Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1849-06-06
The Mothers Last Lesson.
BY MISS C. W. BARBER

"WmI you please learn me my verse, mamma,
and then kiss me, and bid good night Z" said lit
tie Roger l., as he opened the door, and peeped
cautiously into the chamber of his sick mother; 81
am very sleepy but no one has heard me say my
prayers"
Mrs l. was very ill--indeed her attendants
believed her to be dying. She sat propped up with
pillows, and struggling for breath-her lips were
white-her eye was growing dull and glaZed-and
her purple blood was settling under the nails of the
cold, attenuated fingers. She widow, and lit
tie Roger was her only-her darling child. Every
night he had been in the habit of coming into her
rooin and sitting in her lap, or kneeling by her side,
whilst she repeated passages from Gods Holy Word,
related to him stories of the wise and good men,
spoken of in its pages She had been in delicate
health for many years, but never too i'll to hear little
sRoger's verse and prayers
u blush hush!' said lady who was watching be-
idle her couch, "Your dear mamma is too i'll to hear
You to- night" As she said this, she came forward,
And laid her hand gently upon his arm, as if she
would lead him from the room. Roger began to
sob as if his little heart would break
II cannot 90 to bed Without saying my prayers
indeed | cannot"
The ear of the dying mother caught the sound.
Although she had been nearly insensble to every
thing uansprng around her, the sobs of her darling
aroused her from her supor, and turning TO friend,
she desired her 10 bring her little son, and lay him
in her bosom. Her request was granted, and the
chiId's rosy cheek and golden head nestled beside
the pale cold face of his dying mother. Alas, poor
fellow How little did he realize then the irrepar-
able loss which he was soon to sustain
"Roger, my son. my darling child" said the dying
woman "repeat this after me, and never, neUer
forget il: "When my father and mother torsake me- the
Lord shall take me up'" The child repeated it two
or three times distinctly and said his little prayer
Then he kissed the cold almost rigid features before
him, and went quietly TO his little couch The next
morT:ag, he sought, as usual, his mother, but he
found her stiff and coda corpse wrapped in the
winding sheet, and ready for the grave.
That was her last lesson. He has never forgotten
it, he probably never will He has grown 10 he a
mana good man, and now occupies post Of much
honor and profit in Massachusetts. lnever could
look upon him, without thinking about the faith SC
beautifully exhibited by his dying mother. Ii was
not mispaced-the Lord has taken her darling up.
My little reader, if you have God for your fiend
you need neuer, nerer fear. Father and mother may
forsake you the world may seem to You like a drea
ny waste, full of thorns, and pitfalls, but He
bring you safely through trials and give you gol
den harp, and snowy robe, like those the JUSTIFIED
wear in Heaven. lie can even surround your dealt
bed by angel vsitans. ale is all powerful, an eve
present help in time of trouble" Will you not theI
seek His friendship? This you never gain unless
you keep his commandments. "Dyou toue me" sale
the Saviour, "keep my commandments" DO you keel
these? Do you not only 'abstain from evil but from
the slightest appearance of evil ?" These are sol
emn and soul-searchng questions. If you are com
PEELED by truth to answer them in the negative, will
you not change your course and begin to-day to ly
for God? Perhaps some very little boy or girl ma
read this story of little Roger and turn away iron
the reflections here at the close, saying 81 am to-
young to become christian yet-by and by Wi
keep all of Gods commandments, and be very goo
indeed" My little friend, you are not too young {
die. Perhaps you may not live to fulfil your desig
of becoming christian in some future hour. Be-
ter begin noiO Trust when say to you, you an
mol too young This world is a wide one, and it
full of wckedness. God has called it in the Bib'
his vineyard and he calls continually for laborers
come and work in it, Would you not like to wor