The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1839-05-18
MISCELL A N E O u S
A Mothers Grave.

/ followed into the burying ground, in the sub
urbs Of the city, small train of persons not more
than dozen, who had come to bury one OF their
acquaintance. The clergyman In attendance,
was leading little boy by the hand, who seemed
to be one of the relatives Of the deceased in the
slender group. gathered with them round the
grave, and when the plain coffin was lowered
down, the child burst forth in uncontrolled grief
The little fellow had no one left to whom he
could look for affection, or who could address him
in tones Of parental kindness. The last of his
kinsfoks was in the grave-and he was alone.
When the clamorous grief of the child had a
little subsidized, the clergyman addressed us with
the customary exhortaton to accept the monition,
and be prepared and turning to the child, he adj
ded j.; She is not to remain in the grave forever ;
as true as the grass which is now chilled with the
frost Of the season, shall spring to greenness and
life in few months, SO true shall your mother come
up from that grave to another life, to life ofhapp
ness hope" The attendants shoveed in the earth
upon the coffin, and some one took little William
the child, by the hand, and led him forth from the
Iowly tenement of his mother.
Late in the ensuing spring, was in the neigh
borhood of the same burying ground, and seeing
the gate open, walked among the graves for
some time reading the names of the dead and
wondering what strange disease could snatch off
so many younger than myself-when recollechng
that was near the grave of the poor widow, bury
ed the previous autumn, turned TO see what had
been done to preserve the memory of one so utter
" destitute of earthly friends. TO my surprise
| found the most desirable of all mementos for a
mothers grave-little William was sitting near
the head Of the now sunken grave looking intent
ly upon some green shoots that had come forth
with the warmth of spring, from the soil that COW
cred his mothers coffin
William started at my approach and would have
left the place; it was long before | could induce
him to tarry; and indeed did not win his conf
dence until ! told him that | was present when
they buried his mother, and had marked his tears
at the time.
"Thcn you heard the minister say, that my
mother would come up out of this grave said lit
tie William.
81 did,
at is true, is it not?" asked he, in tone of
confidence.
al most firmly believe it." said l.
Believe it," said the child" believe it
thought you knew i'll know it."
How do you know it my dear?'
1.-The minister said that it was as true as the
grass would grow up, and the flowers bloom in
the spring so true would my mother rise. |
came few days afterward, and planted flower
seed on the grave. The grass came green in this
buryng ground long ago; and | watched every
day for the flowers, and to day they came up too
sec them breaking through the ground-by and
by nanny will come again"
A smile of exulting hope played on the features
Of the boy; and | felt panied at disturbing the
faith and confidence at which he was animated.
"But my little child" said !, it is not here
that your poor mother will RISE.
"Yes here" said he, with emphasis" here
n opd hove | hot cipco tho |
first blade of grass was green this year"
looked around, and saw that the tiny feet of
the child had trod out the heritage at the grave
side, so constant had been his attendance. What
a faithful watch keeper-what mother would de-
sire richer monument than the form of her only
son bending fearful, but hoping, over her grave
"But William" said |, it is in another world
that she will arise, and / attempted to explain
10 him the nature of the promise which he had
mistaken. The child was confused, and he APP
peared neither pleased nor satisfied.
If nanny is not coming back to me--if she is
not coming up here, what shall | dol cannot
stay without her."
you shall go to her. said I, adopting the Ian
guage of the Scripture" you shall 60 to her, but
she shall not come to YOU"
Let me 60 them" said William, "et me go
now, that may rise with my NANNY
William" said |, pointing down TO the plants
just breaking through the ground the seed
which is sown there would not come up, if it had
not been ripe; you must wait till your ap-
pointed time until your end comch."
"Then | shall see her."
81 surely hope so,'
civil wait then" said the child, but thought
should see her soon-I thought should meet
her here"
And he did. In a month William ceased to
wait; and they opened his mothers grave, and
placed his little coffin on hers-it was the only
wish the child expressed in dying. Better teach
ers than |, had instructed him in the way to meet
his mother, and young as the little sufferer was,
he had learned that all the labors and hopes of
happiness short of heaven, pro6tless and vain.
u. S. Gazette.