Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1845-12-03

UeaI WltnOut breaking. IL was a bite
trial 70 feel a mother" first grief, where
she pressed her hand on The icy-colt
brow Of her frs. born boy; but -bitterel
(stilI when the young husband who shat
Ijust begun his life with her, was. laid ir
the grave and she was left with. ths
Wretched helplessness Of one who ha.
garnered her early happiness in a form
of earth, and the burden of caring iol
and training up her little fatherless
flock. But these left her soona-one by
Fone, the bright buds were severed from
|theo stem, till she, the mother of the
beautiful stood with all her household
idols shattered around her-all but one
and that one, the youngest and faires'
of fall, was fragile thing. that seemed
destined to share the fate of his fallen
Eplaymates. Buthis very weakness gave
Eher strength, for with the consciousness
thatlhe needed a protector and cherisher,
came a wish to do her duty; and sense
Of her life's'value for his sake. So she
nourished the bad, and when itexpanded
she found a%thorn to pierce her.
She toiled morning and night for his
sake;-she denied herself 10 give him
luxuries; she watched over him as none
but mother can watch, until all her
hopes and wishes were centered in her
child. And he was the sunlight to her
dwelling; he kissed away her tears and
encouraged her, and told her how hap.
pily they Two might pass their lives to.
gether. His smile lightened her sor.
rows, and his glad, cheering mirlh
through the long day beguiIed her
WEAKNESS; and when year after year
rolled round, and she saw his good and
generous feelings developing, she priced
too highly the treasure, which, like one
drop Of mercy in a cup Of sorrow, had
been given her, and she thanked heaven
that she had been spared TO guide one
lamb 10 their eternal home. He was, "a
bright noble boy, and promised to be a
blessed support in her advancing years.
1t did her good TO hear the .neighbors
talk Of him; her eye would light up and
her cheek glow with unwonted lustre;
and alas for her, she woke from her
dream to remember that earth's perish.
able idols are Of clay. The boy-lit,le
Ned Mellan, as he was called--bore as
good heart as ever beat-a heart
guarded all around by a tallisman, and
that was a mothers influence, and
knowing and exulting in her power, she
did not believe that he could fall. But
bis frank and unsuspecting nature rem
dered him an easy dupe 10 those who
take advantage Of the young and truth
fuI. All unconsciously, 10 her, and all
most so to himself, he became connect
ed with bad associates, and that too
when, temptations are the strongest.
They gained him first by rousing his
pride, and yielding to impulse, he joined
Them, because they had said he dared
not. After they had tried other means,
by hattering and praising him they won
him, till he felt pleasure in the socie.
ty he had before shrank from. The
progress in guilt was gradual but sure,
and so imperceptible, that it was long
before his mother was aware Of it; but
BY and by,when she perceived a strange
flush on his cheek, and an unusual bril-
llancy about his eye, she was troubled.
She felt that something was wrong with
him. and yet hardly knew what to fear;
but al last friends who had learned the
truth but feared 10 speak Of it., told her
how he had been spending his time and
money with a knot Of wild young men;
and she, drew him to her side one eve.
ming, and questioned him kindly and
gently ofthe wrong he had done The
boy was touched TO the heart and he
barred his whole, soul to her as he would
10 Heaven,and on his knees, in the sill
ness Of her room, prayed for strength to
keep from evil. She felt sure that he
would thenceforth do right, but now there
was new burden for her 10 bear, which
became every day heavier and heavier.
Ned wouldn't willingly have added
,ne sorrow 10 his widowed parent; but
lle was young, still mere boy, and
lad not firmness to resist temptation,
Soon he began 10 avoid his mother, for
le, could not meet her clear. searching
I'VE, and conceal one truth, from: her.
He did not mean 10 do wrong, but those
'oys who, enticed him to risk his earn
ngsi with glhem at the gambling and lit>
le lotteries, seemed So like his friends,
e could not believe them capable oil (
wi designs. IT, they had effected 70
lispise, his principles. or ridlculed His
d nothef, he would have LEFT them: they
Understood him TOO well fol that, anal
lired him by hypocrisy and lflattery.|
fhey persuaded him 10 venture more
nd more. till in one rash moment he took i
sum Of money from q friend, then he {
Iaaqsk e qSt dste d ss e sse HI h' mother andle