The Whig standard. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1843-1844, 1843-12-29
NUMBER 46
with its dwelling process, efacing mental eleva-
ton and spiritual beauty. 3

with its dwelling process, efacing mental eleva-
ton and spiritual beauty. III
Every brow was raised to the chaplain, as he
simpli6ed portion of that book, which is
light to them that sit in darkness" and Lifted
up his prayer to Him, who "blotteth out trans
gressions." In that prolonged gaze was there
not some shadow Of hope that "where sin had
abounded, grace might much more abound r.
How impressive was the supplicating voice Of
that man Of God, standing as it were,, like the
prophet, with his censor, between the living and
the dead, that the plague might be stayed.
AT the close OF the devotional exercises, the
prisoners passed out in order to their several
ranges Of dormitories each taking in hand Of the
proper depository, wooden vessel containing the
coarse but nutritious evening repast These move
ments were made with such regularity and ce-
lerity that one moment they might be seen, each
stamping at the door Of his solitary cell, the next
all had vanished, and the sharp spring Of more
than one hundred locks was their vesper tone,
their sad "good night"
Among the trains Of thought that these scenes
excited was the consciousness that each of these
fallen beings had once mother, to whom his
infancy was inexpressibly dear. When she
pressed his velvet lips to hers, or lulled him TO
rest upon her bosom, surely her visions Of delight
had no imagery like this. Yet could we read
the secret soul Of the erring tenants OF this
abode, might we not discover some maternal
precept still maintaining place 10 their memo,
bitter elements of evil ". sss4ss
y Among the inmates of this institution is one
who has plunged into many varieties Of sin, and
oeen a wanderer over the face of the earth. Re-
trbution met him in appalling forms, disgrace
and suffering became his portion, but he passed
through all with q hardened mind Nothing, hs
affirms, in his whole life has ever made him feel
serious but the last words Of his mother. When
boy of twelve years old, he was summoned to
her bed to receive her dying COUNSEL In feeble
and tender tones she told him that she was about
to leave him. and earnestly enjoined him to seek
the Saviour, to take care Of his soul, and to meet
her in Heaven. She continued clasping his hand
until her own closed in death. For nearly halt
century afterwards this miserable being Was
pressing on through course of crime too revolt
ing for description. Still he was never able ut
terly to drive from his mind the admonitions of
his mother, nor to think of them, amidst his deep
est obduracy, without emotion.
Is not this peculiar point Of view from which
to contemplate maternal influence The good
and the wise take pleasure in expressing their
obligations to this hallowed source. Bacon traced
back to it, to shaded fountain his intellectual
eminence. Washington acknowledged it as the
teacher of his selfcontrol, that rudiment Of his
greatness Edwards referred the germ Of his
PAcly " LIE PdycLS vi Tic SANITY Ou0 WHO &6V0
him birth But here is a different suffrage,
voice as from the lower parts Of the earth. bear
ing concurrent testimony Such disclosure
gains force from it's rare occurrence. Virtue and
purity willing to reveal the origin Of the prin-
ciples which have guided them, but It j. difficult
to extort from wickednees commentator and
honor for the precepts which it has violated.
Here is an instance of man plunging into the
vortex Of guilt, and laboring to dismiss from his
mind everything just and holy. Still by his side
has walked, to his soul has chung, with his con-
science has wrestled, the roice Of dying mother.
1t has prevailed sometimes to soften heart which
was like "piece Of the neither milestone" May
it not yet prove like the rod of Moses to the fnty
rock Of Horeb!
Mother who with thy inefable tenderness art
bending over the babe that Heaven hath given
thee knowest thou what shall befall it in the evil
world! Parents! who gaze with pride on the
budding promise Of the fair boy whom you have
nurtured, know We what will be his lot in the
latter days! Redouble your efforts, deepen your
trust in the Eternal, that the evening prayer Of
your son rise not from the prison. house Of the
guilty when you are motionless in the grave.