The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1891-04-29
MOTHERS PICTURE.
BY NOVITIUS.

All thatis left me now of my mother,
save a flood of fond recollections, lies on
my desk as | write, herpictTe. Around
that bit Of cardboard cluster the purest
tcnderest, most sacred memories of my
life.
Her face might not have been called
beautiful by the connoiseur, yet to me it
is encircled by a halo of love and tender
ness that has shed a radiance over my
life the eXquisitely nodded features can
never equal
Her figure perhaps would not have been
chosen by the sculptor to pose while he
reproduces it in marble, and yet that fig
ure ensmines a heart that is more to me
than any ''beauty's bust.
Hel eyes were not the violet of poetry
nor the romantic hazel, but they have
beamed a kind approval upon me thou
sand gems could not buy,
Her hands were neither small nor white
nor delicate but they were deprived of
their beauty and symmetry by her un-
ceasing toll for the children"
look at that picture and think of
when first saw that mother. She was
young and pretty then. l think of the
busy, but still dear, tender mother o. my
boyhood. Then I think of the mother
whose gentle hand guided my life as it
rusl ed from the smooth lake of child
hood into the turbulent waters Of young
manhood.
| remember that night when returning
home after season of revelry, l found
mother alone in her room praying with
all the earnestness of her soul for her
boy-for me.
"In vain-ye cannot rob me of the
thought,
That legend with such heavenly
sweetness fraught,
That blessed angels have for ages smiled
To see a mother praying for her
child"
l reminder as l drifted away from
mother and home | was stricken down by
fever In my dreams of delirium / saw
a mother agonizing inprayer for her boy,
who, in the distance, was staggering to a
debauchee's grave.
The picture gradually melted and
another took its place. The mother now
lies motionless, clad in the snowy gar
ments of the grave. Her white hands
clasped bruised lily above the pulse
less breast. The eyes are closed forever
on the cruel world, the heart has ceased
to throb, the placid lips will never move
again in prayer nor hands clasp in an
guish foI her hayward boy, nor can the
burrows be smoothed out from the mar
lie brow. In few short hours, perhaps,
the cheerless earth will conceal her for
ever from our view.
"Gone, and gone forever, Oh, mother,
mother, come back" | walled in agony
Then ! awoke Mother was bending
over me. She was more than angelic to
me then as she stroked my hair, cooled
my hot brow and spoke ~ tones and
words Of endearment | threw my arms
about hes neck and drawing her face,
down to mine, / kissed her with all the
love of my ntture.
"Mother. | said. 'If God spares me
and you'll forgive me promise never to
do anything 10 cause you sorrow"
And ever since that memorable night
] have end7avored to keep that prom
Use.
Mother is gone now in reality, but not
forever. She has gone to rest on that
"echoless shore" to wait and watch for
her own dear boy"
Now, boys let me cntreat you to al
ways speak and act tcnderly to your
mother, and when mentioning her name
do so mostreyegcntly. It's only little
while she must l@aye YOU "Her shadow
ever falls graveyard"
Passing away in deep sad lines
Is traced upon her brow"
In future life Others may love you when
mother is no more Friends may love
you, children love you, brothers and sis
tcrs love you. She whom Of ali the world
beside, you choose for your companion,
may love you with all the ardor of her
passionate nature, but you'll never find a
love like mothers.