Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1852-09-03
From the Olire Branch.
''k i,s me Mamma. do kiss me, can't go to
Sfcep.'

Sleep"
"Thc child was so sensitive, so Gke tha, little
shrinking plant, that cur!s at breath, and shuts
It's heart from The light"
Ihc only beauties she possessed were an s1.
ceedmgly transparent skin, and the most mourn.
iul, large blue eyes.
had been trained by very stern, strict con.
scientious mother but was a hardy plant, 70.
bounding after every shock misfortune could
not daunt, though discipline tanned me. fan.
cled, alas that l must 60 through the same
routine with this delicate creature I; so one day,
when she had di,peased me exceedingly, By
repeating an offence, ! was determined to pun
ish her severely. was very serious all day,
and upon sending her to her little couch | said,
nov, my daughter, 10 punish you, and show
you how very, rery naughty you have been,
shall not kiss you to.Aight."
She 'tood looking at me, astonshment per-
sonltled. with her great mournfn eyes wide
open. | suppose she had forgotten her nscon-
duct till Them and left her with The big tears
dropping down her cheeks and her little red
lips qulverng.
Presently was sent tor-"Oh mamma, you
rtl kiss me; can't 90 to sleep if you don't"
size sobbed, every tone of her voice trembiiny,
and she held cut her little hands.
Now came the struggle between love and
what | falsely termed duty. My heart said
give her the kiss of peace; my stern nature
urged me to persist in my correction, that [
might impress the fault upon her mind. That
was the way / had been trained, till ! was .
most submissive child, and remembered how
often had thanked my mother since, for her
S raghtiorward course.
| knelt by the bedside.-"Mother can't kiss
yon, ElIen," whispered, though every word
choked me. Her hand touched mine; it WAS
very hot, but attributed it to her excitement.
She turned her little grievng face to the
wall. blamed myself as the fragile form
shook with half suppressed sobs, and saving,
"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 by my nurse. Apprehensive, | ran
eagerly to the child's chamber. had had
iea rful dream.
Ellen did not know me she was sitting NO,
crimsoned from the forehead to the throat, her
eyes 50 bright that almost drew back al their
gances. From that night raging fever drank
up her life-and what think you was the inces.
SAINT plant poured into my anguished heart p
"Oh, kiss me mother-do kiss me, cant 90 to
sleep. | won't be naughty if you'll only kiss
me. On T.! kiss me, dear mamma, can't 20 10
sleep"
Holy little angel she did 90 to sleep one
grey morning, and she ne, or woke again-nev.
er! Her hand was locked in mine, and all INV
veins grew icy with its gradual chill Family
the light faded ont in the beautiful eyes-whii-
er and whittier grew the tremulous lips. She
never knew me but with the lat breath she
whispered, Il will be good, mother, il you'll
only kiss me-"
Kiss her God knows how passionate. but
unavaing, were my kisses upon her cheek at.
Ter that fatal night. God knows how wild we're
my prayers that she might know, if but oHly
once, that ! kissed her. God knows how I
would have yielded up my very lite, could !
have asked forgvness Of that sweet child.
Well grief was all unavalling now. She
lies in her little tomb; there is a marble urn ct
her head, and a rose bush at her feet there
grow sweet flowers there waves the gentle
grass; there birds sing their mathis and vss-
pers; there the blue sky smiles down 10 day,
and there lies buried the freshness of nv heart.
Parents, you should have heard the pathos in
the voice of that stricken mother, as she said,
"There are plants that spring into greater vigsr
II the heavy pressure ot footstep crush them
bnt oh there are others, that even tho pssrls
OF the light dew bend TO the earth!