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

energies alive. That night poor Mary
prayed long and earnestly, and her lit
tie ones prayed with her.
On the following morning, Charles
Nelson sought the bar-room as soon as
he arose but he was sick and faint,
and the liquor would not revive him,
for it would not lay on his stomach.
He had drank very deeply the night be-
fore, and now felt miserable.
At length, however, he managed to
keep down few glasses of hot-sling; but
the close atmosphere of the barroom
seemed to stifle him, and he went out.
The poor man had just sense enough
to know that if he could sleep he would
feel better, and shame enough to wish
to keep away from home SO he wan
dered off towards a wood not far from
the village, sank down by a stone wall,
and was soon buried in profound slum-
Der.
When he awoke the sun was shining
hotly upon him, and raising himself to
sitting posture, he gazed about him.
He knew it was afternoon, for the sun
was westward, He was on the point
of rising, when his motion was arrest
ed by the sound of voices near at hand.
Peeping through crack in the wall he
saw his two little girls picking berries,
while little further off were two more
girls of the carpenter who had moved
into the village.
"Come Katy" said one of the latter
to the other, ''let's go away from here,
because if anybody should see us with
those girls, they'd think we played with
them. Come"
"But the berries are so thick here"
demonstrated the other.
"Never mind; well come out some
time when these little ragged drunk
ards girls are not here"
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.
"But you are crying, Nelly"
so, l can't help it," sobbed the
stricken one.
"Why do they blame us?" murmured
Nancy, gazing up into her sisters face
"We are not to blame. We are good
and loving; and we never hurt any.
body. o, l wish somebody would love
US, should be so happy"
"But we are loved, Nancy. Only
think of our good mama. Who coulc
love us >;aore than she does %
81 know-I know, Nelly, but tha
isn't all. Why don't papa low us az
be used to? Don't you remembe;
when he used to kiss us, and make u.
so happy? O, how l wish he would
do so now! He amt
, "S--sh, sissy don't say any more
, He may be good to us again. If he
knew how much more we could love
him for it he would, think. And ther
| believe God is good, and will surely
help us sometime, for mama prays t.
him every day."
"Yes," answered Nancy, 81 know
she does; and l guess God will be ou
father sometime"
"He is now, sissy"
+ 81 know it, but he must be all W,
shall have by and by, for don't you re
! member mama told us cold finger wa
laid upon her heart, and she said sh,
might leave US one Of these days, ant
and"
Ssh. Don't, oh, don't, Nancy
, you'll"
, The words were choked with sobs
! and the tears of the sisters mingled a
they trickled down the cheeks that wer
: pressed together. They wept long, bu
| at length arose and went away, for the,
saw other children coming.
f AS soon as they were out of sigh
Charles Nelson started to his feet. Hi
a hands were clenched, and his eye
! were fixed on a vacant point with al
, eager gaze. f.
"My God % he gasped, "what a vii
lain / am Look at me now Wha
\ a state / am in, and what have sacri
+ feed to bring myself to it And the.
p love me yet, and pray for me %
! He said no more, but for some mo
! ments stood with his hands still clenche,
and eyes fined. AT length his gaze wa
turned upward, and his clasped hand
! raised above his head. A moment b
/ remained so, and then his hands droppe,
!. by his side, and he started homeward
r When he arrived his wife and Chi
o dren were in tears, but he affected no
' to notice it. He drew his last shillin,
n from his pocket, and hand it to his wifi
asking her to send for some milk an
9 flour, and make him some porridge
4 The wife was startled by the strang
o tone in which this was spoken-it wa
a like his voice in days gone by.
= The porridge was made nice an
e nourishing, and Charles ate it ALL III
o retired early, and was up early mex
k morning. He asked his wife if she ha
S milk and -four enough to make him an
other bowl of porridge. i
l. eyes, Charles" she said. "We hav
a not touched it.'' ..,-,..
e '"Then if you are willing, l woul
d like some more"
e Mary moved quickly about, and 500
It the food was prepared. The husban
s ate it and felt better. He washed an
e dressed, and would have shaved ha
s his hand been steady enough. Leavin