Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-03-12

Not long since n man in middle life
came to our door asking for the minis
ter When informed that he was out of
town, he seemed disappointed and anN-
ious. On being questioned rs to his bus
mess, he replied; II have lost my moth
er; and NJ this place used to be her home,
and as my father lies here. we have
come TO lay her beside HIM"
Ny heart rose in sympathy, and said,
You have met with great loss"
"Well, yes, he replied, with hesitan-
cy, "a mother is great loss in general,
but our mother had outlived her useful
ness. She was in her second childhood,
and her mind had grown rs weak as her
body, so she was no comfort to herself,
and was a burden to everybody. There
was seven of us, sons and daughters; and
we agreed to keep her among us year
about. But have had more than my
share of her, for she was too feeble to be
moved when my time was ont, and that
was more than three months before her
death. But then she was a good mother
in her day, and toiled very hard to bring
us up"
Without looking ut the face OF the
heartless man, directed him TO the
house of a neighboring pastor, and re-
turned to my nursery. gazed on the
merry faces which smiled or grew sad in
imitation of mine,-those little ones to
whose ear no word in our language IS
half so sweet as .'mother"-and l won
dered if that day could ever come when
they would saw of me, "Shc has outlived
her usefulness-she is no comfort to her.
self. and burden to everybody" And
hoped that before such day should
dawn might be taken to my rest. God
forbid that | should outlive the love OF
nv children Rather let me die while
my heart is part of theirs, that my
grave may be watered with their tears,
and my love linked with their hopes OF
heaven.
When the bell tolled for the mothers
burial. went into the sanctuary to pay
my only token OF respect to the aged
stranger; for felt that could give her
memory tear even though her own
children had none to shed.
"She was good mother in her day.
and toiled hard to bring them up-she
was no comfort to herself, and burden
to everybody" These cruel words rung
in nv ears AS saw the coffin borne up
the aisle. The bell tolled long and loud
until its iron tongue had chronicled the
wears of the toil-worn mother. One
two-tbree-four-fve. How clearly
and almost merrily each stroke told OF
her once peaceful slumber in her moth
er's bosom, and of her scat at night-fall
on her weary fathers knee. Six--seven
-eight-nine-ten-rang out the tale OF
her sports upon The greensward' III the
meadow, and beside the brook. Eleven
twelve - thirteen - fourteen spoke
more gravely Of school-days, and little
household joys and cares. Sixteen
seventeen-eighteen-sounded out the
cnraptured visions Of maidenhood ana
the dream of early love. Nineteen
brought before us tho happy BRIDE.
Twenty-spoke OF the young mother,
whose heart was full to bursting with the
new, strong love which God had awak-
ened in her bosom. And then every stroke
told of her early womanhood-of the
loves, and cares and hopes. and fears,
and tolls through which she passed dur
ing those long years, till fifty rang out
harsh and loud. From that to sixty,
each stroke told Of the warm-hearted
mothor or grandmother, living over
again her own joys and sorrows in those
of her children and children's children.
Every family of all the group wanted
grandmother, then. and the only strife