Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1860-02-17
lloutb's Department.
A BOYS ANGER.

The following affecting narrative purports
to have been given by father to his son, as
warning derived from his own experience
OF resisting a mother counsel:
What agony was visible on my mothers
face when she saw that all she said and suf-
fercd failed to move me She rose to 90
home, and followed her at distance She
spoke no more till she reached her own door.
"It's school time now,' she said 500, my
son, and once more let me bcsecch you 20
think upon what | have said"
81 shan't go TO school, said l.
She looked astonished at my boldnoss, but
replied firmly
"Certainy yoawill co. Alfred 1 command
you
81 will not g. said / in a tone ofdefance"
conc Of two things you must do, Alfred.
either 20 TO school this morning or | will lock
you up in your room aud deep you there till
you are ready to promise implicit obedience
TO my wishes in future
81 dare YOU to do it," said ''you can't
get me up stairs
alfred, choose now, said my mother, who
laid her hand upon my arm. She trembled
violently and was deadly pale.
"If you touch me viii kick you" said l.
in terrible rage. God knows | knew not
what | said
"Wll you 90 Alfred :"
mo | replied but quailed beneath her
eye.
"Then follow me, said She and she grasp
cd my arm firmly. raised my foot-oh. my
son, hear me IL raised my foot and kicked
her How my head reels as the torrent rush
es over me ! kicked my mother feeble
woman-my mother She staggered back
few steps and leaned against the wall She
did not look at me. / saw her heart beat
against her breast
"Oh Heavenly Father" said she, "forgiyo
him-he knows not what he does"
The gardener just then passed the door,
and seeing my mother pale, and almost una
bic to support herself, he stopped. She beck
oned him in.
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 me a look of agony, mingled with
the most intense love lit was the last unut-
terable pang from heart that was broken.
In moment ] found myself prisoner in
my own room. thought for moment |
would fling myself from the open window, and
dash my brains out, but | was afraid to do it.
! was not penitent At times my heart was
subdued, but my stubborn pride rose in an
instant, and babe me not yield. The pale face
of my mother haunted me- | flung myself
on the bed, and fell asleep. Just at twilight
heard a footstep approach the door. 1t was
my sister.
"What may tell my mother from you ;"
she asked
Nothing | replied.
"Oh, Alfred for my sake, say you are sor-
ry. She longs to forgive you.
,vnpll nof apavrgr ! hoorI h,- c,,t.,,.,-
slowly retiring, and again threw myself on
the bed to pass another and fearful night
Another footstep, still slower and feobler
than my sisters disturbed me. 1t was my
mothers
"Alfred, my son, shall come = she asked
cannot tell what influence, operating at
that moment, made me speak adverse to my
feelings. The gentle voice of my mother
thrilled me through, melted then the ice of
my obdurate heart, and longed to throw
myself on her neck, but did not. But the
words gave the lie to my heart when | said
was not sorry. | heard her withdraw |
heard her groan. longod to call her back,
but did not.
was awakened from my uneasy slumber
by hearing my name called loudly, and my
sister stood at my bedside.
Get up and come with me. Mother is dy-
ing"
thought was yet dreaming, but got up
mechanically and followed my sister. On the
bed, pale and cold as marble, lay my mother.
She had not undressed She had thrown
herself on the bed to rest arising to go to
me, she was seized with palpitaton of the
heart, and was borne senseless to her room.
cannot tell you with what agony looked
upon her. My remorse was ten-fold more
bitter from the thought that she would never
know it. believed myself to be her muir
derer. fell on the bed beside her. | could
not weep. My heart was burned in my bosom
my brain was on fire. My sister threw her
arms around me and wept in silence. Sud
denly we saw a slight motion of mothers
hand; her eye unclosed, She had recovered
consciousness, but no speech She looked at
me and moved her lip. | could not understand
her words. 'Mother, mother | shrieked,
SAY only that you forgive me :" She could
not say 1t with her lips, but her hand pressed
NINE She smiled upon me, and lifting her
thin white hands, she clasped my own with |
them, and cast her eyes upward She moved
her lips in prayer, and thus she died. | re-
NAMED still kneeling beside that dear form.
till my sister removed me. The Joys of youth
had left forever.
Boys who spurn a mothers control, who
are ashamed to own that they are wrong, who
think it manly to resist her authority, or yield |
to her influence, beware Lay not up for |
yourselves bitter memories for future years