Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1861-07-10
FlrlsOeR
The Mothers Last Lesson.

'Will YOU please learn me my verse,
mamma, and then kiss me, and bid me
good nightr said little Roger l., as
he opened the door and peepcd cautiously
into the chamber Of his sick mother. Il
am very sleepy, but no one has heard me
say my prayers
Mrs. l. was very i'll; indeed, her
attendants believed her TO be dying. She
sat proppcd up with pillows, and struggling
for breath. Her lips were white, her eye
was growing dull and glazed, and the pur-
pie blood was settling at The ends of her
cold attenuated fingers. She was a wild
ow, and little Roger was her only, her
darling child. Every night he had been
in the habit Of coming into her room and
sitting upon her lap, or kneeling by her
sfde, while she repeated to him the pas
sages from Gods Holy Word, or related to
him stories Of the wise and good men spo-
ken Of in its passages. She had been in
delicate health for many years, but never
too i'll TO learn little Roger his verse and
hear his prayers.
flush, hush ? said a lady who was
watching beside her: your dear mamma
is too i'll to hear you say your prayers to-
night. | will put you to bed And as
she said this she came forward and laid
her hand gently upon his arm, as though
she would have led him from the room.
Roger began to sob as If his little heart
would break.
i cannot go to bed without saying my
prayers. ] cannotP
The ear Of the dying mother caught the
sound. Although she had been nearly in.
sensible to everything transporting around
her, the sound Of her darling's sobs aroused
her from her stupor, and turning to q
friend, she desired her to bring him to hel
couch and lay him on her bosom. Hcl
request WAS granted and the child's ROSY
cheek and golden head nestled beside th,
pale, cold face of bis dying mother. Alas
poor fellow, how little did he realize ther
the irreparable loss which he was soon t.
sustain
Roger, my son, my darling child sale
the dying mother, repeat this verse ate
mo, and never, ncVer forget it When M,
father and mother torSake me, the LORI
shall take me ap.'' The child repeated j
distinctly, and said his little prayer. II
then kissed the cold, almost rigid lips be
fore him, and went quietly to his it'll
couch.
When he arose in the morning, h
sought, as usual, his mothers room, but
found her cold ano stiif-wrappcd in b,
winding sheet! That was her last lessor
lie has never forgotten the probab
never will! He has grown to be a man
a good mdn-and now occupies a post
much honor and distinction in his nati'
State. never could look upon him wit
out thinking of the faith so beautifully e
hibited 10y his dying mother. 1t was n
misplaced. The Lord has taken her da
ling mp.
Ny little reader, if you have God (
your friend, you need neVer fear faith
and mother may forsake you-the wor
may seem to you like a dreary waste, f
Of pitfalls and thorns--but he can bri
you safely through trials, and give you
last a golden harp and snowy robes, Ii
those the purified wear in heaven.
can even surround your dcath-hed by
gel yisitauts. He is all-powerful--an C,
present help in time Of trouble. Will y
not, then, seek his friendship and keep
commandments l--Southern PreSbyteri