Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1863-07-13

was eight years ago, and slnce then, nothing
has been heard Of him. His poor mother
will sleep here. His still poorer wife and |
children mast, fear, become inmates of the ]
alms-house."
The CID man scrapod of the dirt from the
shovel, and Set it against tie wall then he
wiped away : tear from Lis furrowed cheek,
and, wil3Qut another word, he passed out
lrom the cb'Irch-yarl For some tine after
the gTay-haire3 sexton iad gone, stood and
gazed into that deep grave, and thought, if
all the graves il our land could find tongues
Tor speech, how many of them would put forth
a story similar to me o4e1 had Just heard!
Towards the close the day, [ saw the
funeral procession vending It's way into the
place of burial, and joined with those who
Vent to pay the last tri ate Of respect to the
remains Of the d parteG- Silently we gath
cred around the grave. The coffin was placed
upon lts verge, aad / saw female, not mnch
past the. bloom OF Wonannood, sink down
upon her knees and weep over the bier, and
by her side kAelt boy and girl. | knew
that woman was Eliza Danforth, and that
those were ner children. There were deep
| grief marks upon her brow; sorrow and suf-
tering were stamsed tLey3 in almost sstart-
Ing lines, and even the children looked wan
and pale tfom.!on and acute misery.
= The clergyman made a heart.touching
prayer, the people stepped back from the
| grave and the Sexton vas about to close the
Id Of the coffin, when those who stood to-
wards the close Of the road gave way, and
>on the next instant man came bursting in
to the centre of the assembled throng. He
was poorly, roughly clad, and his features
were wild and haggard. For an instant he
/ CF02 2aH fho H.,
ward, and his eyes fell upon the face of her
who slept there. A startling CRY broke from
;. his lips, md convulsively sank down at the
head OF the bier.
"Mother mother!" he cried, in accents
that thrilled to the very souls of all present.
30, speak TO me! Speak, to your erring
sofi. I am your son-your own sor--your
George Only one word for Heavens
tSata spask g----s--e n4aslf ~ I'D szee 1.ap
did not live to forgive me r
The poor mans voice was lost IN the most
heart-rendering sobs, and throwing himself
across the coffin, he cried like child
The gentle. wife and mother for moment
forgot the presence Of the dead she only
knew that one in whom her plpudest love
was centtred was yet living. She sprang
to the side of him vino wept and fondly she
wound her arms ABOUT him.
Geerge-my husband" she uttered, she
did forgive you before she died. Her last
| words were Of you, and the last breath that
left her lips bore to God a prayer for bless
r ings upon her son. Look up, look up, George
/ your wife and children still live to spread
. blessings in your path"
= George Danforth started to his feet ant
: strained his wlie and children to his bosom
2 The tears rolled down his checks like rain
5 but his feelings were too big for utterance
: Again the sexton laid his hand upon the coffin
: Stop! stop' exclaimed the returne
= son, as .he started from the fond embranco c
l. the wife, "net yet--not yet"
|. Once more he sank Hpon his knees, an
!, he pressed Iris lips upon tha cold brow c
2 his mothers form. Then he laid one ham
upon the coffin and raised his eyes toward
y Heaven.
'Sainted mother he CALCULATED, in fri
n tone. If your spirit can still linger nea
ID the scenes Of earth, look down upon you
t. son, and listen to the solemn pledge his hea1
ID sends forth. have been wicked, but WI
Of be so no more; and if the remainder of m
st life can be passed so as to make any atone
at ment for the wrongs | have done, then IL
&c good Of the future shall wipe away much
the past. God help me IN my resolution
t. and strengthen me III my work OF vlrtue!'
c, From every lip present there burst forth
simultaneous 'Amen,' ard in every hea
ne there was love-place for the returned pro
~ igal. The old clergyman stepped forw ar
IN took him 10y the hand, and led him from i
spot and ina few moments more, saw Il
as husband ana lie, togotaer with tEeir tV
ur children, enter the pastors comfortable co
lis tage When they had passed fron ny sigf
d; [ turned towards the inn ana wiped the val
id tears from my eyes and cheeks. Many
Sc. those who had stood around the grave we
ed with me, but no word was spoken upon t
in. scene that had transplred.
gc 1t was nearly four years afterwards tia
i'm again passed through the STATE. 1t was sol
Ter few miles out of the regular course, but 81