Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1865-09-01
81 THOUGHT 1T WAS MY MOTHER'S
VOICE."

\ friend told me- not long ago, beautiful soly
about kind words. a good lady, living in one Of
our large cities, was passing drinking saloon just
As the keeper was thrusing young man ont into
the street He was very young, ana very pale, but
his haggard face and wild eyes told that he was far
gone in the road TO ruin, as with an oath he BRAN
dishcd his ccnchcd fists threatening to be revenged
on the man who i'll used him. The poor young
man was so excited ard blinded with passion that
lac did not the lady who stood very near to him,
unt she laid her hand upon his arm, and spoke in
her gentle, loving voice, asking him what was the
matter.
At the first kind word the young man started NJ
IL heavy llow had struck him. and turning quick
ly round, paer than before, and trembling from
hcrl to foot he surveyed the lady for a moment,
and then with sigh Of relief he said
Il thought ii was my mothers voice, it sounded
strangely like il but her voice has been hushed
in death for many years"
You hada MOTHER then, said the lady, "and
Sic loved you.7 --.
With that sudden rcvulsion Of feeling whclr Of
ton comes to people of fine nervous temperaments,
the young man burst intoxears, sobbing ont oh!
yes, had an angel mother, and she loved her b 81
Bnt since she died all the world has turned against
me, and am loSt!-oSt TO good society, lost to de-
ccncy, and lost foreverI'
'No not lost forever for God is merciful and his
plying love can reach the chief Of sinners" said
the lady, in her low sweet voice: and the timely
words swept the hidden chords OF feeling which had
been long untouched in the young mans heart,
thrilling it with magic power, and wHkening host
Of tender emotions, which had been buried very
deep beneath the rubbish Of sin and crime.
More gelte words the lady spoke, and when sic
passed on her way, Che youth followed her. lie
marked the house where she enteBed, and wrote the
tname which was on the door plate in his memo
randum book. Then he walked slowly away with
Ia lOcl- ot,h hic Viii E,ca nd
more earnest feelings in his aching heart.
Years glided by, and the gentle lady had quite
forgotten the incident we have related when one
day, a stranger seut up his card, and desired tC
speak with her,
Wondering much who it could be, she wcut
down to the parlor where she found noble look
ing well dressed man who rose differently to NEE
Ler-Hlolding out his hand, he said;
"Pnrdon me, madam, for this intrusion; but
have come many miles to thank you for the grea
service you rendered me n few years ago. said h'
in trembling voice.
The lady was puzzled and asked for an cxplana
ton, she did not remember ever having seen tn,
Tgenteman before. p .. ..-
al have changed so much" said the man, ntha
you have quite forgotten me but though onl
saw your face once, am sure should have recOg
nlzed il anywhere. And your voice, too, it is 81
ike my mothers!S
Those last words made the lady remember tn
poor young man she had kindly spoken to in from
of the drinking saloon so long before, and she min
gled. her tears with those which were falling slow
ly over the young mans checks.
After the first gush of emotion had subsidized
the gentleman sat down and told the lady ho'
those few words had been instrumental in savin
him, and making him what he then was
"The earnest expression Of No. not lost forever
followed me wherever ! went" said he, and it al
ways seemed that it was the voice of my mothe
speaking to me from the tomb repented of m.
many transgressions, and resolved to live as Jesu
> and my mother would be pleased to have me- an
by the mercy and grace of God, have been enn
bed to resist temptation ant keep my good resolr
ton"
81 never dreamed there was such power in fey
kind words before exclaimed the lady, "and sur,
ly ever after this shall take more pains to spea
them to all the sad and suffering ones meet in II
walks Of life.--SunRy Faces.