Cheraw gazette and Pee Dee farmer. [volume] (Cheraw S.C.) 1838-1839, 1839-06-17
A MOTHERS GRAVE.

followed into ouryng ground IN she
suburbs ofthe city, small tram OF PERSONS
M, more than dozen, who had come to
hn-v one of their acquaintance. Tne cier.
oyr1an 10 at n a ce was Q di lite b y
W Sy the hand. VINO seemed 70 be the only
relative the deceased in the slender group.
I gathered With them around the grave, and
when the plain coffin was lowered down the
child burst forth iu uncomfortable grief. Inc
little fellow had no one lett to whom nc
could look for affection, or who cou'u ad'
dress him in tones Of parental kndaess -
The las, of his knsfolk was IN the grave
and be was alone. -, ~,
When the cla,norous grief OF ihe child
had little subsided, the clergyman address
sed US with the customary exhoItation, 10
accept the admonilion, and be prepared /;
and. turning 10 the child, he added, " She
is no, to remain in this grave for ever as
true as the grass which is now chilled with
the frost fthe season shall spring 10 green
ness and life in a few months, SO true shall
your mother come up from that grave TO
another life-to a life ofhappinessi l hope
The attendants shoyelled in the earth upon
the coffin, and some one took little William,
the child, BY the hand, and led him forth
from the iowiy tenement of his mother.
Late in the ensuing spring was in the
neiehborhood of .he same burying ground,
and, seeing the gate open, walked among
the graves for some time, reading The
names Of the dead, and wonde. ling what
strange disease could snatch off so many
younger than mysclf--when reco'lectns
that / was near the grave Of the poor wld.
ow hurled The previous autumn, turned 10
see what had been done to preserve the
memory ofone so utterly destitute cf earthly
friends. 70 my surprise, found the most
desirable of all aementos for mothers
sepulchre-lit,le William was sitting near
the head of the uow sunken grave, looking
in,ently upon some green shoots that had
come forth with the warmth Of spring. from
the soil tha, covered his mothers coffin.
William started at my approach and
would nave left the place. II was long De.
fore / could induce him to tarry and IN
deed [ did not win his confidence told
him that | was present when they buried
his mother, and had marked his tears at The
tine.
AThcn you heard The minister say that
my mother would come up on. oflhe grave"
said little William.
1'Idid."
at is true, is i. no,?" asked he, in tone
of confidence.
81 mos, firmly believe it," said |.
aBelieye it," said the chlld-"believe
it-I thought you knewit-l know IT,"
allow do you know it, my dear?"
"The minister said that. as true as the
grass would grow up, and the flowers bloom
in spring, SO true would my mother rise. !
came a few days afterward and planted
flower seeds on the grave. The grass came
green in this burying ground long ago and
/ watched every day for the flowers. and
today they have come up too--see them
breaking through the ground--by and by
mamma will come again"
A smile of exulting hope played on the
features of the boy; and felt pained ut
disturbing the faith and confidence with
which he was anmateu.
"But, my little child" said !, cit is not
here that your mother will rise."
ayes, here" said he, with emphasis;
"here they placed her, and here haze come
ever since the first blade ofgrass was green
.hisyear." -.
looked around, and saw tha, the tiny
fee, of the child had trod out the herbage at
tho grave side, so constant had been his at
tendance. What a faithful watch keeper
what mother would desire richer mo.
numen, than the form her only son bend
ing fearful, but hoping, over her grave
"But, William" said ], sit is IN another
world that she will rise :" and attempted
70 explain to him the nature o. tha. promise
which he had mistaken: The child was
confused, and he appeared mel her pleased
nor satisfied. -
"If mama is not coming back TO me-if
she is no, to conc up here, what shall! 90!
Icannot stay without her,"
"You shall 60 to her," said /, adopting
the language ofScip,ure ;"you shall go TO
her, but she shall not come again 10 you"
"Let me 60, then," said Wllliam' let
me 90 now, ,ha, may rise with mamma
William" said /, pointing down 10 the
plants lust breaking through the ground
Is the seed which is sown there would not
have came up if it had not been ripe; SO
YOU must wait till your appoi ''ed time, until
your end come;h."
"Then shall see her."
81 surely hope So" ,, :,
Il will wait, then" said the child "but l
thought should see her soon-i thought
that I should meet her here"
And he did. In month William ceased
70 wait; and they opened his mothers