The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1859-11-19

paper. 1t was y letter from Clifton to me
received the day before. and ! read it over
again. 1t was fun of love to dear mother.
! although he had written to her at the same
time, intcrspersed with accounts of dislike of
school, and longing for sailors life: saving
in strict confidence, il it were not that he was
| to come hack to her at the end of the year,
he would run away and go to sea. | was
angry with HIM. He too. had turned from
| me, | sa id so | tore mp the letter, threw it
/ away. and sitting down on the window seat,
| looked out into the garden.
| The hours passed slowly awav and be-
gan to feel very miserable. Clifton would
come home next perhaps bccore-lor
might not she, now that size had ceased to
| love me. persuade my father to send for him.
aud let me go in his place My father would
do it, was sure. if she suggested it. The
paltering rain and drcary prospect were no..
calculated to inspire me with more cheerful
| thought and, in spite my boosted indcpen-
| denre, my loneliness came over me like a
| flood, and wcpt bitterly.
had tried TO deceive myself into thinking
that needed no sympathy: but felt that
had been longing for it al the time did
| not think OF my pride, now. only knew
that longed for a tender hand, a soothing
voice: I0r some one to say,
4 love you llarold-tell me what troubles
YOU.
And then, with that feeling Of dcsoIatencss
! which is painful to " itness in grown per-
son, Int fearful to see in a child laid my
head down on the W inl,ow bench, and uttered
| one moaning cry.
oh, mother mother, come back -!
though 1t was my own mother that
wanted, but now know i! was not, for to
my mind eye as | called her, she bore that
sweet pale face, and those loving eyes that
had seen, gazing into the blazing fire that
| November night but she was fading slowly
away into the midst. and so | called again
| for she was almost gone.
Oh, mother mother
'IIarold!?
started in moment to my feet. Ny
step mother had entered the room unnotced
and as | rose. she fling herself at my feet on
her knees before mo, and graSped my hands
in both of hers. They were very, very cold,
and the pale (ace, with dark rims around the
eyes, and the words which she uttered with
almost gasp, all tod of intense suffering
Harold, love me ! only love me Love me
| lInroll y
| was Stunnod-I could not spcak-and she,
taking my silence for refusal. gave one low
cry Of anguish, ,cSe to her feet. tottcred
eraspcd the bcd-pcst to support herself, and
then sank heavily to the floor again.
thought she was dead BY pride had van
iShtd. know that loved her now. But
| must call, though it were drspai,inelv. and
threw myself down beside her, and subbvd
| again
oh mother mother !.
she reused little, and opened her eyes.
Say 1t again Harold say it it again p
she sail, eagerly. as though had brought
her message Of life Mother dear mother
In moment her arms were around me
she had claspcd me close to her breast, and
her tears were falling likc,ain upon my head,
and niueing with mine.
From that moment more than loved-.I
! idollzCd her. ! believe, indeed know, that
a any moment | could have laid down my
Lie for her. a smile from her vas my great
est reward; look of sadness my greatest
punishment.
Time passed on: the winter and the sum-
mcr passed and November came again. We
were having just Snch storm as she came
in one short year ago. We talked about Gel
ebr"ting The wedding day-my father and |
but she only smiled eravcly, aud SAID she
was very weary. The bright flames danced
and roaled in the chimney, and then fell!
and as sat at her feet looking up into her
face, my iayorite position it seemed to me as
II that holy light, Of which | have before
spoken, grew brighter on her face, and as if
The atmosphere that surrounded her grew
thicker between US, and was pushing me
away.
That night there were strange footballs
about the house, doors opening and shutting,
and low voices, then all was still again. |
arose early in the morning, and stole instinc-
lively to my mothers door. 1t was aiar, and
stepped in. The windows were W idc open.
and the cold damp air struck me with a chill
| crcpt to the bed and raised a corner Of the
Sheet that was spread over it. There she lay
as though i'll sweet Sleep the Icing dark
eye lashcs pressed close against the white
checks, the lips bearing smile, as though
she saw sweet visions. There Was not
shade of sorrow on her face; it was child like
IN Its expression OF perfect peace and, nest
led close TO her bosom, supported lovingly on
one ann, lay tiny babe it's head was upon
her breast, lis hands were c!aSped in one of
hers--its short lie had gone upward with
heI loving one. That light which had seen
so pleasantly the night before, was brighter
Eow, and cnwrapped them both as with q
garment.
There was too much calmness in that
chamber for weeping too much peace for sor-
row. ! went softly down to the cold desc
late sitting room. The bright flames no long.
er lighted up the black chimney; the once
glowing enbers Were white and cold the
light and the brightness Of cur hearthstone
had gone out forever.