The star of the north. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1849-1866, 1860-10-10
A Touching Story.


What agony was visible on my mothers
face when she saw that al she said and suf-
fered failed to move me She rose 10 90
home and | followed at a distance She
spoke no more TO me till she reached her
own door.
KIT is school time now" said she, ego,
my son, and once more, let me beseech
you TO think upon what have said"
al shant go 10 school" said l.
She looked astonished at my boldness,
but replied firmly:
Certainly you will go, Alfred, COM
mand you"
II will not" said /, in tone of defiance
"One oftwo things you must do, Alfred
either go to school this morning, or will
lock you in your room, and keep you there
till you are ready TO promise implicit ODE
dence to my wishes in the future"
81 dare you 10 do it. you can't get me up
stairs"
"AIfred, choose now," said my mother,
who laid her hand upon my arm. She
I trembled violently and was deadly pale.
"If you touch me ! will kick you," said
| |, in a terrible rage. God knows | knew
not what | said.
! 'Will you go, Alfred -
"No," replied, but quaied beneath her
eye.
"Then follow me" said she, as she grasp
ed my arm firmly.
| raised my ioot-oh my son, hear me
=! raised my foot, and kicked her-my
sainted 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,
and leaned against the wall. She did not
look at me /; saw her heart beat. against
! her breast.
| "Oh, Heavenly Father" said she, "for.
give him, he knows not what he does ~
The gardener just then passed the door,
and seeing my mother pale and almost un-
able TO support herself, he stopped. She
| beckoned him in
"Take this boy up stairs, and lock him in
his room," said she turning from me.
| Looking back as she was entering her
| room, she gave such look of agony. ming.
! led with the most intense love! it was the
last unutterable pang from a heart that was
| broken.
In moment found myself prisoner in
my own room. Thought for a moment |
would fling myself from the open window,
and dash my brains out. Then ] became
! penitent. AT times my heart was subdued;
but my stubborn pride rose in an instant,
and bade me not yield. The pale face of
my mother haunted me. fang myself on
the bed and fell asleep. Just at twilight, |
heard iootstep approach the door. 1t was
my sister
"Whal may | tell mother for you ~ she
asked.
"Oh, Alfred, for my sake, for all our
sakes, say that you are sorry She longs
10 forgive you'
would not answer. | heard her foot
! steps slowly retreating, and again threw
myself on the bed to pass another wretch.
ed and fearful night Another foo,s,ep D.
, slower and feebler than my sisters disturb.
ed me. voice called me by name. /.
was my mothers.
"Alfred my son, shall come ?'' she
asked.
canno; tell what influence operating at
that moment made me speak adverse to my
feelings. The gentle voice of my mother
thrilled through me, and melted the ice of
my obdurate heart, and longed TO throw
myself on her neck, but did not But my
| heart gave the lie to my words when said
! was not sorry. heard her withdraw. |
heard her groan. longed to call her back,
| but did not.
was awakened from my uneasy sum-
ber, by hearing my name called loudly, and
my sister stood at my bedside
"Get up, Alfred. Oh, don't wait min.
ute Get up aud come with me- Mother
is dying
thought was yet dreaming, but got
up mechanically and followed my sister -
! On the bed, and cold as marble, lay nv
mother. She was mol addressed. She had
thrown herself OIL the bed TO rest arising
| 10 60 10 me she was seized with a papita-
| ton OF the heart, and was borne senseless
10 her room.
cannot tell you with what agony look
| ed upon her; my remorse was ten fold
more bitter from the fact that she would
never know it. believed myself to be her
murderer. fell on the bed beside her-I
could not weep. My heart burned within
my bosom ; my brain was on fire. My Sis
ter threw her arms around me and wept in
silence. Suddenly we saw a light motion
of mothers hand her eyes Enclosed. She
had recovered her consciousness, but not
| speech. She looked at me and moved her
| lips. | could not understand her words =
''Moiher, mother ~ | shrieked, "say only
that you forgive me-" She could not say it
! with her Inns but her hand nressed mine -