The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-10-23
The Mothers RemOrse.

The child was so sensitive, so like
that little shrinking plant that curls at
the breath and shuts its heart from
light. The only beauties she possessed
were an exceedingly transparent skin.
and the most mournful blue eyes. l
had been trained by stern, strict, con
scientious mother. was hardy plant,
rebounding ut every shock; misfortune
could not daunt, though discipline
tanned me. I fancied, alas! that must
go through the same routine with this
delicate creature; so one day, when she
had displeased me exceedingly by re-
peating an offense. was determined to
punish her severely. l was very seri-
ous all day, and on sending her to her
little couch, said:
"Now, my daughter, to punish you,
and show you how very, very naughty
you have been, l shall not kiss you to
night"
She stood looking at me astonish-
ment personiticd. with her great mourn
full eyes wide open. I suppose she had
forgotten her misconduct till then; and
I left her with big tears dropping down
her cheeks, and her lip quivering.
Presently was sent for-"Oh, mamma.
you will kiss me; 1 can't go to sleep If
you don't" she sobbed, every tone of
her voice trembling as she held out her
hand.
Now came the struggle between love
and what l falsely termed duty. My
heart said, give her the kiss of peace
my stern nature urged me to persist III
my correction, that might impress the
fault upon her mind. That is the way
l have been trained until I was sub
missive child, and 1 remember how
often r had thanked my mother since
for her straightforward course. knelt
by her bed and whispered, "Mother
can't kiss, you, Ellen" though the
words seemed to choke me. Her hand
touched mine; it was very hot; but |
attributed it to her excitement. l
blamed myself as the fragile form shook
with suppressed sobs and saying,
"Mother hopes Ellen will mind her
better after this" left the room for the
night.
1t might have been about midnight
when was awakened by the nurse.
Apprehensive, ran to the child's cham
Der. had fearful dream. Ellen did
not know me. She was sitting up,
crimsoned from the forehead to the
throat, her eyes so bright tibet almost
drew back aghast at the glance. From
that night raging fever drank up her
life-and what do you think was the in
cessant plant poured into my anguish
ing heart! "Oh! kiss me, mother, do
kiss me. | can't go to sleep. You'll
kiss your little Ellen, won't you? l
can't go to sleep. won't be naughty
if you'll kiss me. OH kiss me, dear
mamma, can't go to sleep"
Holy little child. she did go to sleep
one gray morning, and never woke
again-no never! Her hand was locked
in mine, and all my veins icy with its
gradual chill. Family the light faded
out in the beautiful eyes-whiter and
winter grew the tremulous lips. She
never knew me; but with her last
breath she whispered: II will be good
mother, if you will only forgive me.
Kiss herl God knows how passionate
and unavailing were my kisses on her
cheek after that fatal night. God knows
how wild were my prayers, that she
might know, if only once, that l would
have yielded up my life could | have
asked forgiveness of that sweet child.
Well, grief is unavailing now. She
lies in her little tomb; there is mar
bic urn at her head, and rose bush at
her feet-there grow sweet summer
flowers; there waves the gentle grass:
there birds sing their mathis and their
vespers; there the blue sky shines down
to-day, and there lies the freshness of
my heart.
Parents, you should have heard the
pathos in the voice of that sad mother
as she said: There are plants that
spring into great vigor II the heavy
pressure of footstep crush them; but,
oh! there are others that even the
pearls of the light dew bend to the
earth" Mothers and fathers, be kind
to the little ones. Do not wait till the
daisies grow over their bosoms before
you learn to chide them in love. Kiss
them before you strike them. BY and
by you must leave them; but leave no
thorns in their memory.-HaWs Jour
nat of Health.
BURNING HIMSELF UP.-An account
comes from Foochow, in China, OF a
Buddhist priest who is burning himself
up inch by inch and finger by finger,
hoping by this slow course of martyr
dom to be sure of everlasting felicity.
His method is to applya ligature to the
finger he intends to destroy and then
burn the end of the member off in the
flame of candle. Already he has dis
posed of two or three fingers and a
thumb or two, and expects by Christ
mas time to make burnt Offering of
one of his arms up to the elbow. This