Hillsdale Whig standard. (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1846-1851, 1850-05-07
A SKETCH.
BY MRS. y. c. LOOMS.

"Oh, beautiful and pure a mothers Lowell
Surviving even at the feet of death;
'Tis purified, not lost, in heaven above,
And sheds its influence on the loved Of earth.
Her sainted miuist'ring shall never cease.
But light ifes pathway with sweet beams OF
peace
1t was evening. The autumnal wind was
signing through the sweet-briars and iessa-
mines which overhunga lonely cottage home.
dim lamp was burning in a small apart
ment, but its rays were nearly overpowered
by the light of the full harvest moon which
came through the open windows and rested
upon the uplifted face of maiden who knet
beside her dying mother. Her hands were
claspod, and her eyes raised imploringly to
heaven, while her lips moved as if in PRAYER.
deep silence was at length broken by the
voice of the sufferer.
Margaret, she said come nearer, my
child. would fo!d you again to my heart, ere
it ceases to beat for ever
The girl rose from her knees, and twining
her arms about the neck of her mother, laid
her face in her bosom, and kissed again and
again the pale cold hand which caressed
her.
Margaret continued ,hedying woman, i
have much To say TO you, but my strength is
falling. You will soon be an orphan--home-
less, and nearly alone. Oh, It's hard for one
so young to struggle with bleak and pitt.
less worldr she paused and seemed striving
to suppress some powerful emotions. j had
hoped she resumed again, q had fondly
hoped that when | was gone your brother
would be to you protector and supporter
amid the ills OF this troubled life; but. Oh,
must die without seeing him reformed! If
my prayers are heard and answered, he will
yet turn from his evil ways and repent before
God. Oh, Margaret. promise me that you
will watch over him with sisters undying
love-that you will warn and counsel him.
Il do, do promise, my mother! answered
the sobbing girl, Il will cling to him however
low he may fall will weep over him and
pray for him, motherr
A faint smilo liz up the mothers pallid face.
Her lips moved.
"she speaks, and in those solemn half.formed
words
Which 'scope lips chilled by the stern touch of
Death.
She yields her soul unto the Lord of Lords,
Yet claims holy boon with dying breath;
That Heaven, in its great mercy, look on him
Who did the sunshine of her pure life dina"
She lay as if exhausted, but Nature rallied
once moro. Margaret bent TO catch the
whispered words. Oh, my poor erring boy!
tell him that my last thoughts were ofhm-
my last petitions for him. She fixed her
gaze upward. and the spirit took its flight
Morning dawncd, and the glad light of day
came through the clustering vine leaves
Kind hands had performed the sad Offices for
the dead. Sweetly looked the face of the
departed one, for smile was resting on tho
pale lips as though in the moment Of life an
angel had whispered some beautiful words of
hope and Joy. Calm and serene, Margaret
looked upon the lifeless form of her mother.
She felt that the sonl--the loving soul was
not there-that was only the frail casket of
clay, but the priceless jewel il once enshrin-
cd, was sparling in heaven.
A heavy step approached the dwelling.-
Margaret caught a glimpse of her brother as
he entered and ascendcd the stairs to his
room, The whole night had been spent A.
mid scenes of riot and dissipation, and his
countenance was strangely disfigured. In
temperance had set is broad seal upon his
manly brow and the light Of intellect seemed
extinguished in his eyes. He was soon in
deep unnatural slumber, from which he did
not awake till past MONDAY. When at
length he arose feverish and unrefreshed,
sense of his condition began to dawn upon
his mind, and he remembered his mother,
whom he had neglected and forsaken in her
dying hours. Margaret led him to the cham
Der OF death. He gazed long upon the IMAM
imatc form, and remorse filed his soul.
oh, what wretch | ann ho exclaimed.
bitterly i have brought her gray hairs in
sorrow to the gravep lie smote upon his
breast, and hurried away to drown his grief
and romorse in the intoxicating cup.
1t was twilight. Margaret was kneeling
beside her mothers grave. She had gather
cd the last flowers of autumn and strown
them over the lowly mound, and now she
was praying with all tho fervor OF her loving
heart for her orring brother. AS she ceased
she heard her name pronounced, and saw him
by her side. His countenanco was serene.
and his eye beamed with affection as il rest
ed on the face of his sister.
You were praving for me, Margaret, said