The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-12-22
fer ZRx .4Yk1sssw TraxsiSr. THE LAST KISS.
BY $. $. DAWES.

ike waves succeeding waves that race. UnceAsing on the shore; So time with measured pace rsvoise His passing seasoes o'er. Ills sears for many have seenl To gray have hlAnched ny hair, Bal have not from my heart erased One image grayen there, Tn mercy has hc Kindly lefs
 On memry's faithful page. A raothers prayer-her last fond kiss. To cheer deeiining age. Remembrance. like some cherished sound, Or melody Of spheres, Wakes an echo from the grave
 Of long departed years. My mothers voice of gentleness,
 Each day. methinks, hear, Her every kind. approving word
 Is ringing in nS ear. And sometimes, tc~ nssse 10 list
 keprovais language mild: For when I erred, she'd say to me. Why grieve me thus, my child . Msr-, " yet recalls the day
 The inauspicious day. Naen. on her couch of death. res Sns4. Nv gentle mother lay. A nvalid for mosths shed been. Ard on her cheek there grew. spreading glow, or hectic flush,
 CT brightest crimson hue. But iiiie did my hlldhood deem.
 Iaai soft suffusing bloom, Fofe,o.d 10 sll save me. The patient sufferers doom. fecollec, when night had come.
 And ehildhood's prayer vas said. Al,sough forbid, could not go
 Without her kiss 10 bed. They could no, force me from that couch, Nhereon she lay distressed, Uatll my cheek thereon had felt
 Her feyer'd lips impress A, ength, when perseverance won That priv lege of delight, Viii imploring words [" mother cfied, Fray kiss thy child io-nigh, E" tios soon maternal iove's quick ear Drank ln the warm appeal, And gave the blissful ask'd for boon AHection's purcst seal zEis- thin, transparent fingers then
 arcss'd my clus,ring hair Aa2 10 her breast 4 parents atms,
 i.ohs hefu i4e uvStisis ,nst,. Anon when language uu'rance found. ! hcrgh trcmulous and weak. Her a.ing V ords unto her son,
 Essas'd mid sobs to speak. Sss sad, My son. we aow mus: part, or us dcoreed on high: Ass were |, not for ,h ghts ot thee How calnll, could die. Ba; He who iempers 10 the lamb, The kecniy piercing wind. Mi ne'er unto the orphan prove, Ike worldly friends, unkind A father to the fatherless.
 Hes promised 10 be true, The2, sith my las,-ny pa.ttng kiss bid thee, son, aaica When morn again broke on the world. And all without seem'd far. se silence veignIng m our house, Proclaimed the sadness there. Each innate moved with cautious tread, And spoke in accents low. Although they knew our Light of Home No more on earth would glow. leo young was 10 feel my loss Too young to realize The great sad truth that since I've iearn'I Oi Heavens mysterses. icji, to see the moarnful Car
 Rear of my mothers form, As though my tender heart would break. cath grieiss overwhelming storm. yearn d 10 see her mild blue eve. To whisper Tn her ear- How good in future would be, Y she'd not leave me here lo~ I'd obey her mandates all- He. 'ry wIsh fulfill And ali her aimontions heed. Ubedlent To her will. Her last fond kiss neer forgot. And never can forget, 4 ;alisman through iie it's been. And mem'ry claims II yet. When disappointment crushed my no pes, And friends proved insinoere, My mothers kiss solace proved. Her orphan child 10 cheer. A.6 now feel, that holy krss
 An a-gel mother gave, WI. on my cheek forever burn, And light me 10 the grave.