Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1860-08-15
A TOUCHING STORY.

have been given by father 10 his son. as warn.
ing derived from his own bitter experience OF
grievlnS and resisting a mothers love and
| counsel
''What agony was visible on my mothers
lace when she saw that all she said and suffer
ed failed to move me! She rose to go home
ana L followed at distance. She spoke no
more to me till she reached her own door.
''lt is school time now," said she. ssGo my
| son, and once more let me beseech you to
| think upon what have said.''
81 shan't go to SCHOOL, said L.
! She looked astonished at my GOODNESS, but
| replied firmly: Certainly you will go, Al
fred, command you.''
81 will not,'' said l in a tone of defiance
cone OF two things you must do ,Alired-e-
| ther go to school this morning, or will lock
you In your room, and keep you there till
you are ready to pl omise implicit obedience
to my wishes in the future
81 dare you to do it, 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.
''If you touch me / will kick you,'' said
in Il terrible rage. God knows 1 knew not
what ] said.
S'Will you go Alfred 2''
"No,' replied, but qualed beneath her eye.
s'Then follow me-" said she, as she grasp
ed my arm firmly.
| raised my foot-oh, my son hear me II
raised my foot and kicked her-my sainted
mother How my head reels as the torrent of
memory ruShes over me! | kicked my moth
er, feeble woman-my mother She stag
gered back few steps, and leaned against the
wall. She did not look at me; l saw her
heart beat against her breast.
sob! Heavenly Father,'' said she, ssforgive
hIm-he knows not what he does!''I
The gardener just then passed the door ard
seeing my mother pale and almost unable to
supsort herself, he stopped. She beckoned
him in.
ssTake this boy mp stairs, and lock him in
his room,' and she turned from me. Look
ing back as she was entering her room, she
gave such look of agony, mingled with the
most intense love lit was the last unuttera-
BILE 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 window, and
dash my brains out, but felt afraid to do it.
[ was not pentent. At times my heart was
snbdued; but my stubborn pride rose in an
instant, and bade me not yield. The pale
face of my mother haunted me. / flung my
self in bed and soon fell asleep. Just at twi-
light heard footstep approach the door. 1t
was my sister.
''What may tell my mother for you s'' she
asked.
"Nothing,'' replied.
''Oh, Alfred for my sake, for all our sakes,
say You are sorry. She longs to forgive you.'
would not answer. | heard her footsteps
slowly retreatiDg, and again threw myself
on the bed, to pass another wretched and fear
ful night. Another footstep slower and fee
bier than my sisters disturbed me. A voice
called me by name. 1t was my mothers.
''Alfred, my son, shall l come 20 she asked.
l cannot 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 my
self on her neck; but did not. But my
words gave the lie to my heart when said Il
was not sorry 1 heard her withdraw
heard her groan. 1 longed to call her back
But did not.
was awakened from my uneasy slumber,
by hearing my name called loudly, and my
sister stood by my bedside.
ssGet up, Alfred. Oh don't wait a minute
Get up, and come with me. Mother is dying
| thought l was yet dreaming but got up
melancholly and followed my sister. On the
bed and cold as marble laying mother. She
was not undressed. She had thrown herself
on the bed to rest; arising to go again to me,
she was seized with palpitation of the heart,
aid borne scnSeless to her room.
cannot tell you with what agony looked
upon her; my remorse was tenfold more bit
ter from the thought that she would never
er. fell on the bed beside her. l could not
weep. My heart burned in my bosom my
brain was on fire. Ny sister threw her arms
around me, and wept in silence. Suddenly
we light motion of mothers hand her
eyes unclosed. She had recovered conscious
ness. but not speech. She looked at me and
moved her lips. l could not understand her
words. ssMother, mother!'' shrieked, s.say
only that you forgive me.' She could not
say it with her lips, but her hand pressed
mine. She smiled upon me, and lifting her
thin white hands, she clasped my own within
them. and cast her eyes upward. She moved
her lips in prayer, and thus she died. re-
mained still kneeling beside that dear form,
till my gentle sister removed me. The Joy
of youth had gone forever.
Boys who spnrn 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.
A GooD ONE-A Paris journal says that
Yankee was politely invited by Chinese mer
chant to make him visit at his house, and
that the Oriental host overwhelmed his acci- |
dental guest with hospitality, providing for
him splendid sort of throne, in his best room,
and inviting continual concourse of friends
to pay their respects to the distinguished
stranger. The house swarmed from morning
till night with courteous, ,obsequious and admi-
ring Cinnamon, till Brother Jonathan began to
be abashed by the homage he received. But
one day the Yankee, having picked up rudi-
mentary knowledge OF the Chinese tongue,
stopped, on entering his friends abode, to pc
rnse magnificent inscription over the door,
which he found to run as follows: ssHere
will be seen real live North American
species of creature rare in this country. Ad-
mission two cents, payable on going out.
-,--.,N' -,
THE SUMNER OF l86O.-The present summer
pro omises to be memorable for hurricanes, hail