The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1857-03-25
A SHORT STORY WITH A MORAL.


in its conception. A mothers lips first breath.
ell into our ears these words Of Holy writ,
and explained their general import; and from
The time when the story of gray haired Elijah
and his youthful Knockers first excited my
young Imagination, The respect then inspired
for white hairs of age, has grown with my
growth and strengthened with my strength.
We sigh when we thnk of the days when the
young were wont 10 bow before the hoarv
head, and by gentle uncOed.for assiduities
strew roses in the old mans ioUering path.
But those kindly customs have passed
away. The world grows selfish as it grows
old and age-dimmed eyes must turn home.
ward for stays 10 their trembling hands and
tollerng limbs. Here they shall find fulfil.
ment OF their first commandment with prom
Use.
No true womanly soul ever Withdrew her
gentle hand from her poor old father and
mother; no maLly heart ever forgot The
home loves of his wayward childhood, or
ceased 10 hear the echoes of fond mothers
prayer. Often the cares OF this world and the
deceitlulness of riches may choke up the in
born affection Of narrow souls but lew and
far between is the fondly loved child, who
can bo so untrue 10 himself or 10 his Maker
as wholly 10 forget the mother who bore
him.
Yet even with the holiest dictates OF our
reasons and bo"ts, and with The wider apph-
Gallon of This commandment, has Fashion in.
] sjiinsta.f hss I.o:.c---- :-.|c.,----, ~aar sa.5
son, perchance, who left his fond parents
home reluctantly and iearfulIy, 10 make his
way in the world, forge,s, when for,uue IA
vors, 10 welcome his rustic mother 10 his own
luxury with the same CORDIAL embrace with
which he has lett her in his childhood home.
! Her dim old eyes, perhaps, do not catch read
lily the meaningless cour,esies Of life, but
they look none The less lovingly upon her
child, than when they watched over his help
less infancy. Her witherel hand may be
large and bony, aud never had known Jew
el, but none the less gently did lhey smooth
the weary pillow, or balhed the heated brow
IN the dependent days OF boyhood. All
she's the same fond mother still-her aged
and work. bent form, clad in rustic garb, con.
ceals heart full of never dying love, aud
| ready lor a new sacrifice. .--.-
Auu, nanks 10 The Great beng VINO gave
US the commandment with promise, and now
and then there stands up noble man. true
10 his iEborn nature, who throws of the tram
mels of Fashion, however wide the gulf that
separates in the world eye, from the hum.
blest poverty of his boyhood-who is not
ashamed 10 love, before his fellows, the hum
BILE mother who gave him birth.
My MOTHER, permit me 10 present her
10 you" said an elegantly dressed, noble
looking young man to friend, for whom he
had crossed a crowded drawing room, with
the aged parent leaning on his arm. There
was dead silence for full five minutes.
The moral beauty OF the picture pervaded
every soul, and melted away the Frost work
of worldwide hearts. Twas the old fore.
ground OF fashionable summer resort whh.
er hosts had come, with all their selfish pas
eions 10 seek in vain for health and pleasure.
But here was variatioH-a bit of truth to ma.
ture-in the molly mlnslins of colors.
From little brown farm house, pent in
the forest, uwsy up in The Granite Stale, thai,
and sialwart arm--strong, like his native hills
he had already made name for himself
Polished circles opened for him, aud gentle
lips bade him welcome. Yet none the less
carefully did his manly arm support his home
ly, to,tering old mother; none the less softly
and tenderly did he call her, queer though
she looked, "my mother" amongst the proud
beauties who had stuven for his favor. Her
dress was anliquaied, for the gifts of her son
had been mutilated by rustic hands; yet only
one heartless girl Uttered, despite the broad
filled cap and well kept shawl. Her voice
was rough and often her expressions coarse
and inelegant. Used 10 the social mug at
home, she asked for her neighbours goblet a,
the table, and was guilty Of many vulgariiies.
She was all uriEteresting woman, save in her
vigorous age, and her beautiful love for her
sou.
Yet for q week, the son watched over that
mother and gained for her kindness and def
erence, in the very face oil fashion; wakes:
with her, drove with her, helped her, like an
infant, up difficult mountain side OF twenty
miles, humored her every caprice, aud each
day found some new friend, whose heart he
nigh, thrill by those gentle words "my moth
er" To him she was the gentle mother who
rocked him TO sleep IN childhood; aud, true
10 The comm aIdmenls she had taught him
he was making The path smooth TO her de-
dependent years.
One there was in the gay throng whose eye
flashed haushtiIy, as they rested on the toil
worn, homely woman, but she was noble
soul, and ruth and right gained an ,ustan
victory over lile-Iong preiudicss. Quickly
and elegantly she crossed the room aud lad
her hand with a gentle, thrilling touch on the
arm OF her, and Whispered a word in his ear
Will she ever forget the look OF love III
umph in his eyes, or the smiling gentlenes'
of his tones, as he presented the bssaliful
L. A, h. hi lnf,n