The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-07-03
Mothers OF Distinguished Men.

William Cowper, of whom Lord Thur
low said, off there is good man on earth,
it it William Cowper," had delicate and
extremely susceptible constitutions mis-
| fortune that was aggravated by the loss of
his affectionate and devoted mother, who
died when he was quite young. The in
tense love with which he cherished her
memory, during the rest of his life, may
| be known from the most affecting poem
which he wrote on contemplating her pc
ture, "Faithful remembrancer Of one so
| dear"
tsBut the record fair,
| That memory keeps of all thy kindness there,
| Still outlives many a storm, that has effaced
A thousand other themes less deeply traced,
Thy nightly visits to my chamber made,
That thou nights st know me safe and warmly
laid"
"All this still legible on Memory's page,
| And still to be so to my latest age,
Adds JOY to duty, makes me glad to pay
Such honors to thee as my numbers may"
John Randolph, of Roanoke, was deep
ly attached to his mother, and her death
had melancholy and striking effect upon
him ever afterward. She was but thirty
SIX years old when she died. Cut off in
the bloom of youth and beauty, he always
retained a vivid remembrance Of her per-
son, her charms, and her virtues. He
always kept her portrrit hanging before
him in his chamber. The loss to him was
irreparable. She knew him-she knew
the delicacy of his heart, the wayward-
ness and irritability of his temper "I
am fatalist," he said II am all but
r. j L
knew me. She only knew me-my moth
err" He always spoke Of her in terms of
the warmest affection. Many and many
a time during his life did he visit the CID
church yard at Matoax, in It's wasted sol
itude, and shed tears over the grave of
his mother, by whose side it was the last
wish of his heart to be buried.
Henry Clay, that great man, the pride
and honor of his country, always express
sed feelings of profound affection and ven
Grafton for his mother. A habitual cor
respondence and enduring affection sub
sisted between them to the last hour of
life. Mr.. Clay ever spoke Of her as a
model of maternal character and female
excellence, and it is said that he never
met his constituents in Woodford county,
after her death, without some allusion to
her, which deeply affected both him and
his audience. And nearly the last words
uttered by this great statesman, when he
came to die, were, "Mother, mother,
| mother" 1t is natural for US to feel that
she must have been a good mother, that
was loved and SO dutifully served by such
boy, and tha. neither could have been
wanting in rare virtues.
Benjamin Franklin was accustomed to
efer TO his mother in the tenderest tone
of flial affection. His respect and affection
Cor her were manifested among other ways
in frequent presents, that contributed to
her comfort and solace in advancing years
In one of his letters to her, for example
he sends her n1oiclore, a gold piece oi
the value of six dollars, towards chaise
hire" said he, "that you may ride warm
to meetings during the winter" Inanoth.
er he gives her an account of the growth
and improvement of his son and daughter
topics which, as he well understood, are
ever as dear to the grandmother as the
mother.
Thomas Gray, author of "Elegy in {
Coudtry Church Yard" was most assid
uous in his attentions to his mother
while she lived, and, after her death, hI
,, cherished her memory with sacred sorrow
Mr. Mason informs us that Gray seldom
mentioned his mother without a sigh
The inscription which he placed over hel
E remains speaks of her Gas the careful ten
g der mother of many children, one o
whom alone had the misfortune to surtiv,
! her" How touching is this brief tribute
of grateful love! Volumes of eulog,
,, could not increase our admiration of th'
gentle being to whom it was paid he
. patient devotion, her meek endurance
, Wherever the name and genius Of Ora,
are known, there shall also his mother
virtues be told for a memorial of her.
He was buried, according to his directions
by the side of his mother, in the church
ward at Stoke. After his death her gown
and wearing apparel were found in trunl
In his apartments, just as she had LET
them. 1t seemed as if he could ueve
! take the resolution to open it, in order t
: distribute them to his female relations, t
$ whom, by his will, he bequeathed them
; Amos Lawrence always spoke of hi
Q mother in the strongest terms Of venera
;. ton and love, and in many of his letter
to his children and grandchildren ar
o found messages OF affectionate regard fo
his mother, such as could have emanate
only from heart overhowing with fila
Il gratitude. Her form, bending over h
bed in silont prayer, at the hour of tw