Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-05-09
NUMBER 19.

love which God had awakened in her
bosom. And then stroke after stroke
told of her early womanhood-of the
love and cares, and hopes, and fears and
tolls through which she passed during
these long years, till fifty rang out harsh
and loud. From thatto sixty each stroke
told Of the warm hearted mother and
grand mother, living over again her own
Joys and sorrows in those of her children
and children's children. Every family
Of all the group wanted grandmother
then, and the only strife was who should
secure the prize; but hark the bell tolls
on Seventy, seventy-one, two, three,
four. She begins to grow feeble, requires
some care, is not always perfectly patient
or satisfied; she goes from one child's
house TO another so that no place seems
like home. She murmurs in plaintive
tones, and after all her toll and weariness,
it is hard she cannot be allowed a home
TO die; that she must be sent, rather than
invited, from house to house. Eighty,
eighty one, two, three, four, ah, she is
now second child-now " she has out
lived her usefulness; she has now ceased
to be comfort to herself or anybody ;"
that is, she has ceased to be profitable 10
her earth-craving and money-grasping
children.
Now sounds out, reveTberating through
our lovely forest, and echoing back from
our "hill of the dead" Eighty-ninel
there she lies now in the coffin, cold and
still-she makes no trouble now, demands
no love aI words no tender little
offices. eS O. d-at e1du ,nce,
we fanc.ol a a ezar foe
unrequited love, sat - her marble ea-
lures. Her children were there Ga Ia
weeds of woe, and in irony we remem-
bered the strong mans words "She
was good mother in her day"
When the bell ceased tolling, a strange
minister arose in the pulpit. His form
was very erect, and his voice strong, but
his hair was silvery white. He read sew
oral passages of scripture expressive of
Gods compassion to feeble man, and es-
pecially of his tenderness when gray
hairs are on him, and his strength faileth.
He then made some touching remarks on
human frailty, and of dependence on
God, urging all present to make their
peace with their master while in health,
that they might claim his promises when
heart and flesh should fail them
"Then," he said, the eternal God shall
be thy refuge, and beneath thee shall be
the everlasting arms" Leaningover the
desk, and gazing intently on the cofIined
form before him, he said reYerently:
From a little child ] have honored the
aged; but never knew truly how much
love and sympathy this class have a right
TO demand of their fellow creatures
Now ] feel it. Our MOTHER" he added
most tenderly, "who now lies in death
before us, was a stranger to me, as are
all these, her descendants. All / know
of her is what her son has told me to
day-that she was brought to this town
from afar, sixty-nine years ago, a happy
bride-that here she passed most of her
life, toiling as only mothers ever have
strength to toll, until she had reared a
large family Of sons and daughters-that
she left her home here, clad in the weeds
Of widowhood, to dwell among her chill
dren; and that till health and vigor left
her, she toiled for you, her descendants.
You who together have shared her
love and her care, know how well you
have requited her. God forbid that con-
science should accuse any Of you Of in
gratitude or murmuring on account of the
care she has been to you Of late. When
you go back to your homes, be careful Of
your words and your example before
your own children, for the fruit Of your
own doing you viii surely reap from
them when you yourselves totter on the
brink Of the grave. entreat you as II
friend, as one who himself has entered
the evening Of life, that you may never
] say in the presence Of your families nor
of heaven, Our mother has outliyedi her
usefulness-she was a burden to U.s.
Never, never; mother cannot live 20
long as that No; when she can TO
longer labor for her children, nor yet care
for herself, she can fall like a precious
weight on their bosoms, and call forth by
her helplcssness all the noble, generous
feeling Of their natures.
Adieu, then, poor, toil-worn mother /;
there are no more sleepless nights, no
more days Of pain for thee. Undying
yigor and everlasting usefulness are part
Of the inheritance Of the redeemed. Fee
bic a. thou werf on earth fhou wilt not