Edward Ford owned a snug little cottage with a small farm situated about
a mile from the village. When he was married to Ellen G----, who was
said to be one of the best girls in the village, he took her to his nice
little home, where he had every thing around very pleasant and
comfortable. Ellen was very industrious and remarkable for her prudence
and neatness. She spun and churned, and tended her poultry, and would
often carry her butter and eggs herself to market, which greatly added
to their comfort. She had a beautiful-little girl, and they gave her
the name of Lily. Things glided smoothly on until Lily was sixteen.
Edward was very fond of the violin and of reading books that were not
very useful, and as he was very fond of music, he spent a great deal
more time in making music and playing the violin than what his wife
thought profitable. Ellen loved music, and was willing to have him read
profitable books, but all this while she thought he might be patching up
the fences and improving the shed for the better comfort of the cattle.
Still she would not complain, hoping all the time that he would see the
necessity of being a little more industrious. The winter came, and all
through its dreary months he was unable to work, as he was sick. And
although Ellen worked hard, yet her husband required so much of her
attention, that all her efforts availed not much to keep poverty out of
their cottage. When the spring came, Ellen's husband was able to be
about again, and she began to hope that Edward would be more
industrious, and they would be able by strict economy to repair the loss
occasioned by his winter's illness, which had put them so far
behindhand. Edward had become lazy or disheartened. Affairs about house
continued to grow worse; his farm was ill worked or neglected, and by
the fall, his horse and oxen had to go for necessary expenses. Ellen
still kept her cows, but it was now very little help she received from
her husband. He had been formerly one of the most temperate of men, but
now he spent his days from home; and here lay Ellen's deepest sorrow. He
was often at the village tavern, wasting in senseless riot the time,
health and means that God had given him for other purposes. Ellen felt
sad, and in the next story you will see a painful scene in the life of