The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1873-06-12
Mother and Son,

and resisting mothers lava and conn
sell 1t Is new to ttE, though it NAV not
De TO all our leaders but its teachings
are 20 excellent as to make it worthy of
frequent publication and perusa1
What agony was visible on nv moth
er's face when she saw that all she said
and suffered failed to move me She
rose to go home, and / followed at a
distance. She spoke no more to me
till she reached her own door.
:" 1t is school time now." said she.
60, my son, and once more let me
oeseech you to think upon what L have
81 sban't go to school," said I.
She looked astonished at my bold
ness, but then replied firmly--"G "Gertnin
ly you will go, Alfred, | command
you p
81 :. will not l' said L, with tone of
defiance.
-" One OF two things you must do,
Alfred-either go to school this mo-
mentt, or will lock you in your room,
and keep you there till you are ready to
promise implicit obedience to my wishes
in future.
81 dare you to do it," said "you
can't get me up stairs"
" Alfred, choose now," said my
mother, who laid her hand upon my
arm, She trembled violently, and was
deadly pale,
If you touch me I will kick you"
said L, in terrible rage. God knows 1
knew not what I said
Will you go, Alfred ?"
No?' 1 replied, but quailed beneath
her eye.
Then follow me-" said she, as she
grasped my arm firmly. l raised my
foot-oh, my son, hear me =! L raised
my foot and kicked her-my sainted
mother ! How my head reels, as the
torment of memory rushes over me |!
L kicked my mother-a feeble woman
my mother She staggered back a few
steps and leaned against the wall. She
did not look at mo. l saw her heart
beat against her breast. "Oh, heaven
y Father !" she cried, " forgive lin
he knows not what he does p The
gardener just then passed the door,
and seeing my mother pale and almost
unable to support herself, he stopped.
She beckoned him in.
Take this boy up stairs and lock
him in his own room," said she, and
turned from me, Looking back as she
was entering her room, she gave me
such look lit will forever follow me.
1t was look of agony, mingled with
the intensest love-it was the last I'M
utterable pang from heart that was
| broken.
In moment [ found myself prison
Ell in my own room. 1 thought for a
moment l would fling myself from the
open window, and dash my brains out,
but [ felt afraid to die. was not peni-
tent. At times my heart was subdued,
but my stubborn pride rose in an in
stant, and bade me not yield. The
pale face of my mother haunted me. /
flung myself on the bed, and fell asleep.
Just at twilight heard footstep APP,
proach the door. 1t was my sister.
"What may tell mother from you?'
she asked.
"Nothing p replied.
ooh, Alfred for my sake, for all oul
salles, say that you are sorry-let me
tell mother that you are sorry. She
longs to forgive you"
[ would not answer. / heard hel
| footsteps slowly retreating, and again
flung myself on the bed to pass {
wretched and fearful night.
Another footstep, slower and feeblel
than my sisters, disturbed me. A voice
called me by name. 1t was my mothers
"Alfred, my son, shall I come in
Are you sorry for what you have done?'
she asked.
I cannot tell what influence, operating
at that moment, made me speak adverse
to my feelings. The gentle voice of my
mother, that thrilled through me
melted the ice from my heart, and
longed to throw myself on her neck
but I did not. My words gave the liz
ry. L heard her withdraw. 1 heart
her groan. longed to call her back
JW / did not.
Twas awakened from my uneasy slum
Der by hearing my name called loudly
and my sister stood by my bedside.
"Get up, Alfred. Oh, don't wait {
minute ! Get up, and come with me
Mother is dying! %
L thought was yet dreaming, but
got up Immediately and followed my
sister. On the bed, pale and cold as
marble, lay my mother. She had moi
rndressed. She had thrown herself Oh
the bed to rest; and arising to go again
to me she was seized with palpitatior
of the heart, and borne senseless to hel
| room.
cannot tell of my agony as looked
upon her-my remorse was tenfold more
bitter from the thought that she would
never know it. I believed myself to be
her murderer. L fell on the bed beside
her. I could not weep. My heart
burned in my bosom-my brain was al
on fire. My sister threw her arms
around me, and wept in silence. Sud
denly we saw slight motion of mothers
hand-her eyes unclosed. She had re-
covered consciousness, but not speech
She looked at me, and moved her lips
could not understand her words
"Mother, mother!' L shrieked, "say
only that you forgive me-" She could
not say it with her lips, but her han6
pressed mine. She smiled upon me
and lifting her thin, white hands, she
clasped my own within them, and cas-
her eyes upward. She moved her lips
in prayer, and thus she died. 1 re
mained still kneeling beside that deal
form, till my gentle sister removed me
The Joy of youth had left me forever.
Boys, who spurn mothers control
who are ashamed to own that they arr
wrong, who think it manly to resis
her authority, or yield to her influence
6e,0are! Lay not up for yourselves