Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1841-07-20
THE DEATH or A MOTHER.
TT q. H. DANA.

TT n. H. DANA. /,
1.-The sun not set yet. Thomas r. Mot quite sir
u blszes through the trees the hill yonder. rs if
heir branches were all fire."
Arthur raised himself heavily forward. and with
his hat still over his brow. turned his glazed md dim
eyes towards the setting II was only the night
before. that he had heard his mother was ill., and
could survive but day or two lie had lived
nearly apart from society. and. being lad Of thought
ful dreamy mind. had made a world To- himself |
Ills thoughts and feelings were so much in IT, that;
except in relation 10 his hume there were the |
same vague and strange notion, in his BRAIN con.
corning the state OF things surrounding HIM. we
have of q foreign land.
Tho main feeling which this selfmade world e1.
cited in him love; aud, like most Of his age
he had formed io himself n being suited To his own
iancies. This was the romance OF life though
men with minds like his. make Imagination to stand
otenIimes in the place OF real existence and To take
TO itself rs deep feeling and unconccr. yet in do.
nestle relations which arc 80 near and usual and
private they feel longer and more Ieeply than those
who look uPon their homes only better part Of
the world which they belong 10. Indeed. ia ufIec
honae and good men OF n visionary cast, il is in
soiae sort only realizing their hopes and desires 10
turn them homewnrl Arthur felt that il was 81
and he loved his household the more that they gave
MN an earnest OF one day realizing ali ms hopes
md attachments.
having character much Ike has own For though
The cares and attachments of life had luny ngo tnken
the place OF fanciful existence in her. vet her nat.
nra turn OF mind was strong enough give TO these
something OF The romantic OF her dispusiIinn This
had led TO more than usual openness aud inrina.
ey between Arthur and his mother and NOW brought
To his remembrance the lIo1rz they had .at toreIh
or by the freight, when he listened 10 her mild and
/ melancholy voice rs she spike of what she had
undergone at The loss of her parents and husband
Her gentle rebuke of his faults her affrciionare
look Of approval when he had done well her care
That he should be a just man, and her mo,herly
anxiety lest Tho world should 60 hard with him all
crowded into his mind. and he thought that every
worldly attachment was hereafter to be a vain
thing.
! lie had passed the night between violent tumul.
iuous grief and numb insensibility Steppiny into
The carriage, with slow. weak motion line one
who was quitting his sick chamber for The first
time, he began his journey humeward As he lifted
MS eyes upward. the few that we've scattered
here and there over the sky. seemed Ia look down
IN pity, and shed religious and healing light upon
him. But they room went out. one aier another.
and as The last faded from his mplorinc sight il
was as u every thing good and holy had Eprsakcn
him. The faint tint IN the cast soon beca,ne "a ruJ,y
glow, and the run shooting upward burst e,ery Iy.
ing ing in full glory. The sight went To Arthur
SICK heart n II u were in mockery Of hts misery
) nv
ms eyes, he was carried along hardly sensible Thai
II was day. The old servant, Tbome, vho ,vas si,
ing oy ms side, went on talking ia n low, monoto.
nous tone; but Arthur only heard sometime sound.
ing in his ears. scarcely needed that il wa. n bu
man voice. He had Of weari.umeness from
me motion OF The carriage. but in all things else
r the day passed rs n melancholy dream
Almost the first words Arthur spoke were tho,e I
have meniiOncd. As he looked ont upon The act.
ling sun. he shuddered through his whole frame
and then became sick aud pale
! lie thought he knew the hill near him: md as
they wound round IT, peculiar old trees apoear
ed' and he was IN few minutes in the midst of
lhe scenery near his home. The river before him.
rejecting the bright evening sky looked M If nopr
ed out from a molten mine The bird, o,,Lo,,,,, =,
were shooting across each other bursting no sbor,
gay noles or singing their evening songs in the Tree.
was bitter Thing to find all So bright and cheer
iui and 20 near his home too Ills nurse,
hoois struck upon the old wooden fridge Tho
sound went To his heart. II was here his motber
'ooA her last leave Of him. aud blessed him
As he passed through the village there ,v,s .,
ieelhg OF sirongeness. that every thing should mo
Just As II was when he left it, There was an M.
defined thought floating in his mind that his po,hcr'
sihc should produce a visible change la all ne b,I
been familiar with. BuI the bows wore nj thc,r
NOISY games m the street. the laborers returning
TALKED together. from their work and the old men
were siiiing quietly at their doors. lie CONCEALED
himself n we'll as he could and bode Tb,ma, has.
ten un. ~
As they drew near the house the nigbt vvo, ,br,.
tns IN about. and Ihero was melancholy pu,tv
sound III the trees. Arthnr felt a. If approocbing
nus mothers tninb. lie entered tho parIor All ,,oS
as gloomy and still n deserted house p,.sso,I,
he heard slow cautious STEP overheard I,u,.;n
ms mo'hers chamber. Ills sister had seen him
irdm the window. She hurried down and d..
/ hor hrofh .rs
a word. As soon as he could speak. he osksd. 1,
she ahye!-be could not say, nv mother .Sto
Is Sleeping answered his sister and must M, L,,,
TO night that you here: she is Too veal q, TO-,
now Il will go and look At her. then. while
she sleeps said he. drawing his handkerchief from
us nee. Ills sisters sympathy had made him she'd
the first tears which had fallen from him bo, J,v
and he was more composed.
Tie entered the chamber with deep md s,;ll
awe upon him; and he drew near nj, rnothey'
bedside and looked on her pale placid and ro,,on
less ACE he scarcely dared breathe lest no .bonI
disturb the secret communion that The souI was bo
uins win the world into which II was abou, 10 en-
,e'' Inc loss that he WIS about suffering, and his
heavy gnei were all forgotten in the feeling boly
i"p'f@uon aud he wns, as IL were, IN the midst oC
invisible spirits, ascending and descending ".
moihers hps moved slightly she uttered an indis.
hnrt sound. He drew back and his s,.te, 49,,
near 70 her, and she spoke II was the came gen-
ITO voice which he hsd known and felt from b;,
childhood. The eEulislion ofhis soul Ie0 him. n.
sank down. and his misery went over him liz
flood ' "No
The nett day, a. soon a. his mother became co.,.
posed enough 20 see him, Arhur went into a..
chamber. She stretched out her feeble hand anJ
turned towards him. with look that b.c.red b,r,
u was The short struggle Of meek spirit She eos.
cred her eyes with her hand and the fear, ,ri.taI
down between her pile thin fingers. A, s,on =,
ne e became Tranquil she spoke Of the gratitude ,bo
ieH ~ being spared 10 SEQ him. before 81. died
My dear mother" said Auhur-bu, n. co,id
not go on His voice wns choked his eve, filed ,;,b
seas' and the agony Of his soul was visible IN h.,
ace DO NOT be 20 afflicted Arthur, Al tbo lo, 81
me. We are not 10 part forever Remeubs, 10,
20" oon'or,abls md huppy you have made nv d,gs
neaVen' kno" viii bless good a soul a. v',y
nave been 70 me. You will have that eon.ol,i,,n
my son which visits but few; you will he sbls 4,
look back upon your past condnci 10 me no, ,,,bo,
-, - s1' With holy Joy. AID IN ink bsrsai
~. - ue peace Of mind you now give me. now I |
~. a''ou' 70 de- IN the thought hat ana leaving
2ouf sisior 10 your love and care 50 io,g n, 90