The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1856-01-02

suffer, for their mother was well educated,
land she devoted such time as she could
spare to their instruction.
!, For more than two years Mary Nelson
Ihad earned all the money that had been
: learned in the house. People had hired
her to wash, iron and sew for them, and
besides the money paid, they gave her
many articles of food and clothing So
she lived on, and the only joys that dMelt
With her now were teaching her children
land praying to God.
Supper time came, and Charles Nelson
came reeling home.f lie had worked the
day before at helping to move a building.
and thus had earned money enough TO
find himself in rum for several days As
khe stumbled into the house the children
cronched close to the mother and even
she shrank away for sometimes her hus-
band. was dangerous when thus nto4i-
cated
%, how that man had changed withic
a two yearsi Once there was not finer
had been tall, stout compact and perfect
ly formed, while his face bore the very
a8beau-ideal of manly beauty. But all was
dchanged now His noble form was bent
his limbs shrunaen and tremulous, his face
lall bloated and disiigured. He was mot
the man he had once been, the found hns-
iband and 66atihg father. The loving
wife had prayed and wapt, and implored,
y ttbut all to no purpose: tie husband was
bound to the drinking companions Of The
|bar-room and he would not break his
bonds. g.
That evening Mary Nelson ale no sup-
per, for all the food she had in theshonse
there was not more than aeaogh fer ier
husband and children: but when her hus-
band had gone she Nent ont aud picked a
4 few berries, and thus Kept her vital energy
8 alive. That night the poor woman pray
Eedafong aud earnestly, and her little ones
prayed with her. 81 $500.
q On the following morning Charles Nell
A4son sought, the bar-room as soon as he
larose, but he was sick and faint, and IL
qnor wonld not revive him, for it would
81 not remain in his stomach. lie had
Edrunk very deeply the night before, and
! ll'he felt miserable. ieagth, however, he
managed to keep down a few glasses of
hot sling, but the close atmosphere OF the
8 bar room seemed to stide him, and be
81 wentsoat
( l The poor man had sense enough 70
know that if he, eoulll sleep he would feel
hetter, and lie had just feeling enough to
wish to keep away from homo; so lie wan
81 dered off towards wood not far from the
4 village, and sunk down by the side Of 9
stone wall, and was soon buried in pro-
found slumber. When he awoke the san
was shining down hot upon him, aaGraisiug
s himself to a sitting posture, he gazed
& about him. He knew that it was after
noon, for the sun was turning toward the
west. He was just upon the point OF RI
sing, when his motion was arrested by the
: sound of voices near at hand lie look
led through a chink in the wall, and just
81 upon the other side he saw his two chill
:. dren picking berries, while further oil
were two more girls, the children Of the
: Ecarpenter who had lately moved to ths
n village.
= eComa, Katy said one of these latter
:. girls to her companion, diets go ava.
! ! from here, because if any body should see
s us With those girls they'd think we play.
:, s. ed with 'enl.. Come
: : 'd}ut the berries are thick here, reElon
:. strated the other.
:, aNeYer mind -wc'l come some timt
:. - when these little ragged drankard's girl
: aren't here. Y
= So the two favored ones went away
= Z, hand in hand and Nelly and Nancy sa
S down upon the grass and cried.
y s.Dont cry, Nancy" said the eldest
! throwing her arms around her sister,
> ), neck.
"But you are crying, Nelly
- 20. ! can't helpit," sobbedythe. .striekei
. one
y, nWhy do they blame us? mnrmuret
:. Nancy, gazing up to her sisters face
- e"Oh, we are not to blame. Weare good
N and kind, and loving, and we never hur
9 anybody Oh, / wish somebody wouls
:, = love US; / should be so happy"
:, :. "But we are ,oFed, Nancy. Only thilil
~ of our mother Who could love US q
=, she does?n
: Il know know, Nelly; but that ISM
!. all. Why don't papa love US as be uset
: to do? Don't you remember when h
:, used to kiss us and make US happy o
= how | wish he could be SO good to us one
- more. He is not
= l-sh, sissy! don't say any thing more
/, lie may be good to us again; if he knew
= how we loved him, i know he would
~ And then / believe God is good, an,
a. ~ surely he will help us sometime.
~ Eyes" answered Nancy, II know h
= 4does; and God must be our father some
% % time. y #
n "IIe is our father now, sissy. /"
~ II knew it; but he must be all we shal
ed have by-and-by, for don't you remembe
E tlnother teld us that she must leave u
"a one of these days? She said cold fin
- ger was upon her heart, and and