North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-07-02
= ToucHING STORY.

been given by father 70 DIS son. as warning ae<
;yed from his own bitter experience of she sin of
4 grfevipe and resisting mothers love and counsel.
go w hat agony was visible on my mothers lace
when she that all she said and suffered. failed to
i move me T! She to go home, and followed at a
distance She spoke no more to until she reached
1t is school time now,' said she. Go, my son,
and more let me ~beseech you to think upon
what have said' -.-.-- =
She looked astonished at my holiness, but replied
| firmly.
! Certainly you will go, Alfred. Icommand you.
Il will not = said I. with tone of defiance.
sOne of two things you must do. Alfred--e,her
go to school this moment. or will lock you in your
room and keep you there till you ready to prom
/ Use implicit obedience to my wishes in future
i dare you to do it, said l. 'you can't get me up
| stairs
ALFRED, choose now.' said my mother. who laid
her hand upon my arm. She trembled violently, and
was deadly pale. -e-ss So
III you touch me will kick you,' said I, in ter
rible rage. God knows knew not what said.
will you go, Alfred = .s ..t
Nor replied, but quailed beneath her eye.
Then follow me- said she, as she grasped my arm
firmly. l raised my foot-oh, my son, hear me IL
! raised my foot and kicked her-my sainted mother
How my head reels, the torment of memory rushes
over me! kicked my mother-a feeble woman
my mother She staggered back few steps, and
leaned against the wall. She did not look at me.
saw her heart beat against her breast. Oh Heav-
emily Father she cried, forgive him-he knows not
what he does = The gardener just then passed the
door, and seeing my mother pale and almost unable
to support herself he stopped she beckoned him in.
Take this boy up stairs and lock him in his room,
said she, and turned from me. Looking back as she
was entering her room, she gave me such look it
will forever follow met was look of agony, min
ged with the nensest love-it was the last, unut-
terabfe pang from heart that was broken.
In a momen: found myself prisoner in my own
room. I thought for a moment 1 would fling myself
from the open window, and dash my brains out, but
felt afraid to die. was not penitent. At times
my heart subdued, but my stubborn pride in
an instant, and babe not yield. The pale face of
my mother haunted me. | flung myself in the bed.
and fell asleep. Just at twilight heard foostep
approach the door. 1t my sister.
What may tell mother from you 2 she asked.
Nothing,' replied.
oh. Alfred for my sake, for all sakes. say
that you sorry-let me tell mother that You
sorry. She longs to forgive you r.r.-.-..
would answer. heard her footsteps slowly
reireating, and again flung myself on the bed to
pass another wretched and fearful night.
Z Another footstep, slower and feaber than my sis
ter's disturbed me. A voice called me by my name.
1t was my mothers.
Alfred, my son, shall come in Are you sorry
for what YOU have done q she asked.
Cannot tell what influence, operating at that mo-
ment, made me speak adverse to my feelings. The
gentle voice of my mother that thrilled through me,
throw myself on her neck, but did not. But my
words gave the lie my heart, when said was not
sorry. / heard her Withdraw. / heard her groan.
l longed TO call her back, but did not.
was awaken from my uneasy slumber by hear
ing my name called loudly, and my sister stood by
my bedside.
Get up, Alfred. Oh, don't wait a minute! Get
up, and come with me. Mother is dying
| thought l was yet dreaming, but got up melan-
choy, and followed my sister. On the bed pale and
cold marble lay my mother. She had not I'M
dressed She had thrown herself on the bed 10 rest
arising go again to me- she was seized with pal
pitation Of the heart and borne senseess her
cannot tell you my agony as looked upon her
my remofse was tenfold bitter from the thought
that she would never know it. l believed myself to
be her murderr. fell on the bed beside her. could
not weep. My heart burned in my bosom my brain
was all on FIRE. My sister threw her arms around
me, and wept in silence. Suddenly slight
motion of mothers hand-her eyes Enclosed. She
had recovered consciousness, but not speech. She
looked at me, and moved her lips. could not
derstand her words. Mother. mother. l shrieked,
say only that you forgive me- She could not say
it with her lips, but her hand pressed mine. She
smiled upon me, and lifting her thin. white hands,
she clasped my own within them. and cast her eyes
upward. She moved her lips in prayer, and thus she
died. Remained still kneelng beside that dear form.
till my gentle sister removed me. The JOY OF youth
had left me forever.
Boys, who spurn mothers control, who are
ashamed to own that they wong, who think it
manly resist her authority, yield to the influence,
5c,oare! Lay not up for yourselves bitter memories
for your future years." - |
A GENEROUS ACT. De Bows Commercial Review, !