Year: 1866




The following interesting article, from the
pen of Rev. DIR. Todd, of Pittsfeld, refers to
the family of the venerable Rev. DR.. Field,
of Stockbridge, Berkshire county, Massa-
chusetts: "At the gateway of one of our
beautiful rural cemeteries, a large funeral
was just entering. and our attention was call
ed to very remarkable sight. The bier
was resting on the shoulders of four tall,
noble looking men, in the prime of life. One
OF these bearers was Judge on the Bench OF
the Supreme Court of the nation. A second
was one OF the most eminent and accomplish
ed lawyers of whom this or any other coun
try can boast. A third was very dis-
tinguished divine, whose pen IS great
power. And the fourth was the President
of the Senate of his State. And these re-


markable men were brothers Ihey sioOu
strong in life, but were bowed and silent
and solemn. as if the bier was too heavy ior
their strength. Very slowly and carefully
they trod, as if the sleeper should not leel
the motion. And who was on the bier, SO
carefully and tenderly borne? aoaS Wetf
onn mother. Never did | see grief more
reverent, or respect more profound; IL
seemed to me that the mothers cold heart
must also throb in the coffin. A nobler sight,
or a more beautiful tribute of love, never
saw. They were all, doubtless, going back
in memory to their early childhood, and to
their loving care of this best of all earthly
friends. They well knew that they, the
sons of poor village pastor, could never
have been trained, and educated, and fitted
to occupy their stations, without very ex-
traordinary mother. They we'll knew that
,bo,, m har than fo oil 9TH
human agencies. No shoulders but theirs
must bear the precious dust to the grave
ward no hands but theirs must deposit it in
its last resting place That body had been
inhabited by one of the sweetest, most cheer
full and brilliant minds that ever inhabited
an earthly tabernacle. 1t had long, too,
been the temple of the Holy Ghost What
that lovely woman had done to make her
husbands ministry useful and profitable
what she had done in training daughters that
are ornaments to their sex; what she had
done to make these distinguished men what
they are-who can tell? What has not
such a mother accomplished who has given
such influence to the world? | never see
one of these sons, but my thoughts go back
to the home of their childhood; and | can
hardly keep my eyes from filling with tears
as think of that mother. How many men
start upon the stage of life, and feel they are
great, and are filling great spheres of useful
ness, who are really dwarfs in comparison
with such character. When that mother
went down to the very brink of the grave.
that she might bring up life, as her children
were born, as she toiled, unseen and I'M
praised. through ali their training, what an
influence was she preparing TO leave upon
the world after she should be numbered with
the dead We may develop ourselves, and
think we have done well if we can achieve
anything in life, when, most likely, if any
thing valuable in US is developed, we owe it
chiefly to our patient, meek unnoticed
mother. She forms the character which we
develop. And it is much owing to ignorance
of the laws of influence that prevents the
mother from receiving that love and respect
she deserves. Heaven will be just where we
are not and | can find no words in which
to express my appreciation of such a friend
Some few, who have early lost their mother
through death, or the loss of reason, come
out useful and respectable meH but they
would, probably, have been much more so.
had they enjoyed her love and care They
may well mourn their loss all their DAYS
The names Of the mothers of Moses, OF Sam
uel, of Timothy, and other eminent men,
are recorded and so are the names of the
mothers of the wicked kings generally re-
corded, as if to tie them to the disgrace of
their sons. o, mother! amid all your anxi
eties and labors be assured that the time is
coming when your name and image will fill
the chambers of the memories of your chill
dren as no other can. You are garnering
up love, respect, and veneration, which will
gather around your coffin, if not before
You will yrOW in the hearts of your children
as long as you live. o, son of the good
mother remember that she hath spared
nothing that the human heart could Weld for
thy good Let thy love and gratitude and
reverence flow back upon her; and, if her
hair is becoming silvered with age remem-
Der that thy opportunities to administer to
her comfort are every day becoming fewer.
God help thee to cheer her-Home Monthly