The Yale expositor., 1897-12-03


ed him, and he started to his feet. He
recognized one OF his neighbors. and
he asked:
'Loring, whose grave is this?"
"You were calling her name just
now"
"My mother?"
r'Yes, Frank"
'Oh, tell me all about 1t, Loring."
"Come into the cottage first"
The boy obeyed. AS he entered the
humble house where he had seen so
many happy days, it appeared to him
that he could hear his mothers voice
calling upon his name. He fancied
that he could hear her footsteps cross
ing the apartment to meet him. But
she was not there. He entered the
room where the signal had usually
been placed, and gazed earnestly
around. Everything appeared to be
just as he had last seen it, and he could
not bring himself TO believe that his
mother, who had embraced him at
parting only three months before, was
now sleeping in the cold grave.
He glanced toward the window. The
lamp was there in it's accustomed
place, but it was not burning. The
boy approached and gazed upon 1t.
The wick was blackened and crisped,
showing that it had been lighted; but
the oil was entirely exhausted, showing
how it had become eXtinguished. ST.
lently the devoted son regarded this
evidence of a mothers remembrance
and love, and then, turning to the
neighbor he asked: "Loring, how long
has my mother been dead?'
"She was buried only yesterday"
Gould you not have kept her body
until l came?"
"No; we did just as your mother in
structed us to do
"How was that?"
"For a week before her death your
mother kept that light burning in the
window"
"she expected my return?"
"Yes."
well. go on"
Five days ago your mother called
me to her side, and then asked me to
bring her the light. / did so. She
gazed upon it, and smiled. Then she
told me to fill it afresh and trim and
hght it. l did so, and she told me to
set,it in the window"
BLESS her-bless her, sobbed the
boy.
when had replaced the light, she
said; In an hour l shall be no more.
/ should like to see my dear boy once
more, but fear | shall not be able to
do so. But keep the light burning In
the window until the oil is exhausted,
and it goes out of itself. Then, and
not until then, place my body In the
grave. If my boy arrives, he will see
the light if it be still burning, and will
hasten here. He will gaze upon my
pale. cold face. and read there the
words of blessing | would speak. II
no light be burning, he win know that
his mother Is no more; and, bending
over my grave, he will weep and
mourn my loss. But tell him l am not
lost Tell him to look up to the blue
arch above him, and in heavens win
dow he will see the light which his
mother placed there, burning brightly
a signal and a beacon for him. Say.
ing this, she died.
And you did as she requested?"
yes; the grave was made in tn,
grove yonder. At sunset yesterday tht
lamp went out, and We then placed he
poor body to rest"
Frank Ludlow did not sleep tha
night, but set himself to work to beau
tify and ornament the spot where slep
that dear clay. When morning dawn
ed, the fresh, green sod covered tn,
mound, and flowers had been PLANTED
upon it. This done, with a heav!
heart, the lad set out to rejoin nj
ship.
When he entered the cabin, the cap
tain asked:
We'll, Frank. was the absence q
the light explained?"
Yes, sir"
"Why, was 1t not burning?"
1T has been transferred, sir, to on
OF the windows of heaven. shall onl
see it when l have made my last voy
age across the dark river of DEATH"
Frank set about his duties with ap
|
that he was heart-broken.
The ship was again upon its return
voyage from New Orleans 1t was op
posite the point where stood the lone
ly cottage and where slept the mother
clay. The entire ships officers an
crew surrounded. the couch of the dy
ing boy. He asked
Captain, are we not near the cot
} tage?"
Yes, Frank"
But can you see the light burning?
'It is not burning there. Frank"
'But it is burning up yonder, for
can see it,"
The brave boy did not speak agar
He smiled, and his spirit passe
quickly away.
Did he not see the light his mothe
had placed in the window of his heay
emily home, even before he had reache
it?
Lugubrious Prediction.