The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1852-09-22
" Kiss me Mamma, Do kiss me, can't
60 to sleep.

go to sleep.
The child was SO sensitive, so like that
little shrinking plant, that curls at breath,
and shuts its heart from the light"
The only beauties, she possessed, were
an exceedingly transparent skin, and
mournful, large blue eyes.
had been trained by a very stern, strict.
conscientious mother, but | was a hardy
plant, rcbounding after every shock: mis-
fortune could not damt, though discipline
tanned me. | fancicd, alas. that | must
go through the same routine with this del
cate creature; 50 one day, when she had
disp!eascd me exceedingly, bv repeating
an ctfencc, | was determined to punish
her severely. | wa very serious all day.
and upon sending her to her little couch
said, 'now my daughter, to punish YOU.
and show you how very, rcyy naughty
you have been, shall not kiss YOU to-
night"
She stood looking at me, astonishmcnt
pcrsoniticd, with her great moumfu eyes
wide open. | suppose she had forgotten
he: misconduct till then; and left her with
the big tears dropping down her checks,
and her little rcd lips quivcring.
Presently | was sent for-"Oh. mama.
you ~iU kiss me; ca,tf 90 to sleep fvou
don't" she sobbcd, every tone other voice
trembling, and shs held out her little
hands.
Now came the stru sglc between love
and what falsely termed duty. My heart
said, give her the kiss Of peace; my stern
nature urged me to persist i'll my corrcc-
ton, that | might impress the fault upon
her mind. That was the way | had been
trained, till was a most submissive child,
and | remembered how often had thank
cd my mother since, for her straight for
ward course.
knclt by tle,hGd hGd-side-'mother can't
KISS you, ElleI RiSpered, though every
word c@okei Ter hand touched
mine; it was but l attributed it
t9n JRGhS. eTSjt " She turned her little
self as the fragile form shook with half
suppressed sobs, and saying, .'mother
hopes little Ellen will learn to mind her
after this" left the room for the night.
1t might have been about twelve when
| was awakened ly my nurse. Ap'rc-
hcnsivc, | ran eagerly to the childs cham
Der. had a tca full drca II.
Ellen did not know me; she was sitting
up, crinsoncd from the forehead to the
throat, her eyes so bright that | almost
drew back aghast at their Glanccs. From
that night raging fever drank p her life
and what think you was the inccssant
plant poured int, my anguiShed heart?-
"Oh, kiss me mothcr-do kiss me, can't
go to sleep. You'll kiss Your little Ellen,
mother, won't you: | cont 90 to sleep.
won't be naughty if You'll only kiss me.
On! kiss me, dear mamma, can't 90 to
slccp.'
Holy little angel! She did 90 to sleep
one grey morning, and she never woke
again-ncvc,. Her hand was Mcked in
mine, and all my veins grew icv with its
gradual chill. Family the light faded out
in the beautiful eyes-whiter and whittier
grew the trcmulous lips. She never knew
me; but with her last breath she whisper.
ed, ~ 'ciH be good, mother, if you'll on.
ly kiss me-"
Kiss her! God knows how passionate
but unavailing were my kisses upon her
check after that fatal night. God knows
how wild were my prayers that she might
know, if but only once, that | kissed her.
God knows how | would have Welded up
my very life, could have asked forgive
ness OF that sweet child.
Well! grief is all unavailing now. She
lies III her little tomb: there IS a marble
urn at her head, and rosc-bush at her
feet: there grow sweet summer flowers:
there waves the gentle grass; there birds
sing their mathis, and vcspers; there the
blue sky smiles down to-day, and there
lies buried the freshness of my heart.
Parents, you should have heard the
pathOs in the voice of that stricken moth,
or, as she said, There are plants that
spring into greater vigor if the heavy
pressure of footstep crush them; but oh
there are others, that even the pearls ot
the light dew bend to the earth!