Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1862-11-28
TIE uNmEANr REBUKE.
A LIFE LESSON.

/ had one of the best wives and mis- children
were intelligent and comely. He was a car
penter by trade, and 10 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 a
change bad come over his life. A demon had
met him on bis way, and he had turned back
with the evil spirit. a new and experienced
carpenter had been sen: for by those who
could DO longer depend upon Nelson, and he
/ had settled in the village, and low took Mel
sons place.
| On back street, where the great trees
/ threw their green branches over the way, stood
small cottage, which had been the pride of
/ The inmates. Before it stretched a wide gar
/ den, but tall rank grass grew up among the
/ flowers, and the palDg Of the fence was bro
/ ken in many places. The house itself hid
once been white, but it was now diugy and
/ dark. Bright green blinds had been taken off
and sold. And the windows themselves be-
/ spoke poverty and neglect, for in many places
the glass was gone, and shingles, rags and old
hats had taken its place. A single look at
the house and its Accomplishments told the
.
! Within sat woman yet in her early years
of life, and though she was still handsome to
look upon, the bloom was gone from her cheek,
and the brightness had faded from her eyes
| Poor Mary Nelson Once she had been the
happiest among 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 were shoeless. The
eldest was thirteen years Of age, and the 9th
er, two years younger The mother was hear
ing them recte grammar lesson, for she had
resolved that her children should never grow
up in ignorance. They could not attend school
| for thoughtless children sneered at them and
made them the object of eport and rdicue;
but in this respect they did not suffer, for their
melhcr was well educated, and she devoted
such time as she could spare TO their iustruc-
lion.
For more than two years, Mary Nelson had
earned all the money that had been used in the
house People hired her 10 wash and iron for
them, and besides the money they paid, gave
/ acr many articles of food and clothing. So
she lived on, and the only JOYS that dwelt with
J
ing 10 God
Supper time came, and Charles Nelson came
reelng home. lie had worked the day before
At helping move bailding aud thus had earn
ID mUuey enough to find himself in rum for
several days. As be stumbled into the house,
he children croEchcd close to their mother,
aud she even shrank away, for sometimes her
husband was ugly when thus intoxicated.
| ., how that man had changed in two years.
| Once there was not iiHer looking man in the
own In frame he had been tall, stout, com
| t.sct aud perfectly formed, whc his face bore
he very beau-e.t Of manly beauty. But all
was changed BOW. His noble form was bent
S limbs shruhkcn and tremuous, and his face
| III b.oated aad disfi4 urrd lie WAS not the
nau that Lad once b, Gu the frud husband aud
iotiug Ia her, The loving wife had prayed.
AeI I, and implorcd. but all TO no purpose; the
husband bound 10 the drinking comlmne.
IF the bur room, and would not break the
bends.
TLat evening Mary Nelson ate 10 supper,
.or Of all the food in The house, there was not
more than enough for her husband and chill
lren; but when her husband had gone, she went
and picked a few berries, and thus kept her
vital energies alive. That night the poor wo-
man 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 the liquor would not
revive him, for it would not remain on his
stomach. He drank very deeply the night be-
ore, and he felt miserable. At length, how
ever, he managed TO keep down few glasses
Of hot sling, but the close atmosphere of the
bar roem seemed to stiAe him, and be 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 a.
way from home; so he wandered off towards q
wood not far from the village, and sank down
by a stone wall and was soon buried in a pro-
found slumber. When he awoke, the sun was
shining down hot upon him, and raising him.
self to sitting posture he gazed about him.
He was just on the point of rising, when his
motion was arrested by the sound of voices
near at hand. He looked through chink in
the wall, and just upon the other side be saw
his two children picking berries, while little
further off were two other girls, the children
} of the carpenter who had lately moved intc
: the village.
Come. Katy" said one of these latter girli
to her companion, lets go away from here
because if any body should see US with thost
girls, they'd think we played with em. Come
let's 60"
But the berries are so thick here" said the
other.
r Never mind-werl come out some tint
; when those little, ragged, drunkards girls art
5 not here"
So the two favored ones went away, hand il
hand, and Nelly and Nancy Nelson sat dowr
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"
30, can't help it," sobbed the stricker
: one.
D why do they blame US. We are good anc
e kind, and loving, and never hurt any one o
= l wish somebody would love US; should b,
S so happy"
"And we are loved, Nancy. Only think O
e our noble mother. Who could love us as sh
q does?"
Il know know, Nelly; but that ant all
e Why don't papa love US as be used to do?-
p Don't you remember when he used to kiss u
!. and make US so happy? o, how 1 wish h
could be SO good to US once more. He is no
. -" "-sh, sissy! don't say anything more
: He may be coed to US again, if he knew w
t loved him, know he would. And then | be
o lieve God is good and surely he will help u
d some time, for mother prays to him every day.
t Yes" answered Nancy, Il know she does
e and God must be our Father sometime
e He is our Father how, sissy"
n Il know it, but he must be all we shall hay