Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1873-05-17
She Has outlived Her Usefulness

/ life came to our door asking for the minister ,
When informed that he was out Of town he
seemed disappointed and anxious. On being
questioned as to his business be replied: 81 have
lost my mother aud this place used to be her
home; and my father lies here, we lave come
to lay her beside him."
Our hearts rose in sympathy, and we said,
" You have met with a great loss"
Well-yes," replied the strong man with
hesitancy " a mother is a great lose in general :
but our mother had outlived her usefulness /;
she was in her second childhood, and ber mind
was grown as weak as her body, so that she
was no comfort to herself, end burden to
everybody There were seven Of US, sons and
daughters and as we could not iind anybody
who was willing to board her, we agreed TO
keep her among us year about. But I've had
more than my share of her, for she was too
feeble to be moved when my time was out, and
that was three months before her death. But
then she was good mother 10 her day, and
tOIsd very hard to bring US all up" ...,t
Without looking at the face Of the heartless
man, we directed him to the house of a neigh
boring pastor, aud returned to our nursery
We gazed on the merry little faces, which
smiled or grew sad in imitation Of ours-shose
little ones to whose ear no word in our lam
guage is half SO sweet as mother and we
wondered if that day could ever come when
they could say Of Us, She has outlived her
usefulness; she is no comfort 70 herself, aud a
burden to everybody aud we hoped before
such a day would dawn we might be taken to
our rest. God forbid that we should outlive
the love of our children! Rather let US die
while their hearts are part Of orr own, that
our grave may be watered with their tears, and
our love linked with their hopes Of heaven.
When the bell tolled for the mothers burial
we went to the sanctuary to pay our respect
for thu aged stranger, for we felt that we 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 us all up-shs was no
comfort to herself, and burden 10 everybody
else"
These cruel, heartless words rang in our ears
as we saw the coffin borne up the aisle. The
bell toled long and loud until its iron tongue
had chronicled the years of the toll worn
mother. wo-three-iour-five How
clearly, and almost merrily, each stroke told Of
her weary fathers knees Six-seven-eight
-nns-ten, rang out the tale Of her sports
upon the green sward in the meadows and by
the brook twelve-thirteen-
een-fftecn-spoke more grayely Of school
days, and little household joys and cares. Six
teen-ssventeen-oigh oighteen, sounded out the
enrapturcd visions of maidenhood and the
dreams of carly love. Nineteen brought us
the happy bride. Twenty spoke Of the young
mother, whose heat was full to bursting with
the rew sprung love which God had awakened
in her bosom And then stroke after stroke
told Of her early womanhood-of the love, and
cares, and hopes aud tolls through which she
passed during these long years, till fifty rang
out harsh and loud From that to sixty each
stroke told Of the warm-helrted mother and
grand mother living over again her own JOYS
and sorrows ia those Of her children and chill
drcu'S children. Every family Of all the group
wanted grandmother then, aud the only strife
was who should secure the prize; but bark
the bells toll on : enty-one-two-three
four. She begins to grow feeble, requires
some care, is not always perfectly patient OF
satisfied she goes from one childs house to
another, so that no one place seems like home.
She murmurs 10 plsintive tones, and after all
her toll and weariness it is hard she cannot be
allowed home to die in that she must be
sent, rather than invited, from house to horse
Eighty-eishty-on -thrce-four-ah
now she Is the second child-now, &" she has
ouilived her usefulness, she has ceased to be a
comfort to anybody" that is, she has ceased
to be profitable to notwithstanding and money
grasppg children.
Now sounds out, reverberating through our
lonely forest, and echoing back from the hill oil
death, eighty-nue There she now lies in the
coffin, cold and still she makes no trouble
now, demands no love, no soft words, no ten
der little Offices. A look Of patient endurance,
we faucied also an expression Of grief for IN
requted love, sat on her marble features. Her
children were there, clad in weeds of woe, and
in irony we remembered the strong mans
words, "She was good mother in her days y
When the bell ceased toIIing the strange
minister rose il the pulpit. His form was
very erect and his voice strong but his hair
silvery white lie read several passages Of
Scripture expressive Of Gods compassion to
feeble man, aud especially Of his tenderness
when gray hairs are on him and bis strength
faileih. He then made some touching remarks
on human frailty and of dependence on God,
urging all present to make their peace with
their Master while in health, that they might,
claim lis promise when heart aud flesh shall
fail them. Then he said The eternal God
shall be thy refuge, and beneath thee shall be
the everlasting arms" Leaning over the desk
and gazing intently on the cofined form be-
fore him, he then said reverently: From a
little child honored the aged, but never till