Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1888-04-26
4 Tribute to Mothers.
Rev. Dr. Nevine

1t has been beautifully said of a mother
that 'she is the morning and evening
star of life. The light in her eye Is al
ways the first to rise and generally the
last to set upon the checkered life OF
men," She weilds power Ear more de-
cIsiye than syllogism in argument or
court of last appeal in authority. Mex;
to omuipotence hers is the strongest
moral influence known upon earth. she
has been called 1.-THE Divinity of Infancy"
She can shower around her the most
genial of all influences, and from the
Tune when she first laps her little one in
Eiysium by clasping it to her bosom, its
first paradise" 10 the moment when that
child is independent of her aid, her smile,
her word, her wish is an inspiring force.
A sentence of encouragement or praise
from her is Joy for day.
mothers look, q mothers smile, or a
mothers word seem to be a small and
insisnlfed thing. But moro mature re
Election will bring it TO very different
conclusion. We might ask the one who
mig t be tenn pied TO attach but little inn
portance 30 the influence of the mother,
Is 1t little thing TO fashion an immortal
spirit after heavenly modelY Is il a
lttle thing TO develop infant powers and
bring to light all that seems hidden in
tbs soul-to train the ear by sweet sounds
aud the eye by lovely colorsy Is 1t
little thing to teach the use of language
and form what is emphatically called our
mother tongueY Is 1t a little thing to
notice the first articulate utterances, or
rather create and call them forth? Is it
little thing to receive from God al, i'm
mortal being in state OF homage and
hel plessness, and stamp on its young
spirit the love of the noble, the heavenly,
the pureY All this power belongs to the
mother, and all this influence the mother
may WELD, If recognizing her dependence
on God the fountain of all holy lntluenc-
ee, she takes his will to guide her and
leans upon his gracious power TO
strengthen and sustain h,v. 1t is the
cody mother-the mother whose heart Is
Illuminated with heavenly light and
uuickened and sanctihed by the Holy
) pirit-that can offer the simple, tender,
touching preyer which the youngest eau
cum Drthend. and can seize upon the
happy moment for implanting truth
| she, and she only, can time all and rule
all by that sceptre which is wrea'hed with
| silk, the sceptro of genuine, heartfelt
/ love. little boy when asked what made
/ home pleasant and beautiful, and why
/ one house was not as much home as
another, remarked, pointing to his
mother, Because she is here!'
| True, living, consistent piety is tho
mothers brightest ornament, her truest
glory, her noblest support, aud her rich
! est treasure. Her lite should be a calm,
| holy, beautiful walk from Il o hearth
stone to me altar FIRE; from the bosom of
her family to the throne of God.
it hes been the testimony of good men
| in all ages that they owe chiefly to their
mothers the best inspiration Of their
| lives. II had rather possess my mother'a
| picture" once wrote the poet Cowper,
| THAN the richest jewel in the British
crown" The venerable John QuiLcy
! Adam once said: ut is due to gratitude
aud nature that ] should acknowledge
and avow that, such rs have been, what
ever it was, aud such as | am, whatever il
il, and such as | hope to be in all futuri
ty, must be ascribed, under Providence
to the precepts and example Of my
mother"
Sweetiy and truly has the poet sung.
tine sounds that fail on mortal ear,
As dew drops pure at even,
| That soothe the oreast or start the tear
are mother, home aud heayenl'