The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1861-10-05
THE oLD-FAsnioxED MOTHER.


O!d-fashioned mothers have nearly al
passed away with the blue check and home.
spun wooden Of q simpler but purer time
Here and there one remains, truly "aceom-
plished'' in heart and life, Cor the sphere ol
home.
Old-fashioned mo.hers-God bless then
who followed US with heart and prayer
all over the world-liyed in our lives, ans
sorrowed in our griefs; who knew NOR,
| about patching than poetry never preached
nor wandered ssmade melody with theii
hearts," and sent forth no books but living
volumes, that honored their authors and
blessed the world.
If woman have broader mission now, il
Heavens name let her fulfil it. If she have
ought to sing, like the daughters of judah
let her sit down by the waters Of Babel, and
the world shall weep; like Miriam, let he,
trumpet strain float gloriously over crushed
but giant wrong, and the world shall hear
but let the trumpet and lament issue, as did
the oracles Of old, from behind the veil thai
cannot be rent-the sinner temple'' of sa.
cred home. Within it should be enshrined
the divinity Of the place. Here and here only
would we find woman here, imprison her
Imprison her? Aye as the light house ray
that flows out pure as the angels pulses, into
tie night and darkness of the word "a sta.
beneath the cloud; but brightest there
warmest there-always there, where Heaven
did kindle it, within the precinct, the very
alser.place of home.
1t is related of Madame Locciola, re.
nowned vocalist, that she ruined splendid
| tenor voice by her efforts to initiate NAL,
singing. Many sweet voice and gentle in
| fuence in the social harmony has been los
| to the world in the same manner. There i.
| nothing more potent than a woman's voice
| il heard, not in the field or forum but a
home. The song bird of Eastern story
borne from its native isle, grew dumb ant
lapguished. Seldom did it sing, and onl,
when it saw dwelIer from its distant liant
or to its drowsy perch there came ton,
heard long ago in its own woods. So Will
the song that woman sings best heart
! within homes sacred temple. Elsewher,
trumpet tone, perhaps clarion Cry, bu
the lutte like voice has fed the "mezzoso
| pranO" Is lost in the discords # earth.
The old homestead l wish could plal
it for you as it is-no, no, l dare not sa.
as it is as it Uds; that We could 60 to
gether tonight from room to room; sit b,
the old hearth round which that circle o.
| light and love once swept, and there lipge
till all those simpler, purer tones returned
and VIC should grow yonng again. An(
how can We leave that spot without remem
bering one form that occupied, in days gon
| by, the "old arm chair"-that oldfashione'
mother? one in oil the world the law of who's
life was love; one who was the divinity o
our infancy, and the sacred presence in th
shrine of our first earthly idolatry; on
whose heart IS far below the frosts tha
gather SO thickly on her brow one to whom
We never grow old; but in "the p!ume
troop,' or the grave council are childre
still one who welcomed US coming, blesse
Us going, and never forgets us-uever.
And when, in some closet, some drawer
some corner, she finds toy that once wa
yours, how does she weep when she think
you may be suffering or sad. And whe
.prins
| Leaves he. robe upon the trees"
then does she not remember your tree, an
wish you were there to see it iai glory2
Nothing is STAR" and nothing '.long' {
her; she girdies the globe with a cinctur
If love; She encircles her child if be be o
she face of the earth.
Think you, rs she sits in that weil-re
menhered corner to night, he dreams he
trembling arm is less powerful to protec
him now, stalwars man though he is, tina
when i. clasped him an infant to her bosom
Does the battle of life drive the wander
er to the old homestead, at last? Her han
is upon his shoulder, her dim and fadn
ewes are kindled with something OF 9Th
Ili,ht of other days." as she gates upon hi
brow. abe Of stout heart, my son, no barr
can reach thee here ~
| Surely there is but one Heaven-on
No;her-aud one God.