Democratic banner., 1848-04-03
A MOTHERS LOVE.

A MOTHERS LOVE: ..
Who is there that does not acknowledge
and bow in reverence to a mothers love?
What is 1t that causes the eye to- fill? that
refuses utterance to speech and overwhelms
with utter loneliness in the midst of life?
Deny it not, truant heart it is the sacred
ness of a mothers love-felt through long
years it may be, ye: always pure, ever sa-
cred, blessing and refreshing! Gentle
mother! tendreest and truest, aud the best
of friends! constant in love, in veal OF
woe--in deformity or health, in honor Or
shame, through evil and good report-thy
affection knows no change nor the shadow
Of turning! Blessings on thee! Earliest
memories link together and throw holiness
on thy name. Sacred to the heart is the
memory of a mothers love!
Such were the reflections suggested BY
an incident in the great drama Of life. A
poor victim ofintemperance was staggering
.hon,eward-on, he knew not WHITTIER
when he fell, he lay for a moment insensi-
bic, but assistance soon resorted him to con-
seriousness, and to a sense of degradation.
81 thank you gentlemen" said he falter-
ingly, sit was ahard fall, but ! am better
now. have had many such. It is moth
ing when you get used to it" and he laugh
ed as he prepared to start again on his
way.
"What a pity" remarked a spectator.
'that you should thus debase your man
hood, by such selfish indulgence in strong
drink"
"You're a temperance lecturer, gus
.pect," sDeered the inebriate.
"No, FRIEND" replied the gentleman,
81 am not a temperance lecture--at least
not one professedly. But I neglect no OPP
portunity to speak a word in favor of that
honest cause.
"You're a preacher then may be?"
"No."
"Well, Whatever you are, I want none
Of your advice"
81 merely mean it for your good" mil
dly answered the gentleman. care you
married!?"
"No."
"You have sisters and brothers?"
"Yes-but they don't know MI now"
"Have youa father"
"No--he died long since"
ga mother? ?"
There was a deep silence
"You do not answer; have you . moth
.er?"
The silence that ensued was broken BY
the sobs of the wretched man.
"Oh, God! oh, God!" he exclaimed
''she too, is dead! ! broke her heart many
years since by my misconduct. My poor,
poor mother! So gooe, so kind-so gentle
and forgiving!'' and he smote his breast in
the bitterness Of his anguish.
Unhappy man-oh, how unhappy at that
moment! Through all the vicisitudes Of
life, 4 mothers love had followed him-en-
treating, urging, imploring him to forsake
evil, and cling only to that which is right.
In vain had she 'strivsn-he had gone on
blindly, perversely, recklessly, till row he
was broken down in health, fortune and
reputation, an outcast from society, dis
owned by his own flesh and blood! Yet in
the midst of this accumulation Of wretch
edness, there came reproachfully, though
full of love, across the weary vast of years,
a mothers voice, sweet and sad; and the
heart bowed in griefto its mute appeal.
Honor to woman! Without her smiles the
world loose its ENTHUSIASTICALLY charm
would exist no longer-Christianity would
languish without her aid and approval -
sin whose principles" said the dying
daughter of Ethen Allen, to her skeptical
father, Sin whose principles shall / die
yours, OF those of my Christian mother!?"
The stern old hero of Ticonderoga brushed
a tear from his eye as he turned away, and
with the same rough voice which summon
ed the British to surrender, now trenu:ous
with deep emotion, ssid-''In your moth
er's, chnld-in your mother's!"
LouIslAsA.-The total population Of
Louisiana just ascsrtained, is. aga, 755; Of
which. 1Q6. 3 ara whifaa 10 $40 ara ia