The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1872-06-12
A Mothers Love; or, Safe in the Cleft of the
Rock.

In the Highlands of Scotland, poor
widow found herself unable to pay the rent
of her small cottage, and the agent of the
landlord threatened to dispossess her. A
kinsman who lived at some distance had
promised to assist her, and she set out for
his residence, carrying on her back her only
child, boy about two years old.
The morning when she left her home gave
promise of lovely day. But before noon
the heavens were darkened by gathering
storm. 1t was in the month of May, and
the fall of snow on that day, SO unusual
both for it's season and its severity, is yet
remembered in the region as "the great May
storm" The severity of the storm overlook
the lone traveller in wild mountain pass,
ten miles from her home. She knew that a
mile beyond it there was house where she
would find shelter; but whenever she at
tempted to face the blast which was rushing
through the gorge, sll hope failed of pro-
ceeding in that direction.
After wandering for some time among the
huge fragments of granite which skirted the
base of the overhanging precipices, she found
sheltered nook under ledge of rock,
where she crouched, pressing her child to
her trembling bosom. The storm continued
to rage, and it became bitterly cold. All
she thought of was the protection of her
child. She wrapped him in her shawl, which
was thin and worn. AS night came on, she
stripped off almost all her own clothing and
wrapped it around the child, whom at last,
in despair, she put in deep crevice of the
rock among some dried heather and fern.
Covering his face with tears and kisses, she
left him in soft sleep, and rushed into the
snow. drift, resolved to find assistance for him
or perish in the attempt.
That night of storm was succeeded by
peaceful morning. The people of the vii.
lage, fearing that she could not have reached
her destination, set out in body to search
for her. They reached the pass, and at its
entrance they found the widow dead, her
arms stretched forth as if imploring assist
ance. Before noon, the cries of the child
guided them to its safe hiding place, where
all the story of the mothers love was re-
vealed
Fifty years later, an aged minister was
preaching in distant city on the love of
Christ, and in illustrating the nature of the
"love which seeketh not her own" he told
the story of the Highland widow, whom he
had known in his boyhood. Some time af-
terward, message was brought to him from
dying man, who greatly desired to see him.
The request was speedily complied with
The sick man seized him by the hand, and,
gazing intently in his face, said, "You do
not know me, but I know you, and knew
your father before you. have been wan
dereE in many lands, and have fought and
bled for my country. came to this town
few weeks ago in bad health, and was
providentially led to the place where you
were preaching 1 heard you tell the story
of the widow and her SON" Here the
voice of the old soldier faltered, but recov-
ering himself for a moment he cried, Il am
that sonp" and burst into food Of tears.
eyes," he continued when he had re-
gained his composure, Il am that sonl-
Well might you ask what heart would mine
have been, if such mothers love had been
forgotten by me. I never forgot her, and
my last desire is to lay my bones beside hers
in the old church yard among the hills
But what covers me with shame is, that un-
til now / never saw the love of the Saviour
in giving Himself for poor sinners With
deep emotion, he added, "It was God made
you tell that story. Praise to His holy
name! my mother has not died in vain, and
the prayer she offered for me has been an
swered. The story of her love has been
used by the Holy Spirit in leading me to
see the love of Christ. 1 see it, believe it;
1 have found refuge in my old age as in my
childhood, in the cleft of the rock; but it is
the rock of ages!" And clasping his hands,
he repeated with intense fervor, "Can a
mother forget her sucking child, that she
should have compassion spn the son of her
womb? They may forget, yet will not l
forget thee!" He lived for some years a
devoted disciple of the Lord Jesus, and at
length died rejoicing in the same precious
Lord Witness.