The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1857-06-03
MY MOTHER.

Nth what reverence aud admiration
90 | ILuk uf my mother . | remember
her rs tie first object OF affection lllat |
knew on car;h. Inc image ci her then
youthful face and slender womaw.y form
was lndcIhly STAMPED upon the tablet Of
my m!ant mind, and wrought into AL the
cIcmnnts OF my moral being. have Il
recollection oI her appearance at differ
cnt periods, as sickness, care, advance in
years and lies trials lett their sad traces
upon that face II love. But none OF
these impressions are SO one with and in
scperab!. from my first sense Of existence
rs the face Of thc youthful, hopeiui, loving
moihcr, as She iuvi>hrd her car,sscs upon
me, Err !irstbo'n, her IDIOT son.
Now that face j., furrowed and that
form Is bowed with age. Moro than
'IhreeScorc years and ten" havC left their
sad traces there, hut still she lives the
hrnorcd wife, and more than honored
mother Of her numerous tTain-frcLie in
health, hu, still mistress Of her house, and
ni"'s;cring angel around every couch
Of priu III the vicinity Of her humble
dwelling.
More than luIi hundred years have
He'd with mc since she first pressed me to
her youthful TO ON, and buthed my ten.
der brow with mothers virgin tcars.--
remember her earIy lessons OF virtue
and truth--hcr careful watchings over
ali my incina'ioas-her happy look when
| WAS good and tue, and the tear OF sor.
row, half concealed 10y turning her face
away, when ! was dsubclient or in III
temper. Oh, how strange it seems to
me now that ! could ever have offended
so good being as my dear mother
( as not her constant care Did she
not toll unremiuineiy for me lhrouyl,
, childhood and youth, anil 90 for me ten
thousand things that | was better able
To do myself! Oh, it is wondetiul-sucb
unse!iish care-ssch paticuce-such love
They now fill my heart with admiration.
but they did not cease when | became
man "md ie.f tue dear old home. no,
but ever since, when | have turned my
steps thither TO pay my iiIial duty-nav,
TO bless my yselI by a brief visit, then that
same kind voice, now trcmulous with
age, greets with mothcrly welcome, and
calls me Child" as when looked to her
for bread. With the same strange
thoughuu!Loss will she look over nv
garments 10 see it there is not rent 10
repair, or a button 10 replace and after
have gone to my sum6ers, comes care
fully into my room 10 tuck the clothes
about my person, and make sure that all
is well with her child" for the night.
Oh, my mother ! how much | owe 10
thee foT what little OF virtue, or reverence
for right, OF dcsirc for truth, or trust in
God, | have been enabled to possess and
ENJOY in my checkered life. Nay, how
much am indebted to thee for my no.
best views Of God, for my deepest faith
Tor my honest trust, for my most disin
terested love, for my richest experience.
But oh, how little have | done in return
for thee These lines. ms write them
are blotted with tears Of peuitenlial sor.
row, that | could so little regard my OBJ.
legations Of gratitude to thee, thou mira.
Gle Of love! But will cherish thee nov
IN iiIial duty. MY hand shall lead thee
along the narrow path Of age, aud gently
pass thee so thy rest mthe grave, anl
plant there tic "sprig Of ccssian TO bloom
over ii'y hoBorc'i dust.-zI1ep. q. Thompson,