Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1884-12-24
Affection.

little do We appreciate mothers ten
derness while living How needless
are we in youth Of all her anxieties and
kindness But when she is dead and
! gone-when the cares and coldness OF
tine world come withering to our hearts
when We know how hard it is to find
true sympathy, how few love us for our.
! selves, how few will befriend us in OuI
misfortunes, then it is that We think of
the mother that We have lost. 1t is
true, had always loved my mother,
even in my most needless days of iDfan-
cy. when | was led by mothers hand
and rocked to sleep in a mothers arms,
and was without care or sorrow. "Oh
my mother !" exclaimed L, burying my
face again in the grass of the grave, Oh
that | were once more by your side,
sleeping, never to wake again ON the
cares and troubles of this world"
Scarcely day passes that We do not
hear of the loveliness of woman, the af-
fections of a sister, or the devotedness
of a wife, and it is the remembrance of
such things that cheers and comforts
the dreariest hours of life, yet moth
| er's love far exceeds them in strength,
In disinterestedness, and in purity. The
child of her bosom may have forsaken
and left her, he may have disregarded
all her instructions and warnings, he
may have become an outcast from So
clety, and none may care for or notice
him, yet his mother changes not, nor is
her love weakened, and for him her
prayers still ascend.
Sickness may weary other friends,
misfortune drive away familiar acqualn-
tances, and poverty leave none TO lean
upon, yet they affect not a mothers
love, but only call INTO exercise, in a
still greater degree, her tenderness and
affection.
The mother has duties to perform
which are weighty and responsible; the
lisping infant must be taught how to
live, the thoughtless child must be in
structed in wisdom's way, the tempted
youth nust be advised and warned, the
dangers and difficulties of life must be
pointed out, and of virtue must be i'm
pressed on the mind. Her words, acts,
faults, frailtieS,- and temper, are all
noticed by those who surround her. and
impressions made in the nursery exert
more powerful influence in forming
the character of youth, than do any
later instructions.
IL passions are unrestrained, if truth
is not adhered to, il consistency is not
seen, K there be want of affection, or
murmuring at the dispensations of Pro-
vidence, the youthful mind will receive
the impression, and subsequent life will
develop 1t. But il all is in purity, sin
cerity, truth, contentment, and love,
then will the result be a blessing; and
many will rejoice in the example and
influence of the plous mother,
There is something IN sickness that
breaks down the pride of manhood that
softens the heart, AM brings it back to
the feeling of infancy. Who that has
languished, even in advanced life, in
sickness and dependency, that has
pined on a weary bed, in the neglect
and loneliness of a foreign land, but has
thought of the mother that looked Oh
his childhood, that smoothed, his pill
low, and administered to his helpless
ness? Oh! there is an enduring tender
hess in the love of mother to son
that transcends all other affections of
the heart. 1t is neither to be chilled by
selfishneS, nor daunted by danger, nor
weakened by worthlessness, nor stiied
by ingratitude She will sacrifice every
comfort to his convenience; she will
surrender every pleasure to his enjoy
ment; she will glory in his fame and ex-
ult I'D his prosperity. If adversely over
sity, overtake him, he will be dearer to
her by misfortune, if disgrace settle
upon his name she will still love and
cherish him; and If all the world beside
cast him off, she will be all the world to
him. Round the idea of ones mother
the mind of a man clings with fond af-
fection. 1t is the first deep thought
stamped upon our infant hearts, when
yet soft and capable of receiving the
most profound impressions, and all the
after feelings of the world are more or
less light in comparison. Even in our
old age we look back to that object of
our filial love, and remember, with deep
regret, how often we have violated her
commands and neglected her affection
ate counsels; but when death has stilled
her monitory voice, and nothing but
calm memory remains TO recapitulate
her virtues and affections, be sure that
every unkind look, every ungracious
word, every improper action will come
rushing back upon memory and, knock.
ing dOlefully at the heart, will tell us
of our ingratitude.