The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-04-02
kiss Me. Mamma. I Can't Go To
Sleep"

I had been trained, said moth
er, by a very stern, strict, conscien-
tious mother, but 1 was a hardy
plant, rebounding after every
shock; misfr rtune could not daunt
though discipline tanned me. /
fancied that I must 60 through the
same routine with my delicate
daughter; so one day, when che
had displeased me exceedingly by
repeating an offense, I was deter
mined to punish her severely.
I was very serious all day, and,
upon sending her to her little couch
l said: snow, my daughter, to pun
ish you, and show you how very,
very naughty you have been, l
shall not kiss you tonight"
She stood looking at me, aston
ishment personified, with her great
mournful eyes wide open; I sup
pose she had forgotten her miscon
duct till then; and l left her with
big tears dropping down her cheeks
and her little rcd lips quivering.
Presently I was sent for. 30,
mamma, you will kiss me; can't
60 to sleep if you don't" she Sob
bed, every tone of her voice trem.
bling; and she held out her little
hands.
Now came the struggle between
love and what I falsely termed
duty. My heart said, Give her the
kiss Of peace; my stern nature
urged me to persist in my correc-
ton, that 1 might impress the fault
upon her mind. That was the way
had been trained, till I was q most
submissive child; and I remember
ed how often I had thanked my
mother since for her straightfor-
ward course.
Iknelt by the bedside. "Mother
can't kiss you, Ellen" I whispered,
though every word choked me.
Her hand touched mine; it was
very hot, but I attributed it to her
excitement. She turned her little
grieving face to the wall; l blamed
myself as the fragile form shoe.
with half-suppressed sobs, and say
ing, "Mother hopes little Ellen will
learn to mind her after this" 1 left
the room for the night. Alas! in
my desire to be severe l forgot to
be forgiving.
1t must have been IL O'Clock
when I was awakened by my nurse
Apprehensive, I ran eagerly to my
child's chamber; I had had a fear
full dream.
Ellen did not know me. She wal
, sitting up, crimsoned from the fore
head to the throat; her eyes 81
bright that I almost drew bach
aghast at their glances.
From that night a raging feve
> burned up her life; and what thinl
you was the incessant plant tina
T poured into my anguished heart
h 20, kiss me, mamma, do kiss me
= I can't 60 to sleep! You'll k,s
/. your little Ellen mamma, won
y you? I can't 60 to sleep. I won
! be naughty If you'll only kiss me
> o, kiss me, dear mamma, can't 6
!. to Sleep"
a Holy little angel! she did 60 I
4 sleep one gray morning, and sh
= never woke again-never. He
II hand was locked in mine, and a
my veins grew icy with its gradu'
n chill. Family the light faded o.
4 of the beautiful eyes; whittier an
:. whittier grew the tremulOus lip
u She never knew me; but with HI
last breath she whispered, ~ wi
Il be good mamma, If only you'll XII
n me-"
;. Kiss her? God knows how pa
! sionate, but unavailing were m
n kisses upon her cheek and liz
after that fatal night. God know
y how wild were my prayers that sf
No might know, II but only once, tn,
% I kissed her. God knows how
y would have yielded up my yer
life, could / have asked forgiveness
a of that sweet child.
= Well, grief is all unavailing nov
:. She lies In her little tomb; there
II q marble urn at her head and
u rosebush at her feet; there gro
% sweet summer flowers; there wave
- the gentle grass; there birds sin
% their mathis and vespers; there Ii
70 blue sky smiles down to-day; an
y there lies buried the freshness I
J. my heart.-Family Friend.
d 1t Is evident to any thinking pc
# sons who have had some exper
ence that the same class of trail
9 ing will not do for all cllildre
It The disposition, the temperance
n of different children, will, with o.
II servation, disclose to a father I
70 mother the kind of mental or phi,