The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1852-07-24

spot Wnere your noileStedu StOOd, VII.
Strong, have heard my father describe
it SO often. The hill, with its crown of
old oaks at the back of your house, and
the field of golden harvest grain that
waved IN front. Then there was the
green grass plat before the front door,
and the huge old applet tee that threw
ITS shadows across it, and the great old
fashioned portico, and the grapevine
that crept round the pillars, and the
rose bush that looked in at the bedroom
window, and the spring that went shin
ing and singing through the bed of mint
at the side of the house."
Old Bill moved uneasily in his chair,
and the muscles around his mouth
twitched occasionally; but unmindful of
this, in the same low, melting tones, the
lady kept on:
MANY and many were the hours, so
father would say, willie and used to
pass under the shadow Of that old apple
tree; playing at hide-and-seek, or lolling
on the grass, telling each other the
wonders we would achieve when we
became men, and when the sunset laid
its crown Of gold on the top of the oaks
on the hill. can see Willie's mother
standing in the front door, with her
white cap and check apron, and the
pleasant smile that always lay around
her lips, and hear her cheerful voice
calling-Come boys, come to supper"
One after another the big, warm,
blessed tears came rolling down old
Bills pale cheek. All! the lady had
found the door then.
81 was always at home, at Willie's,
father would say, and used to have my
bowl of fresh milk, and bread too, and
when these had disappeared, Willie
would draw his stool to his mothers
feet, lay his head on her lap, and she
would tell us some pleasant story, it
might be of Joseph Or David, or OF some
good child who afterwards became a
great man, and then she would part
Wi!lie's brown curls from his forehead
and in voice can never forget, say;
'Promise me, Willie, when you go out
from your home into the world, and its
temptations, and your mother has laid
down with her gray hairs to sleep in the
church yard yonder, promise, my child,
that the memory of her prayers and
counsels, shall keep you from all evil
waysp And Willie would raise his
head, lift his blue eyes proudly to his
mother, and answer: 4 promise you,
will make tirst-rate man, MOTHER and
after he had said his evening prayer, we
would 90, happy as the birds that nestled
IN the branches of the apple-tree, to
rest; and then, Just as we were sinking
to sleep, we would hear well known
footlal! on the stairs, and a loving face
would bend over us to see if we were
nicely tucked up. 1T is a long time,
father would say, after pause, since
heard from Willie, but sure am, that
he has never fallen into any evil ways
The memory of his mother would keep
him from that"
Rap, rap, rap went the words Of the
lady at the door in that old mans heart
Creak, creak, creak! went the door on
its rusty hinges: (angels of God held ye
not your breaths to listenD The lady
could only see the subdued man bury
his face in his hands, and while hi.
whole frame shook like an aspen leaf
she heard him murmur amid childlike
sobS:
"My mother, o, my mother"
And she knew the tears We're washing
those wrinkled cheeks, were washing
out also many dark page in the RECORD
of Old Bill's past life that stood agains
hlm; SO, with silent prayer of thank
fulness, she resumed,
"But, there was one scene my father
loved to talk of better than the rest. |,
was of the morning you were married
Mr.. Stong. 1t was enough to do ones
eyes good, he would say, to look at them
as they walked up to the old church aisle
he with his proud manly tread, and she
a delicate, fragile creature, fair as the
orange blossoms that trembled in hel
hair. remember how clear and firm
his voice echoed through the old church
as he promised to love, protect, and tc
cherish the gentle being at his side, and
| know he thought as he looked down
tondly upon her, that the very winds Of
Heaven should not visit her face toe
roughly. And then, my father would
tell us of a home made very bright by
watchful affection, and of the dark eyed
boy, and of the fair haired girl, who
came after while to gladden. it, and
then you know, he removed to the West
and lost sight of you, Mr.. Strong"
Once again, the lady paused, for the
agony of the strong man before her, was
fearful to behold, and when she spoke
again, it was in lower and more mourn
full tone:
81 promised my father, previous to his
| &L,I &c ,yor I ,,;e;t,l bic