Year: 1865




Supper tine came and Charles Nelson
came reeling home He had worked the day
before, at helping to move a building, and
thus had earned money enough TO find bim-
self IN rum for several days. As he STUN
bled into the house, the children crouched
close to their mother, and even she shrank
away, for sometimes her husband was ugly
whenintoxicated.


On how that man had changed within
two years Once there was not a finer look
ing 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 shrun-
ken and trenulous, and his face all bloated
and disfgured He 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 husband was bound to the drinking com
panlons of the bar-room, and he would not
break the bands


That evening Mary Nelson ate no supper,
for of all the food 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 a few berries, and





night the poor woman prayed long and ear
nestly, and her little ones prayed with her.
On the following morning Charles Nelson
sought the bar-room as soon as he rose, 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 before, and he felt miserable. At
length, however he managed to keep down a
few glasses Of hot sling, bur the close atmos-
phere OF the bar-room seemed to stifle him,
and he went out


The poor man had sense enough to know
that if he could sleep he should feel better,
and ne had just feeling enough to wish to
keep away from home so he wandered off
to a wood not far from the village, and sank
down by stone wall and was soon in a
profound slumber When he awoke the
sun was shining down upon him, and raising
himself to a sitting posture he gazed about
him. lie 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 he saw his two children picking berries
while a little farther of were two more girls,
the children Of the carpenter who had lately
moved into the village.


Come, Katie, said one Of these latter
girls to her companion, let go away from
here, because if anybody was to 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-we' Il come out some time
when these little ragged drunkard' children
are not here.


So the favored ones walked away hand in
hand. and Nelly aud Nancy Nelson sat down
upon the ground and cried.
Don't cry, Nancy, said the eldest,
throwing her arms around her sisters neck


But you are crying. Nelly.


oh, Iean't belpit, sobbed the stricken
why do they blame us ~ murmureC
Nancy, gazing upinto her sister S face. "Ol
we are not to blame We are good, anC
kind, and loving, and we never hurt any
body Oh, | wish somebody would love us
! should be so happy.


And we are loved Nancy, Only think
| of our noble mother. Who could love us al
she does ?'


81 know know, Nelly but that ain'r
all. Why don't papa love us as he used tc
do? Don't you remember when he used tc
kiss us and make us so happy Oh, how
wish he could be so good to us once more
| He is not


"-sh, 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 he
will help us sometime, for mother prays te
him every day.


Yes" answered Nancy, I know she
does; and God must be our father some.
time. y


He is our father now, sissy y


II know it, and he must be all we shall
have by-and-by, for you don't you remem,
ber that mother told us that she might leave
us one of these days? She said a cold dag
ger was upon her heart, and


S-sh Don't Nancy, you'll"


The words were choked up with sobs, anC
tears, and the sisters wept long together
At length they arose and went away, fol
! they saw more children coming.


As soon as the little ones were out o.
sight, Charles Nelson started to his feet
His hands were clenched, his eyes were fxec
upon vacant point with an eager gaze.


My God, he gasped, what william
am. Look at me now. What state 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 few moments
he stood with his hands clenched, and his
eyes fixed. At length his gaze was turned
upward, and his clasped hands were raised
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 affected tx
notice it not He drew shilling from hi
pocket-it was his last-and handing it tc
his wife, and asked her if she would send ant
| get him some porridge.


The wife was startled by the tone in whicl
this was spoken, for it sounded as in day
gone by.


The porridge was made nice and nourish
ing and Charles ate it ALL He went to bee
early, and early on the following day hewa,
up. He asked his wife if she had milk anC
-four enough to make him another bowl O
porridge.


Yes, Charles, she said, we have no
touched it.


Then if you are willing, should Ike
some more "


The wife moved quickly about the work,
/ and ere long the food was prepared. HI
washed and dressed, and would have shaved
4 had his hand been steady enough He left
his home and went at once to man who
/ had just commenced to frame house.


Mr.. Manly, hesaid, addressing the man
alluded to, II have drank the last drop oi
alchoholie beverage that ever passes my lips.
| Ask no more questions, but believe me now
/ while you see me true. VIII you give me
work ~