The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-09-29

felt something OF woe. but All twas
nothing to ~haR came ~ fnsshed il.
IL verify seemed that death had come.
and had parted my soul and body. and
that my soul <snaered forth into what.
Nothing. absolutely nothirg could
not see. hear nor feel. ye, | knes | vas
going about wi,h swift winds. for three
DAYS IL seemed that ! vas thus a4aaer-
ing. and then | partially recovered. aud
found myself almost black With despair.
Invent To my mothers home ana the {
wandered 10 the garden; ss~ the rude
seats which her hands had placed on
which to rest herself Everywhere |
went | could see her sweet ard aged
form. on Blended knee. praying that God
would forgive me and save nv soul .
hos terrible must have been her torture
How she must have suffered and ali Ter
me. Again. dark, deep and dismal woe
would come over me. My lips AT d
tongue were bitten tllt the blood gnshsd
forth in torrents. NJ, nails pierced tie
palms of nv hands, and my hands tore
the hair OCT Of my head until WAS
almos, bare Thunder bolts. monsters
and lightning flushed pas, me, an,t death
seemed a nothing 10 my horror NJ
God. Will ever forget II Mild. and
all but crazed. wandered. mechanically
&c nay mothers grave. stood be
fore II. The Wild grass growed over II.
There. IN that cold grave, neglected BY
all save the Wild pansies tha, lifted their
little crimson heads IN beauteous array
lay all that was lcf, of my once happy
mother. There lay she who had guided
my FIRST step. AMI whose name aas the
hrs, word learned Ia lisp There IN
the cold sod lay the form Of mother
whom loved better than all the world
besides. Here in this sad, weary world
| had lief, her alone TO pine away aud die
Of broken heart. while | was far. far
away. seeking to prove the i4ilacy
OF the creed which she had taught me
The darkness of night engulfed me again.
fell across her cold, neglected grave.
and the woe within me unbarred the pent
up tears and wept a flood OF hot. soorch-
ing and bitter. bitter tears. Something
lowering around me seemed to tell me 10
pray. but oh. | could not. could not
+ Darker and darker grew the night the
lightning flashed. the thunder roared and
the rain descended IN torrents but !
could no, rise. | was fastened with the
shaokle OF woe 10 my mothers grave.
/ The tears flow ed thick and fas, : my heart
seemed 10 be trying 10 burst the slnews
that held II IN place my brain burned
burned with an awful. maddenine hre
until though; II would burst The child
ish PRAYERS that said on my mothers
knees returned To me, but | could ne,
pray, could not pray. AT las, the many
sweet lessons and kind words taught by
her IN hnSA I lau
afresh Ia my memory and IN the agony
Of the moment exclaimed. 30. cod
Have mercy on me - Instantly the dark
cloud rolled BY and my nisery seemed
TO be taken from me and | knew no
more. When tegained conscious
ness found myself IN the hands
OF kind friends who found me lying
stretched on, upon my mother grave IN
the peace OF Inconsistencies while the
storm ragged on. recovered and many
days did ! fas, and pray. believe | am
forgiven. but, my friend. shall never feel
the load taken completely off me until
know that have caused the salvation of
thrice as many souls as have caused To
be cursed. Nes. know there IS a cod
and gracious and loving one at that,
When was In darkness, misery and woe
my heart called out in tones OF dcepes,
eanestneSs 10 God for mercy and in
stan,ly my misery vanished. Since then
| have felt him everywhere. | can see
him in the soil, IN the rocks. the trees,
the leaves, the buds, the flowers, the
mountains. the meadows and the dales.
In all nature can see him. In those
books where | used to md my s,ronges,
arguments for his non-existence now
find the creates, proofs OF his love. liy
grace those things that were prone TO
warp my belief are now my greatest argu-
ments. Grace has made them plain.
Yes. ho~ much better i, would be for
us all II we followed the advice and teao h.
ings OF our mothers. Their only thought
is for US their prayers are IN our behalf.
Friends will desert US while IN trouble
and sorrow and sickness and distress,
bu, mothers love clings to US always.
She advises US, no. for the good tina, she
may receive not for the hsnor tina, she
may gain because of a Noble son, but
because her kind, sweet. pure love tells
her that il will be be-, for oh. d
mothers love. so kind. so true. viii ing
10 US whatever we do
The reverend gentleman cease! and
the tears rolled down his cheeks and AS
| felt them fast waxing warm IN my eyes
! bade him farewell and left. a far hap
pier man than when ! entered.
Mr.. e remains a faithful worker IA
Gods vineyard. and he IS known far and
wide for hrs good works and devou, la
tors.