Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1840-12-10


Our hopes, and then our fears--and when
These are dead The debt 10 due
Dust claims husband we die too.h
was very vonn~secarceiy beyond the
verge Of infancy, the last and most help.
less OF three little girls who were gathered
around my poor mothers death bed. -
WhenI look on the chain OF my varied ex
istence--tkat wool u gold and iron woven
so strangely togeiher--the remembrance
Of that young being who persisted so ear
~ and SO gently from the bosom Of her
family, forms the first sad link which ever
gives forth a thrill of funeral music when
my heart turns 10 it--musc which be-
comes more deep toned and solemn as that
chain is strengthened by thought, and
bound together by the events OF successive
years. The frs. human being that can
remember, was my invalid mother, NOV
ing ianguidly about her home, with the
| paleness Of disease sitting on her beaul.
full features, and q deep crimson spot
burning with panelll brightness in either
cheek. remember that her step became
unsteady, and her voice fainter and more
gentle, day by day, Till, at last, she
sunk to her bed, and we were called upon
TO witness her spirit go forth 10 the pre-
sence Of jehovah. They took me TO her
couch, and told me 10 look upon my mo-
Their before she died. Their words had
no meaning to me then, but the whisper in
which they were spoken thrilled painfully
through my in,aDt heart, and felt that
something very terrible was about to hap.
pen. Pale, troubled faces were around
that death. pillow-stern men, with sad
heavy eyes--women overwhelmed with
tears and sympathy, and children, that
huddled together shuddering and weciing
they knew not wherefore. Filled with
wonder and awe, lcrept to my mother,
and burying my brow n the mass of rich
brown hair that hoated over her pillow,
heavy with the damp OF death, but still
lustrous in spite Of disease, Itrembled and
sobbed withou. knowing, why, save that
all around me was full Of grief and lamen
ta,ion. She murmured, and placed her
pale hand on my head. My little heart
swelled, but lay motionless and filled
with awe. Her lips moved, and voice
tremulous and very low, came family
over them. Those words, broken and
sweet as they were, left the first dear inn
preston that ever remained on my men,
Dry" Lead her not into temptation, but
deliver her from evil" THIS was my
mothers last prayer in that imperfect
sentence, her gentle voice went on, for.
ever. Young as was, that prayer had
entered my heart with solemn strength
| raised my head from its beautiful resting
place, am gazed awe-stricken upon the
face Of my mother. Oh, how an hour
had changed ii! The crimson flush was
quenched on her cheeks, moisture lay
upon her forehead, and the grey mystcri-
Gus shadows Of death we're stealing over
each thin feature, yet her lips still moved
and her deep blue eyes were bent on me,
surcharged with spiritual brightness, as If
they would have left one Of her vivid, un.
earthly rays as the seal Of her death bed
covenant. Slowly as the sunbeams pale at
night-fail from the caves of flower, went
out the star.like fire Of those eyes; mist
came over them, softl y as tho dews ofnight
fall upon that flower, and she was dead.
Even then, knew not the meaning Of the
solemn change had Witnessed, but when
they bore me forth from my mothers
death bed, my heart was filled with fear
and misglving.
All we're overwhelmed with the weight
Of their own sorrow, and ! was permitted
to wander around my desolaie home I'M
checked and forgotten. ! stood wonder
ing by as they shiouded my mother, and
smoothed the long hair over her pale FORE
head. Silently watched them spread
the winding sheet, and fold those small
pale hands over her bosom but when
they closed the blinds, and went forth, my
little heart swelled with a sense Of unkind-
ness in shutting out the sun shine, and the
sweet summer air which had so often call
ed smile to her pale lips, when it came
on her bed, fragrant from the rose thickets
and the white clover field, which lay be-
meath the windows they had so cruelty
dsrkened, The gloom Of that death