The semi-weekly mountain Democrat., 1860-11-14
A Teaching Incident.

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his son, as warning derived from his own
bitter experience Of gricving and resisting
a mothers love and counsel:
What agony was visible on my moth
er's face, when she saw that all she said
and suffered failed to move me! She rose
to go home and | followed at distance
She spoke no more to me till she reached
her own door.
II is school time now" said She "GO,
my son, and once more let me bcseech
you to think upon what have said"
IL Shan't go to school," said I.
She looked astOnished at my cOl'lness,
but replied firmly, "Cer:ainly you will
60, Alfred: ! command you.
~ will not" said /, in tonc Of def
ance.
Zone Of two things you must do, Al
frcd-cithcr go TO school this morning, or
| will lock you in your room, and keep
you there until you are ready to promise
implicit obedience to my wishes in the
future"
IL dare you 20 do it, you can't get me
up stairs
--" Alfred, choose now, said my mother,
who laid her hand upon my arm. She
tremblcd violently and was deadly pale.
"lf you touch me III kick yOu," said |
in a terrible rage. God knows knew not
what said.
"Will you 90, Alfred -
NO" | replied, but quailcd beneath
her eye.
"Then follow me-" she said, as she
grasped my arm firmly.
I--Eraise'lmy feot-Olt, my son, hear me !.
Il raised my foot and kicked her-my
Sainted mother How my head reels as
the torrent of memory rushcS over me
| kicked my mother, a feeble w0man-
my-rnother!- She staggered back u lcw
steps, and leaned against The wall. She
did not look at mc,-I saw her heart beat
against her breast.
>"Oh, Heavenly Father" she said, 4" for
give him-he knows not what he docs!"
The gardeuer just then passed the door
and seeing my mother pale and hardly
able to support herself, he stopped. She
beckOned him in.
Take this boy up stairs, and lock him
in his rOom," said she and turned from
me. Looking back az she was entering
her room, she gave such look Of agony.
mingled with the H0sr intense love lit
was the last unutterabIe pang from heart
that was broken.
In a moment found myself prisoner
| in my own room. thought for moment
! would fling myself from the open win
dow, and dash my brains out, but felt
afraid to do it. was not penitcnt. At
times my heart was subducd; but my
stubborn pride rose in an instant, and
bade me not yield. The pale face Of my
mother haunted me. flung myself in
bed and fell asleep. Just at twilight
heard il footstcp approaching the door. Ii
was my sister.
"What may tell my mother for you ~
she asked.
Nothing" replied.
"Oh, Alfred for my sake, for all our
snkes, say that you arc sorry. She longs
to forgive you"
would not answer heard her foot
steps slowly rctreating, and again threw
myself on the bed, to pass another wretch
ed and fearful night.
Another foOtstep slower and feeblcr
than my sisters disturbed inc. A voice
called ME by name. 1t was my mothers.
Alfred my son, shall | come 2" she
asked.
cannot tell what influence, operating
at that moment madc ne speak adverse
to my feeling. The gentle voice Of INV
mother thrilled through me, aud melted
the ice Of my Obdurate heart. and | longcd
TO throw myself on her neck, but did
not. Bat my words gave the lie to my
heart when ! said | was not sorry.
heard her withdraw. heard her groan.
lOngcd TO call her back, but did not.
was awakened from my uneasy Slum-
Der, by hearing my name called loudly
and my sister >tno1 at my bedside.
"Get up, Alfred. Oh, don't wait a
Mother is dying"
thought was dreaming. but got up
full Of melancholy, anl followed my sister.
On the bed, and cold ns marble lay my
mother. She was not undrcs>ed. She
had thrown herself OH the bed to rest
arising to 60 again to me, she was seized
with a palpitaton Of the heart, and
borne scnscess to her room.
! cannot tell you with what agony
looked upon her; my remorce was ten
fold more bitter from the thought that
she would never know it. l believed my.
self to be her murderer. fell on the bed
beside hcr-I could not weep. Ny heart
burned in my bosom; my brain was
on fire. My sister threw her arms around
me, and wcpt in silence. Suddenly VIC
saw light motion Of mothers hand her
eyes Enclosed. She had recovered con.
sciOusness but not speech. She looked
at me and moved her lips. could moi
understand her words. Mother, moth
err" shrickcd, "say only that you vii
forgive me-" She could not say it Will
her lips, but her hand pressed mine. She
smiled upon nc, and lifting her thin white
hands, she clasped my own within then
and cast her eyes upward. She movct
her lips in prayer, and thus she died.
remained still kneeling beside that deal
form till my gentle sister removed me
The joy Of youth had gone forever.
Boys who spurn mothers control, wh'
are ashamed to own that they are wrong
who think it manly to resist her author
ity, or yield to her influence, beware
Lay not up for yourselves bitter memo
ries for future years.
SA$
ATRoCIous.-" Betsy, my dear" sal
| Mr. StnhhS oiv;n0 L;S ,r;c, N ,o;r n