Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1853-02-03
Kiss me, Mamma. Do Kiss me.

rs The child was SO sensitive, SO lik
= that little shrinking plant, that cur
B. at breath, and shuts its heart fror
le the light.
n The only beauties she possesse
e we're an exceedingly transparen
skin, and the most mournful blu
]. eyes.
J had been trained by avery stern
strict, conscientious mother | wa
! a hardy plant, rebounding after eve
(. Iy shock; misfortune could not daun
though discipline tanned me- | fan
cied, also, that ! must go through th'
5 same routine with this delicate crea
! ture; SO one day when she had dis
pleased NE exceedingly, by repeating
an offence, was determined to pun
ish her severely. l was very serious
ali day, and on sending her to her
little couch, / said, "Now, my daugh-
ter, to punish you, and show you
how very naughty you have been,
shall not kiss you'to- night
! She stood loo king at me, astonish-
ment personifed, with her great
mournful eyes Wide open:
| supposed sh E had forgotten her
misconduct till then; and l left her
with the big tears dropping down her
cheeks and her little red lip quiyer-
ling. !.
Presently I was sent for; "Ohl
ihamma, you will kiss me; l can't 60
to sleep if you don't $he sobbed,
every tone of hef voice trembling,
and she held out her little hands.
Now come the struggle between
love and what l falsely termed duty
My heart said give her q kiss Of
peace; my stern nature urged me to
persist in my correction, that | might
impress the fault upon her: mind.
That was the way I had been trains
ed, till was most submissive child,
and | remembered how often l had
thanked my mother since for her
straight forward course.
| knelt by the. bedside--@MotheT
cant kiss you, Ellen,'' whisper
Cd, though every word ohoked me-
Her hand touched mine; it was very
hot, but | attributed it to her excite
lnent, She turned her little griey1
ing face to the wall. II
l blamed myself as the fragile
form shook with halfsuppresFed sobs,
and @mother hopes little Ellen will
learn to mind hereafter this, = left the
room for the night. 4
1t might have been about twelve
when ] was awakened by my nurse.
Apprehensive, / ran eagerly to the
dhild's chamber. l had had a feaiful
dream.
Ellen did not know me; she was
sitting up, crinsone6 from the fore-
head to the thr roat, her eyes 50 bright
that almost drew back aghast at
their chances. From that night d
raging fever drunk up her life-and
what think you was hd r incessant
plaintpouredintd my ang4ishfd heart2
80, kiss me, ! can't so TO Sleep
won't be naughty, if you'll only
kiss me. OH kiss me, dear mammal
can't go to sleep
Holy little angel! she did go to
sleep, one gray morning and she
never woke again--n$yer. Her
hand was locked in mineI ant all my
veins grew icy with its gFadpal chill
Family the light faded out in the
beautiful eyes-whiter and winter
grew the tremulous lips. She nev-
ar knew me; but with her last breath |
she whispered, Il will be good d,mother,
t you'll kiss me. II
Kiss her; God knows how passion
lte. but unayailing, were my kisses
lpon her cheek after that fatal night.
God knows how wild were my prayers
hat she might know, if but on
y once, that I kissed he y God +,
Snews how | would ha We vi elded up
ny very life, could have as ked for !,
yiyeness of that sweet ehild- Il
Well! grief is unavailing now
She lies in her little tomb; there is 2 (
marble urn at her head, and a rose-
,ush at her feet; there grows sweet 4
lowers; there waves the 8 emile grass;
here birds sing their Hnatins and
yespers. there the blue sky smiles
lown to- day, and there lles burlef
he freshness of my heart.
Parents, you should bave heard
he patbos in the voice ofthat striek +
IN mother, as she said: There are