The weekly Ottumwa courier., 1862-10-18

I"a'u uiSuSulCu. Ilc WAS uOI the man WDC
had once been the fond husband and dotine
father. The loving wife had prayed, and
wept, and implored, but all to no purpose
the husband was bound to the drinking
companions of the. bar-roJm, and he would
not break the bonds.
That evening Mary Nelson ate no supper
for of all the food she had in the house
there was not more than enough for her hus.
band 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.
On the following morning Charles Nelson
sought the bar room as soon as he arose, but
he was sick and faint, and liquor would not
revive him, for it would not remain on his
stomach. He had drank very deeply the
night before, and he felt miserable. AT
length, however, he managed to keep down
few glasses of hot sling, but the close at
mosphere Of the bar-room seemed to stihe
him and he went out.
The poor man had 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 so he wandered of
toward wood not far from the village, and
sank down by the side ofa stone wall and
was soon buried in profound slumber.--
When he awoke, the sun was shining down
hot upon him, and raising himself to a sit
ting posture, he gazed about him. He was
just upon the point Of rising, when his mo.
ton was arrested by the. sound of voices
near at hand. He looked through chink
in the wall, and just upon the other side he
saw his two children picking berries, while
a little further off were two more girls, the
children of the carpenter, who had lately
moved into the village
"Comc, 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 'en.
Come"
"But the berries are so thick here" re-
monstrated the other
"Never mind come out sometime
when those little ragged drunkard's girls
aren't 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, throw.
ing her arms around her sisters neck
"But you are crying, Nelly"
20, | can't help it" sobbed the stricken
one. .sessys
"Why do they blame us p murmured
Nancy, gazing into her sisters face. so
we are not to blame. We are good and kind
and loving, and we never hurt anybody. O,
wish somebody would love us should
be so happy"
"But we are loved, Nancy. ONLY think
of our noble mother. WHO could love us
as she does"
II know~-I know, Nelly; hut that ain,
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 o, how wish
he could be SO good to US once more. HI
| is not"
Ssh, sissy don't say anything more
He may be good to us again; if he knew
how we loved him know he would. And
then believe God is good, and surely hi
will help US sometime, for mother prays t
him every day"
EYES," said Nancy,sf know she does
and God must be our Father sometime"
"He is our Father now, sissy
II know it but he must be all we shall
have by .and-by, for don't you remember
that mother told us that she might leave vi
one of these days I? She said cold finger
was upon her heart, and-and-"
Ssh. Don't, don't. Nancy; youth
The words were choaked up with sobs ant
tears, and the sisters wept long together
At length they rose and went away, for they
saw some more children coming.
As soon as the little ones were out o
sight, Charles Nelson started to his feet
His hands were clenched, and his eyes wer,
fixed upon vacant point with an eagel
gaze.
"My God!" he gasped. "What villaiI
I am! Look at me What state I an
in, and what have sacrificed to bring my
self to it ! And they love me yet, and;pray
for me ~
He said no more, but for some moment
he stood with his hands clenched, and hi
eyes fixed AT length his gaze was turned
upward, and his clasped hands were raises
above his head A moment he remained SO
and then his hands dropped by his side, and
he started homeward.
When he reached his home he found hi
wife and children in tears, but he affecte,
to notice it not. He drew shilling iron
his pocket-it was his last--and handing
to his wife, he asked her ifshe would sent
and get him some milk and -four, and max
him some porridge. The wife was startle,
by the tone in which this was spoken, for j
sounded just as that voice had sounded il
days gone by. s
The porridge was made nice and d'nourish
Ing, and Charles ate it all. He went to het
early, and early on the following morning h
was up He asked his wife if she had mill