Lexington union. (Lexington, Miss.) 1838-18??, 1840-12-12
r,om ,he Lady's Companion for November
!, MOTHERS LAST PRAYER.
ny MRS. ANN s. STEPHENS.

ar<t our flowers dic===nhd then
onrhones. and then our fcars--and when |
These a,e dead, the debt is due,
nnst claims dust--and we die too"
vas very young, scarcely beyond the
,,.re If infancy, the last and most help
lsss Of three little girls who were gathered
'r y my poor mothers dea'h'bed -
When / look on the cham of my varied
.r; st wool Of gold and iron wo-
VEN 80 strangely together--the remem-
hrnoce Of that young being who persisted
i early and so gently from the bosom Of
her family, forms the FIRST sad link which
over gives forth thrill of funeral music
when my heart turns 10 it-musc which
becomes more deep. toned and solemn as
that chain is strengthened by thought, and
bound together by the events of success
i've years The first human being that |
can remember, was my invalid mother,
moving languidly about her home, with
lie naen4ss If disease sit!.og on her baHn-
Ii dfl features, and crimson spot burning
N with painful brightness on either check.
remember thu. her step became unstea-
d., and her voice fainter and more gentle,
day by day, till, at last, she sunk TO her
II bed and We we're called upon to witness
4 her spirit 90 forth to the presence Of Je-
hovah. They took me TO her couch, and
n told me to look upon my mother before
N be died. Their words had no meaning
to me then, but the whisper in which they
we're spoken thrilled painfully through my
infant heart, and | felt that something
very terrible was about to happen. Pale,
noubled faces were around the death'p
N Iow-stern men, with sad, heavy eyes
women overwhelmed with tears and SYM
uahv, aud children that huddled together
II shud1ering and weeping, they knew moi
II wherefore. Filled with wonder and awe
crept to my mother, and burying M
brow in the mass of rich brown hair tina
Aoated over her pillow, heavy with the
damp of death, but still lustrous in spite o
disease, | trembled and sobbed without
knowing why, save that all around me wa
grief and lamentation. She murmured
and placed her pale hand on my head
NJ little heart sweled, but l lay motion
less and filled viii ave. Her lips moved
and a voice, tremulous and very low, cam
family over them. Those words, broke
and sweet as they were, left the first dea
impression that ever remained on m
memory-"Lead her not into temptation
but deliver her from evil" This was m
mothers last prayer! In that imperie'
sentence, her gentle voice went out 70
ever Young as l was, that prayer ha
entered my heart with solemn strength
raised my head from its beautiful Resin
place, and gazed awe stricken upon II
face of my mother. Oh, how an hour ha
changed il! The crimson flash w
quenched on her cheeks, moisture Ia
upon her forehead, and the grey, mystel
Gus shadows of death were stealing ov
each thin feature, yet her lips still move
end her deep blue eyes were bent on N
surcharged with spiritual brightness, as
they would have left one Of their vivi
unearhly rays, as The seal Of her dea
bed covenant. Slowly as the sunbeam
pale at night fall from the leaves of
Hover, went out the star like fire OF tho
eyes; amst came over them softly rs
cews might fall upon that flower, and 8
vas dead. Even then, knew not
meaning OF the solemn change ! had "
messed, but when they bore me forth frc
my mothers death bed, my heart was fl
with lear and misgiving.
All we're overwhelmed with the wei
Of their own sorrow, and was permitted
wander around my desolate home unche
W ana forgotten. Islood wondering
~ mey shrouded my mother, and smoc
ca e. The long hair over her pale forehe
silently watched them spread the wi
.uS sheet, and fold those small pale ha
ana went forth, my little heart swe
WIN sense Of unkindness in shutting
INC sunshine, and the sweet summer
wn'cn had so often called a smile to
p'le lips, when it came to her bed, f
ule rose thickels and the white clover
winch lay beneath the windows they
- cruelty darkened. The gloom of
I Iea,h chamber made me very sorrow
%, went to bed, turned down the lii
Suu lald my hand caressingly on the
,ace which 10y so white and motionle:
we o'm light. II was cold as ice
GIe% my hand back atfrighied, and s.
,ns rom the room, sat down alone, '
eerLng aud full Of dread.
They buried her beneath lofty tire