Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-04-30
Ggaitt MlisttIIangy.
AN UNMEANT REBUKE.
A LIFE LESSON.


Charles Nelson had reached his thirty
fifth year, and at that age he found himself
going down hill. He had once been one of
the happiest of mortals, and no blessing
was wanted to complete the sum of his hap
piness. He had one of the best of wives,
and his children were intelligent and come
ly. He was carpenter by trade, and no
man could command better wages, or be
more sure of work. Ii any man attempted
to build house, Charles Nelson must boss
the job, and for miles around, people sough.
him 10 work for them. But 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
carpenter had been sent for by those who
would no longer depend upon Nelson, 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 small cottage, which had once been
the pride of its inmates. Before it stretch
ed a wide garden, but tall, rank grass grew
up among the choking flowers, and the
paliDg or tie fence was broken in many
places. The house itself had once heen
white, but it was now dingy and dark
Bright green blinds had once adorned the
windows, but they now had been taken of
j and sold. And the windows themselves be.
spoke poverty and neglect, for in many pla
ces the glass was gone, and shingles, rag.
and old hats had taken lis place. A single
look at the house and its accompaniment,
told the story. 1t was the drunkard's home
Within sat woman yet in the EARL
=, years of life, and though she was still hand
Il some to look upon, the bloom was gone from
her cheek, and brightness had faded fror
x her eyes. Poor Mary Nelson! Once sh
bad been the happiest among the happy, bu
= now none could be more miserable! Nea
! her sat two children, both girls, and bot
beautiful in form and feature; but their garb
Ia were all patched and worn, and their fet
were sboeless. The eldest was thirtee
- years of age, and the other two veal
Younger. The mother was hearing thei
recite a grammar lesson, for she had r,
solved that her children should not grow U
in ignorance. They could not attend Il
common school. for thoughtless chlGre
of sport and ridicule; but in this respe
they did not suffer, for their mother W
well educated, and she devoted such time
she could spare, to their instruction.
For more than two years, Mary Nels,
z hadearned all the money that had be-
used in that house. People hired her
wash, iron anc sew for them, and besid
the money paid, they gave her many artiel
of food and clothing. So she lived on,
the only JOYS that dwelt within her nt
were teaching her children anG praying
eiiGod.
-sirE Supper time came, and Charles Nels
came reeling home. He had worked
day before at helping TO move buildi
and thus had earned money enough to f
him rum for several days. As he stumb
into the house, the children crouched eli
to their mother, and even she shrank aw
7'o for sometimes her husband was ugly wi
thus intoxicated.
.s - o, how that man had changed within
years! Once there was not finer look
Sz-1 man IN tne tOWn. In frame uc udu "
20 tall, stout, compact and perfectly form
- while his face bore the very beau ideal
manly. beauty. His noble form was l
bent, his limbs shrunken and tremulous,
his lace aIl.bloated and disfgured. He
-,u not the man who had once been the
husband and doating father. The lo'
wife had prayed and wept and implored,
all to no purpose; the husband was be
sas to his drinking companions of the bar-ro
"a and he would not break the bonds.
IN. Tha, evening, Mary Nelson ate no
- .e per, Tor all the food she had in the h
there was not more than enough for her
band and children; but when her husl
had gone, she went out and picked
berries, and thus kept her vital energy a
That night the poor woman prayed Ions
odi earnestly. and her little ones prayed
81 her.
s@'a On the following morning, Charles
~. son sought the bar-room as soon as he o
a4 but he was sick and faint, ard the