The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-12-15
ellallenl1s.
KISS NE MAMM4-DO KISS ME!

hLoS NE MA-H1HA-DO hISS ME!
The child was so sensitive, so like
that little shrinking plant that curls
at breath, and shuts its heart from
the light.
The only beauties she possessed
were an exceedingly transparent skin,
and the most wonderful large blue
! eyes.
l had been trained by a very stern,
| strict, conscientious mother, but was
q hardy plant, rebounding after every
shock, misfortune could not daunt,
! though discipline tanned me. | fam
cied, also, that | must go through the
same routine with this delicate Great
ure; so one day when she had dis
pleased me exceedingly by repeating
an offence. l was determined to punish
| her severely. | was very serious all
day, and, upon sending her to her lit
tie couch, said: Now, my daugh-
ter, to punish you, and show you how
very, very naughty you have been, l
shall not kiss you tonight"
She stood looking at me, astonish-
mournful eyes wide open-I suppose
then; and l left her with big tears
dropping down her cheeks, and her
little red lips quivering.
Presently l was sent for, ''Oh, NAM
| ma, you 2CiU kiss me. | can't go to
sleep if you DON'T" she sobbed, every
tone of her voice trembling, and she
held out her little hands.
Now came the struggle between
love and what | falsely termed duty.
My heart said, give her the kiss of
peace my stern nature urged me to
persist in my correction, that | might
impress the fault upon her mind.
That was the way had been trained,
till | was a most submissive child
and l remembered how often l had
thanked my mother since for her
straightforward course.
| knelt by the bedside. Mother
can't kiss you, Ellen" l whispered,
though every word choked me. Her
hand touched mine it was very hot,
but attributed it to her excitement.
She turned her little grieving face to
the wall | blamed myself as the fra
gile form shook with half-suppressed
sobs, and saying, Mother hopes little
Ellen will learn to mind her after this
left the room for the night.
1t might have been about twelve
when was awakened by my nurse.
Apprehensive, | ran eagerly to the
child's chamber | had had Il fearful
dream.
Ellen did not know me. She was
sitting up, crimsoned from the fore
head to the throat her eyes so bright
that | almost drew back aghast at
their glances.
From that night a raging fever
drank up her life and what think
thn inpaSSnnf nlaint rNnnrnI
into my anguished heart ION, kiss
me, mother, do kiss me; can't go to
sleep. You'll kiss your little Ellen,
mother, won't you? / can't go to
sleep. | won't be naughty if you'll
only kiss me! Oh, kiss me, dear
mamma, | can't go to sleep"
Holy little angel !she did go to sleep
one gray morning, and she Lever woke
again-never. Her hand was locked
in mine, and all my veins grew icy
with its gradual chill. Family the
light faded out of the beautiful eyes;
whittier and whittier grew the tremulous
lips. She never knew me but with
her last breath she whispered Il
1ciH be good mother, if only you'll
kiss me-"
Kiss her. God knows how passion
ate, but unavaillng, were my kisses
upon her cheek AMI lips after that
fatal night. God knows how wild
were my prayers that she might know,
if but only hence, that | kissed her.
God knows how would have yielded
up my very life, could l have asked
forgiveness of that sweet child.
Well, grief is all unavailing now
She lies in her little tomb there is a
marble urn at her head, and rose
bush at her feet. There grow sweet
summer flowers there waves the gen.
tie grass there birds sing their mathis
and vespers there the blue sky smiles
down to-day and there lies buried
the freshness of my heart.
Parents, you should have heard the
pathos in the voice of that stricken
mother as she said: There are plants
that spring into greatest vigour if the
heavy pressure of a footstep crush
them but, oh there are others that
even the pearls of the light dew bend
to the earth.n