The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-03-27
A MOTHERS INFLUENCE"


That sturdy and independent repre-
sentative OF Western manhood, Thomas
ID. Benton, attributed his success to
the influence of his mother, and in q
speech made In New York thus spoke of
her: my mother asked me never to
use tobacco, and / have never used it
from that time until the present day.
She asked me not to game, and l have
never gained. She admonished me,
too, against strong drink, and whatever
capacity for endurance I may have at
present, and whatever usefulness
may attain in life, attribute to having
complied with her highest and earnest
wishes"
That silver-voiced orator, Henry
Clay, who seemed to wake at will the
chords OF human sympathy, and to
reach the hearts of men by his wondrous
personal magnetism, always spoke of
his mother in terms which denoted the
most devoted affection and profound
generation. 1t is said that habitual
correspondence existed between them
to the last hour Of life.
He ever mentioned her as a model OF
maternal character and female ex.
cellence, and it is said that he never
met his constituents after her death
without some allusion to her, which
deeply affected both himself and his
audience. And when the great states
man came to die, nearly his last words
wore, Mother mother, mother!" One
of the strongest characteristics of the
poet, Pope, was his extraordinary at
tachment to his mother, in whose
society he found an exquisite delight.
Neither the batteries OF the great nor
the pride of his fame, could ever stif1e
his flial love, and among the most
touching strains which his genius in
splred are those addressed to his
mother.
benjamin Franklin was in the habit
of referring to his mother with the
most tender affection, and was ever
solicitous for her comfort and happi-
ness.
thomas Gray, the gifted author of
the immortal "Elegy," WAS most affec
tomato to his mother during her life,
and after her death it is said that he
seldom mentioned her without sigh
The inscription which he placed over
her grave describes her as the careful,
tender mother Of many children, one of
whom had the misfortune TO survive
her."
He was buried by her side, according
to his own directions The regard of
Washington for his mother is shown in
her powerful influence over him, and in
the nobility of character which was
early developed by her careful training
and wise counsel
When an ambitious youth longing to
enter the arena of life and battle for it's
prizes, he broke up an engagement to go
to sea, because he saw that his going
would occasion her great sorrow and
solicitude. And in all the triumphs OF
his life it was his pride first to acquaint
her with tho honors conferred upon him,
as If TO delight her eyes with the fruit
OF her planting.
Amos Lawrence, the great Boston
merchant, always spoke OF his mother
in the strongest terms OF veneration and
love, and plainly showed that his heart
overlooked with constant gratitude to
hor.
1t is said that amongst the earliest
and most cherished recollections of his
early years and his childhood's home,
was tho form OF his mother bending
over his bed in silent prayer when she
was about leaving him for the night.
Is it any wonder that youth Car
lshing such memories, when thrown in
the whirl OF large city full of snares
and pitfalls for the unwary, should be
armed to resist temptations and battle
for the right, and win the choicest re
wards OF manly character and business
success?
The mother of General Houston was
a superior woman, and during all the
privations of frontier life, struggled
heroically to bring up her large family
In such manner as should insure their
own welfare and make them useful to
society.
Gen. Francis Marion, of Revolutionary
fame, was ia his young days an indus
trlous young farmer, and was not dis
tinguished above other young men of
the neighborhood in which he lived, ex.
cept for his devoted love and tender re.
gard for his mother, whose influence
over him awakened those qualities of
manliness which made him q successful
leader of men in those eventful times.
The celebrated Lord Macaulay, who
earned honors and fame such as are the
privilege of but few men to enjoy, thus
tenderly recurs to the influence OF his
mother. "Often do sigh in my strug-
giles with the hard, uncaring world for
the sweet, deep security felt, when OF
an evening nesting in her bosom,
listened to some quiet tale suitable to
my age, read in her tender and untiring
voice.
Never can forget her sweet chances
cast upon me when l appeared asleep;
never her kiss of peace at night. Years
have passed away since we laid her be
side my father in the old church yard;
yet still her voice whispers from the
grave, and her eye watches over me as
visits spots long since hallowed to the
memory OF my mother"
Thus do the sweet and silent infiu-
ences Of mothers life reach that inner
sanctuary of the soul which is silent to
all tn o Intoxicating strains of worldly
glory.
Once, in one OF our large cities, an