The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-06-25

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mother was hearing them recitc a gramnar
lesson for she had resolved that Her chill.
dren should not grow up in ignorahce.---
they could not attend the common school,
for thoughtless children sneered at them,
and made them the subject of sport and rid
icule but in this respect they d,d not suffer,
for their mother was well educated, and, she
devoted such time as she could spare, 10
thei, instruction. 81 ,-s r.as1
For more than, two years, Mary. Nelson
had earned all the money that had beer in
that house. People Hired her TO wash, iron
aud sew for Them and beside the money
paid, they gave her many articles of food
and clothing. Isl So she lived on, and the on
ly joys that dwelt with her WAS teaching
her children and praying to God.
supper time came and Charles Nelson
came rceing home. lie had worked the
day before at helping 10 move building,
and thus had earned money enough to find
him in rum for several days. AS he Stun
bled into the house, the children crouched
close 10 their mother and even she shrank
away, for sometimes her husband was ugly
when thus intoxicated aaf -.
o., how that man had changed within
two years! Once there was not finer
looking man in town. In frame, he had
been tall, stout compact, and perfectly form.
ed, while his face bore the very ideal of
manly beauty. His noble form was now
bent, his limbs shrunken and tremulous and
his face ali hloaied and di,fgured. He was
not the man who had once been the fond
husband and doating father. The loving
wife had prayed and wept and implored,
but all to no purpose the husband was
bound to his drinking companions of, the
bar-room, and he would not break the bonds:
That evening Mary Nelson ate M supper,
for all the food size had in the house there
was not more than enough for her husband
and children; but when her husband had
gone, she went out and picked a few berries.
and thus kept her vital energies alive. That
night the poor woman prayed long and
earnestly, and her little ones prayed with
her. r.f ..' .. . - -...I -
On the following morning Charles Nelson
sought the bar-room rs soon rs he arose, but
he was sick and faint. and inc liquor would
not revive him, for it would not remain on
his stomach. lie had drank very deeply
the night before and he felt miserable.
AZ length, however, he managed to keep
down few glasses of hot sling, but the
close atmosphere of the bar-room seemed
to stiie him, and lie went out 'F' H -.
Tie poor man,had just sense enough to
know that if he could sleep he should feel
better, and he had just feeling enough to
wish TO keep away from home 80 he wan
dered off towards wood not far from the
village, and sunk down by The side Of a
stone wall, and was soon buried in q pro.
found slumber. When he awoke the sun
was shining down hot upon him, and rails.
ing himself to sitting posture, he gazed
about him. lie knew that it was afternoon,
for the sun was turning towards the west.
He was just upon the point of rising when
his motion was arrested by the sound of
voices near at hand lie looked through a
chink in the wall, and just upon. the other
side he saw his two children picking berries,
while little further off were two more girls,
the children of the carpenter who had late
ly moved into the village.
q Come, Katy" said one Of these latter
girls to her companion, !" let's go away from
here, because, if anybody should see us with
those girls they'd think we played with
them. Come" % - ~ -...7 -
"But the berries are thick here" remon.
strated the other. .,.s.- ~, .. -.
. Never mind-we'll come out some time
when these little ragged drunkards girls are
not here" ..,sr.. .-. .-
So the two favored ones went away, hand
in hand, and Nelly and Nancy Nelson sat
down upon the grass and cried. ..
- +" Don't cry, Nancy" said the eldest,
throwing her arms around her sisters neck
y. But you are crying, Nelly" .r... ~.
"Oh, ] can't help it," sobbed the stricken
one.
!. I. Why do they blame us ~ murmured
Nancy, gazing up into her sisters face
30, we are not 10 blame. We are good
and kind, and loving, and we never hurt
anybody. o, wish somebody would love
us, should be SO happy &c..
{" But We are loved, Nancy. Only think
Of our noble mother. Who could love US
as she does ~
IL know know, Nelly, but that amt
all. Why don't papa love us as he used to
Don't you remember when he used to kiss
us and make US SO happy n o, how wish
lie could be go good to us once more. He
is not" ~. rtUt t5rs4 ss.E
Hush, Sissy don't say ANYTHING more
lie may begood to us again If lie knew
how we 1ove him know he would. And
then lsbeEeve God is GOOD, and he surely