Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1875-12-04
An Appeal to Young Mothers.

am IN old woman have only a W
threads more to weave when the pattern viii
be completed and the Master will fold It mp
aud lay i, away. 1t is an imperfect piece, full
of broken threads aud wrong colors. | do not
like to look upon il; would like to take 1t
all cut and weave i, over ,gain. But no, it
must 20 Just as it is. But | will try 10 add a
few good threads aud right colors, that the
finishing up may he better; and as the gar
nent Is folded up, may they appear upon the
outside, aud, meeting the saz OF these just
weaving their piece, teach them what TO put
in their pattern.
Mothers, yonng mothers, listen 10 my story,
aud learn lesson therefrom You do get so
ont Of patience with that boy Of yours lie is
never quiet whStlinG. singing. stamping,
some kind Of noise all the time You think
you cannot bear it, your nerves are so weak,
50 you send him away out fdoors, anywhere,
that you may not be 50 annoyed. Don't do it
any more.
Come with NE to yonder cemetery. Here
in the corner, under the willow, lies my hoy.
Erncs, Clinton, age 4 twenty-one.' Sit down
with me near his grave and Twill tell you
about him. He was a beautiful babe. How !.
did love the precious, blue-eyed one! How
cuunin.ly he would twiue those little armS
aronnd my neck. aud press his little check
against mine Every momeu, Of his little ba-
by life was a jny and a comfort to me. Soon
the little feet began to todlle around and he
would run to mamma for safety. Then the
childish pntllc came, aud huw swcctls he
would Tsp my name, and, booking in my eyes
say: 81 'ovc 'ou, mammal"
O, Ernest, my precious boy, como back
again, aud be once more baby on mothers
knee Let mother try again
But the little fellow kept on growing, aud
soon arrived to the dignity Of his first pair oi
pants. How proudly he Strutted around and
called himself "manmas man But cau-
not follow him along step by step. He soon
became the school boy and how | used to get
out of patience with him as he came rushiu.
in from school, 50 noisy aud boisterous. ]
would scold him, and try to keep him quiet
hy seating him in chair. After awhile he
would not come directly from school. bui
would play by the WY. Mother had so much
to do she did not take much heed of her boy 5
seeking pleasure away from home.
When he was little fellow always went
with him when he went to bed, read to him
from the Bible. knelt by him while he said his
evening prayer, talked kindly to him about
aty wrong he bad done through the day
How tender his little heart was at those tines
al really % receive impressi1usf for Gond -
Aud how he used 10 enjoy those bedtime talks
But as be grew older, when bedtime came
woud feel tired or he busy, and would send
him away alone lie felt badly at first. aud
would kiss me over and over again, beiure
going; but after awhile he would 90 without
saving anything, or even kissing ne. Ibid not
then think much about the change; my mind
was occupied with work, which seemed more
important than anything else.
Thus he gradually drfted away from me
When he was naughty, wonll got AL ont OF
patience with him, instead Of kindly aud firm
~ reproving him. would dread vacation
time, aud per nit him u 60 from home to
play; could not stop TO amuse and interest
him at home, aud it was such relief to have
him away.
But why need 90 on? The living, ad'ec-
rionate boy was weaned from his mother, and
every year fouad bin farther away. Rpmors
BEGAN to come to the ears vf his father aud
myself Or his beng wild. We talked with
him he felt very badly, and promised to do
hritcr. But. alas the chain of love that
should have bound him to lis home aud
mother, had been severed, and other chains,
woven by wicked companions, bad been
thrown around him aud hell blm fast. We
sent him away to school. wrote many let
ters to him. tried to get my Influence over
him back again, but it was too late. dc ran
away from school aud for Eve years we heard
nothing from him. NJ theirs, just imagine
lhose five long, weary years. with 10 knowl-
edge whatever of my only son
One evening we sat before the i'e talking
Of our absent boy The storm ragged without,
and the tempest IN ocr o@n hearts could not
be siilled. | thought ! heard a tirnid knock
at the door. went, and there stood my
lang lust Ernest. But what 4 change Was
i, pnssihle that this was my blue-eyed curly
haired baby-my robust, rnddy-cheeked son ?
A pale, emaciatcd young man stood before me.
Ernest, my boy. cried, sis thisyou 2"
Yes. dear mother, it is Ernest; may !
come in? Ihaye come home to die
We did everything We could for him, but
could not save bin. Those Eve years OF dis
sipation had ruined his health, aud be only
liyei few months.
Mother, he would often say, Il am Oniy
tweuiy-one, aud have got to die. l have
wasted the past years OF my life, aud cut %
the future, which might have been mine 10 use
for good"
Bitterly did he repent, and we believe was
forgiven, which is the only drop Of comfort
my cun nf sorrow contains.
lie dropped asleep very peacefully, and we