St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-02-02
Mother Love.
FRANK II. CONVERSE.

Three score years and ten She was
"mOther" once, and the name then
sounded very sweet in YOUR ear. But
you have Out-grOwn that weakness
God help you l-and you now speak of
her to your wife, rather carelessly, per-
haps, as "the old lady,
Oh yes, | know you are kind to her
in your way: she is comfortably clothed,
has as good food and care as you would
wish to have Yourself, but
Do you think because her cheek is
wriDkled and her hand tremulOus, that
her heart has grown old, too? Don't
you suppose that she sometimes hun
gers for loving word such as she has
treasured up in the stOrehOuse of mem
Ory, of which, in your good natured
moments in days long past, you were
by no means prOdigal
1t wouldn't really be asking very
much, either, if you were now and then
to press your bearded lips to her wither-
ed face, or take her labor worn hand
fOndly i'll your own.
1t will not be so very long before the
chair will be vacant in the corner yon-
der, where she has sat knitting for so
long; and | think when the hands are
crossed over the quiet breast, their life
work ended when the mute lips are
dumb and the white hair smoothed over
the furrOwed brow that then many
things will come to you which do not
occur to your mind. Things, mean,
done and undone. Impatient words,-
not harsh, oh no, yet what would you
give if you could unsay them, when it
is all too late
| think it will occur to you just then,
that every such word carried with it a
pang of grief to the loving heart which
has beat for you, and you alone, all
these years, though at the time she gave
no word nor sign to show that it signi-
fled very much to her.
And you might have shown her SO
many little kindnesses at so small a
sacrifice of your own time-and selfish
ness.
Yes, these things, and others laying
far behind them, will quite likely pass
before your mental view. Perhaps you
will go back to your impetuOus youth
when, though loving her with all yOul
heart, you constantly caused her sor-
row, and yet how tenderly, but firmly,
she tried to lead you heavenward. But
outside circumstances las you apOlOgeti-
cally term it,) led you astray you
gave way to certain temptations and
became ''fast" Do you remember you
rather prided yourself on being thus
termed, and-sometimes you speak OF
those days with half laugh, though
the bitterness of the Dead Sea fruit has
not wholly left your lips even now.
Well, God alone must have known OF
the anguish which filed your mothers
heart; but beyond an occasional plead
ing appeal-dO you remember how they
were answered by you q-or tender
yearning look of sorIOw-she never
wearied you with her complaint, though
it may come to you that she spent g
part of many narrowing nights on hel
knees, praying her Heavenly Father
with an intensity of which you who car
so little realize her depths of maternal
love know comparatively nothing-ir
your behalf. But through Gods grace
you were saved.
People said it was strange that you
who had been so reckless and irreligiOus
should reform but they knew nothing
of the mothers importantly with Hin
who is mighty to save; you, think
realized it in part then, though it haC
passed from your mind but it will al
be plain to you again-some day.
Old age is sometimes spoken of il
connection with "childishness," without
realizing how much nearer they are
brought to the "kingdom of heaven
thereby ''as little child ;'-and the
mother with half-respect, even now
stands on the border land of the Here
after, nearer the kingdom than any bu
the angels dream.
Bye and bye she will take the on,
final trip into the beyond. Then, as
have said, in your life-path will b.
placed these stumbling blocks of re
membrance such as no futile wishes
may remove, and over which you viii
toll with sorrowful heart and weary feet
knowing that your own hands placed
| them there.
And it may please God to bring you
yourself, to old age-perhaps to realiz'
the feelings of the careless words o
petty Sights which seem to you now