, 1862-11-06
Lost and Reclaimed.

| down hill lie had once been one Of the happi-
est Of murtals and no blessing was wanted to
Complete the sum Of his happiness lie had
one Of the best Of wiV,s and his children were
intelligent and comely. lie was a 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 sought him to
work for them. But change had come over
| his life. demon had met him on the way, and
he had turned back with the evil spirit A new
and experienced carpenter was sent for by those
Who could no longer depend upon Nelson, and
he had settled in the village and now took Nell
son 8 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 the
inmates. Lefore 1t stretched wide garden, but
tall, rank grass grow up among the choking
flowers, and the pang Of the fence was broken
il many places The house itself had once been
white, but it was now dingy and dark. Bright
green blinds had once adorned the windows
but now they had been taken of and sold, And
the windows themselves bespoke poverty and
neglect, for in many places the glass bad gone,
and shingles, rags and old hats had taken its
place. A single look at the house and its ac-
com paniments told the story. Il was q drunk
ards home.
and though she was still handsome to look upon,
the bljum had gone from her cheek and the
brightness had faded from her eyes. Pour Mary
Nelson once she had been the happiest amOrg
the happy, but now none could be more misera-
BILE! Near her sat two children, both girls and
both beautiful in form and feature, but their
garbs we're all patched and worn, ard their feet
were shOeless. The eldest was thirteen years Of
age, and the other was two years younger. The
mother was learning them to recte their grammar
lesson, for she resolved that her children should
never grow up in ignorance. They could not at
tend the common school, for thOughtless children
sneered at them, aud made them the object Of
sport and ridicule but In this respect they did
not suffer, for their mother was well educated
and she devoted such time as she could spare to
their instruction.
For moie than two years, Mary Nelson had
earned oil the money that had been used in the
house. People hired her to wash, iron and sew
for them and besides the money paid, they gave
her many articles Of food aud clothing. So she
lived on, aud the only joys that dwelt with her
now were teaching her children and praying 70
God.
Supper time came and CHARLES Nelson came
reeling home. He had worked the day before
at helping to move 4 building, and thus bad
earned enough money To find himself in run for
several days AS he stumbled into the house
| the children crouched close TO their mother and
even she shrank away, for sometimes her hus-
band was ugly when thus intoxicated.
D, how that man had changed within two
yearsl Once there was not liner looking man
| In the town. In frame he had been tall, stout,
compact and perfectly formed, while his face
bore the very beau ideal Of manly beauty. But
all was changed now. His noble form was bent,
his limbs shrunken and tremuOus, and his face
| all blOated aud dishguFcd He was not the man
" ho had once been the kind husband and doting
father. The loving wife had prayed, and wept,
and implored, but all TO no purpose; the hus-
band was bound to his drinking companions OF
the bar.roUm, and he would not break the bonds.
That evening" Mary Nelson ate no supper, for
Of eli the lOod in the house, there was not more
than enough for her husband and children; but
when her husband was gone, she went out and
picked few berries, and thus kept her vital en-.
orgies 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 us he arose, but he
was sick and faint, and the liquor would not re-
vive him, for it would not remain upon his stoIn-
ach He had drank very freely the night before,
and he felt miserable At length, however, he
managed to keep down few glasses Of hot sling,
but the close atmosphere Jf the room seemed to
stife him, and he went out
The poor man had sense ehOIlgh TO know that
Il he could sleep, he should feel better; and just
feeling shame enough to keep away from home, he
wandered off towards a wall not far from the
village, and sank down by stone, and was soon
buried in a profound slumber. When he awOke,
the sun was shining down hot upOh him and
raising himself 10 . sitting posture, he gazed
shout him. He was just on the point Of rising,
when his u Otion was arrested by the sound Of
| kan Ia oA khRnuOh n rhinx
/ 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 lately moved into the vii
lage.
"Come, Katy" said one Of these latter girls
to her companion, "let's 60 away from here, be-
cause Il anybody should see US with those girls,
they'd think we played with them. Come"
"But the berries are so thick here" remon'
| sIrated the other.
| "Neyer mind-well come out some time when
those little ragged drunkard's children 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.
"Dont cry, Nancy" said the eldest, throwing
her arms around her sisters neck
but you are crying, Nelly"
40, can't help it," sobbed the stricken one.
"Why do they blame usr murmured Nancy
gazing up into her sisters face. %Oh, we are
not to blame. We are good and kind, and low
iOg, and We never hurt anybody. Oh, | 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
docsP"
81 know know, Nelly but that amt all.
Why don't papa love US as he used TO od"t Don't
you remember when he used to kiss US and make
US happyg o, how ! wish he could be 70 good
TO Us once more. lie is not"
| W-sh sissy don't snV nnv more. lie nav