The Elk advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Elk Co., Pa.) 186?-1868, 1867-08-29
Selected SNisttllanp.
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Charles Nelson had reached thirs
ty.fivc, anaNat that age he found him
self going down hill. lie had once
been one of the happicst of mortals,
and no blessing was wanted to complete
the sum Of his happiness. lie had one
ofthe incest wives, and his children
were intelligent and comely He was
Il carpenter by trade, and no man could
command better wages, or more sure
Of work. If any man attempted to
build house, Charles Nelson must
boss the Job, and for miles around peo
pie sought him to work for them But
change had come over his own life
new AMI experienced carpenter had
been sent for by those who could no
longer depend upon Nelson, and he
settled in the village and took Nelson's
place.
On the back street, where the great
trees threw their green branches over
the way, stood a small cottage, which
had been the pride of its inmates Be.
fore it stretched a wide garden, but
tall, rank grass grew up among the
choking flowers, and the paling OF the
fence was broken in 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
or and sold. And the windows them
selves bespoke poverty and neglect,
for in many places the glass was gone,
aud shingles, rags, and old hats had
taken its place. A single look at the
house and its accompaniments told the
story. 1t was the drunkard's home.
Within, sat woman in the carly
years Of her life, and though she was
still handsome to look upon, the bloom
had gone from her checks, and bright
ness had faded from her eyes. Poor
Mary Nelson Once she had been one
of the happiest among the happy, but
now none could be more miserable !!
Near her sat two children, both boauti
full in form, and features, but their
parbcs were all patched and worn and
their feet shoecss. The eldest was
thirteen years old, and her sister few
years younger. The mother was hear.
ing them recite grammer lesson, for
she had resolved that her children
should never grow up in iguorence-
They could not attend the common
schools, for thoushtlcss children sneer-
ed at them, and made them the subject
Of sport aud ridicule but in this re.
apect they did not suffer, for their
mother was we'll educated, and she de-
voted such time as she could spare
to their instruction.
For more than two years, Mary
Nelson earned all tho 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 and clothing.
So she lived on, and the only joys that
dwclt with her now were teaching her
children and praying to God
Supper time came, a. Charles Mel
son came reeling home. He had work.
ed the day before at helping to move
a building, and thus had earned money
enough TO find himself in rnm for sew
cral days As he stumbled into the
house the children crouched close to
their mother, and even she shrank
away, for sometimes her husband was
ugly when intoxicated.
Oh . how that man had changed with
in two years Once their was rot a
finer looking man in the village. 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 tremulous, and his face
all bloatcd and disfgured. He was
the man who had once been the fond
husband and doting father. The loy.
ing wife had prayed, and wept, and
implored, but all to no purpose A., Tho
husband was bound to tho drinking
companions of .no bar.room and he
Woula not break the bands.
I'.si evening Mary Nelson ate no
supper for Of all the food in the honso
49, =" ." NV H'pib tuAu CuUuku kUT
her children but when her husband was
gone she went aud picked few berries
aud thus kept her vital energies alive
That night the poor woman prayed
lons aud earnestly, and her little ones
prayed with her.
On the following morning Charles
Nelson sought the bar-room as he rose
hnt he was sick and faint, and the liq-
aor coaid not revive him for II would
SIT remain on his stomach. He drank
9ary deeply the night brfore, and he
SIT miserable, At length, however
J. managed to keep down a few glas.
s:s of hot-sling, but the close atmos-
aDere ofthe bar-room seemed to stiAo
i'm and he went out.
The poor man had seuse enough to
now that if he could sleep he should
eel better, and he had just feeling
..oouuh In wish IN Eoan auoU fro,n