Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-04-19


She grew TO love her mother more dearl
every day. and was never perfectly con
tent unless sitting by her side ministerini
to her many wants.
Cecil never thought of her mother a
seriously i'll. She became so accustome
TO her paleness and prostration, that sh
never expected her to rise and walk aroun
rs in former days, never expected to hea
the light, ringing laugh again, so used haC
she grown to the SOFT winning smile
which ever rested on her mothers face rs
she contemplated her lovely daughter.
Aunt HiLty was too busy with her house
hold cares, and endeavors to make bott
ends meet, TO bestow much time on the
invalid But she saw plainly that Mrs
Desmond was failing very rapidly, and
she wondered how Cecil would bear the
blow OF her mothers death. One day in
April, Mrs. Desmond called Cecil to her
aud making her sit on footstool at her
feet, passed her hand caressingly over the
young girls hair.
Cecil. she said, lido you know what
day this is ?"
"My birthday, mother" the girl replied,
little TREMENDOUSLY, for on that day just a
year before her beloved father had passed
away from them.
You did not speak of 1t to me, Cecil, "
said Mrs. Desmond. You were afraid to
remind me of how happy we were at the
beginning Of this day year ago, and how
miserably it closed for US all. Cecil, my
darling, did you ever think that your
mother might not be long with you now"
''Motherl" cried the girl, springing up,
q choking sensation in her throat, her
,,t.r in talr ID,
speak SO! You are not worse, are you
Oh, mother mother! do not break my
heart do not leave me-"
"There there! my child ! do not sob
SO piteously, Cecil, let us talk of some
thug else. | hope | shall be with you a
long time yet, my darling"
But Cecil did not forget the converse
ton. 1t lay heavily on her young heartV
and her step grew slow and languid as
she thought OF how desolate her life would
be without her idolized mother.
Cecil" said Miss Hilty one morning
in May, ''your mother seems quite revived
this morning, but you are AS pale as a
ghost. There. take this basket and go
into the woods and gather some violets
and ferns. The walk will do you good,
and your mother will enjoy having the
hoWefS IN her rO0m.'
II do not care for the walk, aunt Hit
IT," Cecil replied. "but if you think moth
or would like the flowers, | will go al
once"
She went into her mothers room to bid
her short good bye. She greeted Cecil
with a shadowy smile.
II am going into the woods to gather
some flowers Tor you mother" she said,
kissing her fondly, "you will not be lone
ly while am gone, will youP | shall not
be away more than an hour"
No. no, my love-" said the mother, 81
feel better this morning than have for n
long time. Stay three hours if you wish +"
Cecil wound her arms about her and
kissed her again and again before she
picked up her little basket and started for
the woods. She was gone nearly two
hours, and as she buried into the cottage
again she viewed the contents of her lit
tie basket with delight. See, aunt
Hiuy,' she said. Il have a great quaint.
ty OF violels. Has mother called yetp"
81 haven't heard her belr' said the
spinster, I've been so busy with my
pickles, that | have not had time to go in
here. She is asleep, likely"
Cecil went to her mothers room and
gently entered.
Yes, the invalid was asleep. She Law
back on her pillow with face as white
as they.
'.Sleep will rest her, )" murmured Cecil.
Il will put some violets on the bed"
LAS Cecil bent over her mother. no
soft breath futtered on her cheek. and
as the girl touched her mothers hand
m rlapipD yintata Oh,
its clammy GOODNESS.
"Motber!" she said, softly.
There was no reply.
Mother" screamed the girl in an agony
of fear.
No sound came from the closed lips.
Never, never more was Cecil to hear her
mothers voice. That voice was stilled for
ever on earth.
A wild, piercing shrek caused aunt
Hitty to drop her preserving spoon and
rush to the bedroom. There lay Cecil on
the bed, her arms around her mother,
shrieking and wailing in an agony OF
grief.
Poor Cecil how dark were the DAYS
that followed. She went TO her mothers
funeral like pale wrath of her former
self, and when she returned she shut her
sell up In the room she had shared with
that beloved mother, and refused all con-
ISOLATION. The minister came, but she re-
fused to see him. Religion had no place
in her heart. She knew not the consola-
ton of prayer.
Cecil" said aunt Htty, one day, three
weeks after Mrs. Desmond S death, when
the girl was lying on the little sofa in the
sitting room, her face to the wall, her
whole attitude one of misery, Cecil, if
you would only see that this thing is tor
the best. Your poor ma was glad to die,
for the earth did not hold as much for her
rs heaven did. my dear"
''She loved me-" said Cecil, in a DESC
late tone, land she has gone from me for.
ever"
mot forever, Cecil" said aunt Hitty,
"some day you will meet her again. The
Lord does everything for good, my dear
and lie loves you and watches over you. y
WAS it proof of his love to take my
mother ?" walled Cecil
'Ies, my dear. it was meant to bring
your heart nearer to heaven. We musl
AL bow beneath the Christening rod, and
feel that we are chastened for our eventu.
81 good. Our loved ones are taken from
US to bring our hearts nearer to the
throne"