Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1852-03-04
The Permanently of Early Inl-
preSsiOnS.

i his truth reVeaiSd u power "iieii "io'i
crs have above all others, by which to
school the immortal spirit for whatever
sphere they choose No lessou Of early
life is lost. Though not perhaps made
visible in its fruits for successive years,
vet, from the nature of the mind, no
early impression is effaced from the ta-
blet of memory.
stood by the couch of tho aged sire
of ninety. talked to him of scenes
that transpired few feeting months
before, aud vacant stare was all his
reply. | asked him concerning the far
distant period of his childhood and
youth, and at once the fire kindled in his
eye, and a smile lighted up his furrowed
brow. Words flowed apace as he glow
incly described the scenes of life's fresh
morning, when the old homestead rang
with his merry laughter, and the brook
where he angled, glided along in its beau,
tv, and | said, "Slrely, the impressions
Of childhood are engraved in inefacea-
bic lines upon the spirit"
saw man of middle age, unprinci-
pied, profigate, an abandoned but now
arrested in his career Of guilt by a sud
den chain of reflection. His thoughts
were busy upon the past, and anxiety
was written on his brow. His mind was
absorbed in the most thrilling scene OF
his childhood He stood, in magma
ton, youth at the bedside of his dying
mother. He looked again upon her paid
brow, on which beamed heavenly
smile. He heard again her voice in words
Of dying counsel. F.The faltcring accents
of her last prayer for the blessing OF
heaven to rest upon his early years,
again thrilled his soul, and | saw the
tear of pcnitence start from his eye, and
the sigh of contrition hcave his heart.
And said That mothers faithful warn
ing lives after the thoughtessness of
twenty years, powerful to alarm, restrain
and reform. Surely. childhood hath a
power to retain lessons Of wisdom and
love, which belong not to the experience
of age"
saw another, a grey.haired man Of
eighty, who wentao%n to the grave from
his hearthstone II tins rural village. For
many years he had lived widowcr, de-
pendent upon the kindness of Il cherished
son. A numerous family of sons and
daughters had been reared by his faithful
care, and now were widely scattered
abroad. AS he rapidly descended the
vale of life, his active mind began to fail,
and before he died reason was partially
dethroned. In his last delirous moments,
when in the weakness of second child
hood, he sighed for soothing words of
love, he called not for his slumbering nor
his loving children, but most touchngly
pleaded for his remembered mother. His
mind, in its awful wreck, retained no
other impressions than those Of his early
life, when she dandlcd him upon her
knee, watched over him through the
dreary night of sickness. He saw again,
vivid as in real life, the form of that
sainted mother, and he longcd once
more to hear the music of her voice, and
feel the pressure Of her hand upon his
fevered brow.
So deathless is the influence of the
faithful mother over her innocent child.
Her impressions upon the heart are like
letters cut in brass or granite. God has
elected her to calling more curious and
wonderful than the magic art of the
sculptor; for hers is not to present a
Hfcless form OF beauty to an admiring
world, but one instinct with
Thoughts that breathe and words that burn"
a workmanship which will reveal forever
the touch Of its early fashioning. Moth
cr. the tear of your child will be wiped
away. Its sorrows are fleeting.
"Thc tear down childhood's cheek which flows,
Is like the dew-drop on the rose;
When the next summer breeze comes BY,
And waves the bush, the flower is dry.''
But the impress Of your life upon its
soul is immortal.
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