Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1857-07-30
A Mothers Tears.

A member of the Senior class at -
college, in 1926, was spending the first part
of his closing term at home. He was a gay
and joyial fellow, full Of life and mischief,
though not inclined to vice. The truths and
ordinances of religion he treated with de-
cent respect, but he was careful to debar it
from any approach to his heart; and on this
account he was not unwilling to be absent
from college at this time, as there were special
manifestations of the presence of the Spirit
there. His pious roommate gave him in a
letter some account of what was passing, but
made no other direct appeal to him except to
quote at the close Of his letter the words, +" 1t
is appointed unto men once to die, but after
this the Judgment" His mother wishing to
see the letter, he passed it to her; and after
reading it, she expressed mothers solicitude
for the salvation of his soul.
Our young friend did not sympathise in his
mothers anxieties; but unmoved alike by her
entreaties and his room-mate's appeal, he went
quietly on with his studies. At length the
hour for his return to college came, and he
stood in the doorway grasplng his mothers
hand. She tried to say, Farewell, my son
God bless and save you!" but in vain; her
deep and strong emotions precluded all ex-
preston, save the quivering lip, and the tears
streaming, an unwonted sight, down her
cheeks. Quickly he turned on his heel, I'M
willing to have tears seen in his own eyes,
and toas.. bis n4see il, the empty stage. His
ride to college was a Solitary one, and he had
ample time to reflect on his mothers farewell.
Arriving at his room in the evening, he
found his roommate absent probably at a
prayer-meeting in the recltation-room over
his head, where he could hear the voice of
supplication and the hymn of praise. Leav-
ing this uncongenial spot, he tried to find some
of his former guy companions in the same
building, in order to recover his spirits in
their society. But his search was truitless;
every one seemed to have gone to the prayer
meeting. Returning to his room in disgust,
he considered with himself whether he should
not at once withdraw and 60 home again with
out reporting himself to the president; but
the thought Of his mothers grief made him
waver.
Ere long his roommate and several pious
classmates came in, and welcomed him back.
He was firmly resolved to have nothing to do
with the religious students, if they would let
him alone; but if they spoke to him as to his
own salvation, he resolved to defend himself
as best he could. To his surprise, they now
said nothing to him personally about religion,
though their minds were full of it. Turning
this over in his thoughts after retiring it oc-
Cured to him that perhaps they considered
him as so fully set in impenitence that expos
tulation would be useless. Sleep fled from
his eyes. All that night he saw nothing but
his mothers quiverng fearful face. The
second and the third night were passed in the
same way. He strove in vain to shake off
serious thoughts. God had given his mothers
tears power over his heart never exerted by
arguments, entreaties, or threatenings. He
could stand out no longer. His easy uncon-
Germ was gone he began to enquire, "What
must do to be saved?" he sought counsel
Of Christian friends, and ere long could cheer
his mothers heart by the assurance that he
too had found the Savior.
Pious mother often disheartened, full of fears,
and ready to despair, hold fast upon your
wsyward child by the strong bonds of uncon-
4aerabls lore. Ifesany Ring has special
power to touch the heart of our great High
priest, it is the yeaning mothers agony in
behalf of her child. Great too is its restrain
ing and guiding power over him. Let him
see and know that here is barrier between
him and perdition, that mecer aoiA gre 'oay;
and that if he will destroy himself he must
force his way through it. Let him not fail Of
being early brought to the Savior, for lack of
such love, such prayers, and such tears
american Messenger.