Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1860-09-07
A Touching Story.


ence Of grieving and resisting a mothers love
and counsel:'a .1.afzeH -..., u#r
i What agony was visible on my mothers
face when she saw chat all she said and suf-
fcred 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,
I !" 1t is school time now" said she. /" Go,
my son, and once more let me besccch you to
think upon what have said "1,' 37h's-.
i - shan't 90 to school, y said I. .t5 '1
She looked astonished at my coldncss, but
replied firmly: ,..,..-. ....-... sit. .~...,7.
Certainly you will go, Alfred 7 command
you.". y ~ ttS ".'t 'a..'. 1"'
81 will not" said in a tone of defiance
" One Of two things you must do, Alfred -
either 60 to school this morning, or | will lock
you in your room, and keep you there till you
are ready to promise implicit obedience to my
wishes in the future" GL ,E...i 1a'
! E' dare you to do it; can't get me up
stairs" fs.,.,..,, r..A.. A.. f., sr,>,,... T...sf
!" Alfred choose now" said my mother,
who, laid her hand upon my arm. She trein
fbled violently and was deadly pale. ''" h
4 elf you touch me, will kick you," said
in a terrible rage. God knows knew not
what said, . n. .t.r ,,,..a a.
win you 60, Alfred ?''
"No,"I replied, but quailcd beneath her
eye. .aaH5 tn71'ma.. no anr
| "Then follow me-" said she, as she grasp
cd my arm firmly. A.. -....,.. .......-.s.'
l raised my foot-oh, my son hear me =
| raised my foot and kicked her-,ny sainted
mother! How my head reels as the torrent
OF memory rushes over me! | kicked my
mother, a feeble woman my mother! She
staggered back a few steps, and leaned against
the wall. She did not look at me; saw her
heart beat against her breast. fe3 1 wn
"Oh! Heavenly Father" said she, +" for
give him-he knows not what he doesr'
The gardner just then passed the door, and
seeing my mother pale and almost unable to
support herself, he stopped She beckoncd
him in. s.,ra4 ,-.- ~. rlafn..s.....a.@
"Take this boy up stairs, and lock him in
his room,' said she and turned from me-
Looking back as she was entering her room,
she gave such look of agony, mingled with
the most intense love tit was The last unut-
terable pang from a heart that was broken.
In moment found myself prisoner in
my own room. 1 thought for moment, |
would fling myself from the open window,
andsdash my brains out, but felt afraid to
do it. | was not pcnitent. At times my
heart was subdued; but my stubborn pride
rose in an instant, and badc me not Yield
The pale face OF my mother haunted me-
flung myself in bed and fell asleep. Just at
twilight l heard q footstep approach the door
1t was my sister
What shall tcllm mother for You" she
asked .a. .@ s.. ..E
"Nothing," replied. III -.... ...
"Oh, Alfred !! for my sake, for all our sakes
say that you arc sorry. She longs to forgive
you" +a a'..
would not answer heard her footsteps
slowly rctreating, and again threw myself
on the bed, to pass another wretched and
fearful night.
Another footstep slower and fccbler than
my sisters disturbed me. A voice called me
by name. 1t was my mothers. a ...E
"Alfrcd my son, shall Gomez" she asked
| cannot tell what influence, operating al
that moment, made me speak adverse to my
feelings. The gentle voice of my mohc,
thrilled through me, and melted the ice of my
obdurate heart, and !onged to throw myself
on her neck, but did not But my words
gave the lie to my heart when said was
not sorry. j heard her withdraw heard
her groan. Ilongcd to call her back. But
did not. ..g- ... E....s..a.. ...,.
I was awakened from my uneasy, slumber
by hearing my name called loudly, and my
sister stood at my bedside. p" '.@
"Get up, Alfred Oh! don't wait min
ute! Get up and como with me. Mother is
dying" #.. ..-....-..... .t..,.-
thought was yet dreaming, but got up
mechanically and followed my sister On
the bed, and cold as marble, lay my mother
She was not undressed. She had thrown
herself on the bed to rest arising to go again
to me, she was seized with a palptation o.
the heart, and bornd senseless to her room
cannot tell You with what agony looked
upon her; my rcmorsc was tenfold more bit
ter from the thought that she would never
know it. Ibelicve myself to be her murder
or. fell on the bed beside her. coulG
not weep. My heart burned in my bosom
my brain was on fire. My sister threw he,
arms around me and wcpt in silence. Sud
denly we saw slight motion of mothers
hand her eyes unclosed. She had recovered
Consciousness, but not speech. She looked
at me and moved her lips. l could not un
derstand her words. "Mother! mother p
shrieked, "say only that you forgive me =
She could not say it with her lips, but he1
hand pressed mine. She smiled upon me
and lifting her thin white hands, she claspet
my own within them, and cast her eyes up
ward. She moved her lips in prayer, and
thus she died. remained still knecling be
side that dear form till my gentle sister re
moved me. The Joy Of youth had gone for.
ever
Boys who spurn mothers control, who
arc ashamed to own that they arc wrong, who
think it manly to resist her authority, O,
yield to her influence, beware! Lay not ur
for yourselves bitter memories for future