The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1858-01-21
r'i,c GIFT Of tie departed.

II was little past the hour OF sunset,
when q small party reached the neighbor.
hood of the Monadnock, during the heats of
last summer, hoping that the cool and salu.
brious atmosphere might restore the declin-
ing health of one Of numbe The beatty
of the spot where the peaceful waters OF the
lake met the eye on one side, and the greal
"Thundrr Father" as tie Indians designated
the mountain, rose majestically on the other
hand; the home surrounded by the sloping,
grassy turf; the pleasant roads winding
among the green woods, Itring us to some
quiet retreat by the lake side, or on the
rocky hills, made II fitting spit for the in.
valid to seek the renovation of both body
and spirit. The oectpants of the dwelling,
also, in their gentle and thoughtful assidui.
ties for the, cotti!Urt OF those beneath their
roof, with their airy rooms, and their hosp;.
table board, hud no little influence in giving
character never to be forgotten.
In few days after our arrival, another
little party, wholly strangers to us, applied
for rooms, and were received into our tenn.
porary home. One of the ladies accidental.
ly learning our names, on the next duy
spoke to US OF early recollections connected
with years lorg gone by, when fnther and
son had taken her, little girl, on the knee
and t"lkcd with her at her own home, and
by description we perceived that the persons
to whom she alluded were not unknown to
US. Calling one of lis to her cha iiibcr, she
reveFenty plated ah old we'll worn Bible in
odr hands, and asAea il we Recognized it,
Although no name was there, the eye imme.'
diately tell on words, and in hand writing
too, as familiar as moiher's could be. The
words were copy of verses from a mother
to her son. Thus was identified book
which was given to boy ju leaving home
for the alurements and temptations of a
College life, by one of the most tender, low.
ing, and anxious of mothers. This boy had
kept it with him, and had wept over lis gentle
words, until the yenr after leaving college,
when he had resided few weeks with Mr.
B.. the father of the you1g ady. He left
there rather sudd My for distant place
Mr.. b. moved his own lodgings, and has
since deceased, and the young man los,
traces of his mothers gilt. But God sen,
it back to him at an hour that made it in.
valuable to his fllial heart. The young
lady had cherished the book, and had pc,
fustd it fory years daily, but she gladly sen
it buck to the owner, whom she had so un.
expectodly discovered, after lapse of about
twenty two yems.
We soon left the party among the hills
and returned to our own valley, being recall
cd by newly awakened anxiety about thai
aged mother, always delicate and lonc
feeble. Sad, indeed, wus oiir arrival home
Death was already stamped on the brow O
one long ripe for Heaven. Still hope an
, fear struggled for the mastery. After som
days Our baggage arrived at our home, an
with it that precious gift Of love, the ycun
, mans Bibls.
! Soon, alas, the death.angel came but be
fore the full conscious spirit took its Agh
the dying nd of that n)theT cl"sned agai
i her boys Bi6le, and again she sent it to he
fl cted son, the man long struggling wit
4 the disappoin;ments OF actual life, the nit
- die aged man, with her heart fresh blessiu
, upon it. Now "the wealth Of the Roth
:, childs would not purchase that old, wol
- book" from his faithful heart. 1t has r
ceved two fold baptism; the one is Il
spirit of mothers love, the other the bal
, tism Of tears that the hand OF the belos,
-, giver is lying low meath the sod.
=. Here we trunscriBe the verses we ha
mentioned, as the mether copied them wit
>, in those blank leaves. They are simpl
but have q touching pnthos from their uss
), Citations:
"Remember, love, whS gave thee this,
az When other days shall come;
When she who had thy earliest kiss
y Sleeps In her narrow home;
Remember, twas a mother gave
W. The giTt to one she'd die to save:
,is "That mother sought rlegde Of love,
The hoiest, for her son;
And from the gifts of God above,
ry She chose goodly one;
n She chose for her beloved boy
The source of light, and life, and Joy.
"And bade him keep the gif., that when
TIE parting hour Should come,
They might have hope to meet again;
In eternal home;
- 80 She said his faith in that would be
De Sweet incense to her memory.
Sand should the scohef in his pride,
70 Laugh that fond (; ith to scorn,
or And bid him cast the pledge aside,
rtv Which he from youth had borne,
She Gade him pGus ,and ask his breast,
y II he or shS had loved him best.
.en "a parents blessing on her child,
Goes with this holy thing;
The love that would retain the one,
i've Must to the other cling; ....
in Remember, 'ts no idle toy,
A mothers gift, remember, boy"
'.o Oh, mothers, when you send from you
'n0 sons Of your love into the thousand TEN
tions Of life, forget not to SOW the prec
'. seed. Believe me, they will prize ,
"a' simplest effort, when you sleep in the d
'S The prayer Of love; Of faith, of hope, sh
be ever ascending: You may give strel
by one little maternal act, which will
the fruit for eternity.