Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-03-05
MY Mothers Love.

My Mothers Love.
Twas the evening before my departure for
the boarding school, where I was to pass one
more year ere | graduated. | was seventeen
proud, passionate, impulsive, and affectionate g.
ven to clingiDg, burning love. Imaginative to
high degree, had wept and tremhled over
s.Jane Eyre" when, perhaps, I ought to have
been reading ''The Ohild's Story Book" Soci-
ETY. called me beautiful, and predicted for me o
s'glorious reign" when entered its ranks.
The evening was warm and still: wore q
white null dress, confined at the waist with a
rose-colored sash. On one side of nv dark hair
was white rose beautifully blown, and lower
on the other a crimson bud clustered. This OF
all others, was the style my mother loved to see
me in, and we had withdrawn from the other
members of the family to the large window in
my room, where we were looking over the gid
ed pages of the beautifully bound copies of Ma
caulays and Coleridge's works-rny mothers
parting gift to her 'spet child' as she fondly
called me- Softly the passing breeze famed our
brow and kissed our cheeks on that September
eve 81 will think of you, darling mother
said I, whenever | unfold, these favorite vol
umes" had taken my wonted posture at her
feet, with my head in her lap, and her dear
hand resting on my head, ever and anon stro-
low, soft voice; taak,sss your wayward child, fol
shall not again hear such kind musical words
for long, long year." glanced up moment
into her sweet, pale face once more, before
nestled my head to hear her parting words
There was tear glistenlng in my mothers
dark, bright eyes. Oh sach eyes / have never
seen elsewhere-matchless in their brightness
and yearning love for her child Several mo
ments of sacred stiffness passed-solemn and ho
ly IN the silent love they spoke moments which
angels record with joy, and in which seraphs
| stop the waving OF their golden wings, that they
may not disturb, even with breath, their holi
Hess and purity. MAY the Lord watch be-
tween me and thee while we are absent one
from the other p were the words that broke the
stiffness OF the scene And then my mother tol6
me OF the love and prayers her heart would
keep for me, when | would be away from her
and she lowly and meekly breathed prayer te
God to "take care of her darling child and keeI
her from all HARM" She folded me close to hel
breast and said, "Marah, my child, when yor
are far from me, pray that God will return yor
as pure in thought, loving in heart, as you are
now"
| All there is no talisman like the pure love O
pious mother. l felt it as she kissed my brow
| 1t fingered around me like a holy spell when
had left her; for strangers surrounded me, ye
! in soul my perfect mother was with me. Un
kind words, perhaps, were spoken: envy wEis
pered hard and wrong insinuations perchanc'
sometimes l was weary with my duties ant
lOnged for home. But that mothers prayers
her gentle voice, her well-remembered kiss, hel
loving IL shall be so proud of you, my darling =
had the talismanic power 10 gild the wearies
hours, to Tighten the heaviest burdens
Years have passed since then, and 1 ana nov
old in the life experiences which make u
thoughtful. If there are any lovely traits in M
as wife or mother, as friend, or, most of all
as an humble follower of Christ, attribute al
to my mother, who was the very embodimen
of lovelness and purity. Oh! mothers spen,
less of your precious time in fashions and dress
teach your daughters there are higher aims, no
bier occupations than these. Believe me, the
will not only be more useful in life, but happie
Infinitely happier. Your example will b
worth more to them than all the precepts, all tn
books, all the sermons in the world. As is you
daily life, SO will be your daughters 1t will b
vain to weep, wrong to blame them for bein
''women of the world" when they have see
you serving Mammon and idolizing Fashion al
their days. All how many seeds for discon
tented, vain, frivolous wives, neglectful moth
ers, incompatible marriages. have been sow
around the domestic freside! Think of
mothers; listen more to the soft sweet prattle 0
your cooling babe, watch the unfolding of it
young life, read more of God and less of fashion
live more of Heaven and less of world, and yo
will meet one of the sweetest of all rewards
. There will be less unhappiness on earth; NOR
good, useful wives; more devoted Christian
mothers in life; more jewels in Eternity's gold
en- casket.