Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1860-12-31
A Touching Story.


er's face when she saw that all she said
and suffered failed to move me. She
rose to 90 home, and followed at dis
lance. She spoke no more to me till she
reached her own door.
at is school time now," said she.
go, my son, and once more let me be-
seech you to think upon what | have
said"
81 shal't 90 to school" l said.
She looked astonished at my GOODNESS
but replied firmly
"Certainly You will go, Alfred l
command you"
81 will not" said /, in tone of de-
fiance.
'Onc of two things you must do, AL
tred-elther go 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 wish
es in the future
81 dare you to do it /; you can't get
me up stairs"
"AIfred, choose now, said my mother,
who laid her hand upon my arm. She
trembled violently, and was deadly
pale.
eff you touch me I'll kick you," said
|, in terrible rage. God knows | knew
not what said.
"Will you 60, Alfred ?"
"No," l replied, but | quailed beneath
her eye.
Chen follow me-" she said, as she
grasped my arm firmly"
| raised my foot-oh, my son, hear
me Il raised my foot and kicked her
my salntcd mother! How my head
reels as the torrent Of memory rushes
over me! kicked my mother, feeble
woman-my mother! She staggered
back few steps, aud leaned against the
wall. She did not look at me- saw
her heart beat against her breast.
ooh! Heavenly Father" said she,
''forgive hm-he knows not what he
does ~
The gardener just passed the door,
and seeing my mother pale and almost
unable to support herself, stopped. She
beckonei him in.
"Take this boy up stairs and lock
him in his room," said she, and turned
from me. Looking back as she was en-
tering her room, she gave such a look
Of agony mingled with the most intense
love 1T was the last unutterable paug
from heart that was broken.
In moment l found myself prison
er in my own room. Thought for mo-
ment that would fling myself from the
open window and dash my brains out,
but felt afraid to do it, was not pen
itent. At times my heart was subdued;
but my stubborn pride rose in an in
slant 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 footstcp approach
the door. 1t was my sister.
"What may tell your mother for
you?" she asked.
"Nothing," | replied.
"Oh, Alfred for my sake, for all our
sakes, say that you are sorry. She
longs to forgive YOU"
| would not answer. I heard her
footsteps slowly retrea,ing, and threw
myself on the bed to pass another
wretched and fearful night.
Another tootstep, slower and feebler
than my sisters disturbed me. 4 voice
called me by name. 1t was my moth
er's.
"Alfred, my son, shall l come! 2" she
asked.
l cannot tell what influence, opera
ting at that moment, made me speak ad-
verse to my feelings. The gentle voice
of my mother melted my obdurate
heart and longed to throw myself
her neck, but l did not. But my words
gave the lie to my heart when | said
that was not sorry. ! heard her with
draw. heard her groan. l longed to
call her back. But | did not.
l was awakened from my uneasy slum-
Der by hearing my name loudly called,
and my sister stood at my bedside.
s'iet up, Alfred. Oh, don't wait
minute! Get up and come with me.
Mother is dying!
thought was yet dreaming, but l
got up mechanically and followed my
sister. On the bed, and cold as marble
lay my mother. She was not uLdressed
She had thrown herself on the bed to
rest ! Arising to 60 again to me. she
was seized with palpitation OF the heart,
aud was borne senseless to her room.
l cannot tell you with what agony
looked upon her my remorse was ten
fold greater from the fact that she
would never know it. believed my
self to be her murderer. / could not
weep. My heart burned in my bosom |;
my brain was on fire. My sister threw
her arms around me and wept in silence.
Suddenly We saw slight motion Of my
mothers hand-hsr eyes Enclosed. She
bad recovered Consciousness, but not
speech. She looked at me and moved
her ips-I could not understand her
words.
"Mother mosher!" shrieked, "say
only that you forgive met
She could not cay il With her lips, but
her hand pressed mine. She smiled up-
on me, and lifting her thin white haeds,
she clasped my own WITHIN thsm, and
cast her eyes upward, She moved her
lips In prayer, and thus che died.
l remained still kneelipg beside that
deer form till my gessle sister removed
ma The joy Of life had gonN taesa,s I