The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1877-04-06
A Touching Story.

The following affecting narrative pur
ports to have been given by father to his
son, as warning derived from his own
bitter experience of grieving and resisting
mothers love and counsel
| What agony was visible on my mothers
face when she saw that all she said and
suffered failed to move me ! She rose to &C
home and l followed at distance. She
spoke no more to me till she reached hel
own door.
at is school time now," said she. go
my son, and once more let me beseech you
to think upon what have said.n
shan't go to school," said l.
| She looked astonished at my GOODNESS,
but replied firmly
Certainly you will go, Alfred, COM
mand YOU"
81 will not" said I, in a tone of def
ance.
Zone of two things you must do, Alfred
either go to school this morning, or I
will lock you in your room and keep you
there till you are ready to promise implicit
obedience to my wishes in the future"
" dare you to do it; 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'll kick you," said L,
in terrible rage. God knows l knew
not what said.
"Will you go, Alfred ?"
mo-" replied, but quailed beneath
her eye.
"Then follow me-" she said, as she grasp
ed my arm firmly.
raised my foot-oh, my son, hear me !
i 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 few steps
and leaned against the wall. She did not
look at mel saw her heart beat against
her breast.
"Oh, Heavenly Father" said she, for
give lim-he knows not what he does"
The gardener just then passed the door,
and seeing my mother pale and almost un-
able to support herself stopped. She beck
oned him in.
Take this boy up stairs, lock him up in
his room," said she, and turned from me-
Looking back as she was entering her room,
she gave such look of agony mingled
with the most intense love-it was the
most unutterable pang from heart that
was broken.
In a moment found myself a prisoner
in my own room. l thought for moment
that would fling myself out of the open
window and dash my brains out, but felt
afraid to do i'll was not penitent. At
times my heart was subdued; but my stub
born pride rose in an instant and babe me
not yield. The pale face of my mother
haunted me. l flung myself on the bed
and fell asleep.
Just at twilight 1 heard footstep APP
proach the door. 1t was my sister.
"What may tell mother for you 2" she
asked.
Nothing" l replied.
"Oh, Alfred for my sake, for all our
sakes, say that you are sorry. She longs
to forgive you"
would not answer, | heard her foot
steps slowly retreating, and again threw
myself on the bed to pass another wretch
ed and fearful night
Another fOotstep slower and feebler than
my sisters disturbed me. A voice called
me by name. 1t was my mothers.
"Alfred, my son, shall come 2" she
asked.
l cannot tell what influence, operating
at that moment made me speak adverse
to my feelings. The gentle voice of my
mother melted my obdurate heart and
thrilled through me, and longed to throw
myself on her neck, but did not. But
my words gave lie to my heart when said
that l was not sorry. heard her with
draw. | heard her groan. l longed to
call her back. But did not.
was awakened from an uneasy slumber
by hearing my name loudly called and my
sister stood at my bedside.
" Get up, Alfred. Oh, don't wait a min
ute! Get up, come with me. Mother is
dying"
thought was yet dreaming, but got
up mechanically and followed my sister,
On the bed, and as cold as marble, lay my
mother. She was not undressed. She had
thrown herself on the bed to rest arising
to go again to me, she was seized with
palpitation of the heart, and borne sense
less to her room.
cannot tell you with what agony !
looked upon her; my remorse was ten-fold
greater from the fact that she would never
know it.
believed myself to be her murderer
| fell on the bed beside her. / could not
weep. My heart burned in my bosom;
my brain was on fire. My sister threw her
arms around me and wept in silence. Sud-
denly we saw slight motion of my moth
er's hand-her eyes Enclosed. She had re-
covered consciousness, but no speech She
looked at me and moved her lips-I could
not understand her words. Mother
Mother" | shreked, "say only that you
forgive me?" She could not say it with
her lips, but her hand pressed mine. She
smiled upon me, and lifted her thin white
hands, she clasped my own within them,
and cast her eyes upward She moved her
lips in prayer and thus she died.
/ remained still kneeling beside that
dear form till my gentle sister removed me.
The joy of life had gone forever
Boys who spurn mothers control, who
are ashamed to own that that they are
wrong, who think it manly to resist her
authority, or yield to her influence, beware!
Lay not up for yourselves bitter memories
for future years.
THAT OTHER FELLow.-T The Paris news