Muscatine journal. [volume] (Bloomington, Iowa) 1849-185?, 1853-09-30
A M3therss Love.

l
4 Mother's Love.
| The following affecting narrative pur
ports TO have been given by T. father ,c
his son, as warning derived from his
own bitter experience of The sin of griev.
ing and resisting mothers love anc
| counsel:
What agony was visible on my moth
ers face when she saw that all she sa i'd
and suffered failed TO move me! She rose
up 10 60 home and followed at dis
tance. She spoke no more TO me till she
te eached her own door.
..lt's school time now," said she. $50
my son, and once more let me beseect
| you to think on what have said"
81 shan't go to school," said |.
She looked astonished at my boldness,
but replied firmly,
Certainly you viii 60, Alfred.
command you.'
81 will nos!' said l, in tone Of de-
iance.
''One o. two things you must do, AL
fred-either 60 TO school this moment,
or will lock you in your room, and
keep you there till you are ready to pro-
mise implicit obedience to my wishes
in future"
81 dare you to do it," said /. ''you
can't get me up stairs"
"Alfred, choose now" said my moth
err who laid her hand upon my arm.
She ,rembled violently, and was deadly
pale.
!" Ii you touch me will kick you"
said /, in terrible rage, God knows !
knew not what said.
"Whl you 60, Alfred -
"No !" replied, but quailed beneath
her eye.
"Then follow me-" said she, as she
grasped my arm firmly.
raised my foot-(oh. my son, hear
me D-I raised my foot and Kicked her
my sainted mother! How my head
reels as The torrent Of memory rushes
over me ! Kicked my mother-a feeble
woman-my mother! She staggered
back few steps and leaned against the
WALL She did not look at me. saw
her heart beat against her breast.
Oh, Heavenly Father, she cried,
forgive him-he knows not what he
does!' a ~
The gardener just then passed the
door, and seeing my mother pale and
almost unable to support herself, he
stopped she beckoned him in.
''Take this boyup stairs and lock him
in his room," said she, and turned from
me.
Looking back as she was entering her
room, she gave me such look of agony,
mingled with the most intense !oye--it
was The last unutlerable pang from
heart that was broken.
In a moment | found myself pris.
oner in my own room. | thought for
moment, l would fling myself from
the open window, and dash my braius
out. but Iiel, afraid to do it. was not
penitent. At times my heart was sub
instant, and babe me not yield. The
pale face OF my mother haunted me.
| flung myself on the bed and fell asleep.
Just at twilight heard foo.siep ap
proach my door. 1t was my sister
What may tell my mother from
you 2" she asked.
Nothing" replied.
"Oh, Alfred. :or M sake. for all our
sakes, say that you are sorry ; let me
tell mother that you are sorry. She
longs to forgive you"
l would not answer. heard her
footsteps slowly retreating. and again l
threw myself on the bed, to pass ano,her
wretchea and fearfuknight.
Another footstep, slowers and feebler
than my sisters, dissurbed me. A voice
called me by name. Itwas my mothers,
"Alfred, my son, shall come! Are
you sorry for what you have done 2"
She asked. s." $50
: | cannot .ell what influence. operating
at that mo ment, made me speak adverse
10 my feelings. The gentle voice of
my mother that thrilled through me,
melted the ice from my obdurate heart,
aud 4 longea. 10 throw myself on her
neck, but did not. Bat my words
gave the lie to my heart. when | said !
was not sorry. | heard her withdraw.
l heard her groan. longed to call her
back, but did NOT. sca "a .i'H s
Twas aw wakened FROM my uneasy slam.
Fber by hearing my name called loudly,
and my sister stood at nay bedside.
sect up, Alfred. o don't wait a
minute Get up and come along with
me. Mother is dying ne
| thought was yet dreaming, but
got up melancholy and followed my sis
ter. On the bed, pale and cold as mar
BILE. lay my mo,hsr. She had no
undressed. She had thrown herself ol