The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1864-11-17
ummer afternoon by her sons bedside

summer afternoon by ner sons bedside.
Dear mother What do you meant
said George soothinsly. He was evidently
much attached to his mother, although man
ifesting certain reserve toward her.
Il provoked you TO wrath, George an
swered the old woman, severely; but the
severity was fer herself now, not for him -
made you 50 wrong-T, that was bound
to train you up in the way you should go.'
You trained me up just thought too
tight, doar mother, Observed George, with
quaintness that made Jessie and snyselI
smile. But the mothers gravity was un.
moved. She was bent on full and
thorough selfconde emnation.
i've lived six:y-two years in the world,
she said, and I've Tended for my Lad
through sight O. trouble
AYE, that you have mother interposed
George, with grateful emphasis.
And at tie end of it all I've been his ru
in--near raiSed his SOUL aud sore hurt hi:
body. It'sjust been through my pride and
harshness that all this has come about
'No. no, mother You shan't say that,
again interrupted the son, eagerly. '.Twere
my fault deal more than yours. You've
been good mother TO me.A
NO, lad resumed the mother ,':nexorably,
Il was the oldest, and the one who was
'sponsible for yer. If you'd had a mother
after the make o Jessie here, you'd not
ha' gone wrong. Don't interrupt me, Jessie.
It's right should say it. The Bible says,
Honor to whom honor is due.S George
and l, we've both been wrong-I most
George he was wilful, and, poor boy he's
broke his leg and had to lose it. And I've
been proud and hard, and so God has just
taken my pride and broke it too, like
Georges leg. He's made me see that this
slip of girl here, whom I nursed before
ever she could lisp word, is bett er wo
man than |, and will be safer stay and
support for my own poor boy than ever his
hard old mother was. And so Jessie, girl,
y on take him with a mothers blessing and
I'll stand by while you learn me to be hum
BILE and meek. And now, children. wen
talk o somethin else.' she concluded, with
a certain imperative and not ungraceful dig
nifty which effectual!y enforced the brief
and precluded all reply. 1t was
very certain that the humility was deep
and true, though it was at present some
what bitter; and think we all regarded
the old woman after that hard-wrung con-
fession with tenderness and a reverence
which nothing else would have won from
US with such deep and lasting sincerity.
About six months from that day they
were married, and not lcng after l paid
them a visit in their new home. Jessie was
doing lamously with her dressniaking.
The mother lived, not with them, but
very close at hand; as devoted to her son
as ever, and much settened by recent
events. George was bidding fair to become
q successful shoemaker, and was steady,
blithe, and contented. A shade ofesoiiei-
tude mingled with his affectionate atten.
tions TO his wife, as if he had it ever on his
mind to try and make up to her for his
former conduct, and to induce her to for
get the past. As for Jessie, her sweet for
giving temper seemed to find no difficulty
at all in doing this. They were an united
and happy; Jessie not the least happy of
the group, and she said so openly IN her
frank, glad way.
Indeed. and we are happy responded |
Dilworth, earnestly; and its all along O.
Jessie, ma'am.' he added, with a grateful
nod toward his wife,
i think you're right, Dilworth,' said I;
Il remember you telling me in the hospital
that she would be worth a leg to you.'
Aye, Indeed, and weren't bit mista-
KEN he replied with energy; 'and il I had
to choose between losing the other one, too,
or losing Jess, I'd off with the leg to-mor-
row. She's worth the pair of 'em. she is,
and no mistake = :
Her price is far above rubies' Itwas
after all the same idea. expressed in the
homely phrase Of working man. which
the inspired King Solomon had long ago
recorded in poetic. Eastern diction. worthy
Of that grand old book in whose histories
Good women play 20 incons;derate part.