The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-08-01
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memory OF moLheFS IONes III WHICH, tttC
mere mention Of mothers name, has
struck to the heart Of an erring youth
Lac dart from heaven, and summond
him back to the walks Of piety and
peace.
A good lady, living in one of our
large cities. was passing Il drlDking-sa-
loon lust a. the keeper was thrusting 4 /
vouns, man out into the street. lie was i
~ery young and very pale; but his bag |
gard face and Wild eyes told that he was |
ycrv far gone Id the road to ruin, rs With |
oaths he brandisIed his cienched fist, /
threatening to be revenged upon the man |
who had % ill-used him This poor
young man was so excited and blinded |
with passion that he did not see the lady, |
who stood near him. until she had 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 a. though i heavy blow had
struck him, and turned quickly round,
palet than before, and trembling from
head 70 foot IL surveyed the lady for
a moment and then with a SIGH OF re-
lief, hc sad
Il thought it was my mothers voice
il sounded so strangely like it But her
voice has been hushed in death for many
years.
you had, then. said the lady, "a
mother who loved your"
With sudden revulsion Of feeling which
often comes to people Of fine nervous
temperaments, the Young man burst into
tears. sobbing out 80 yes, [ had an
angel mother and she loved her boy
But since she died all the world has
been against me, and / am lost Lost
to good society, lost to honor, lost to de
cency, and lost foreverp
"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 long been untouched in the
young mans heart, thrilling it with
magic power, and Weakening a host Of
tender emotions, which had been buried
very deep beneath the rubbish of sin and
crime
More gentle words the lady spoke, and
and when she passed on her way the
young man followed her He marked
the house which she entered and wrote
plate, IN his little memorandum book
Then he walked slowly away, with deep
earnest look on his white face, and deep
or, 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 sent
up his card, and desired to speak with
her.
Wondering much who it could be, she
went down to the parlor, where she
found noble looking, we'll dressed man,
who rose deferentially to meet her Hold
ing out his hand, he said
Pardon me, madam, for this intru-
sion; bur | have come many miles to
thank you for the great services you rem
dered me a few years ago, said he, in a
trembling voice.
The lady was puzzled, and asked for
an explanation, as she did not remem-
Der ever having seen the gentleman be-
fore
81 have changed so MUCH" said the
young man, that you have forgotten
me but though / only saw your face
once, / am sure | should have recogni-
zed it anywhere. And your voice, too,
is so much like my mothers ?"
Those last words made the lady re-
member the poor young man she had
kindly spoken to in front Of the drink
ing saloon so long before, and she min
gled her tears with those which were fall
ing slowly over the mans cheeks
After the first gush of emotion had
subsidized, the gentleman sat and told the
lady how those few gentle words had been
instrumental in saving him, and making
him what he was.
'"The earnest expression No not lost
forever, followed me wherever | went.
said he, 'and it always seemed as the
voice of my mother speaking to me from
the tomb! | repented of my transgres-
sons, and resolved to live as Jesus
and my mother would be pleased to have
me; and by the mercy and grace of God,
l have been enabled to resist temptation,
and keep my good resolution"
81 never dreamed that there was such
power in a few kind words before" ex-
claimed the lady, land surely, ever after
this / shall take more pains to speak
them to all the sad and suffering ones |
meet in the walks of life"