National Republican., 1878-04-29
yDITED BY FANNIE D. WARD
The Mothers Lesson.
nv AAIvIA nAfu


"A story. story, dear mother"
Entreated tho son, tender voice,
Whose faintest echoes could ever
My spirit refresh and rejoice.
DO tell me nice little story,
And II by so glad and 10 good"
And my loving smile was All answer
Ihe pleader quite we'll understood,
FOR she sprong TO my arms In a moment
Ana sleefully mounted the throne.
Where gayly and proudly she queened 10
Oer realm that was all her own
"Twns the hour Of twilight 70 peaceful,
So dear In Its soothing rupOse
When The jnrring Of life's many dlscord1
Seems siiiled by tho days soh close;
When the heart seems ~ bask IN the quiet
And the mind 10 partake Of the rest
That broofs over natures vast wOrkiu9z
Like fond mother bird Ger her nest
All lIttlo can they who forever,
by greenwood Snd ureamlet abide,
Know the wanderers Joy in the desert,
Where the vnses CLEANS ut his side.
And a !itlo can they whose existence,
Is one long Injurious calm,
Know the Joy of the hour Of resting
The laborcrs Heaven sent balm.
'Tls the law Of Divine compensation
Which dccroes that some gem we may fnd
OF comfort, or hope, or of glory,
For the depths OF each trial cnshrined-
Thus nusing sat In the twilight,
NhilU shadOwy grew every care,
TIL tho sweet lips bdnished tho silence.
But br,ught u ne music most dear
The music of babyhoOd's prsttlel
All what other notes can so thrill
The heart with the softest emotion,
Or the grandeur Of feeling instillt
We'll, yes" said To my darling.
I'll tell you a story, denr'-
And shv rested her son hands in mine,
And bent her brown head 10 hear.
Then cOiued her d wonderful story,
Just fresh from the mine ofmy brain,
A tissue Of sunshine and shadow,
A sprinkllng of pleasure and pain.
All about the child that was naughty,
Cntruthiul, aud wilful and mean,
And about another so different
The best little girl ever socn
And how one was Stunned and avoided,
The other wns petted, caressed,
And saw by tho little ono smiling,
The moral she spty had guessed.
But while was telling my story,
Ny heart took its lesson as well.
lesson whose truths oiten pondered,
Had neer wrought so potent spell
For while was speaking and guEing.
Intent on my dirling's fair face,
saw there deI icted ench feeling.
That over my own len IT, trace
Each smile that approval had summCned,
Each frown that stern censurs displayed,
saw on her features reflected.
As though In q mirror pOrtTayedl
Then deep in my soul sank this lesson,
With many q solemn truth rife.
That thus could my deeds and my spirit
Their reflex evoke IN her life.
Thus-thus-l thought may each impulss.
Each motive my heart may proclaim,
In hers wake an echo etorIll-
The keynote OF glory or shnmel
And Shuddcred with awe at vision
My fancy appeared to unfold,
OF destiny shapcless, unscuptured,
mothefs example should mold.
That night Is ! knelt by my dear one.
And watched DER her innocent sleep,
prayed that my soul might forever
This truth like talismNn keep
prayed that whenever temptation
My steps should allure from the right
Again might this vision llluminc
My pathway with dutys clear light
] prayed that the mothers vast power
Twould e'er 10 my spirit display
". thirsting for lite's petty triumphs,
My soul should gnow faint by tho way.
To render me worthy my mission,
The blessing of God | besought.
Aud asked that this sacred mlfiliment
Through mercy divine might be wrought.