Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1866-12-06
rISCELLANY.
OUR MOTHER.


At the gateway Of one of our beautiful rural
cemeteries. large funeral was just entering, as
our attention was called to a very remarkable
sight. The bier was resting on the shout Iers
of four tall, noble-looking men in the prime oil
life. One of these bearers was Judge on the
bench of the Supreme Court of the nation. a
second was one of the most eminent and accom-
plshed lawyers whom this or any other com
try can boast. A third was a very distinguish
ed divine, whose pen is great power. And
the fourth was the president of the Senate OF
his State. And these remarkable men were
brothers. They stood strong in life but were
bowed and silent and solemn, as if the bier was
too heavy for their strength. Very slowly and
carefully they trod, as if the sleeper should not
feel the motion. And who was on the bier, so
carefully and tenderly borne? II w0stheir o'rR
mother! Never did see a grief more rever-
ent. or respect more profound. 1t seemed to
me that the mothers cold heart must also throb
in the coffin. A nobler sight, or a more beau
tiful tribute of love, | never saw. They were
all. doubtless. going back in memory to their
early childhood, and to the loving care OF this
best of all earthly friends. They well knew
they. the sons of a poor village pastor, could
never have been trained and educated and fit
ted to occupy their stations without very ex-
traordinary mother. They well knew they
owed more 10 her than to all other human a.
gencies. No shoulders but theirs must bear
the precious dust to the graveyard no hands
hut theirs must deposit it in its last resting
place That body had been inhabited by one
Of the sweetest, most cheerful and brilliant
minds tha ever inhabited an earthly taberna-
Gle. 1t had long. too, been the temple OF the
Holy Ghost What that lovely woman bad
done to make her husbands ministry useful and
nroftable: what she had done in training
daughters that are ornaments to Their sex
what she had done to make these distinguished
men what they are-who can tell? What has
not such a mother accomplished who has given
such an influence to the world ? / never see
one of these sons, but my thoughts 90 back to
the home of their childhood; and can hardly
keep my eyes from filing with tears as think
of that mother. How many men start upon
the stage of life, aud feel they are great, and
are filing great spheres of usefulness, who are
really dwaris in comparison with such char
acter When that mother went down to the
very brink Of the grave, that she might bring
! up life. as her children were bOrn,-as she toll
ed unseen and unprascd through all their
! training.-wbat an influence was she prepar-
inc to leave upon the world after she should be
numbered with the dead We may develop
ourselves, and think we have done well If we
can achieve anythingin life, when, most likely,
! if ANYTHING valuable in Us is developed, we owe
it chiefly to our patient meek, unnoticed mo-
ther. She forms the character which we de-
velop. And it is much owing to Ignorance OF
| Il = 80 hot tho mother
from receiving that love and respect she de-
serves.
Heaven will be Just where we are not; and
| can find 20 words in which to express my ap-
probation of such friend. Some few who
have early lost their mother through death, or
the loss Treason, come out useful and respect
able men; but they would probably, have been
much more so, had they enjoyed her love and
care. They may wei mourn the loss all their
davs. The names Of the mothers of Moses, OF
Samuel of Timothy, and other eminent men,
are recorded; and so are the names of the mo-
theirs of the wicked kings generally recorded,
as if to tie them to the disgrace Of their sous.
o mother amid all your anxieties and la
bors. be assured that the time is coming when
your name and image Will fill the chambers OF
the memories of your children as no other can
You are Sarnering up love. respect, and vener-
alton, which viii gather around your coffin, il
not before. You viii grow in the hearts of your
children as long as they live.
o son of the good mother. remember that
she hath spared nothing that the human heart
could yield for thy good Let thy love ant
gratitude and reverence flow back upon her
and if her hair is becoming silvered with age
remember that thy opportunities to minister t.
her comfort are every day becoming fewer an(
fewer. God help thee to cheer her r!-Rer
John Todd D. d,
A j.. - :. 4