Year: 1862

Charles Nelson had reached his thirty-flth
year, and at that age he found himself going
down hill. lie had once been one OF the
happiest Of mortals. and no blessing was
wanting to complete the sum OF his happi-
ness. lie had one Of the best Of wives, and
his children were intelligent and comely.-
lie was a carpenter by trade, and no man
could command better wages, or bemorc sure
of work. II any man attempted to build a
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. A demon had met him on his way, and
no had turned back with the evil spirit. a
new and experienced carpenter had been sent
for by thoss who could no longer depend up
on Nelson, and he had settled in the village,
and now took Nelson's place.


On u back street, where the great trees
threw their green branches over the way,
stood small cottage, which had once been
the pride Of its inmates. Before it stretched
a wide garden, but tall rank grass grew up
among the choking flowers, and the paling
Of the ienco 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 of and sold. And
the windows themselves bespoke poverty and
neglect, for in many places tho glass was
gone, and shingles, rags and old hats had Ia
ken its place. A single look at the house
and its accompaniments told the story. 1t
was the drunkard's home.


Within sat a woman yet in the 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 bc 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 other two years young.
er, The mother was hearing them recite
grammar lesson. for she had resolved that her
children should never grow up in ignorance.
They could not attend the common school,
for though,less children sneered at them and
made them the subject of sport and ridiculc;
but in this respect they did not suffer, for
their mother was well educated, and she DO
voted such time as she could spare to their
instruction.


For more than two years Mary Nelson had
earned all the money that had been used in
the house. People hired her to wash, iron
and sew Tor them, and besides the money
paid, they gave her many articles Of food
and clothing. So she lived on, and the only
joys that dwelt with her now were teaching
her children and praying To God.





Supper time came, and Charles Nelson
came reeling home. He had worked the day
before at helping move a building, and thus
had earned money enough to find himself in
rum for several days, As he stumbled into
the house the children crouched close to their
mother, and even she shrank away, for some
times her husband was ugly when thus in
toxicated.


o, how that man had changed within two
years Once there was not finer 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
,remulous, and his face all bloated and dis
figured. lie was not the man who had once
been the fond husband and doting father
The loving wife had prayed, and wept, and
implored. but all to no purpose : the hus-
band was bound to the drinking companions
Of the Lar-room, 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 husband
and children but when her husband had
gone she wen, out and picked few berries
and thus kept her vital energies alive. That
night the poor woman prayed long and ear
nestly' and her little ones prayed with her.


On the following morning Charles Nelson