The New era. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1865-1871, 1866-12-20
Our Mother.

lust entering, as our attention was called
to very remarkable sight. The bier
was resting on the shoulders of four tall
noble-looking men in the prime of life.
One of these bearers was a judge on the
bench Of the Supreme Court OF the ma
ton. \ second was one of the most en-
inent and accomplished lawyers whom
this or any other country can boast. A
third was very distinguished 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 sol
emu, as if the bier was to heavy for their
strength; Very slowly and carefully
they trod, as if the sleeper should not
bier, so carefully and tenderly borne?
lt atfts their oacn mother! Never did /
see a grief more reverent, or respect
more profound. 1t seemed to me that
the mothers cold heart must also throb
in the coffin. A nobler sight, or q more
beautiful 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 earth
ly friends. They well knew they, the
sons Of a poor village pastor, could new
err have been trained and educated and
fitted to occupy their stations without a
very extraordinary mother. They well
knew they owed more to her than to
all other humanageneies. No shoulders
but theirs must bear the precious dust
to the graveyard; no hands but theirs
must deposit it in its last resting place!
That body had been inhabited by one of
the sweetest, most cheerful and brilliant
minds that ever Inhabited an earthly
tabernacle. 1t had long, too, been the
temple Of the Holy Ghost. What that
lovely woman had done to make her
husbands ministry useful and profitable,
what she had done in training daugh-
tiers that are ornaments to their sex;
what she had done to make these dis
tinguished 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 60 back
to the home of their childhood; and l
can hardly keep my eyes from filling
with tears as | think of that mother.
How many men start upon the stage of
life, and feel they are great, and are fill
ing great spheres of usefulness, who are
really dwarfs in comparison with such
a character! When that mother went
down to the very brink of the grave,
that she might bring up life, as her chill
dren We're bOrn,-aS she tOiled unseen
and unpraised through all their train
ing,-What influence was she preparing
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 anything in
life, when, most likely, ifanything val
liable in us is developed, we owe it to
our patient. meek, unnoticed mother.
She forms the character which we de-
velop. And it is much owing to igno-
rance OF the laws Of influence that pre-
vents the mother from receiving that
love and respect she deserves.
Heaven will be just where weare not;
and I can find no words in which to eX-
press my appreciation of such a friend.
mother through death, or the loss of
reason, come out useful and respectable
men; but they would probably, have
been much more SO, had they enjoyed
her love and care. They may we'll
mourn the loss all their days. The
names of the mothers of Moses, of Sam
uel, OF Timothy, and other eminent men
are recorded; and SO are the names of
the mothers OF the wicked kings gene
rally recorded, rs it to tie them to the
disgrace OF their sons.
O mother! amidall your anxieties and
labors, be assured that the time is COM
ing when your name and image will
fill the chambers of the memories of
your children as no other can. You have
garnered up love, respect, and venera-
ton, which will gather around your
coffin, if not before. You will grow in
the hearts of Your children as long as
they live.
@ SON OF the good mother. remen.ief
that she hath spared nothing that the
human heart could yield for thy good.
Let thy loveand gratitude and reverence
flow back upon her; and if her hair is
becoming silvered with age, remember
that thy opportunities TO minister to
her comfort are every day becoming
fewer and fewer. God help thee 10
cheer her! Re. Joltn Iod0, ID. II.
A Connecticut editor, having got into
u controversy with ~ cotemporary, con-
graduated himself that his head was
"a fe from Il ''tionkey's heels His CO.
to,,n1rnr,. .,.tut.lx, II, r,rro.l .ho+ h. ,,,,,c