Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-08-05

oh my son, hear me raised my foot and
kicked her, my sainted mother. How my
head reels as the torrent Of memory rushes
over me. | kicked my mother-a feeble
woman my mother. She staggered back
a fow steps and leaned against the wall
She did not look at me. saw her heart
beat against her breast. Oh, Heavenly
Father she cried forgive him. Tic
knows not what ho does The gardener
Just then passed the door, and seeing my
mother pale and almost unable to support
herself, be stopped. She beckoned him in.
Take this boy upstairs and lock him ir
his own ROOM said she, and turned from
me. Looking back, as she was entering her
room, she gave me such a look Of agony
mingled with the intensest love 1t was
the last unutterablc pang from heart that
was broken.
"In moment found myself q prisoner
ia my own room. thought for moment
would fling myself from the window and
dash my brains out; but felt afraid to
die was not ponitont. At times my
heart was subdued, but my stubborn pride
rose 10 an instant and bade me not TO yield.
The pale face Of my mother haunted me.
flung myself on the bed and fell asleep
woke at midnight, stiffened by the damI
night air, terrified with frightful dreams
[ would have sought my mother at that
moment, for tremblod with fear but my
door was fast With the daylight my ter
rors we're .dissipated, aud became bold in
resisting all good impulses. The servant
brought my meals, but ! did not taste
them. thought the dag would never end.
Just a; twilight heard a light looisiep ap-
proach The door. /. was sister, who called
me by name.
"What may tell mother from your
she asked
''Nothing | replied.
"'Oh Alfred, for my sake, for all our
sakes, say that you are sorry. She longs
to forgive you.
"' won't be driven to school against my
wli,' soid l.
a. But you will 80 if she wishes it, dear
Alfred, said my sister, plealingly.
"' No, | won't said |, and you needn't
say word more about it.
"'Oh brother, you will kill her you
will kill her Aud then you can never
have happy moment
." [ made no reply to this My feelings
wcIo touched, but still resisted their in-
auencc My sister called me, but | would
not answer | heard her footsteps slowly
retreatng, and again flung myself on the
bed, to pass another wretched and fearful
night. Oh, God how wretched, how fear
. ful did not know
" Another footstep, slower and feeblcr
than my sisters, disturbed me. A voice
called me by name. 1t was my mothers.
"'Alfred, my son, shall | come in
Are you sorry for what you have done 2
: she asked.
81 cannot tell what influence operating
at that moment made me speak adverse tC
my feelings. The gentle voice of my
! mother, that thrilled through me, melteC
the ice from my obdurate heart, and
: longed to throw myself on her neck but
T. did not No, my boy, did not. But m,
= = words gave the lie to my heart when SAT-
was not sorry. heard her Withdraw
= heard her groan. | longcd to call he
q back but | did not.
= ." was wakened from an uneasy sumbe
!, by hearing my name called loudly, and m
= sister stood by my bedside.
y "' Get up, Alfred. Oh don't wait
y y moment Getup; come with me. MothC
IS - is dying'
u Il thought was dreaming; but | g
" up, mechanically, and followed my siste
y On the bed, pale and cold as marble, la
Ill nd sst.fl
had thrown herself on the bed to res
~ Arising, to 60 again to me, she was seize
" with palpitation of the heart and borr
- senseless to her room.
q. al cannot tell you my agony as locke
On upon her My remorso was tenfold mol
:. =. bitter from the thought that she woul
,r i never know it. | believed myself to be
~ murderer. fell on the bed beside her.
" could not weep. My heart burned in n
m ~. bosom my brain was all on fire. My 81
WI tor threw her arms around me and wept
silence. Suddenly we saw a slight m
30 ton Of mothers hand; her eyes unclose
:" She had recovered consciousness, but n
" speech She looked at me and moved b
''' lips. | could not understand her word
', Mother Mother = | shrieked, say on
that you forgive mo-, She could not 81
''o it with her lips but her hands press
lor mine. She smiled upon me, and liftil
To- her thin white hands, clasped my oV
us within them and cast her eyes upwar
,p 'po She moved her lips in prayer. and tn
'no she died. | remained still kneeling best
me- me- that dear form tillmy gentle sister remov
lue me. She comforted me, for she knew 1
'Iy heavy load of sorrow at my heart-heayi
lan than the grief for the loss Of a mother, (
ver it was load Of sorrow for sin. The j
VIC Of youth had left me forever.
!, my son, the suffering such memoir
~ wake must continue as long as life. G
onl is merciful; but remorse for past misdee
~" is canker-worm in the heart that pre-
us ~. upon it forever"
no My father ceased speaking aud buri
,6e his face in his hands. He saw and felt t
bearing his narrative had upon my chit
90, acter and conduct have never forgott
,ide it, Boys who spurn a mothers contr
aus who are ashamed to own that they 0
81, wrong, who think it manly to rOsist !
;de authority, and unmanly TO yield to her
ron huence, beware Lay not up for yourselN
NOT bitter memories for your future years