Southern standard. [volume] (Columbus, Miss.) 1851-1856, 1852-11-06
Mothers Grave.

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Mothers Grave.
| followed into burying ground, in the suburbs
of the city, small train of persons, not more
than dozen, who had come to bury one of their
acquaintance. The clergyman in attendance was
leading little boy by the hand who seemed to
be the only relative of the deceased in the slender
group, gathered with them round the grave,
and when the plain coffin was lowered down. the
child burst forth in uncomfortable grief The lit
tie fellow had no one left to whom he could look
for affection or who could address him in tones Of
parental kindness. The last of his kinsfolk was
IN the graye-and he was alone.
When the clamorous grief of the child had
little subsidized the clergyman addressed US with
the customary exhortaton to accept the monition,
and he prepared; turning to the child he added,
''She is not to remain in this grave forever; as
true the grass which is now chilled with the
frost of the season, shall spring to greenness and
life In few months, SO true shall your mother
come up from that grave to another life, to life
of happiness l hope" Tive attendants shoveed
in the earth upon the coffin, and some one took
little William, the child, by the hand, and led him
forth from the lowly tenement of his mother.
Late in the ensuing spring. l was in the neigh
borhood of the same burying ground, and seeing
the gate open walked among the graves for some
time, reading the names of the dead and wonder
ing what strange disease could snatch off so many
younger than myself-when recollectng that |
was near the grave of the poor widow, buried the
previous autumn, turned to see what had been
done to preserve the memory of one so utterly des
ttute of earthly friends. To my surprise, found
the most desirable of all mementos for mothers
sepulchre-little William was sitting near the head
of the now sunken grave, looking intently upon
some green shoots that had come forth with the
| bOfc
mothers coffin
William started at my approach, and would have
left the place; it was long before could induce
him to tarry and indeed did not win his conf
dence, until | told him that | was present when
they buried his mother, and had marked his tears
at the time.
"Then you heard the minister say that my moth
err would come up out of this grave said little
William.
Il did,
at is true, is it not?" asked he, in tone OF
confidence.
Il most firmly believe it, said l.
''Beieve it," said the child, ''believe it
thought Jou knew i'll know it -
GLOW do you know it, my dear?''
"The minister said, that as true as the grass
would grow up, and the flowers bloom in spring,
so true would my mother rise. [ came few days
afterward, and planted flower seed on the grave
The grass came green in this burymg ground long
ago; and l watched every day for the flowers, and
to day they have come up too--see them break
ing through the ground-by and by nanny vii
come again.
A smile of exuting hope played on the feature
of the boy; and felt panied at disturbing th'
faith and confidence with which he animated
but my little child,' said l, sit is not here
that your mother will rise"
eyes, here said he with emphasis 'her
they placed her, and here | have come ever sine
the first blade of grass green this year.
| looked around, and saw that the tiny feet G
the child had trod out the heritage at the gray
side, so constant had been his attendance. Wha
a faithful watch keeper--What mother would de
sire richer monument than the form Of her onl
son bending fearful, but hoping, over her grave !
"But William said |, cit is in another worl
that she will arise and [ attempted to explain
Y him the nature of that promise which he had mis-
!, taken. The child was confused and he appeare
neither pleased nor satisfied.
. ''If nanny is not coming back to me-if SD
Il is not to come up here, what shall do FL car
not stay without herr
h ''You shall go to her." said I, adopting tl
Il language of the Scripture, ''you shall 90 to he
n but she shall not come again to you
'Let me go, then" said William, ''let me 6
: now, that l may rise with nanny"
William, sad l, pointing down to the plan
!, just breaking through the ground, "the seedwhic
1T is sown there would not have come up, if it hs
<, not beenripe you must wait till your appointt
/, time, until your end cometh."
''Then | shall see her?'
ID 81 surely hope so.''
81 will wait then" said the child, ''but thong
l should see her soon. l thought that | shou
meet her here"
IL And he did. In month William ceased
y wait; and they opened his mothers grave al
:, placed his little coffin on hers--it was the on
cd wish the child expressed in dying. Better teac
s' ers than I had instructed him in the way to ms
d. his mother, and young the little sufferer W.
s. he had learned thatall the labors anC hopes
ny happiness short of Heaven, are proftess and va
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