Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1843-11-17
VOL. X.-NO. IL.

was the supplcating voice of that man Of
uod, standing, as it we're, like the prophet.
WIN ms 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 or dormitories, each taking
IN his hand, at the proper depository. q
wooden vessel containing the coarse, but
nutritious, evening repast These move.
ments were made with such regularity and
CELEBRITY, that one moment they might ba
seen, each standing at the door Of his solits.
ry cell the next, all had vanished. and the
spring of more than hundred locks wa
their vesper-tone, their sad goodnight"
Among the trains of thought that these
scenes excited, was the consciousness. that
each of these fallen beings had once a moth
er, TO whom his infancy was inexpressibly
dear When she pressed his velvet lin 10
hers or lulled him to rest upon her bosom.
surely, her visions of delight bad 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 a place in their memory.
perhaps striving to neuiralize the black and
bitter elements OF evil7
Among the inmates Of this institution. is
one who has plunged into many varieties Of
SIN, and been wanderer over the face of
the earth Retribution met him in appalling
forms, disgrace aud suffering became his
portion, but he passed through all with a
hardened mind. Nothing, he sffirms, in his
whole life, has ever made him feel serious
but the last words of his mother. When
nj ftpa oil
10 her bed, to receive her dying counsel
In feeble, and tender tones, she told him
mat she was about TO leave him, and earn
estly enjoned him to seek the Saviour. 10
take care OF his soul, aud to meet her in
heaven. She continued clasping his hand.
until her own was cold in DEATH For near
W hall century afterwards, this miserable
beng was pressing on through course Of
crime too revolving for description. Still
he was not utterly able to drive from his
mind the admonitons of his mother, nor 10
think OF them, amid his deepest obduracy.
without emotion.
Is not this peculiar point Of view from
which to contemplate maternal influence
The good aud the wise take pleasure in ex.
pressing their obligations to this hallowed
source. Bacon traced back 10 il. as toa
shaded fountain, his intellectual eminrpce.
Washington acknowledged il as The teacher
OF his self control, that rudiment OF his
greatness. Edwards referred the germ of
ms piety TO the prayers of the SANITY one
VINO gave him birth. But here is a difieren,
Suffrage, voice from the lower marta of
the earth, bearing concurrent testIniony.-
Such disclosure gains force from its rare
occurrence. Virtue and purity are willing
to reveal the origin Of their principles which
have guided them, but il is difficult TO ex-
tort from wickedness commentator and
honor for the precepts which il has violated.
Here is an instance of man plunging
into the vortex of guilt, and laborng to dis
miss from his mind every thing Just and holy.
Still by his side has walked, to his soul has
chung, with his conscience has wreslled. the
roice Of dying mother Ii has prevailed
TO soften heart, which was like
a piece of neither milestone" May il not
yet prove like the rod of Moses, to the flin,y
rock of Horebl
Mother who, with ineffable tenderness.
art bending over the babe that heaven hath
given thee, knowest thou " hat shall befali il
in tins evil worldi Parents who gaze with
pride on the budding promise ofthe fair boy
whom you have nurtured, know We what may
be his lot in the latter daysl 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.
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