Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1897-01-30
MY MOTHER.
Pen Picture of Editor Stevens. of the
Randolph Leader. on the Death of
His Mother.

II was in the early light of morning
that deaths unseen angel came, and
with pittiless wings began to fan her
life away. She was better-bright and
hopeful-till he came Eagerly ! answer
ed the call, and tried to battle his work
by tanning life into her shortening
breath, by smoothing her pillow and
raising her head. She said, that's
right" to all we did.
But the morning of her sweet release
had come Brief was our warning, SO
swiftly 1t came. AS her precious spirit
lowered for moment Ger deaths por--
tails she cast back one look at me, as
called to her: Mother, Mother, breathe!
But she breathed no more for me-her
next breath caught the purer air OF
Heaven.
Three months disease had wasted her
form, but never dimmed her mind or
dampened her spirits. To the last she
was interested in everything concern
ing her family, her friends, her commu-
nifty. She was always frail but ever
fearless. Her buoyant hopes and I'M
dauntet1 spirit, through all her sickness,
gave us hope and strength and cheer
And after all her long affection, pa
tent endurance and successful resist
ance of so many trying symptoms, for
her then to be called away seems even
harder for US to bear. But she was
ready, and the angels had a joyful mis-
sion who bore her spirit to her Fathers
home and to her loved ones there.
Mother was my ideal woman-dearer
than life to me. The affections of my
heart have always lavished on her, and
now to untwine these sacred heart-
strings at deaths ruthless bidding is
more than I can do. / loved my mother
living, and beyond all others I will love
her still.
Hers was remarkable character. She
possessed will power far beyond the linn
its of her feeble strength. 1t was her
nature to be hopeful Her bright pres
ence always carried sunshine with 1t.
whether In the halls of sorrow or amid
1ife's gayest throng. And she was never
so happy as when helping some one along
life's rugged way. 1t seemed to me that
she loved everybody and that all loved
her.
Mother never did grow old. Though 65
frost laden winters shook their pinions
over her head, her hair remained as black
as when in summers youthful prime
an emblem of her buoyant, happy spirit,
ever young in hope, in action and in love.
Time left no scars upon her nature, and
sorrow gilded rather than bedimmed her
life. She was a companion to us boys
a partner in our hopes, our pleasures and
our tolls.
And now that she has left US, how dim
earth's pleasures arei 1t was she who
sweetened all lifes woes frightened all
its joys, dulled the edge of care and gave
to toll it's recompense. Who can measure
now the bitter void of her presence and
her prayers?
In no sense do realize my loss more
than in the thought that in nobody
eyes am l now child. The world ex-
poets of me the thoughts and words and
deeds of a man. But at mothers side 1
could feel the rest and peace of child
hoods dream, for all my faults were over
looked and my weaknesses condoned. To
have her fondly stroke my hair and i'm
press her goodnight kiss--these priceless
Joys are mine no more!
And when the shades of night come
round and as of old the boys come home,
how changed how lonely is the place!
Home without mother But sometime
yet there may be healing for these
wounds in reunited, happy home. For
in the distant realms beyond the cloud
less blue there are plains of life and light.
And If to them through patient toll and
heavenly grace we come to meet her
sainted spirit some sweet day, we then
can see and understand that where mo-
Their lives is home and home is heaven.