The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-05-05

Times my ue6Et WAS suUuueu, out NY
stubborn pride rose instantly and bade re
not to yield. The pale face of my mother
haunted me. I flung myself on the bed,
and fell asleep. I woke at midnight,
stifened and terrified with frightfui
dreams. 80 -
I would have sought my mother at that
moment, for trembled with fear, but
my door was fast With the daylight
my terrors were dismissed, and became
bold in resisting all good impulses. The
servant brought my meals, but I did
not taste them. I thought the day
would never end. Just at twilight [
heard light footstep approach my door.
It was my sister who called me- by name.
"What may I tell mother from you?'
she asked.
"Nothing!R Ireplied.
"O,. Alfred, for my sake and all our
sakes, say that you are sorry. She longs
to forgive you."
81 won't be driven to school against
my will,,"I I said.
"But you will go ifshe wishes it, dear
Alfred" said my sister, pleadirgly.
& "No, won't" said ], "and you needn't
say a word more about it. !"
20, brother, you will kill her, and
then. you can never have 8 happy
moment"
I made no reply to this. My feelings
were touched, but I still resisted their
influence, My sister called me-, but l
would not answer. heard her footsteps
,,alowly retreating, and again I flung my.
self on the bed to pass another wretched
and fearful night. :. o, God, how wretched
and fearful do not know. =
&: Another footstep, slower and feeblsr
than my sisters disturbed me. A, voice
called me by name. It WAS my mothers.
i " Alfred, my son, shall come in? !? are
you sorry for what you have done?" she
asked.
IS Icannot tell what influence operating at
that moment, made me speak adverse to
my feelings. The gentle voice of mother
that thrilled through me, melted the ice
from my obdnrate heart, and: .longed to
throw myself on her neck, but i did not.
No, my boy 7 did not. But my words
gave the lie to my heart, when said /
was not sorry. -Iheard her withdraw. l
heard her groan. | longed to call her
but I did not.
I was awakened from an uneasy slum.
Der by hearing my name called loudly,
end my sister stood beside my bed.
SECT up, AlfredI o, don'twait a mo-
ment!i Get up and come with me.
Mother is dying"
I thought I was dreaming, but got up
mechanically, and followed my sister. On
the bed, pale and cold as marble, lay my
mother. She had not undressed, but had
thrown herself on the bed to rest. Aris,
ing to 90 again to me, she was seized
with -palpitation of the heart, and borne
senseless to her room.
I cannot tell you my agony as looked
upon her-my remorse was tenfold
more bitter from the fact that she would
never know it. Ibelleved myself a MUIR
derer. I fell Oh. the bed beside her-I
could not weep; my heart burned in my
bosom; my brain was all on fire. My
sister threw her arms around me and
wept in silence. Suddenly we saw
slight motion of my mothers hand-her
eyes unclosed.. She had recovered con-
sciousness but not speech-she looked at
me and moved her lips. I could not tupder-
stand her words. 'fMother, Mother" l
shrieked, "say only that you forgive me-"
She could not say with her lips, but her
haud.pressed mine. She smiled upon me,
and lifting her thin, white hands, clasped
mine with them, and cast her eyes up.
ward. She moved her lips in prayer,
and thus she died. I remained still
kneeling beside that dear form till my
gentle sister removed me. She comfor-
ted me, for she knew the heavy load of
sorrow at my heart; heavier than the
grief for the loss of a mother; for it was
a load of sorrow for sin. Thejoy of youth
had left me forever.
My son, suffering, as such memories
awake, must continue as long ss life.
God is merciful, but the remorse Of past
misdeeds is canker-worm in the heart,
that preys upon it forever.
NY father ceased speaking and buried
his face in his hands. He saw and felt
the bearing his narrative had upon my
character and conduct. I have never
forgotten it. Boys WHO spurn their
mothers control, who are ashamed to
own that they are wrong, who think it
manly to resist the authority, or yield to
her influence, beware! Lay not up for
yourself bitter memories for your future
years.
Though the boy who reads this may
not have kicked his mother, yet let him
think if he has never given his mother or
father some unkind words, or been dis
obedient to their wishes in many ways.
Boys, beware obey your parents in all
things, for God his commanded il; and
remember that disobedience to your
parents is sin against God!