Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1843-01-05
TnE WIDOW AND HER son.


approached the grave. The coffin
was placed on the ground. On II were
inscribed ibe name and age Of the de-
ceased. George Somers, aged 26 years. "
The poor mother bad been assisted 10
kneel down al the head Of il. Her with
cred hands were cIasped. as il 10 prayer.
but coula perceive. BY feeble rocking
Of her body, aud convulsive motion Of The
lips. that she was gazing on the last relics
Of her son. with the yearning Of mo-
TIERS heart.
Preparations were now made To- depo-
site The coffin ia The earth. There was
thai busting stir. which breaksso harsbly
on the feelings Of grief and affection; d.
rections were given 10 the cold Zones Of
business; and there sKas the striking Of
spades iniotLe grave, 81 hichs A.. hs grave
Of those we love. is Of all sounds the
most writhing. The hustle seemed to
.waken The mother from a wretched reve-
RE. She raised her glazFd eyes. and look
ed about with faint witness
As The men approached with cords to
lover the coffin into the grave she wrung
- sss,eLaL ipto an agony Of
10 raise ner from the earth. and 10 Whisper
something like consolation. may. now,
nay, -now-don't take it 80 sorely 10
heart" But,ihe mother could only shake
her head and wiring her hands las one
not to be comforte
As they lowered the body into The
earth, the creaking Of the cords SCENE d
to agonize her; but when. on some acct
dental obstruction, there was a iostling
ofthe coffin. all the tenderness Of the mo.
Their, burst forth as if any farm could
come 10 him that was far beyond the
reach Of worldly suffering.
.couldsee no more.-ny hear! swelled
into my ibroat,-my eyes filed with
tears felt as if were acting barba.
rous part in standing by and gazing idly on
this scene Of maternal anguish | wan
dered 70 another part Of the churchyard
where / remained until the funeral had
i was sometime before ] left the place.
On my way homeward, met with the
woman who had acted as comforter; she
was just returning from accompanying
the mother 10 her lonely habitation, and
l1drew from her some particulars connect
ed with the affecting scene. which, bad
just witnessed. N-#
The parenis5of the deceased had resi-
ded in the village from childhood. They
had inhabited one Of the neatest cottages,
and by various rural occupations aud The
assistance Of small garden, bad support 4
ted themselves creditably and comforta-
bly,, and led happy and 5laneless life.
They had one SON who bad grown up to
be the pride OF their old age.
But unfortunately, this son was tempt
ed, during year Of scarcity and agricul.
lurSi hardship, TO enter into the service of
one of the small crafts that Piled on
river. He had not been
long in this employ when he was en-
trapped by press-gang, and carried off 10
sea, His parents received tidings Of his
seizure, but beyond that they could learn
nothing. Il was the loss Of their main
prop The father who was already ilfifm,
grew hearIless and melancholy, and sunk
into bis grave. The widow left lonely in
her age and feebleness, eopld no longer
support herself and came upon the par
Ish.
Time passed, ill one day she heard
The cottage door. which faced The garden,
suddenly open. IA stranger came out;
aud seemed 10 be looking eagerly and
wildly around. He was dressed in sea.
mans .clo.hes, was emacia,ed and ghas,ly
pale, and bore the air Of one broken by
sickness and hardships. He, saw bis mo-
her and FASTENED towards her bull his steps
we're faltering; be sank On bis. knees be
ore her, and sobbed like a child. The
poor woman gazed upon him with d va.
can't and wandering eye. "Oh my dear,
lear mother don't you know your son ?
gour poor boy George?"
II was, indeed, the wreck OF her ocen
noble lad. who. shattered by wounds, by
sickness, and foreign imprisonment, had
i lengIh. dragged his wasted limbs home
Tsrd. TO repose among the scenes Of child
rood. The rest Of the story is 5000 told.
or the young mao fingered but a few
weeks, and death came 10 his relief.
The next Sunday after the funeral !
rave described, Twas al the village church,
when 10 my surprise | saw the poor .old
woman :oitering down the aisle 10 Der &C
,ustomed seat on the steps Of the altar
She had made an effort 10 put on some
hing like Mourning for her son and no.
hing could be more touching than this
iruggle between pious affection and utter
Ios erty a black riband or so--a faded
,fack handkerchief. and one or two such
rumble attempts 10 express by outward
ig0s. the grief which passes show.
i When looked around upon the stored
the stately attachments. the
old marble pomp, with which grandeur
msgni6cently over departed
ride. and turned to this poor widow bow
d down by age and sorrow. at The altar
i her God. aad offering up the prayers
md praises OF a pious though broken
lesr,, I felt that this living monunent Of
cal grief was worth them ell.
IreIated her story 10 some ofthe wealthy
Of the congregation, and they.
we're moved BY il. They exerted them
elves to render her situation more COM
and TO tighten her Affections IL
vas. however. but smoothing few steps
q the grave. 10 the course Of Sunday
Il twoa.ter. she was missed from her usu
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