The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1880-12-02

To bring the knight home dead.
She wished the women would not wall;
she hoped that she might die;
Who hid himself 70 cry -
-SdraA D. Jearstf, On HaTper's Magazine.
HIS MOTHER s BLESSING.
There was the usual crowd at the
depot. Some hurried hither and
thither with satchels. bundles and
shawls and all the other paraphernalia
of the well-equipped traveller, not .ex-
cepting the lunch baskets, which
filed the mind of the beholder with
. vague appetite as his vivid imagina-
tion pictured toothsome repast of cold
chicken. tongue, preserved sweetmeats.
pies and the like, closeted in their
dark recesses; and if of bibulous
turn Of mind q thought of hidden
bottles of some /" cheering and "in-
ebriating beverage" lent an additional
glow to the inviting picture-and to
think that all of these dainties were se-
cured (D by only . simple piece oftwine.
with which (maddening thought) the
truculent baggagemaster was reck-
lessly familiar. 1i.--- se-sa =
Noticeable among the passengers
which filed the ladies' waiting room
and overHowed on the platform, were
. distinguished pair-notable any
where, but more particularly here in
this heterogeneous mass of human
beings.
Some strong emotion held them both
with its deep and earnest spell, but in
one the feeling, while deeper, was at
the same time under better control.
There are few spectacles more touch-
ing than the appearance Of deep feel
ing with evident effort at strong and
continued restraint.
The two persons were mother and
son; the former q widow, clad in the
sable weeds which mutely and sadly
told the story Of her bereavement, and
it required but little penetration to
perceive that this was her only son and
that her heart, sore perhaps from re-
cent afi1iction, was altogether bound
up in him. She was tall, slender and
stately, and on her white brow,
touched here and there by raven
tresses, mingled with silver, and in the
soft, dark eyes there slumbered, rather
than shone, that expression of patient
resignation. that serenity of heart
which comes alone to those for whom
affection has been sacrificed; those who
have learned in the midst of crushing
sorrow the sublime meaning of those
words, ITO suffer and be strong"
Her son was tall, slight and graceful
youth of about eighteen summers.
with the. same clear honest eyes, and
cheeks bronzed by the sun, but fore
head white as alabaster, surmounted
by . waving mass of nut-brown curls,
which defied the touch Of the hair
dreserS pruning scissors, and showed
here and there q rebellious lock, as
irrepressible alas! as the owner, the
irresolute curves Of whose scarlet lips
betrayed him an easy dupe to those
who cared to lead him astray. a'
The preparations grew more hurried
rs the hour for starting approached.
A middle-aged gentleman. portly
and good-natured, made his appear
ance. and seeing our travellers. exclaim-
ed heartily: go 't> A
How dye do. Mrs. Balfour: how
are you. Freda Are you going on this
tramp -
II am going to try my fortune in
Colombo, Mr.. Lawson" .gq,tGt d
"And your motherr' he said turning
to her.
.1She remains here for the present ,,
81 thought perhaps it would be bet
ter for him to leave home for awhile,
especially as he has an uncle there who
has often urged me to send him, and
has already pictured q bright future
for him there" said the lady in clear,
sweet tones, though it was with an
effort she kept back the tears.
''Quite right" responded Mr.. Law.
son. 1T will make man of him to de.
pend on himself I've no doubt it will
be quite lonely for you, madam. for 9
while, at least" "
s.I do not take my own feeling into
consideration, l assure you. sir. else
would never give my consent. 1t i
only that feel that there are better
opportunities in the West for q young
man who has to make his own fortune
and there are surely no openings for hin
here. We have tested that pretty
thoroughly" she added, with q sigh
The presence of third party at thi.
last interview between mother and sor
was felt to be . relief, for, when ths
heart strings are about to be shattered
the untold agony is inexpressible and
and each utterance is felt to be pang
The trio beguiled the time in conver
sation on unimportant and trivial topic.
until the bell rang. Then the pail
mother, clasping her treasure onc'
more in her embrace, and secretly ana
without ostentation placing . plaiI
gold ring ON his finger, while will
trembling lips she invoked q silen
blessing on his young head, bade hin
goodbye and saw the swiftly-movins
train bear him out of sight.
To those who 60 away the parting j
not so bitter as to those who remain be
hind. The rapidly-moving panoraml
Of scenes. the hurry and hustle and de
parture. and the constantly appearing
andreceding landscape cheer the wound
cd sensibilities. and with their soothing
influences distract the attention from
sorrow. and by slow and almost imper
ceptible degrees check the tear. and ol
the cheek it has lately bedewed plac
the glow Of hope and lend the eye tn
faint luster Of . bright anticipation.
Such were the feelings Of Fredericl
Balfour as he was conveyed on tn
wings of steam toward his distant desti
nation. He was q warm-hearted an,
generous Lad, strongly and deeply at
tached to his mother, with that chival
rous devotion which 80 often spring
into existence when father has bee
taken away and the remaining paren
ciings for support and affection to he
cherished offspring.
With all the enthusiasm of youth
fond Of novelty and excitement-he
after his first emotions of grief had bee
subdued. entered into the spirit of tn
scene, and. in conversation with tn
other passengers, viewed the ever
changing kaleidoscope of scenery with
out. and meditating on the bright pic
tures of the future prosperity whic
continually fed his Imagination, the da
passed rapidly and chserfully away.