husband was gone
she went out and picked a few berries, and
mus Kept her vital energy alive. That night
the poor woman prayed long and earnestly,
snd her little ones prayed with her
% the following morning Charles Nelson
sought the bar-roo soon as he arose. but
Ae was sick and faint, and liquor would not
revive HIM. for It would not remain on his
stomach. He drank very deeply the nirht
before. and felt miserable AT length how
ever, he managed to keep down few glasses
Of hot sing but the close atmosphere Of the
osr-room seemed to stitie him, and he went
cut
The poor man had sense enough TO know
'hat If he could sleep, he would feel better
and he had Just feeling enough 10 wish to keer
sway from home. SO he wandered off toward
wood not far from the village and sanl
uo~n by the side of stone wall, and WA.
soon buried in profound slumber. When h.
,woke, the sun was shining down hot upon
nin'' and raising himself to sitting posture
ne gazed about him. He knew that ii wa.
Aernoon, for the sun was turning toward the
u lie was just on the poin. of rising
W. MS motion was arrested by the sound
\/s near at hand He looked through
= IN the wall. and just upon the other
- ne saw his two children picking berries.
slAe iltie further off were two more girls.
We children OF the carpenter who had istely
moved into the village
Come. Katy said one of these latter
s''s TO her companion, lets go away from
mere because if anybody should see us With
.nose girls, they'd think that we PLAYED with