Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1875-08-21

affectionate boy was weaned from his
mother, and every year found him
farther away. Rumors began to come
to the ears of his father and myself of
his being wild. We talked With him; he
felt very badly aud promised to do bet
ter. But. alasl the chain of love
which should have bound him to h s
home and mother had been severed
and other chains. woven by wicked
companions, had been thrown around
him aud he'd him fast. We sent him
away to school. | wrote many letters
to him. | tried TO get my influence
over him back again, but was too late.
He ran away from school, and for Fl e
years we heard nothing from him.
Mothers. just imagine those FIVE long,
weary years, with no knowledge what
ever of my only son!
One evening we sat before the fire
talking Of our absent boy The storm
ragged without, and the tempest In our
own hearts could not be stilled. !
thought heard timid knock at the
door. went, and there stood my long
lost Earnest. But what a change
Was it possible that this was my blue,
eyed, curly-haired baby-my robust
ddy-cbeeked son? A pale emaciated
young man stood before me.
Earnest, my boy" / cried, :" is thi:
your"
"Yes, dear mother, it is Earnest
may l come in? | have come home tC
die"
We did everything we could for him
but could not save him. Those five
years of dissipation had ruined his
health, and be only lived few months
Mother" he would say, lam only
twenty-one, and have got to die:
have wasted the past years of my life
and cut off the future, which nigh
have been mine to use for good"
Bitterly did he repent, and we be.
lieve was forgiven, which is the only
drop of comfort my cup Of sorrow con-
tains.
Hedropped asleep very peacefully
and we have laid him here to rest til
God shall bid him rise. But my hearl
was broken then, and bitterness and
sorrow have been my companions ever
since. God gave me that boy to bring
up and L was responsiblefor his future
There was in him the germ of noble
manhood, and 1 crushed it.
The heart Of my child was mine. but
instead of making an effort to KEEP
that heart, | permitted it 10 slip from
my grasp.
never see little boy but that
want to go to the mother and on bend
ed knee to implore her to so love thai
boy she will be patient with hun
that she will so win and retain his at,
fectious that his love for mother shall
be- shield of safety in the darkest houl
of temptation.
Dear young mothers, bear with the
noisy boys; better few headaches
now than the dreadful heartaches that
will come in after years. Make home
pleasant for them. No matter if tn,
work is not all done to your satisfac
ton; the eternal welfare of the child
is Of far more importance. Lay aside
your work sometimes, and enter int
their sports and games. Question
them about their doings at school; re
joice with them when they are happy
sympathize with. lem when they ar,
in trouble. Let them see that mothe
is true friend to them. At the sam,
time be firm and insist upon implici
obedience. They will respect you al
the more for that Make bed time
happy hour for them, that the memor,
may linger with them in after years
and that hour shall ever be sacre,
one, causing deep tenderness Il
spring up in the heart, and stroni
yearning to bow the head again OF
mothers knee, and say the evening
prayer, even when they hive becom
strong men engrossed in the bushes
of life.
Dear mothers, as / say farewell t,
you, | would lift my heart in praye
to the Father above, asking Him t,
give you, each and all, wisdom an,
strength SO to bring up those boys 0
yours that noble manhood be theirs
a happy heart yours, and a mansion o
rest for you all in the pure city o
God.
And if my story will help som
mother to be more patient and tende
with her boy will thank God that III
has permitted few threads gold t
finish my web of life.-Amhur's Hon,
| NdQaztne. W=