Year: 1863

Charles Nelson had reached his thrty-ith


year, and at that age found himself going down


hill. He had once been one of the happies Of


mortals, and no blessing was wanted to complete


his happiness. He had one of the best wives, and


his children were intelligent and comely He


was carpenter by trade, and no man could COM


mand better wages, or be more sure of work. If


any man attempted to built house, Charles Mel


son must boss the job, and for miles around,


people sought him to work for them. But a


change had come over his way and he turned


back with the evil spirit. A new and experienced
carpenter had been sent for by those who could
no longer depend upon Nelson and he had settled
in the village and BOW 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 the inmates
Before it stretched a wide garden but tall raak
grass grew among the choking flowers, and the
pang 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 have
been taken off and sold. And the windows them
selves bespoke poverty and neglect, for in many
places tne gIaso 60r,o, ~s.t.-e.~-,-
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 yet in her early years of
life, and though she was still handsome to look
upon, the bloom had gone from her cheek, and
the brightness had faded from her eyes. Poor
Mary Nelson Once she had been the happest
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
the clothes they wore were all patched and worn,
and their feet we're shoeless. The eldest was
thirteen years of age, and the other two years
younger. The mother was hearing them lesson
in grammar, for she had resolved that her
children should not grow up in ignorance. They
could not attend the common school, for thought
less children sneered at them and made EN- the
object of sport and ridicule; but in this they did
not suffer- for their mother was well educated
and she devoted 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
for them, and besides the money paid, they gave
her many articles of 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
reelng home. He had worked the day before at
helping mcve building, and thus had money
enough to find himself in rum for several days
AS he stumbled into the house the children
crouched close 10 their mother, and even she
shrank away, for sometimes her husband was ugly
when thus intoxicated.


0, 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 well formed, while his
face bore the beau-ideal of manly beauty. But
all was chai77Sged now. His noble form was bent,
b;s l;r,bs sbrnrLe on md his face all bloated and
dis6gured. He was not he man who had once
been the fond husband and doat!ug iather' Inc
loving wife had prayed, wept, and lmf'oreu' ou'
all to no purpose; the husband was bound TO 'ne
drinking companions of the bar-room, and he
would not break the spell


That evening Mary Nelson would not eat any
SUPPER for of all the food in the house, there was
not enough for her husband and children; but
when her husband was gone, she went out and
picked few berries, and thus kept her vital
energies 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 as he rose, but he
was sick and faint, and the liquor would not re-
vive 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 few glasses of hot-sling, but the
close atmosphere of the bar-room seemed to stiAe
him and he went out. The poor man had sense
enough to know that if he could get little sleep
he would feel better, and he had just feeling
enough to make him wish to keep away from
home; so he wandered off towards wood not
far from the village and sunk down by stone
wall and was soon buried in profound slumber.
When he swoke the sun was shining. down hot