The Van Buren press., 1869-02-23
NO SO.
knew not what l said! =

knew not what said ffianu
"WM you go. Alfred?' Y
Mo- l replied, but quailed beneath
her eyes
Then follow me-" said she, ~ she
grasped my arm firmly l raised my foot
and kicked henry sainted mother. How
my head reels rs the torrent OF memory
PUSHES over me / kicked my mother, .
feeble woman-my mother. she stagger-
ed back few steps and leaned against
the wall She did not look at me ! saw
her heart beat against her breast 20,
Heavenly Fatherr' she cried, forgive
him-he knows not what he does!' The
gardener just then passing the door. and
seeing my mother was pale aud almost
unable to support herself, came in.
"Take this boy mp stairs and lock him
in his ROOM" said she, and turned OF
from me. II was a look ofagony, mingled
with the most intent love, it was the un-
utterable pang from heart that was
broken
In a mome4k found myself prisoner
in my own room. thought for q mo-
ment ! would ding myself from the open
window, but l felt that was afraid 10
die. i was not penitent. At times my
hsar, was subdued, but my stubbornncss
rose in an instant, and babe me not yield
yet The pale face ofiny mother haunted
me. flung myself on my bed snd fell
asleep. Jus, at twilight i heard foot
step approach my door. II was my sis.
ter H
"What shall / tell mother for you p
she said.
Nothingp replied.
30, Alfred, for my sake and for all
our sakes, say that you are sorry. She
longs to forgive You" -
would not answer heard her foot
steps slowly retrcsting, and again Sung
myself on the bed to pass a wrctched and
fearful night
Another footstep, slower and more
feeble than my sister 5, disturbed me.
Alfred, my son, shall come In :"
she asked. -
i cannot tell what influence, operating
at that moment, made me speak adverse
to my feelings. The gentle voice of nv
mother, that thrilled me, melted the ice
from my heart and longed to throw
myself upon her neck but did not. I
heard her withdraw. heard her groan.
| lenged to cali her back, Jut I did not.
l was awakened from an uneasy Stun.
Der by hearing my name called loudly and
my sister stood by my bedside
Get up, Alfred. Don't wait minute.
Get up and como with me. Mother is
dying"
] thought | was yet dreaming, but I
got up mechanically and followed my sis.
ter On the bed, pale as marble, lay my
mother. She had not undressed She
had thrown herself upon the bed to rest,
and rising to go again to me, she was
seized with palpatation Of the heart, and
borne to her room. aF
urrtvr"i,Ufh itit I'm, az. aoany as looked
never know It. believed myself to be
her murderer. l fell on the bed beside
her--I could not weep. My heart burned
within by bosom, by brain was on fire.
My sister threw her arms around me aud
wept ia silence. Suddenly we saw mo-
ton Of mothers hand her eye Enclosed.
She had recovered her consciousness, but
not her speech. She looked at me and
moved her lips. Icould not understand
her words.
+" Mother! mother!" l shricked, g say
only that yon forgive me-"
She could not say II with her lips, but
her hand pressed mine She smiled upon
me, and lifted her thin white hands she
clasped my own within them, and cast her
eyes upward. She moved her lips in
prayer and thus she died, ] remained
kneeling in prayer beside her, that dear
form, till my sister removed me. Joy Of
youth had left me forever.
Boys who spurn mothers counsel;
who are ashamed to own they are young;
who think it manly to resist her author
ity, or refuse to yield to her influence,
beware. Lay not up for yourselves bit
ter memories for future years.