Litchfield enquirer., 1856-02-28
Every Desrviptisn sf
 2 Q B.Y R ! " Y ! M e NEATLY AND PROMPTLY EXECUTED AT ruIsorYIcE.
s-sc 135E a-s----
 CHARLES NELSON.

CHARLES NELSON.
 Charles Nelson had reached his ihiity- fifth year. and at that age fou nd himself going down hill. He had bee once one of the happiest of mortals. and no blessing was wanting 10 complete his sum of en- inyment. He had one of the best wives. and his children were intelligent, and come ly. He was carpenter ny trade, and no man could command better wages. or be more sure of work. If any man attempted b build . house. Charles Nelson must boss the job. and for miles around, people sought him to work for them. Bota change had come over his life. demon had me, him on his way, and he had turned back with the eyil spirit. A new and experien- ee,l rarprnter had been sent for by those who could no longer depend on Nelson. and ba had settled in the village, and now took Nelson's place.
 On back atert. where the great trees threw their green branches over the way. stood small cottage, which had been once the pride of it's inmates Before ii. stretched n wide garden, but tall. rank eraes grew up anohg the choking flowers, and the paling cf the friice WAS broken in many places. The house itself had once h.sn white. hut is was now dingy and dark Bright green blinds had otEs adorned the windows. but now they had been taken of aud sold. And the windows themselves bespoke oi poverty and neglect, for in msny pfarts t!,e gtass was gohe. ahd shlorles, rags and nid hats had taken its piare. A single look at the house and it's iccompaniments told the story. It was the drunkastss hoine.
 Within sat n woman yet in early prime of life, and though she was siili hahds"fne to l.ok mpnn. the bloom had gone from hei cheek. aud the brightness had faded from her eyea. Poor Mnst N-leon! Once she had been ihe l,aprirs. a,eoug .ae happy. hut now none could be more miserable !- Naar hes sat two children, both girls. and both hsautiful h fafm and feaiafe; but thrir gasbs ven all patched and worn, and their feet wsfs shoeiess. The eldest was lhilleen yeaes of age, and the ofhef fRo yrATs younger. Tte mother Vas heating ihem feci,e grammer lesson. fas she had ftanlv~d that hcf children should not grow sp ia ignorsnca. fhey could ndt aitcnd tks common school. ff tisoughtless cff'fds Sen sneered af theu and made them the aahject of ridicule hut h this respect they did not aaiFef, fof fhpif mnsf~S vas well edaoated. and she d~voled satt lime as she could spafe to their iastfaciiotf.
 For more than two years Mary Nelson had aarn~d all the money that had been Ssed h that house. People hired her to ~Hsls. iron und sew for them, and besides the manry paid, they gave her many at. eirlts of food a,,d clothing. So che lived ea. and tho only loy that dweh with her Sow was teaching her children. aud pray tng 10 God.
 t,sppcr tine came, snd Charles Nelson came fceling home. He had &ofke4 the day before at helping move a buildsne. and thus had earned money enough ts find him fr rum several days. As he stumbled fato 'fAe house. the children croarh-d close tn esrif nsotFses. and even shraAk away, foi sometimes her husband was ugly When thus intoxicaisd.
 .. how that man had changed in two years! Once there was not finer loek. teen talt, stnut, compact and perfectly formed, while his face bore the very idea uf manly heausy. But all was ehHhpet nov. His noble form was bent, his lIn.h, shfumken and irsmulnus, md his face al hloaled and dis6gurrd. He was not th' man who had once been tho fand hnshans and dosing fasher. T'he loving wife has rnyed. and wspi. and impiorrd, but all |, m purpose ihs husband was bound so tl,' dfinking companiona oi tho bar.room. aa, As would not break The honds.
 Tisat evening Mary Nelson ate no cup prr. for IT all tho tuod she had h lhe koas, ihesa wae nj mora than enough for l,e hushaud and children; hat when her hus haad had goas che went out and picked few huiee, and thus keps her vital energ siiss. Txat night tho pods wcman psaye long md earnsssly, snd her lis,le ons ptayed with her.
 Un lhe following morning. Charle senght the har-room n so0n as he sros, nss hs uas sick ard faint, aud liquor woul m sssive hin, fos is would not remain . hlo slsmach. He had d@nk sesy deepl ehe niehs bsfors snd he fals missflhle. ! lnn1aE eowsve5. he managed - ksep dou
 " kloesee hot cling bss the clo. 1nsmeo4krfs n ahe haF-Toom seemed 10 siii h;n. on1 he went ont.
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