Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-10-21
.s Honor thy Father and thy Mother.,

Were this divine injunction needed as it should
be- many pang might be prevented which other
wise win be keenly felt. To those bereft of their
parents who were guilty Of unkIndness or disobe-
dience TO them, when they might have contributed
to their happiness, the recollection OF their ngrati
tude is q constant source of sorrow and regret.
Few among US can look upon the graves Of our
fathers and mothers without sad remembranccS-
We think Of our coldness and neglect, and Of the
love that never failed US so unrequited. Gladly
would We offer any sacrifice, could we possibly do
So to make reparatiOn, and TO recall every word
that gave the slightest pain to the hearts fOndly
devoted to us that throb no longer.
One of our most distinguished citizens wandered
when boy from the home Of his widowed mother,
regardless Of her prayers and entreates. After an
absence Of years he returned to the place OF his
BIRTH hoping to comfort, during her reclining days,
the mother that had long prayed for, and had long
yearned to see, her wayward child. He had suffer-
ed much and encountered many difficulties in
foreign land but his efforts were successful and he
had accumulated much Of the riches of this world
His mother, who had been awaiting his promised
return, died before his arrival. He stood by her
grave and wcpt bitterly. Willingly would he have
given all he possessed for one word of kindness or
one approving smile from her who had passed away.
"My father, says DIR. johnson, "had been in
the habit of attending U;toxeter market and of
opening a stall there for the sale of his books
Confined by indIspoStion, he desired me one day to
supply ms place. MY pElue pIeNenlSu
gave him 4 refusal" The Searied old man, whom
this denial must have sorely grieved, and who had
long bravely and patiently struggled to supply the
wants of his family, soon after died. Amid his
conflicts, his labourS, his achievements, his hon.
ours, that refusal was remembered by johnson with
the deepest anguish. Fifty years after that act of
disobedience, when the illustrious doctor himself
was aged and weary, he revisited the scene of his
earFy life "I went" he tells US, Unto the market
at the time of business, uncovered my head and
stood for an hour with it bare upon the spot where
nv fathers stall used to stand" The picture"
remarks Carl yle, "oi Dr. johnson standing bare
headed in the market is one of the saddest and
prsndcs,- 0 can Painti Repentance! repentance !
he proclainls with passionate sobs = but only to
the ear of Heaven, il Heaven will give him audi
ence: the earthly ear and heart that should have
heard it are now closed, unresponSive forever"
A request was made by sick and dying mother
to the writer, but it was not needed. He was but
child, and knew not that she was dying, for death
had not vet entered the household, and he was ut
terly ignorant of the tokens ofits approach. Never
has he forgotten, and can he forget his moth
ers look Of tender reproval. When. the day after
ward he fondly pressed her cold hands, and kissed
herieess lips with unutterable sadness he regretted
his unkindness. Years, many years have since de-
parted, but his disobedence to his mother IS still
regarded with Humiliation and sorrow.