Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-05-09
Continued from 1rst pagsl

terity. the last of the race lies here before
us. coming to his death by roads that lead
through poverty. and if not in physical,
surely in mental anguish and misery.
while the once honored name exists only
AS denominsting a street, township and
roadside tavern.
.'Shall | say that this life has been a
wasted one? That in il is a lesson which
we would all do well TO heed. larry a
moment. Having heard what it has been
appointed me TO say, and the saying OF
which is the much more memorable and
impressive because of the presence of the
dead body of him whom it concerns. let
us each one answer for himself. whether
the life was wasted, or whether it was
one deserving of generous emulation.
"Our dead friend was the last OF fam
ily of eight children, six boys and two
girls. and he arrived at maturity but
year or two after the death of his father.
The large possessions left to the family
were to be kept intact while the mother
lived. absolutely here, to accumulate I'M
Ill the final division came, if II ever came,
only upon her death. Few within the
sound of my voice remember this mother,
although she survived her husband more
than fifteen years. God is her Judge, and
she has long since passed to her Judgment.
We see no such women now. We have
women as proud and naughty as she, but
none who have the means, the position,
or may hap the ambition. to foster such
pride, or to make that haughtiness SO OBJ
servable.
''She seemed possessed with but one
idea, animated by one single purpose.
The idea was the lofty position Of her
family, the purpose to magnify and in
crease that position and make it perpetual.
These were the sole objects and aims of
her existence, and all she did was gov
erned by them How she failed with her
older children it is needless for me TO re-
count. No end is gained by drawing
your attention TO the wrecks that she scat
tered here and there along the shores.
"ln this youngest son, the baby and pet,
her livliest, most matured hopes. were
centred. He had early miniiested that
possession OF qualities that gave me to
hope that in his hands the bulk OF the
property might remain intact, or better,
be increased. Other honors, too, were
early his. He was the district attorney
of this county within a month after he
had attained his majority, and was the
member of Assembly Immediately there
after. Looking at the poor. wasted fea-
lures now, the wiihered lips and the sunk
en- eyes, l fail to realize, though ! can
easily recall, the handsome young man OF
fifty years ago, whose eyes flashing before
jury, and whose magnetic voice, thrill
ing every vein and fibre of ones soul,
carried conviction and swept away all OPP
position. Alas but dust now, but mani
mate clay, that stirs any other feeling than
AT.
than applause.
Need it be told how the mothers heart
swelled with pride at the position her son
occupied; at the promises of a manhood
rpening into bloom that babe fair to out
shine that OF the father; at what seemed
to be a certainty that her ie-idea should
have full consummation There was no
struggle at the outset with him for the
bare necessaries OF life.
There was no long delay at the foot OF
the ladder before he was strong enough to
commence to climb. He stepped at once
to the top, into the whirl of success, the
steadiness that youthful career of prepa-
ration and privation brings to a man beng
given to him instinctively, or through the
means OF his mothers purse.
when fathers reputation and means
furnish scaffolding forone who is worthy
to stand at the beginning of career,
where the father stood at the close of one,
10 what heights may not a young man
build? Yet seldom so is it. Rather the
Oftener they are pair OF stills to the
youth. which he finds himself unable to
manage, and SO falls to the ground,
ruined, hopeless and helpless.
The mother must needs go on with
- IL, t1. th.., l.
thus called, with her youngest boy as she
had done with the rest OF the family. She
did not believe in natural selection. but
the rather in material instinct, and must
look about for suitable wife. who, in
stead of gripping or dragging him back
would help him upward in his flight.
''If she had but stopped TO think that it
is q spur TO an ambitious man to read in
the eyes OF one he loves reiteration of
his successes, and that her praises are
sweeter than the plaudits of mutitudes,
she would have hesitated before she IN d.
died with a matter which was to last long
after she would be troubled by any hopes
or fears.
But she did not and she was not long
in selecting one whom she deemed to be
in all respects worthy to bear the name
sue ucTecu udu DUfHt So lO0O, anu 10
share the honor which her son was pre-
pairing TO reap"
The plaintive voice was hushed for
moment, and looking again to observe
why, the old man was seen to turn toward
the coffin the furthest from him. You
could see the moisture gathering in his
eyes. and the muscles about the mouth
quivering. II was some moments before
he again went on:
''She was, he at length said, hestatng,
and gathering his voice slowly together
"she was everything that aman could wish
for wife. Youthful, beautiful intelli-
gent. cultured, and the daughter of man
Of great wealth, some hundred OF miles
north of here. The simplest OF pretexts
only was required to bring this young
princess and her mother to visit this place
"a guest at the home of our friends moth
er-to throw the two young people to-
gether almost constantly, and TO teach
them to admire each other.
From admiration what so quick to fol-
low as love that abideth? The Young
man was attentive, gallant to his mothers
guest. and bis opportunities were made
frequent TOR him To discover, if he liked.
the feelings of his companion towards
himself. But he did not Even alone