Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1828-02-20

Tor since tie birth ofCan, tic Inst male child,
To him thu did btn yese'lay sn.I'fe,
There WIS nOt such 4 gracious creature born.
Eut now WI ciuker sirOw eat my bud,
And chase The native ieiuiy immi las check,
Aud he viii look ~ hollow ~ "A gLcst;
As dan and naragTl rs an que III;
And 80 he'll die; aud, rising 80 nglin,
Nlen slrrll incoi. hun IN Tire court nflesven
Islhl not know him therefore never, never
MCsl / bchv!d my prytiy Aitiir more.
Happening, the other dow, 10 visit The resi-
dcnce of one Of Tic families of the town, We
uninientionally in.ruded on the grieis of a
mother, who bent in silence aud in sorrow,
over her son, a lad about the age OF twelve,
who lay expiring on tho cold couch Of death
and we were forcibly reminded Of the pa
lhetic quotation, which heads this article. and
wlic!, when recited by a Mrs. Duff, a Mrs. Sid
dons, or a Mrs Sloman, produces an effect
upon an audience, which we find it impossible
TO describe.
As we entered tho apartment, sacred to a
mothers grief, the fond and doating parent
rose rom her k~noeling posture, to receive us,
and her pallid cheek, and fearful eye, too
well bespoke tho ogonies Of her lacera'ed
heart. We inquired of her the nature Of the
disease, which had stricken her darling boy;
- sho would have replied, but she could not,
for her bosom was surcharged with sorrow-
her grief was unutterablc.
The lad lay quietly on his death couch, and
tho film which was upon his eya, and his hag-
gard coun,cnance. too veil told, that the hour
of his departure was near at hand. Ho was
enjoying a momentary sleep when we entered,
but the sobs and deep signs Of his mother
awoke him. and feebly raising his hands to his
head, he cnquired what was the hour of the
day; if the weather was pleasant; and making
a few enquiries after the welfare of his play
mates, lIspcd a sentence ofsorrow, turned over
again, and again fell into a momensary sleep.
But II was not for him TO enjoy repose, beyond
the little period of a moment, for soon was he
broken from his slnmbers by spasms, and the
most oxcruciating pains The afflicted moth
err, again wept over her child-strove to re-
press the pains that DISTRACTED him, but all
was in vain. For n few moments he s.rug-
glcd - then the tempest was subsidized, and once
more the boy enjoyed momentary rest. AS
soon as he was enabled TO articulate, he raised
his little and half palsicd hands to mis- mother,
and clasping hers, he begged her not to weep;
for, said he, mother; soon I shall be ut rest
with my father who is in heaven, and he will
bless me. And when | am buried in the dark
cold grave, Heaven will bless you and Pa, and
sister and all Of US. Weep not then for me
dearest mother, believe that l go to the bosom of
my God, and shall be happy. Do not cry thus,
for indeed your tears only add to my anguish,
and make more rude my passage to the tomb
AS We gazed on a scene SO painful, w could
not but remember the poem entitled the Dy-
ing Blind Boy to his Mother, and involuntarily
W. repeated it.:
"Mohcr, I am dying now,
Deaths cold damps are on my brow
Leave me not-cach pang grows stronger,
Patient watch a little longer,
Sweet ii is your voice to hear,
Though dull and heavy grows my ear;
Wait and take my last adeu,
Never Moier loved like you.
Though your form meier might see,
Your imagc was mol hid from nc
STAMPED on my adoing mind,
Beautiful but undein'd;
Ever fair and ever bright,
That vision fGpl Inc with delight.
Well knew, wlaeer might be
Those Oft prai3'd forms could not see,
Might all their beauty view,
None ofthem would rival you.
Life to me was sweet and dear,
While iliv'd the tales to hear,
Told by you on wintry hearth,
All to make your blind boy mirh;
And I lUv'dtuy voice 10 Join
In chorus fthose hymns divine,
ny which you iondiy taught your hoy,
Toiook to Heaven with hope and joy.
Sun " moon could not see,
But love measured time for me,
When your kiss my slumber broke,
Then | knew tie morn had woke;
And when came the lourto pr,y,
Then ! knew twas close Of day,
When | heard the loud winds blow,
And | felt the warm fire glow,
Then knew twas winter wild,
And kept at home your helpless child I!
When the air grew mild and soft,
And the gay lark sang aloa;
And | heard the streamlet flowing,
And I sinelt the wild fow'r blowing,
And the lee did round me hum,
Then knew the spring was come.
Forth | WANDERED with delight,
And knew when days were bright
When I cimb'd tire green hills sido,
Fancy traced the prospect wide
And twas pleasant when I press'd
The warm and downy tur; to rest
Now, | never more shall roam
The many pltlls around my home
And you will ofen lonk in vain,
Nor hail your wanderer Ger again;