Lincoln telegraph. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1836-1846, 1838-11-01

climbing the slippery shrouds, or doing the
bidding of rough unfeeling men. Again
she fancied that he was sick and suffering
with none to watch over him, or have pa
thence with his waywardness and her
heau which silver hairs began to sprinkle,
gushed forth, as it were fountain of wa
ters.
But hope of his return began to cheer
her. When the new moon looked with its
splendid crescent in at her window, "my
boy will be here before that moon is gone ;
and when it waned and went away, she
sighed and fondly said "my boy will re-
member me-"
Years fled. And there was no letter, no
recognition. Sometimes she gathered IT,
dings from comrade, that he was on some
far sea, or in some foreign land. But no
message for his mother Whenever he
it was not to seek her cottage, but to spend
his wages in reveliy, and reembark on a
new voyage.
Weary years and no letter Yet she had
abridged her comforts that he might be
taught to write, and she used to exhibit his
penmanship with such pride. at sOas the
rag with sailors.
Amid all those years OF neglect and cru
city, the mothers love lived on. When
hope refused its nourishment, it asked food
Of memory. 1t was satisfied with the
spread again. Memory brought the broken
bread which she had gathered into her bas-
kct when the feast of innocense was over;
and love revived it as a mendicant, and fed
upon 1t and gave thanks. She fed upon the
cradle smile, upon the first caress Of infan-
cy, upon the loving years of childhood,
when putting his cheek to hers he slumber-
ed the livelong night, or when teaching to
to walk, he tottered with outstretched arms
to her, as a new hedged bird to its nest.
Bat religion found this lonely widow, and
communed with her at deep midnight while
the storm was raging without. 1t told her
Of a name better than sons or daughters,
and she was comforted. 1t babe her TO re-
sign herself to the will of her Father in
Heaven: and she found peace.
1t was cold evening in winter, and the
snow lay deep upon the earth. The widow
sat alone by her little freside. The marks
Of early old age had settled upon her. -
There was meekness on her brow, and in
Der hand book from whence that meek
ness came.
heavy knock shook her door. and ere
she could open it a man entered. lie NOV
ed with pain like one crippled, and his red
downcast visage was partially concealed by
torn hat. AEleng those who had been ia
miliar with bis youthful countenance, only
one save the being who made him could
have recognized him through his disguise
and misery. The mother looked deep into
his eye, saw faint tinge of that fair blue
which had charmed her when 1t Enclosed
from the cradle dream
"hIy son my son %
Had the prodgal returned by a late re-
pcntance to atone for years of ingratitude
and sin? will not speak Of the revels
that shook the peaceful roof Of his widowed
parent, or of the profanity which disturbed
her repose. The remainder of his history
is brief. The effects of vice had debillta-
ted his constitution; and once as he was
apparently recovering from long paroxysm
Of lntemperance, apoplexy struck his
heated brain, and he lay boated and
hdcous carcase.
The poor mother faded away and follow
cd him. She had watched over kim with
meek nursing patience to the last. Her
love had never turned away from him
through years of neglect, brutality and re-
voting wickedness.
Bearing all things, hoping all things,
enduring all things" was its motto.
Is not the same love in the hearts of all
who are mothers' And wherefore, has it
been placed there, that deathIess lover
The wisdom that never errs, tempers means
to ends. 1t proportions the strongest affec-
tons TO the greatest needs. 1t arms the
tlmid domestic bird with an eagles cour'
age, when its young are to be defended.
1t has implanted in our bosoms love next
in patience to that of redeemer, that we
may perform the ministry of an angel, and
help to people with angels the court of
Heaven.