Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1856-05-14

Zip IA Jul CdA 40 We saw tAC jill UOIuCi
up the aisle. The bell tolled long and loud,
until its iron tongue had chronicled the
years of the toil-worn mother. One-two
.three-four-fve. How clearly and al
most merrily each stroke told of her once
peaceful slumber in her mothers bosom.
and of her seat at nightfull on her weary
knee. Six-seven-eight-nine
ten rang out the tale of her sports on
green sward, In the meadow, and the
brook. Observation-Disclosures
teen-ffteen spoke more gravely Of school
days, and little household joys and cares.
Observation-Disclosures sounded out
the enraptured visions of m~aidenhood.
and the dream of early love. Nineteen
brought before US the happy bride. Twen-
ty spoke Of the young mother, whose heart
was full to bursting with the new-strung
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 but harsh and loud.
From that to sixty each stroke told of
the warmhearted mother and grandmother,
over again her own joys and sorrows in
those of her children and children's chill
dren. Every family of all the group
wanted grandmother then, and the only
strife was, who should secure the prize =
but bark the bells tolls on ! Seventy
Observation-Disclosures. She be-
gins 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 seemed like home. She
murmurs in plaintive tones, and after all
her toll and WEAKNESS, it is hard she can
not be allowed a home to die in that she
must be sent rather than invited, from
house to house. Observation-Disclosures
Northumberland, she is now a second
child now "she has o%utlived her useful
ness, she has nov ceased to be a comfort
to herself or anybody - that is, she has
ceased to be profitable to her earth-craving
and money-grasping children.
Now sounds out, ~reverbating through
our lovely forest, and echoing back from
our chill of the dead" e~ighty-nine there
she now lies in the coffin, cold and still
she makes no trouble now, demands no
love no soft words, no tender little Offices.
A look OF patient endurance, we fancied
also an expression of grief for ~unrequited
love, sat on her marble features. Her
children were there, clad in weeds of woe,
and In an irony we remember the strong
mans words, "She was a good mother in
her day."
When the bell ceased tolling, the strange
minister rose in the pulpit. His form was
very erect, and his voice strong, but his
hair was silvery white. He read several
passages of scripture expressive of God
compassion to feeble man, and especially O
his tenderness when gray hairs are on hin
and his strength faileth. He then made
some touching remarks on human frailty.
and of dependence on God, urgingall pres
ent to make their peace with their Maste
while In health, that they might claim hi
promises when heart and flesh should fai
them. "Then," he said, "the eternal Goo
shall be thy refuge, and beneath thee shall
be the everlasting arms" Leaning ovel
the desk, and gazingly i~ntentIy on the cot
fined form before him, he then sale. reye.,
entity HFrom a fttla =: 1gray hal,
now much love and sympathy this elias
have a right to demand of their fellow
creatures. Now [ feel it. Our mother
he added most tenderly, "who now lieI
in death before us, was a stranger to mel
as are all these, her descendants. All |
know of her is what her son has told m
to-day-that she was brought to this tow
from a far, sixty-nine years ago, a happl
bride-that here she has passed most d
her life, toiling as only mothers havl
strength to toll, until she had reared
large family of sons and daughters-th;
she left her home here, clad in the weed
of widowhood, to dwell among her chill
dren ; and that till health and vigor lie
her, she lived for you, her descendants.
"You, who together have shared he
love and her care, know how well you hav
requited her. God forbid that conscienc
should accuse any of you of ingratitude {
murmuring, on account of the care sh
l has been to you of late. When you o
> back to your homes, be careful of YOU
words and your example before your ow
children, for the fruit of your own dom
I you will surely reap from them when 70
yourself totter on the brink of the gray,
| entreat you as a friend, as one who h;
G himself entered the evening of life.' til;
you may never say, in the presence
n your families nor of Heaven, Our moth,
has outlived her usefulness. She was
q burden to u.s. Never, never I. A moth
a cannot live 50 long as that No whe
Is she can no longer labor for her childre
a nor yet care for herself, she can fall like
precious weight OF their bosoms, and c;
ID forth by her helplessness all the mob
y generous feelings of their natures.
"Adieu, then, poor toil-worn mother
e. There are no more sleepless nights,
er more days of pain for thee. Undying Vi
or and everlasting usefulness are part
IN the inheritance of the redeemed. Feel
as thou vert on earth, thou will Aa5pa-As
SHere shalt thou ina thy longed-for re
TT and receive glorious sympathy from Je'
of and his ransomed fold.