The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1861-03-14
The Village Carpenter.
AN EXCELLENT STORY.

Charles Nelson had reached his thir-
ty-fifth year, and at that age he found
himself going down hill. BE had once
been one of the happiest of mortals,
and no blessing was wanted to COM
plete his happiness. He had one of the
best of wives, and his children were in
telligent and comely. A carpenter by
trade, no man could command better
wages, or be more sure of work. If
any one wished to build, Charles Mel
son must boss the job; and for miles
around people sought his services.
But change had come over him. 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 weuld no
longer depend upon Nelson; and he
had now settled in the village, and tax
en- 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 stretched wide garden, but
tall, rank grass grew up amongst the
choked flowers, and the palings of the
fence was broken in many places. The
house itself had once been white, but
it was now dingy and dark. Once
brig ght green blinds had adorned its
windows; but they had now been tax.
ell off and sold. And the windows
themselves betokened poverty and neg
lect, for in many places the panes were
gone, and shingles, rags and old hats
had taken their places. A single look at
the house and its accompaniments told
the story. 1t was drunkard's home
Within sat woman yet in the early
years of life; and though she was still
handsome to look upon, but the bloom
was gone from her cheek, and the lus
tire from her eye. Poor Mary Nelson
Once she had been the happiest of 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
patched and worn, and their feet shoe
less. The eldest was thirteen years oil
age, and the other two years younger
The mother was hearing them recite a
grammar lesson, for she had resolved
that her children should not grow up
in ignorance. They could not attend
the public school, for thoughtless chill
dren sneered at them, and made them
the subject of sport and ridicule; but
in this respect they did not suffer, fol
their mother was we'll educated anS
she devoted such time as she oould
spare to their instruction.
For more than two years Mary Mel
son had earned all the money that lad
been used in that house. People hired
her to wash, iron and sew for them
and besides the money paid, gave he1
many articles of food and clothing. Sc
she lived on, and the only joys she now
experienced were teaching ner children
and praying to God.
Supper time arrived, and Charlie.
Nelson came reeling home. He hat
worked the day before at helping tc
move building, and thus had earned
money enough to keep him in ruin sew
eral days. As he stumbled into tht
house the children crouched close t.
their mother, and even she shranl
away, for sometimes her husband wa
ugly when thus intoxicated.
o, how that man had changed with
in two years! Once there was not
finer appearing man in town. In fran,
he had been tall, stout, compact anc
perfectly formed, while his face Dor,
the beau ideal of manly beauty. Tha
noble form was now bent, those limbs
shrunken and tremulous, and that fac,
all bloated and disfgured. He wa
not the man who had once been tn,
fond husband and doating father. Th'
loving wife had prayed, wept and i'm
plored, but in vain; the husband wa
bound to his drinking companions o
the bar room, and he would not breal
the bonds. #
That evening Mary Nelson ate n,
supper, for all the food in the hous
was not more that enough for her hus
band and children; but when her hus
band was gone she went out and pickle.
a few berries. and thus kent her vita