The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1858-09-23
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! was FIVE years old when my mother
died; but her image is as distinct to
my recollection, now that twelve years
have elapsed, as it vas at the time of
her death. / remember her as pale,
beautiful, gentle being, with sweet
smile, and a voice that was soft and
cheerful when she praised me and
when l erred, for / was wild, thought
less child, there was q trembling mild
ness about it that always went to my
heart. And then she was SO kind, SO,
patient; methiDks ] can now see her
large blue eyes moist with sorrow be-
cause ofmy childish waywardness, and
hear her repeat, My child, how can
you grieve me SO ?'' - so. p'.- -
l recollect she had for long time.
been pale and feeble, and that some
times there would come a bright spot on
her cheek, which made her look so
lovely that thought she must be well.
But when she sometimes spoke cf dy-,
ing, and pressed me to her bosom, and
"told me to be good when she was
gone, and to love my father a great
deal, to be kind to him, for he would
have no one else to love-" recollect
she was very sick all day, and my little
hobby-horse and whip were laid aside,
and tried to be very quiet. did not
see her for the whole day, and it seemed
very long. At night they told me
mother was too sick to kiss me, as she
always used to do before went to
bed, and l must go without it. Butt
could not. / stole into the room, and
laying my lips close to hers, whispered
I" Mother, mother, won't you kiss me?" /,
Her lips were very cold, and when she
put her arm around me, laid my head
upon her bosom, and one hand upon
my cheek, / felt cold shuddering
creep all over me. My father carried
me from the room, but he could not
speak. = + s..'..~ = .'sl' 81
After they put me in bed 1 lay long
while thinking. / feared my mother
would indeed die; for her cheek felt as Z,
cold as my little sisters did when she
died and they laid her in the ground.
But the impressions of mortality are
always indistinct in childhood, and I
soon fell asleep. In the morning I !.
hastened to my mothers room. A
white napkin covered her face. / re-
moved it; it was Just as / feared. Her
eyes were closed, her cheek was cold
and hard, and only the lovely express !,
sion that always rested upon her lips
remained. In an instant all the little
faults for which she. had so often re-
proved me rushed upon my mind. +
longed to tell her how good / would
always be, if she would remain with
me. She was buried; but my remem-
brance of the funeral is indistinct.
only retain the impressions which her
precepts and example left upon my
mind. - .@Ns '.'' s''''is $50 e,@ % s.>''S
was passionate, headstrong boy;
but / never yielded to this turn of my
disposition without fancying / saw her !,
mild, fearful eye fixed upon me, Just as
she used to do in life And then when
l succeeded in overcoming it, her sweet
smile of appreciation beamed upon me,
and l was happy, My whole charac-i
ter underwent a change, even from the
moment of her death. Her spirit was
forever with me, strengthening my good
resolutions and weakening my propen-
sity to evil. / felt that it would grieve
her gentle spirit to see me err; and I
could not would not do il. I was the
child of her affection. / knew she had
prpyed and wept over me, and that
even on the Threshold Of eternity, her
affection had caused her gentle spirit to /
linger, that she might pray for me once
more. I resolved to become all that
she could desire. This resolution I
have never forgotten. 1t helped me to
subdue the waywardness of childhood,
protected me through the temptations
of youth, and will comfort and support
me through the buster scenes of man.
hood. ilr Whatever there is that is esti-
mable in my character, | owe to the
impressions of goodness made upon
my ;afs:: ;ifs:i: mind by the exemplary con
duct and faithful instructions ut my ex-
cellent mother Cottogers Friend.