Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1834-10-16

be considered-morrs singular than that
wherein IL seems To collect itself. as
II were, and 10 concentrate. into a soli-
tary moment Of tune, all the thousand
emotions, whether Of bliss or agony.
which II may have endured in discon-
nected succession through a term Of
years. That moments Of th,s dcscrip-
ton are neither OF rare occurrence, nor
confined To individuals Of any peculiar
character,-mustb be evident To all who
have observed, even with common in
tcrest. that most wonderful of created
essences, the mind of man. To those.
however, who look somewhat beyond
the surface Of things, IL will become
manifest, without becoming, ON that ac-
count, one iota the less marvellous
that the mind Is more apt 10 return, and
to live over again the events OF former
days, abstracting itself wholly, and be-
coming totally forgetful OF the present
IN ITS contemplation Of the past, at pc
mods OF acute feeling. or Of engrossing
excitement periods IN which IL would
be naturally expected that apprehen-
SION, anxiety, or sorrow, would seize
all the faculties Of thought with a grasp
so paralysing. As to nvet them imInove-
ably To the consideration Of their owu
immediate destiny.
IL was In state Of mind not wholly
disSimilar TO that which we have en-
dcavoured to shadow forth, that Mary.
IN the solitude Of her last earthly night.
diverted her attention entirely from the
shock she was about TO undergo on the
morrow, thought only OF her alive land.
still dear, though still ungrateful. a
prey 10 the fierce contentious of her
own factious offspring; OF her son, torn
at the earliest dawn of his affections
irom the arms OF mother, nurtured A.
mong those who would teach him To- g.
radicatc every warmer recollection ::
to pluck forth, as If II were an Offend
ing eve, every lingering tenderness for
that being, who, amidst all her sins and
all her soTows. had never ceased 10
love him with perfect and entire love.
There Is, in truth, a something more
evidently divine, partaking more near
~ oil that, which we believe 10 BE- the
very essence of divinity, in a mother 5
love, than IN any other pang or passion ::
Tor every passion, how sweet soever IL
may be, Is yet pang.-Jf the human
soul. All other love Is liable 10 di-
mlnution, TO change, to extinction; all
other love may be alienated by the
neglect, chilled by the coldness, froz-
en- to the core by the worthlcSsncss, Of
the object once beloved.
All other affections are influenced by
a thousand trivial circumstances Of time
and place; absence NAV weaken their
influence, time obscure their yiyidncss !:
and above all, custom NAV rob them III
their value; over all other love. the
estimation OF the world exercises an al
most boundleSs sway; We honour, in
our heart, those whom the world has
dignlfied with its approval, and too Of
Ten. II that approval be numerically
Withdrawn, We too inSenSibly desist
from that admiration which must be a
component part IN every warmer sem
tment. But on the love of mother.
as 1t does. before the
object of her solicitude possesses form
or being; springing from agony or Sor-
row; nPcning in anxiety and care /:
and reaping too often the bitter harvest
oi ingratitude, all external Influences.
all incidental Causes, are powerlcss and
VAIN. Time-bui excites her adrnira-
ton, but increases her solicitudc. but
redoubies her affection. Absence
but causes her to dwell Hith a more
cngTossing memory on him. from whom
her heart Is never absent Custom
but .hailows the sentiments 20 which na-
ture has gwen birth. Neglect and cold
ness--but cause her to STRAIN every
nerve TO merit more and more the poor
return Of filial lovc, the solitary aim OF
her existence. 80 heartleSsly denied her.
Nay, worthlcssncss nseif-bui binds
her more closely To- him whom the falSc
and tickle world has cast ASIDE. 60 find
a refuge in the only bosom which will
not perceive his errors, OF credit his ut
Ter destitution.
Thus, thus Il was with Mary She
knew that the child Of her affections ~
garded those affections a. ,iie and worth
less weeds She knew that he was sell
hsh, vain, and heartlessi She knew that.
when she had to,led through many
summers day and many wintry i,ht
In framing for her beloved boy A g,t-
ment, embroidered with the h. 4 Of her
Pour skill. deckcd with every gem that
yet renamed 10 her of all her former
pomP-ihat garment. the labor and al
the same time solace to her imprisnn-
ed wearincsS-that garment. which
son, possessed even of spark 81 human
feeling. would have cherished above
the value of man 3 loyalty. OF woman
love.--would have przcd beyond throne
or PnncipalIiy would have worship
ped. a. second only 20 the God 4 b..
Alteration that garment. on a niscra-
bic PreteNi II oOuu etiquette. was re-
turned 81 the heart broken rar,s,y. =.