The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1862-09-03
OUTLINED HER USEFULNESS.

| the spirit mere given, Dut thcy may iedEH
from il to be more attentive and affectionate
to their aged parents.
mot long since, comely man, scarcely
past his prime, inquired at our door for the
clergyman. He appeared disappointed and
anxious, at hearing that he was out Of town,
and on being questioned, replied
!" have lost my mother. AS this place
used To III her home, and nv father III
buried here, we came to lay her beside
him.
!" You have met with great loss, ! said,
moved by sympathy.
/" Well why yes;" answered the man.
!" A mother, in the general way, is great
loss. But ours had ouliyed her usefulness.
She was in her second childhood. Her mind
cot to be as weak as her body, so that she
was no comfort TO herself nor to any body
else. There are seven OF US, sons and daugh-
ters. We could not find anybody who was
willing to board her, so We agreed to keep
her among Us, year apiece. But | had
more than nv share of her, for she was too
feeble TO be moved, when my time was out !;
and that was more than three months before
her death. She had been good mother in
her day, aud worked very hard TO bring us
all up
Without looking 10 the face Of the heart
less man, | directed him TO a neighborng
pastor and returned TO my nursery. | gazed
on the little faces that smiled, or grew sad,
in imitation OF mine, and wondered If the
day would ever come when they should say
She has outliyed her usefulness. She Is no
comfort 10 herself and burden TO everybody
II sk.k 81,
the love Of our children.
When the bell tolled for this poor moth
er's obsequics, went to the sanctuary 10 pay
the only token Of respect in my power to
the aged stranger, for felt that could give
her memory tear, though the money grasp
ing children to whom she had ceased TO be
profitable, might perchance have none to.
- 49,
'' Mournluly and long spoke out the
I'LL lis iron tongue had chroni-
cled the years OF the toil.worn mother.
Reyerberaiing through our quiet forests,
and cchong from hill to hill. the knell
until we had counted eighty
nine.
Eighty.niuc there she lies in her cof-
fin. still aud cold. She makes no trouble
now. demands M love, no soft words, no
tender little offices. 4 look oi patient en-
durancc, Wg ianeied also an expression Of
grief tor unreqnitrd love sat on her marble
features. Her children were there, cled in
weeds 81 woe. aud III irony We remembered
the strong mans words, She was good
mother in her day.
When the bell ceased tolling, the strange
minister rose 10 the pulpit. Ills form was
very erect and lis voice strong, but his hair
silyery white. lie read several passages Of
Scripture expressive II Gods compassion 10
feeble man. and especially Of his tenderness
when grey hairs are on him, and his strength
faileth. lie made some touching remarks
ON human lrailty. and dependence on God,
urging all present 10 make their peace with
Him while in health, that they might claim
Ills promises when heart and flesh should
fail them. Leaning over the desk, and "a.
xing intently on the cofined form before
him. he then said reyerently, From little I
child | have honored the aged but never
till the gray hairs covered my own head,
did know truly how much love and sympa- I
thy this class have right demand OF their
lcllow.Creaturcs. Now feel il. Our moth. (
e., he added most tenderly, who nov lies
in death before us, was stranger to me, as
arc all these, her descendants. All know
Of her is what her son has told me to-day
that she was brought to town from afar. six
iy.ninc years ago happy bride that here
She passed most Of her life, toiling as only
mothers have strength TO toll, until she had
reared large family OF sons and daughters
that she left her home here, clad in the weeds
of widowhood, to dwell among her children /
ind that till life and ,igor left her, she lived
or her descendants.
" You, who together have shared her love
ind her care, know how we'll YOU have re.
luited her. God forbid that conscience
should accuse you Of ingratitudc Or murmur-
ng, on account Of the care she has been 70 1
fou Of late. When you 90 back to your
ZONES, be careful of your words and your
example before your own children, for the
fuit Of your doing you will surely reap from /
hem, when YOU yourselves totter on the
rink Of the grave. | entrcat you as
friend, as one who has himself entered the
evening of ife,' that Won NAV never say. in /