Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-04-21

ers, she tried make an impression on me
She placed be ,re me the lives and example!
of great and ,od men; she sought to stimu
late my ambition. I was moved, but toe
proud to show it, and remained standing in
dogged silence beside her. thought, "What
will my con ,anions say, if, after all my
boasting, should yield at last, and submit
to be led by woman?"
What agony was visible on my mothers
face when she saw that all she said and sui:
fered failed to move me- She rose to 60 home
and I followed at distance. She spoke no
more to me till we reached eur own door.
1T is schooI.time now," said she. go my
son, and once more let me beseech you to
think upon what have said."
Il shau't 90 to school, said l."
She looked astonished at my boldness, but
replied firmly, Certainly you will 60, Alfred
l command you"
"But l will not" said I, with tone OF
defiance.
"One of the two things you must do, AL.
fred, either 60 to school this moment, or l
will lock you into your room, and keep you
there till you ere ready to promise implicit
obedience to my wishes in future.
II dare you to do it" said I "you can't
get me up stairs"
"Alfred, choose now," said my mother, as
she laid her hand on my arm. She trembled
violently, and was deadly pale.
"Will you 60, Alfred?'
"No" l replied, but quailed before her
eyes.
"Then follow me-" said she, as she grasped
my arm firmly. I raised my foot-O, my
son, hear mel raised my foot and kicked
her-my sainted mother! How my head
reels as the torrent of memory rushes over
me! Kicked my mother-a feeble woman
my mother! She staggered back a few steps
and leaned against the wall. She did not
look at me- I saw her heart beat against her
breast. 20, Heavenly Father" she cried.
"forgive him he knows not what he does" Z"
The gardener Just then passed the door, and
seeing my mother pale and almost unable to
support herself, he stopped she beckoned him
u. take this boy up stairs and lock him
in his own room," said she, and turned from
me. Looking back, as she gave me such
look-it will forever follow me. 1t was a
look of agony, mingled with the intensest
ove-it was the last unutterable pang from
a heart that was broken.
In moment l found myself prisoner in
my own room. thought for a moment |
could fling myself from the window, and dash
my brains out, but | felt afraid to die. /
was not penitent. At times my heart was
subdued, but my stubborn pride rose Instant
ly and bade me not to yield. The pale face Of
my mother haunted me. flung myself on the
bed, and fell asleep. 1 woke at midnight,
stifFened by the damp hight air, terrified with
frightful dreams.
l 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 resist.
ing all good impulses. The servant brought
my meals, but did not taste them. I thought
the day would never end Just at twilight |
heard light footstep approach my door. 1t
was my sister who called me by name.
"What may tell mother from your" she
asked.
"Nothing" / replied.
20, Alfred, for my sake and all our sakes,
say that you are sorry. She longs to forgive
you"
II won't be driven to school against my
will" said.
"But you will 60 if she wishes it, dear AL
fred," said my sister, pleadingly.
"No, won't" said I, land you needn't say
word more about it,.
20, brother, you will kill her, and then
you can never have happy moment"
made no reply to this. My feelings were
touched, but l still resisted their influence.
My sister called me, but would not answer.
| heard her footsteps slowly retreating, and
again flung myself on the bed to pass anoth'
er wretched and fearful night. 0, God, how
wretched and fearful do not know.
Another footstep, slower and feebler than
my sisters disturbed me. A voice called me
by name. 1t was my mothers.
ALFRED, my son, shall come in are you
sorry for what you have done ?" she asked.
l cannot 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
obdurate heart, and longed to throw myself
on her neck, but I did not No, my boy
did not. But my words gave the lie to my
heart, when said was not sorry. | heard
her withdraw. I heard her groan. I longed
to call her back, but did not.
l was awakened from an uneasy slumber
by hearing my name called loudly, and my
sister stood beside my bed.
"Get up Alfred O, don't wait moment !
Get up and come with me. Mother is dy'
ing"
I thought I was dreaming, but I 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. Arising
to 90 again to ne, she was seized with pal
pitation of the heart, and borne senseless to
her room.
cannot tell you my agony as | looked
upon her-my remorse was tentold more bit
ter from the fact that she would never know
it. / believed myself murderer. | fell on
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 a
slight motion of my mothers hand-her eyes
unclosed. She had recovered consciousness
but not speech-she looked at me and moved
her lips. 1 could understand her words.
"Mother, Mother" / shrieked, "say only that
you forgive me-" She could not say with
her lips, but her hand pressed mine. She
smiled upon me, and lifting her thin, white
hands, clasped mine with them, and cast her
eyes upward. 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 comforted me, for she
knew the heavy load of sorrow at my heart ;
heavier than the grief for the loss of a moth